MP complained about a councillor’s conduct according to annual standards report
The report does not disclose names or nature of the complaint
Thirteen complaints about the conduct of borough or parish councillors were made in 2024-25, but only one has been sent for investigation, while two saw an informal resolution offered.
Swindon Borough Council’s chief legal and monitoring officer Lisa Hall made her annual report to the authority’s standards committee.
It said: “Of the 13 complaints received, one was made by a borough councillor against a fellow borough councillor. One was made by a parish councillor against a fellow parish councillor, one was made on behalf of a Member of Parliament against a borough councillor, six were made by a resident against a parish councillor and four were made by a resident against a borough councillor.”
The complaint made by an MP against a borough council was closed after Ms Hall offered an informal resolution.
It should be noted that the period of the report crosses the July 2024 general election - so it is possible the MP could be one of the five MPs to represent Swindon constituencies in that time – or indeed any other MP.
Of the six complaints made against a Parish Councillor by a resident, five were closed due to the Parish Councillor resigning. The remaining complaint has been referred to the Assessment Sub-Committee, with no outcome yet reached.
Ms Hall rejected two complaints made by residents against borough councillors, funding that the councillors were abiding by the code of conduct while the other two were returned to the complainant as the forms were incorrectly filled in, to allow the residents to add to them.
Ms Hall also made an updated report to the committee on any complaints made since the end oif the financial year.
In that four months, nine complaints have been received.
Ms Hall also reported on whistle-blowing cases. In 2024-25, seven such complaints were made.
Two were about the working environment and one about the fitness to work of an employee and all three were referred to the council’s HR department.
The report said: “One related to alleged corruption within a council service area, which on further enquiry, was found to be inaccurate and actually a service complaint.
“One was an anonymous report of inaccurate working records within a service area. A light touch investigation established there were no discrepancies and no further action required.”
The council adopted a new whistle-blowing policy after an observation in a Local Government Association Peer Review of the authority.
It was approved by full council in November 2023.