The Stockport Council Standards Committee met to elect a chair and vice-chair, approve the minutes from the previous meeting, and to review a report regarding councillor conduct in 2024/25. Mr Stephen Clarke was elected as chair of the committee, and a vice-chair was appointed. The committee approved the Annual Report Regarding Councillor Conduct 2024/25 and recommended it to the next stage in the council's governance process.

Annual Report Regarding Councillor Conduct 2024/25

The committee considered the Annual Report Regarding Councillor Conduct 2024/25, which provided an overview of the complaints received about the conduct of councillors during the 2024/25 municipal year.

The report detailed that 14 complaints were received relating to five councillors. Eleven of these complaints related to the same matter and two councillors, but were put on hold pending external investigations. The remaining three complaints were considered and closed during the year.

Of the three complaints that were closed:

• One complaint against a councillor was upheld after they made comments at a committee meeting, relating to an item on the agenda, after declaring an interest in that agenda item. The councillor undertook additional training on declaration of interests.
• One complaint against a councillor was rejected after it was alleged that they had failed to declare an interest at a committee meeting, but it was found that there was no interest that needed to be declared.
• One complaint against a councillor was partially upheld after they made comments in emails that were found to be in breach of the code of conduct. The councillor provided an apology and agreed to undertake training.

The report noted that all councillors who had received complaints engaged proactively with the Monitoring Officer¹ during the initial assessments, and complied with the recommendations made.

The committee was asked to comment on and note the report, and to provide any comments prior to the report progressing through the governance process. The Standards Committee commended the report to the next stage in the council's governance process.

Election of Chair and Appointment of Vice Chair

Mr Stephen Clarke was elected as chair of the committee for the period until the next Annual Council Meeting. A vice-chair was also appointed.