The Standards Assessment Board of County Durham Council met on Monday 13 July 2026. The meeting was scheduled to include an update on ongoing complaints regarding the Code of Conduct for Members, as well as the consideration of two specific complaint references.

Code of Conduct Complaints Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on complaints received by Durham County Council under the Code of Conduct for Members. This report, prepared by Helen Bradley, Director of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer, was intended to inform the Board about the status of ongoing complaints and those that had been completed. The report noted that the Council has a duty under section 27 of the Localism Act 2011 to promote and maintain high standards of conduct among its members. The Council's Procedure for Member Code of Conduct Complaints, agreed in October 2025, outlines that the Standards Assessment Board, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer, should consider complaints within 20 working days of receipt.

The report indicated that as of the last meeting on 3 July 2026, there were five ongoing complaints received before 23 June 2026. Three of these had been considered, with Decision Notices being prepared. One complaint was scheduled for consideration by the Board on 13 July 2026, and another was scheduled for 27 July 2026.

Additionally, two complaints had been received between 24 June 2026 and 1 July 2026. One of these was scheduled for consideration on 13 July 2026, and the other for 27 July 2026. The report recommended that the Standards Assessment Board note its contents.

Complaint Reference FS-Case-845811160

This item was scheduled for consideration by the Board on 13 July 2026. The report pack indicated that this complaint was received on 9 June 2026 and was due for assessment by the Board on 13 July 2026. The nature of the complaint is not detailed in the publicly available information, but it was listed as a Part B item, meaning it was considered to be exempt or confidential information.

Complaint Reference FS-Case-850567455

This complaint was also scheduled for consideration by the Board on 13 July 2026. Received on 24 June 2026, it was due for assessment by the Board on 27 July 2026, according to the report. Similar to the previous item, the specific details of this complaint are not publicly disclosed, and it was also listed as a Part B item.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Louise Taylor, Chair of the Standards Assessment Board. Other attendees included Councillor Louise Penders and Councillor Anita Savory. Councillor John Hirst, a Town and Parish Council Co-opted Representative, was also listed as an attendee.