A COMPLAINT against a borough councillor over an alleged breach of the code of conduct was settled without a formal investigation, it can be revealed.

During the standards sub-committee meeting last Wednesday, members were provided with an update from monitoring officer Matthew Cumberbatch.

It has been confirmed that since the sub-committee’s last meeting in October, one complaint relating to a borough councillor was settled without a formal investigation following an assessment by Mr Cumberbatch and consultation with an independent person.

Furthermore, a complaint against a parish councillor was resolved with no action taken following an assessment by the monitoring officer and consultation with an independent person.

But the council says it is unable to provide the names of those who were subject to the complaints.

A spokesman said: “The name of the complaint and the councillor against which a complaint has been submitted is considered to be part two information and, as such, is only shared with the complainant, councillor in question, monitoring officer and independent person.

“The complaints in question related to alleged breaches of the code of conduct.

“All standards complaints follow this procedure and are fully investigated by the monitoring officer and involve the consultation of one of the independent persons.

“If the complaint requires an investigation, this is then carried out by an independent investigator.”

The code of conduct sets out the standards required by councillors and is ‘consistent with’ the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.