MEMBERS of a Teignbridge Council committee will decide later this week if they need to punish at least one of their own members for breaching their code of conduct.

Discussions on four complaints upheld by an independent investigator will happen behind closed doors as the council’s governance committee goes into a so-called ‘Part Two’ session.

Council meetings go into Part Two when members feel they may have to discuss sensitive or confidential information.

The councillor or councillors who were the subject of the complaints have not been named

Two separate complaints against a named councillor – Jane Taylor (Ind, Kerswell with Coombe) – were not upheld and are part of the ‘Part One’ public agenda for the meeting, which takes place on October 2.

In the cases of the un-named councillor(s), Teignbridge says the public interest in keeping the information under wraps outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

But, a report to the committee goes on: “The investigator has identified a breach of the code of conduct and the committee is to determine any further actions.”

Sanctions could include formal censure, a requirement to apologise in writing, removal from committees or even exclusion from council meetings.

The first complaint against Cllr Taylor concerned a meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee in November 2024.

It claimed she tried to gain a place on the committee by falsely claiming to be a substitute member; took another councillor’s nameplate and misrepresented her role; spoke over the chair of the meeting and acted disrespectfully.

The investigator decided Cllr Taylor had not been intentionally deceptive, and had been confused during a ‘politically unstable period’.

Their report went on: “The video evidence confirmed a disagreement between Cllr Taylor and the chair during the meeting, but it did not show conduct that would bring the council into disrepute.”

And, it concluded: “The investigation found no evidence of dishonesty or misconduct that would constitute a breach of the code of conduct, staff protocols or the Nolan principles. The complaint is not upheld, and no sanctions are recommended.”

Cllr Taylor’s second complaint revolves around a full council meeting in January this year.

Cllr Suzanne Sanders (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) said Cllr Taylor had brought the council into disrepute by allegedly spreading misinformation and making deceitful statements for social media purposes.

Having watched a video of the meeting and interviewed both councillors, the investigator reported: “Cllr Taylor’s reaction – accusing the chair of implying she had engaged in hate speech – was based on a genuine, albeit mistaken, belief. There is no evidence of premeditation or intent by Cllr Taylor to manipulate the meeting for social media content.

“While Cllr Taylor’s conduct may have been disruptive, it did not meet the threshold for bringing the council into disrepute.

“The allegation is unsubstantiated and the complaint is not upheld. No sanctions are recommended.”