The Teignbridge Governance Committee convened to address key issues, including updates to the Code of Conduct complaints procedure, the publication of committee information, and dispensations for members regarding local government reorganisation. The committee approved a new Code of Conduct complaints procedure, agreed to publish an annual report and regular updates on Code of Conduct complaints, considered webcasting meetings, granted dispensations to councillors for discussions on local government reorganisation, and approved a Member Development Strategy for 2025. Additionally, the committee reviewed the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's annual letter and determined that no breaches of conduct had occurred in two separate complaints.

Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure

The committee resolved to approve the Arrangements under the Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure, a document designed to offer greater clarity to councillors, the public, the Monitoring Officer, authorised officers, and independent persons on how the Code of Conduct complaints procedure operates.

The arrangements include:

• How to make a complaint
• How the council will deal with a complaint alleging a breach of the Code of Conduct
• Aims to be proportionate, timely and fair
• Seeks pragmatic local solutions to local problems wherever possible
• Avoids costly and time-consuming formal investigations
• All steps within the complaints process are underpinned by the public interest

The Arrangements under the Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure document was created to supplement the Teignbridge District Councils Arrangements for dealing with Standards Complaints.

Publication of Governance Committee Information and Webcasting

The committee discussed and made the following decisions regarding the publication of information and webcasting:

1. Annual Report: The committee approved the publication of an annual report of the Governance Committee, which will be presented at the Annual Full Council Meeting.
2. Regular Updates: The committee approved regular updates of information about Code of Conduct complaints to be reported at Governance Committee meetings. The Democratic Services Manager, Charlie Fisher, in consultation with Councillor Phil Bullivant, Conservative Group Leader, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Chair of the Governance Committee, will determine the format of these updates.
3. Webcasting: The committee considered the possibility of webcasting (livestreaming) Governance Committee meetings.

The report Publication of Information included a benchmark against other local authorities, and found that Teignbridge is the only District Council that does not webcast the committee dealing with the standards function. The Appendix 1 Publication of Information Benchmarking report noted that webcasting is considered good practice to improve transparency, accountability and access to the council's democratic processes.

Application for Dispensations

The committee resolved to grant dispensations to members of the council, to enable them to participate in discussions and votes on matters related to devolution or local government reorganisation in Devon.

The dispensations were granted under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011, which allows a relevant authority to grant a dispensation if it considers that doing so is in the interests of persons living in the authority's area.

The dispensations apply to:

1. Dual-hatted Devon County and Teignbridge District Council Members, and those Councillors who are also Members of Parliament.
2. District Council members who are employed by or are a spouse/partner of an employee of another District or County Council in Devon.

The dispensations are valid until the next District Council elections or until the District Council ceases to exist, whichever comes first.

Member Development Strategy 2025

The committee approved the Member Development Strategy 2025. The strategy aims to ensure that every member has access to the learning and development they need to perform their role and support their electorate.

The strategy includes:

• Aims and purpose
• Mechanisms to drive, review and deliver councillor development
• The councillor development offer and programme

The Member Development Strategy Report noted that the strategy was created in accordance with LGA ¹ guidance on writing Councillor Development Strategies.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Letter 2025

The committee considered the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) Annual Letter to the Council and the Council's performance in 2024/25. The LGSCO is an independent, impartial service that investigates complaints about local authorities, social care providers, and other public bodies in England where a person has suffered injustice due to maladministration.

The annual review letter from the LGSCO, sent to Phil Shears, Managing Director of Teignbridge District Council, summarised complaint statistics for the year ending 31 March 2025. The information offers insight about the organisation's approach to complaints.

Code of Conduct Complaints

The committee considered two reports from independent investigators relating to complaints about Councillor Jane Taylor.

FS-CASE-66476116

This report investigated a complaint lodged on 24 November 2024 regarding the conduct of Councillor Jane Taylor during and prior to a Teignbridge District Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 12 November 2024. The investigator found no evidence of dishonesty or misconduct that would constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct/staff Protocols or the Nolan Principles². The complaint was not upheld, and no sanctions were recommended.

FS-CASE-689504213

This report addressed an allegation made against Councillor Jane Taylor concerning her conduct during a full council meeting held on 14 January 2025. The investigator concluded that the allegation was unsubstantiated and the complaint was not upheld. No sanctions were recommended.