Alert close - icon Fill 1 Copy 10 Untitled-1 tt copy 3 Untitled-1 Untitled-1 tt copy 3 Fill 1 Copy 10 menu Group 3 Group 3 Copy 3 Group 3 Copy Page 1 Group 2 Group 2 Skip to content

Complaints about councillors

You have a right to expect high standards of conduct from councillors.


The standards of conduct expected are set out in the code of conduct.

If you believe that a councillor or co-opted member has breached the code of conduct, you can complain to our monitoring officer.

The monitoring officer can only accept complaints about the behaviour of a councillor or co-opted member which is covered by the code of conduct. The code of conduct only applies when a councillor or co-opted member is acting in their official capacity. If you make a complaint it must be about which part of the code of conduct you think they have not complied with when they are acting as a county councillor.

Making a complaint

You must make a complaint in writing. Please fill in the complaints form attached to this page and send it to Helen Barrington:

Arrangements for dealing with complaints about breach of code of conduct

We arrangements for dealing with code of conduct complaints setting out how it will deal with allegations that the code of conduct has not been complied with which are attached to this page. The monitoring officer will deal with a complaint as quickly as possible and will usually make a decision on initial assessment around 2 months after receipt of the initial complaint.

If a complaint is referred for investigation, it may take up to 12 months for a decision to be made. Under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011, we are required to appoint an independent person to assist in promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct. The independent person will be consulted on the decision to investigate complaints and before it makes a decision on an investigated complaint. The independent person may be consulted on other standards matters, including by the councillor or co-opted member who is subject to an allegation.

Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee

We have a Governance, Ethics and Standards Committee to ensure that high standards of conduct are maintained.

This remit of the committee includes supporting the monitoring officer in the following:

  • taking any action required on the receipt, management and investigation of any code of conduct complaint against an elected member
  • taking action in the determination of a code of conduct complaint including the convening of hearings where necessary