Following the resignation of Cllr Peter Geary, as Vice Chair of the Standards Committee, a decision we respect and stand by, the Conservative Group has carefully considered its continued participation on the Committee.
This consideration follows the handling of a recent Code of Conduct complaint involving the Council Leader and a young person at a public Full Council meeting, which has raised serious concerns about the operation of the Standards process.
In light of these concerns, we do not currently have confidence in the way the Standards Committee process is operating. For that reason, the Conservative Group will not have any representation on the Committee at this time.
As elected councillors, we have a responsibility to the public not simply to occupy seats on committees, but to ensure those committees command confidence and uphold the standards they are intended to protect.
In this case, profanity directed at a young person in a formal democratic setting was treated as capable of being resolved through informal resolution. Resolution, by its nature, requires confidence that the issue has been properly addressed. In this instance, that confidence was certainly not present.
We are concerned not only about the outcome of this specific case, but about the wider implications for the Standards framework. Where complaints of this seriousness are resolved without a hearing, transparency, or any opportunity for review, it risks undermining confidence in the process itself. This concern is heightened where the complaint relates to the most senior elected member of the authority. In such circumstances, residents reasonably expect a Standards process that is open, robust, and clearly independent.
We do not believe this approach reflects the seriousness of the conduct or meets residents’ expectations that those holding senior leadership positions are subject to meaningful and transparent accountability.
This is not a decision taken lightly. It is rooted in principle, safeguarding, and public trust. We cannot, in good faith, participate in a process that has not adequately addressed conduct which brought disrepute to the Council.
We remain committed to high standards in public life and to restoring confidence in council governance. This position will be kept under review, and we will revisit it once we are satisfied that the Standards process is operating with the independence, transparency, and robustness that all residents of Milton Keynes deserve.
