By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A hearing into a Gloucestershire councillor’s alleged bad behaviour has been postponed.
Forest of Dean District Council’s standards panel was due to consider allegations against a member of the council and whether they have failed to comply with the code of conduct today (October 2).
However, the meeting has now been postponed due to circumstances beyond the panel’s control, according to the authority.
The hearing will be scheduled for a new date which will be published on the authority’s website as soon as possible.
Ahead of the meeting there had been calls for hearing to be held in public.
The identity of the councillor and details about the case have so far not been made public – the reason cited is that the report contains information relating to an individual.
This has sparked some concern among councillors as a motion was agreed that meetings should be held in public.
According to the redacted meeting report, the independent members, who are not councillors, will test the robustness of an investigator’s report.
At the hearing, the investigating officer is expected to present their report, call witnesses they consider necessary and make representations to substantiate their conclusion that the member has failed to comply with the code of conduct.
The investigator may ask the complainant to attend and give evidence to the panel, according to the meeting’s agenda.
The councillor will then have an opportunity to give their evidence, to call witnesses and to make representations.
If the councillor is found to be in breach of the code of conduct they will then make a recommendation to the full council who will agree to sanctions.