Complaint against a Councillor
Complaints alleging a breach of the Code of Conduct by a Councillor.
The Localism Act 2011 requires that the Council has in place arrangements under which an allegation that a member or co-opted member of the Council or of a local Town, Parish or Village Council or of a Committee or Sub-Committee of the Council has failed to comply with the Code of Conduct (PDF) [537KB] (opens new window) can be considered and a decision made on the allegation.
To submit a complaint
Complaints alleging a breach of the Code of Conduct by a Borough Councillor or a Town, Village or Parish Councillor can be submitted online - recommended
OR in writing using the form below.
Please return the completed form which should be marked "Private and Confidential" to:
The Monitoring Officer
Basildon Borough Council
The Basildon Centre
St Martin's Square
Basildon, Essex
SS14 1DL
Email standards@basildon.gov.uk (opens new window)
When we receive a complaint
The Monitoring Officer will review every complaint received and may consult with one of the Council's appointed Independent Persons before taking a decision as to whether it:
(a) Merits no further action
(b) Merits early informal conciliation
(c) Should be referred to the Joint Standards Committee to consider whether the complaint merits further investigation.
The Monitoring Officer may require additional information in order to come to a decision, and may come back to you for such information. In the absence of a response from you within 15 working days the Monitoring Officer may close the complaint.
The Monitoring Officer may request Information from the member against whom your complaint is directed to help him to come to a decision. In the absence of the subject Member's response within 15 working days the Monitoring Officer may proceed with the complaint.
This decision as to how the complaint is to be progressed will normally be taken within 20 working days of receipt of your complaint. Your complaint will be considered in accordance with the Assessment Criteria (which are appended to the Council's Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure (PDF) [261KB] (opens new window) ). Where the Monitoring Officer has taken a decision, you will be informed of the decision and the reasons for that decision. (Where your complaint relates to a Local Councillor, the Monitoring Officer may also inform the Local Council of your complaint and seek the views of the Local Council before deciding whether the complaint merits formal investigation).
Further detail on what will happen if the Monitoring Officer decides that a complaint merits further investigation is contained in the Complaints Procedure (PDF) [261KB] (opens new window) .
The Complaints Procedure only applies for complaints about the behaviour of Councillors in relation to the requirements of the Code of Conduct (PDF) [537KB] (opens new window) . The Monitoring Officer has no power to deal with any matter not covered by the Code of Conduct.
Further information
For further information please contact the Council's Monitoring Officer.
Telephone: 01268 207850
Email: standards@basildon.gov.uk (opens new window)