The Standards Committee of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is scheduled to meet on 7 October 2025 to review code of conduct complaints, consider a report regarding a complaint against a Christchurch Town Council councillor, and discuss the committee's work plan. The meeting will be held at the HMS Phoebe, BCP Civic Centre, Bournemouth.

Code of Conduct Complaints

The committee is expected to receive an update on complaints regarding alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct against councillors. The Public Reports Pack states that the committee is responsible for:

maintaining high standards of conduct by Members of BCP Council and the Town and Parish Councils, monitoring the operation of the Code of Conduct, and considering the outcome of commissioned independent investigations.

The report in the Public Reports Pack includes a table outlining the nature, outcome, and status of various complaints. Of particular note are complaints BCP-199, BCP-203, BCP-205, BCP-207 and BCP-209, which have been closed because officers have exhausted all reasonable attempts to secure compliance by the subject councillor . The report notes that three of the five complainants have registered new complaints.

The committee will also discuss complaints referenced BCP-220, BCP-221, BCP-222, BCP-223, BCP-224, BCP-225, BCP-226, BCP-227, BCP-228 and BCP-229, and TPC-022, TPC-023 and TPC-024, which are currently pending.

Consideration of Code of Conduct Complaint TPC-022

The committee is scheduled to consider a report regarding a complaint made against a councillor of Christchurch Town Council. The complaint, referenced as TPC-022, alleges that the councillor breached sections 1, 2, 3, and 12 of the Christchurch Town Council Code of Conduct. These sections relate to behaving respectfully, avoiding bullying or intimidation, not improperly conferring advantage or disadvantage, and declaring interests.

An independent investigation was undertaken by Simon Goacher, Head of Local Government at Weightmans, and his report is included in the Public Reports Pack. The investigator's report concludes that there was no evidence that the code had been breached. The committee is asked to consider the Monitoring Officer's report and the investigator's report, and it is recommended that the committee accept the investigator's findings and take no further action.

Work Plan

The committee is expected to consider its work plan, which includes a review of the Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure, the Officer Member Protocol, gifts and hospitality, the Register of Interests, and mandatory training. The Work Plan also includes a review of the Councillor Induction Programme, the impact of the Community Governance Review¹, a communication strategy on standards within Town and Parish Councils, and refresher code of conduct training.

Other Items

The agenda also includes items for apologies, substitute members, declarations of interest, public issues, and confirmation of the Minutes of Previous Meeting.