Changes to Durham council's complaints procedure criticised

Changes to Durham County Council’s code of conduct complaints procedure have been approved following a vote by councillors this week. Reform UK said the new measures will make the council’s decisions more transparent to the public. 

A new politically-balanced Standards Assessment Board will be formed to consider complaints, revising the roles of the council’s monitoring officer and Independent Person, who assess and review complaints. 

But critics warned the new procedure could “abuse the impartiality” of the process overseen by the council’s standards committee. 

Councillor Anita Savory, Independent member for Weardale, questioned the new approach and told a committee: “By removing the involvement of the Independent Person when it comes to questioning the officers, subject matter or witnesses, how does this sit with the administration’s commitment of being transparent? 

“What assurances can the committee be given that these changes are not going to be used to abuse the impartiality of the standards committee, given the reduction in the role of the impartial monitoring officer?”

Reform’s Paul Sexton said the existing procedure required changing. “Decisions are made behind closed doors and this is opening it up and making it more transparent,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Audrey Christie, executive officer at the County Durham Association of Local Councils, said it was “totally undemocratic” that parish and town councils had not been consulted. 

“There are concerns around a standards assessment board made up of county councillors, so a political element has been put into decision making, which I don’t think makes things more transparent and accountable; it’s the opposite. 

“Decisions about code of conduct complaints would be better sitting with the monitor officer, and our view is that they have greater independence and impartiality than councillors.

"We don’t feel sufficient reasons have been given for changing the process. It’s not perfect - we accept that - but the transparency and assurance we are not convinced by.”

Ms Christie warned the changes will “make parish councils feel like they are being policed and that the county council is marking their homework, as well as their own.”

A plea by opposition councillors to delay introducing the changes and consult with parish and town councils was voted down. 

The standards committee will continue to review the procedure for member code of conduct complaints on an annual basis to ensure that the procedure remains fit for purpose and legally compliant, the council said. 

Councillor Kate Rowland, Reform UK standards committee chair, added: “This is the best way forward. We want to be open, transparent and save money were possible, and bring a lot of common sense to how we all think, so it would be great for us all to work together.”

The revised procedure will come into effect from November.