Changes to the way you can complain about a local councillor

Release date: 08.07.08
Ref: BBC/PR/L&D/19/08

Changes have recently been made to the way you can complain about the conduct of a member of Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council or one of the Borough’s parish or town councillors.

In the past all complaints were passed to the Standards Board for England but in May this year the Borough Council became responsible and complaints will be heard by an Assessment Sub-Committee of the Standards Committee.

The Standards Committee at the Borough Council is made up of Councillors and co-opted independent members from the local community.

Local resident Margaret Shaw has recently been elected Chair of the Standards Committee. She said:
“The Assessment Sub-Committee will only be able to look at complaints which are about the behaviour of a member in relation to the council’s Code of Conduct. We are unable to deal with complaints about things which are not covered by that member’s Code of Conduct.”

Guidance and a complaint form are available on the Council’s website www.berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk or in the main reception at the Council offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed.