Monitoring officer threatens to refer councillors to police over register of interests

Stephen Gerrard, the authority’s Director of Law and Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer, told councillors during an Audit and Standards Committee meeting on 24 September that he is taking external advice on the matter.

Council members are required under section 30 of the Localism Act 2011 to notify the monitoring officer of any disclosable pecuniary interests of them, or a spouse or civil partner they live with, within 28 days of taking up office.

Section 34 of the 2011 Act 2011 makes it a criminal offence if a member or co-opted member fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with requirements under section 30 or take part in council business at meetings or when acting alone when prevented from doing so.

According to a report considered during the meeting, all councillors have submitted information to the register of interests, but some members have been told that additional information is required to comply with their duties.

Speaking during the meeting, Gerrard said he had "written around and encouraged those people who I think have fallen short".

He continued: "To the extent that it hasn't been done, I am likely to be referring a few, I think, to the police. It is a criminal offence."

Responding to a question on whether councillors will have a deadline to complete their register of interests, Gerrard said: "I  think I have arrived at that moment. I have written around to councillors, given them the opportunity to refresh - and those that haven't, I am taking external advice on those particular ones."

He did not name any of the councillors who he claimed had not fulfilled their duties.

Adam Carey