Issue - meetings

To consider recommendations from the Standards and Ethics Sub-Committees in respect of Councillor Ellis.

Councillors Cowles, Ellis and M. Elliott who had declared an interest in this item left the meeting at this point and did not take place in the subsequent discussion and vote.

Consideration was given to a report that set out the outcome of a Standards and Ethics Sub Committee Hearing that took place on 18th January, 2021, in relation to an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by Councillor Sue Ellis.

It was noted that at the Sub-Committee Hearing that two similar complaints had been considered to the effect that Councillor Ellis had been overpaid in respect of her Chairing of the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority after she had finished in that role.

The Sub-Committee Hearing had found that Councillor Ellis’ conduct did amount to a breach of the Council’s Code of Conduct under General Obligations Section 5 – “you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or the Council into disrepute”. However, the Sub-Committee did not find a breach of the Code of Conduct in relation to the sixth Nolan Principle - Honesty.

The full Decision Record in respect of the complaint and Hearing was attached as an appendix to the officer’s report.

As a result of their considerations, the Sub-Committee decided that the following sanctions should be applied to Councillor Sue Ellis:

1.    The Member shall be censured

2.    The formal decision notice setting out the findings of the Sub-Committee shall be published on agenda of the next meeting of the Standards and Ethics Committee

3.    That the findings in respect of the Subject Member’s conduct should be published on the Council’s website.

4.    That the findings should be reported to full Council for information.

Resolved: - That the outcome of the Standards and Ethics Sub-Committee Hearing held on 18th January. 2021, be noted.

Mover: Councillor McNeely                               Seconder: Councillor Clark

Councillors Cowles, Ellis and M Elliott re-joined the meeting at this point.