Apologies for asbence were received from Councillors Cox, Buck, Moring, Nelson and Beck (no substitutes).

The following Councillors declared interests as indicated:

(a) Cllr Shead – Minute 700 (Complaint Against a Councillor – Reference 20/012) – Non-pecuniary interest: Knows the Councillor subject to the complaint as a fellow Councillor;

(b) Cllr Cowan - Minute 700 (Complaint Against a Councillor – Reference 20/012) – Non-pecuniary interest: Knows the Councillor subject to the complaint as a fellow Councillor;

(c) Cllr Hooper - Minute 700 (Complaint Against a Councillor – Reference 20/012) – Non-pecuniary interest: Knows the Councillor subject to the complaint as a fellow Councillor;

(d) Cllr Cowdrey - Minute 700 (Complaint Against a Councillor – Reference 20/012) – Non-pecuniary interest: Knows the Councillor subject to the complaint as a fellow Councillor;

(e) Cllr Healey (Leigh Town Council) Minute 700 (Complaint Against a Councillor – Reference 20/012) – Non-pecuniary interest: Knows the Councillor subject to the complaint.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Confidential report attached

The Committee considered a report on the outcome of the investigation into complaint reference 20/012 and considered whether the investigation report was sufficient and if so whether it should be referred for a hearing or informal resolution should be sought.

Resolved:

That standards complaint reference 20/012 be referred for a hearing.