Agenda and decisions

There are no minutes from the previous meeting

To receive any apologies for absence

DECISION NOTICE

TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION

Date of determination           12^th September 2024

Subject Member

Councillor Ron Tindall

Complainants

Two anonymous complainants – known as “Complainant 1” and “Complainant 2” in the proceedings. They were not dated but they were received on 28^th and 29^th April 2024.

Hearing Sub-Committee Membership

Councillor Jonathan Gale (Chair).

Councillor Catherine McArevey (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Rick Freeman

Councillor Alan Anderson

Apologies for Absence Councillor Graeme Elliot

Mr Mike Browne – Independent Person

Monitoring Officer

Mr Mark Brookes, Assistant Director, Legal and Democratic Services

Investigating Officer

Mrs Olwen Brown, Consultant Solicitor with Anthony Collins Solicitor

Complaint

The Standards Sub- Committee met to consider an investigation report in respect of two anonymous complaints that Councillor Ron Tindall had failed to comply with the Code of Conduct for Councillors adopted by Dacorum Borough Council.

In particular, it was alleged that Councillor Tindall:

(a)        failed to treat the complainants with respect contrary to paragraph 1.1 of the Code of Conduct;

(b)       constituted harassment in respect of the allegation in Complaint 2  contrary to paragraph 2.2 of the Code of Conduct;

(c)         failed to promote equalities as required by paragraph 2.3 of the Code of Conduct;

and that Councillor Tindall’s actions and behaviours:

(d)       had the potential to bring the Council into disrepute

contrary to paragraph 5.1 of the Code of Conduct.

Hearing process

The Chairman asked all parties present to introduce themselves and explained the process for the hearing.  The Chairman explained that at the end of the presentation of the complainants’ cases there would be an opportunity for the Committee to ask the complainants any points of clarification resulting from the presented evidence.  If this was required, the complainants would be given an opportunity to answer any questions in writing as they were present in the Forum.

The Chairman also announced that the complainants would be watching the proceedings from a Teams link in the Forum.

The Chairman asked if there were any declarations of interest.

The following declarations were made:

Councillor Gale: I have a declaration of interest, Councillor Tindall was the Leader of the Council and the leader of my group as a councillor.

Councillor Freedman: Councillor Tindall is known to me, we worked together for several years, similarly the anonymous complainants are also known to me as well.

Councillor Anderson: I have known Councillor Tindall since he first joined the council, at all times in this case I have maintained an open mind in respect to both parties

Councillor McArevey: I have also known Councillor Tindall for approximately 16 years  both professionally and in a personal capacity, we have worked together for a number of domestic abuse organisations in that time, he has reported to me professionally and I have reported to him professionally in the various roles we have had. I also know the two complainants and there has been several occasions where the complainants have contacted me in relation to these incidents, which I have  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.