Peterborough City Council is facing an extraordinary wave of complaints against local councillors with a staggering 24 live cases currently being investigated for alleged breaches of the council’s code of conduct.
The revelations, detailed in a report to the constitution & ethics committee, expose a council grappling with accusations ranging from bullying and harassment to bringing the council into disrepute.
Authors of the report said its purpose was to offer an update on current complaints against city and parish councillors on alleged/potential breaches of the council’s code of conduct, which are being dealt with by the monitoring officer. It did not specify which of any of the complaints involve parish councillors.
The numbers behind the scandal
- Bullying, harassment, and discrimination: 18 complaints
- Disrepute: 16 complaints
- Disrespect: 15 complaints
- Abuse of position: 13 complaints
- Impartiality breaches: 4 complaints
- Confidentiality breaches: 4 complaints
“Some complaints refer to multiple breaches, so these figures do not tally with the total number of complaints,” says the report’s authors, Rachel Edwards, Head of Constitutional Services & Deputy Monitoring Officer, and Matt Makin, Senior Democratic Services Officer
Two of the most serious cases have already been escalated to external legal investigators, while one case has reached the council’s own ethics sub-committee, with findings now published for public scrutiny.
No one above the law – the crackdown begins
The council’s monitoring officer, supported by an independent person, is leading the charge to restore standards and public confidence. Every complaint is subject to rigorous assessment, and those found in breach of the code face a range of potential penalties.
What happens to rule-breakers?
Potential penalties for breaching the code of conduct
While the report itself does not specify penalties, under the Localism Act 2011 and standard council practice, councillors found guilty of breaching the code can face:
- Formal censure or reprimand: A public statement of disapproval.
- Removal from committees or outside bodies: Councillors can be stripped of key roles or responsibilities.
- Requirement to apologise: Both public and private apologies may be mandated.
- Mandatory training: Offenders can be ordered to undergo further ethics or conduct training.
- Referral to full council: In serious cases, recommendations can be escalated for further action.
- Publication of findings: Names and details of breaches may be published, damaging reputations.
In extreme cases, if criminal conduct is suspected (such as failure to declare pecuniary interests), matters can be referred to the police, potentially resulting in prosecution and disqualification from office.
Public demands answers
The constitution & ethics committee has vowed to keep these issues in the public eye, promising regular updates, and a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct.
NOTE: This story is based on the official “Report on Code of Conduct Issues” presented to the Constitution & Ethics Committee this month by Rachel Edwards and Matt Makin, under the direction of Satinder Sahota ,Head of Legal and Deputy Monitoring Officer and Cabinet Member Councillor Mohammed Jamil
