Purbeck District Council

Members' Code of Conduct - Complaints Process

Members' Code of Conduct

Complaints Process

What this means to you

Generally, elected members of local authorities give enormous amounts of time to serve their community and constituents. However public perception tends to focus on a minority who in some way abuse their positions or behave badly.

Purbeck District Council is committed to promoting and maintaining the highest standards of conduct and corporate governance.

All Councillors in Purbeck, including Parish and Town Council Members, are also bound by a Code of Conduct that governs their general behaviour and sets out things they must and must not do whilst acting in their official capacity and also explains what members must do when potential conflicts arise at meetings. The Code is likely to be further extended in 2009.

The Code includes rules requiring all Councillors to register and declare interests, gifts and hospitality. These public registers can be inspected during office hours at the District Council offices, Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham.

Anyone who considers that a member may have breached the Code of Conduct may make a complaint to the Purbeck Standards Committee.

Any complaint about the conduct of a member of Purbeck District Council, or a member of one of the Parish or Town Councils within the District, must be made in writing to the Chair of the Standards Committee:-

Chairman of the Standards Committee

c/o The Monitoring Officer

Purbeck District Council

Westport House

Worgret Road

Wareham

Dorset BH20 4PP

If you make a complaint to the Standards Committee, it must explain why you think a member has breached the Code of Conduct. A Complaints Form can be downloaded below. Copies are also available in paper form from the Monitoring Officer.

The Standards Committee cannot deal with complaints about things that are not covered by the Code of Conduct. However there may be other ways to pursue your complaint and the Monitoring Officer will advise you of courses of action.

The Standards Board for England offers further general information and guidance on their website.

Please read the notes and information provided before completing the complaints form.

Complaints Form