Agenda and minutes

To consider a complaint under the Member Code of Conduct against Councillor Sam Hoy of Fenland District Council

CONFIDENTIAL – Information attached to this report comprises exempt information – to exclude the public (including the press) from a meeting of a committee it is necessary for the following proposition to be moved and adopted: “that the public be excluded from a meeting for Items which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).”

Members considered the following complaints under the Member Code of Conduct against Councillor Sam Hoy, as presented by Amy Brown:

1. That Councillor Hoy had failed to treat others with respect in that she had referred to the complainant as nasty and aggressive on social media without having have met him herself;

2. That Councillor Hoy had bullied the complainant both herself and also by inciting others again via social media;

3. That Councillor Hoy had disclosed information on social media in contravention of the Data Protection Act; and

4. That the above acts could reasonably be regarded as bringing her or Fenland District Council into disrepute.

Members were required to make a decision as to whether to:

A. Dismiss the complaint with no further action taken or;

B. Commission an investigation to consider all of the issues raised for consideration by the Conduct Committee at a future hearing.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses.

Members carefully considered all of the evidence and guidance available to them and taking this into account, came to the conclusion that this did not reach the threshold for investigation.

(Members resolved to exclude the public (including the press) from the meeting for this item of business on the grounds that information attached to the report comprises exempt information and involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act 1972.)