06 September 2002
The figure was more than double the typical number of complaints about councillors in any one year before the new code was put in place.
The complaints, which have been lodged with the Standards Board for England, range from claims about abusive language and bullying to charges of corruption, falsification of expenses and failure to declare outside interests.
The majority of complainants are fellow councillors or officers. Half the complaints relate to England's 10,000 parish councillors, some of whom are still actively opposed to the code of conduct on human rights and privacy grounds.
One of the complaints being investigated relates to London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who has been referred to the standards watchdog by London Assembly Liberal Democrats.
Tony Holland, chair of the Standards Board, told Public Finance that the majority of cases 'are about use of rude language, or showing disrespect in other ways. The high proportion from parish councils simply corresponds to the fact there are a lot more of them.'
But the board is struggling to cope. Holland admitted that when the first cases start going to the Adjudication Panel for England next month, staff 'will still be on a steep learning curve'.
If complaints are upheld, councillors can be barred from holding office for up to five years. In the most serious cases, complaints may be referred to the police.
PFsep2002
