Media Statement - West Suffolk Standards Committee - to be released after Council meeting of 16 July

17 Jul 2024

On the 22 April 2024 the West Suffolk Standards Committee met to consider the Monitoring Officer’s report and the view of an Independent Person to determine whether Councillor Andy Drummond of West Suffolk Council had breached the Suffolk Code of Conduct.

In considering the evidence, the committee was unanimous in finding Councillor Drummond in breach of the following codes:

As a councillor:

1.2 I treat local authority employees, employees and representatives of partner organisations and those volunteering for the local authority with respect and respect the role they play.

2.1 I do not bully any person.

2.3 I promote equalities and do not discriminate unlawfully against any person.

4.1b. I do not disclose information acquired by me which I believe, or ought reasonably to be ware, is of a confidential nature, unless:

• I have received the consent of a person authorised to give it
• I am required by law to do so
• the disclosure is made to a third party for the purpose of obtaining professional legal advice provided that the third party agrees not to disclose the information to any other person, or
• the disclosure is:
  • reasonable and in the public interest, and
  • made in good faith and in compliance with the reasonable requirements of the local authority, and
  • I have consulted the Monitoring Officer prior to its release.

5.1 I do not bring my role or local authority into disrepute.

6.1 I do not use, or attempt to use, my position improperly to the advantage or disadvantage of myself or anyone else.

The committee considered this to be a serious breach of the Suffolk Code of Conduct and therefore imposed the following sanctions:

• That Councillor Drummond write a letter of apology to the three complainants and the data subject, such letter to be approved by the Monitoring Officer and sent via the Director for Planning and Growth.
• That the Committee will report its findings in respect of Councillor Drummond’s conduct to the next ordinary meeting of Council and for Councillor Drummond to apologise to Council for the breach.
• That the Committee will release a statement about Councillor Drummond’s conduct to the media.
• That a copy of this decision notice is submitted to Councillor Drummond’s group leader with a recommendation that he is removed from Development Control Committee for the remainder of the current Administration.
• That a recommendation is made to Councillor Drummond’s group leader that he is removed from the Local Plan Working Group for the remainder of the current Administration.

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