The conduct committee of Rutland County Council excluded members of the press and public from its meeting. 7 February, as 11 complaints against councillors were investigated.

The complaints, all made between 1 April 2022 and 13 January 2023, come less than a year after Rutland County Council adopted a new members code of conduct.

In April 2022, the council resolved that it would approve the revised code, agreed the eight best practice recommendations on standards in public life, agreed an all-member seminar and make sure members are aware of the changes.

The revised code was also recommended to Rutland parish councils.

However, in spite of this, 11 complaints have been received relating to the conduct of eight different councillors. Seven complaints relate to Oakham Town Councillors, and one each from Uppingham Town Council and Stretton Parish Council.

The council monitoring officer received two complaints from Oakham Town Councillors about each other on 11 January 2023. An independent person's view is currently being sought about them.

There was an agreed informal resolution in relation to three of the complaints, two of which were referred to the police; but there is no current update in respect of one and the police decided to take no further action in respect of the other. The monitoring officer was mindful that the majority of complaints related to parish and town councillors and agreed to fund training for parish clerks delivered by Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils. Unfortunately, the take up for the training was relatively low.

At the meeting of the conduct committee, chairperson Cllr Andrew Brown (Ind – Lyddington) said: "We need to determine whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting in accordance with s.100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 which mostly comes down to whether we need to discuss the exempt details or the public facing report."

Members of the Conduct Committee voted unanimously to exclude the press and public from the meeting.