Following a number of complaints, including one from the Bugle for failing to respond to e mails, the Reserve Independent Person for ERYC Standards has supported a recommendation from the Deputy Monitoring Officer that Cllr David Gough be referred for formal investigation.

The Standards Sub Committee has identified below the paragraphs of the relevant Code of Conduct which may apply to the alleged conduct:

• You must treat others with respect.
• You must not bully or harass any person.
• You must not conduct yourself in a manner that could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute.
• You must not use, or attempting to use, your position improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person an advantage or disadvantage.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer will now appoint a member of their staff to conduct an investigation into the matter which could take up to six months.
If the investigating officer finds that there has been a failure to comply with the Code of Conduct the matter will be considered at a Standards Committee Hearing. If the Hearing Committee agrees that there has been a failure to comply with the Code of Conduct it will consider whether, or not, it would be appropriate to make a recommendation to the Council to which the Member belongs as to the action to be taken.