Doncaster Metripolitan Council
Councillors:
56
Wards:
22
Committees:
25
Meetings (2025):
92
Meetings (2024):
113
Meeting
Audit Hearings Sub-Committee - Doncaster
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
10:00 AM
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
10:00 AM
End:
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
2:00 PM
Tuesday, 18th March 2025
2:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
18 Mar 2025
18 Mar 2025
Location:
Council Chamber, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU
Council Chamber, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU
Meeting Attendees
Co-Optee
DaveH
David Harle
Present, as expected
Co-Optee
Monica Clarke
Present, as expected
Officer
Neil Concannon
Expected
Officer
Senior Governance Officer
Jonathan Goodrum
Expected
Officer
Service Director, Legal & Democratic Services
Scott Fawcus
Expected
Chair
Councillor Glenn Bluff
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor Iris Beech
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Councillor John Healy
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Cabinet Member for Adults, Wellbeing and Culture
Agenda
0
Notice of Finding - 18 March 2025 (Does not form part of the agenda)
Attachments:
- Document Audit Hearing Notice of Finding - 180325_Redacted 10 Mar 2025
0
A. Items where the public and press may not be excluded.
1
Apologies for Absence.
Minutes
There were no apologies for absence.
2
Declarations of Interest, if any.
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest made.
3
Minutes of the Meeting held on 22nd January 2019.
Attachments:
- Document minutes 220119 10 Mar 2025
Minutes
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd January, 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
4
To consider the extent, if any, to which the public and the press are to be excluded from the meeting.
Minutes
There were no exclusions from the meeting. However, the Chair pointed out to those present that while for the most part today’s Hearing would be held in public, there would be a need for the Sub-Committee to deliberate in private towards the end of the meeting, having heard all of the evidence and any representations from the parties who were present.
5
Consideration of the Investigating Officer's Report Regarding Complaints Against Councillor Michael Glynn of Hatfield Town Council
Attachments:
- Document Cover Report - Hearings Sub Ctte 180325 - FINAL 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix A - CDC Hearings Procedure 10 Mar 2025
- Document Appendix B - IO Report and Annexes Bundle - 180325 Hearing 10 Mar 2025
Minutes
The Sub-Committee considered the final report of the Investigating Officer, Neil Concannon (Head of Litigation & Regulatory and Deputy Monitoring Officer, City of Doncaster Council (CDC)) which was presented to the Monitoring Officer on 3rd March, 2025.
The report related to allegations in respect of Town Councillor Michael Glynn of Hatfield Town Council (HTC), that he had breached the Hatfield Town Council’s Member Code of Conduct. The investigation had been undertaken following the receipt of two separate complaints by the Monitoring Officer in late 2024.
The first complaint, submitted by Mr Phillip Price (member of the public) alleged that at a Positive Action Group (“PAG”) meeting held at Hatfield Woodhouse Village Hall on the 12th August 2024, Councillor Glynn made disparaging remarks about the Hatfield Town Clerk, Clare McRoy, referring to her as “Useless” and “she’s not very good”. The meeting was chaired by a CDC Public Health Officer. Also present were 6 members of the public, at least one other HTC elected member and a CDC Ward Councillor. Clare McRoy was not present. The complainant believed that Councillor Glynn’s conduct was inappropriate and that his behaviour was disrespectful, bullying and brought his role and HTC into disrepute.
The second complaint, submitted by Hatfield Town Councillor Deborah Smith, alleged that during a meeting of HTC held at its offices on the 14th October 2024, Councillor Glynn made a misogynistic remark to Councillor Smith and other female HTC Councillors and the Town Clerk (Clare McRoy) who were also present at the meeting. The complainant believed that Councillor Glynn’s conduct was inappropriate and that his behaviour was disrespectful, bullying and brought his role and HTC into disrepute.
The Investigating Officer summarised the main findings within his report, in particular, outlining the rationale for reaching his conclusions that, in respect of the complaints received, Town Councillor Michael Glynn had failed to comply with the Hatfield Town Council Code of Conduct (“the Code of Conduct”) in relation to the following paragraphs of the Code:-
Paragraph 1.1
I treat other councillors and members of the public with respect.
Paragraph 1.2
I treat Council employees…with respect and respect the role they play.
In the absence of the Subject Member, Town Councillor Michael Glynn being present, Members of the Hearings Sub-Committee were then afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Investigating Officer on the content of his report.
The Investigating Officer was then invited to sum up the complaints, prior to the Sub-Committee reaching its decision on these matters in private.
On the conclusion of this part of the process, in accordance with the Hearings Procedure, all parties with the exception of the Monitoring Officer, the Independent Person and the Clerk were asked to leave the room to allow the Sub-Committee to deliberate in private, in order to determine whether or not there had been breaches of the Code of Conduct and, if so, whether any sanctions should be imposed. In reaching its conclusions, the Sub-Committee considered the representations and evidence, in consultation with the Independent Person.
All parties were then re-admitted to the meeting and the Chair announced the Sub-Committee’s decision.
Having regard to the report and findings of an Investigation conducted by Neil Concannon, Investigating Officer, the Sub-Committee accepted the Investigating Officer’s findings that there had been a failure by Councillor Glynn to comply with paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the Code of Conduct adopted by Hatfield Town Council in respect of the allegations detailed above for the reasons identified in the Investigating Officer’s report. Furthermore, the Sub-Committee found that Councillor Glynn had failed to comply with paragraph 8.2 of the Town Council’s Code of Conduct in terms of his failings to give further cooperation with the Investigation and his non-attendance at the Hearing.
Following the Sub-Committee’s deliberations, the Chair read out the following statement on behalf of the Sub-Committee:
“Councillor Mick Glynn shows an assertive and engaged manner as a member of Hatfield town council, with a strong inclination to challenge both staff and colleagues. Healthy challenge and robust debate are fundamental to our political system. Town and parish councillors are not professional politicians, and their meeting environment should be collaborative and not combative. While we do not want councillors to feel that they cannot express their honest views and be challenging, such behaviour must be tempered with respect for individuals as required by the Hatfield Town Council Code of Conduct, which he has agreed to uphold since adopting it in June 2021.”
RESOLVED that:-
(1) the Investigating Officer’s findings that there had been a failure by Town Councillor Michael Glynn to comply with Paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the Code of Conduct adopted by Hatfield Town Council be accepted and, furthermore, it be agreed that Town Councillor Glynn also failed to comply with paragraph 8.2 of the Town Council’s Code of Conduct; and
(2) in the circumstances of this case, appropriate sanctions to be imposed upon Town Councillor Glynn be as follows:-
1. That Councillor Glynn be censured and reprimanded for his actions;
2. That Councillor Glynn provides a written apology to the former Clerk to the Town Council, and to Councillor Deborah Smith and the Town Council as a whole, copied to the Monitoring Officer;
3. That the Sub-Committee’s findings in respect of Councillor Glynn’s conduct be published on City of Doncaster Council’s website and to recommend to Hatfield Town Council that the Sub-Committee’s findings be published on its website;
4. That the Sub-Committee’s findings be reported to Hatfield Town Council for consideration; and
5. To recommend to Hatfield Town Council that Councillor Glynn undertakes training at the expense of Hatfield Town Council on the Member Code of Conduct and on proper conduct at meetings.
CHAIR: DATE: _
The report related to allegations in respect of Town Councillor Michael Glynn of Hatfield Town Council (HTC), that he had breached the Hatfield Town Council’s Member Code of Conduct. The investigation had been undertaken following the receipt of two separate complaints by the Monitoring Officer in late 2024.
The first complaint, submitted by Mr Phillip Price (member of the public) alleged that at a Positive Action Group (“PAG”) meeting held at Hatfield Woodhouse Village Hall on the 12th August 2024, Councillor Glynn made disparaging remarks about the Hatfield Town Clerk, Clare McRoy, referring to her as “Useless” and “she’s not very good”. The meeting was chaired by a CDC Public Health Officer. Also present were 6 members of the public, at least one other HTC elected member and a CDC Ward Councillor. Clare McRoy was not present. The complainant believed that Councillor Glynn’s conduct was inappropriate and that his behaviour was disrespectful, bullying and brought his role and HTC into disrepute.
The second complaint, submitted by Hatfield Town Councillor Deborah Smith, alleged that during a meeting of HTC held at its offices on the 14th October 2024, Councillor Glynn made a misogynistic remark to Councillor Smith and other female HTC Councillors and the Town Clerk (Clare McRoy) who were also present at the meeting. The complainant believed that Councillor Glynn’s conduct was inappropriate and that his behaviour was disrespectful, bullying and brought his role and HTC into disrepute.
The Investigating Officer summarised the main findings within his report, in particular, outlining the rationale for reaching his conclusions that, in respect of the complaints received, Town Councillor Michael Glynn had failed to comply with the Hatfield Town Council Code of Conduct (“the Code of Conduct”) in relation to the following paragraphs of the Code:-
Paragraph 1.1
I treat other councillors and members of the public with respect.
Paragraph 1.2
I treat Council employees…with respect and respect the role they play.
In the absence of the Subject Member, Town Councillor Michael Glynn being present, Members of the Hearings Sub-Committee were then afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Investigating Officer on the content of his report.
The Investigating Officer was then invited to sum up the complaints, prior to the Sub-Committee reaching its decision on these matters in private.
On the conclusion of this part of the process, in accordance with the Hearings Procedure, all parties with the exception of the Monitoring Officer, the Independent Person and the Clerk were asked to leave the room to allow the Sub-Committee to deliberate in private, in order to determine whether or not there had been breaches of the Code of Conduct and, if so, whether any sanctions should be imposed. In reaching its conclusions, the Sub-Committee considered the representations and evidence, in consultation with the Independent Person.
All parties were then re-admitted to the meeting and the Chair announced the Sub-Committee’s decision.
Having regard to the report and findings of an Investigation conducted by Neil Concannon, Investigating Officer, the Sub-Committee accepted the Investigating Officer’s findings that there had been a failure by Councillor Glynn to comply with paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the Code of Conduct adopted by Hatfield Town Council in respect of the allegations detailed above for the reasons identified in the Investigating Officer’s report. Furthermore, the Sub-Committee found that Councillor Glynn had failed to comply with paragraph 8.2 of the Town Council’s Code of Conduct in terms of his failings to give further cooperation with the Investigation and his non-attendance at the Hearing.
Following the Sub-Committee’s deliberations, the Chair read out the following statement on behalf of the Sub-Committee:
“Councillor Mick Glynn shows an assertive and engaged manner as a member of Hatfield town council, with a strong inclination to challenge both staff and colleagues. Healthy challenge and robust debate are fundamental to our political system. Town and parish councillors are not professional politicians, and their meeting environment should be collaborative and not combative. While we do not want councillors to feel that they cannot express their honest views and be challenging, such behaviour must be tempered with respect for individuals as required by the Hatfield Town Council Code of Conduct, which he has agreed to uphold since adopting it in June 2021.”
RESOLVED that:-
(1) the Investigating Officer’s findings that there had been a failure by Town Councillor Michael Glynn to comply with Paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the Code of Conduct adopted by Hatfield Town Council be accepted and, furthermore, it be agreed that Town Councillor Glynn also failed to comply with paragraph 8.2 of the Town Council’s Code of Conduct; and
(2) in the circumstances of this case, appropriate sanctions to be imposed upon Town Councillor Glynn be as follows:-
1. That Councillor Glynn be censured and reprimanded for his actions;
2. That Councillor Glynn provides a written apology to the former Clerk to the Town Council, and to Councillor Deborah Smith and the Town Council as a whole, copied to the Monitoring Officer;
3. That the Sub-Committee’s findings in respect of Councillor Glynn’s conduct be published on City of Doncaster Council’s website and to recommend to Hatfield Town Council that the Sub-Committee’s findings be published on its website;
4. That the Sub-Committee’s findings be reported to Hatfield Town Council for consideration; and
5. To recommend to Hatfield Town Council that Councillor Glynn undertakes training at the expense of Hatfield Town Council on the Member Code of Conduct and on proper conduct at meetings.
CHAIR: DATE: _
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