Member Code of Conduct Complaints - Liverpool

Utilities and Infrastructure England 4 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

In Liverpool, England, complaints about councillors’ behaviour under the Members' Code of Conduct are handled by Liverpool City Council through its Monitoring Officer and Standards procedures. This guide explains who to contact, what evidence to provide, how the council assesses complaints and the possible sanctions or outcomes. Use the official code and the council complaint page to start a referral, and expect an initial assessment by the Monitoring Officer before any formal investigation.

Complaints should focus on alleged breaches of the code and include dates and evidence.

Overview of the process

The usual steps are: check the council's Members' Code of Conduct to confirm the alleged behaviour falls within its scope, prepare a factual account and evidence, then submit the complaint to Liverpool City Council's Monitoring Officer for initial assessment. The council publishes its code of conduct and guidance on handling complaints on its official pages Code of Conduct for Councillors[1] and provides Monitoring Officer contact details for submissions Monitoring Officer contact[2].

Penalties & Enforcement

Sanctions for proven breaches are set out under the council's standards arrangements and may include recommendations to full council, formal censure, requirement for apology, mandatory training, withdrawal of committee positions or reporting to other authorities. The official Liverpool pages describe possible outcomes but do not list fixed fine amounts for code breaches; monetary fines are not specified on the cited page for Members' Code cases and are generally not the primary sanction for local authority conduct complaints[1].

  • Enforcer: Monitoring Officer and Standards Committee via Liverpool City Council.
  • Investigation: initial assessment by Monitoring Officer, then investigation or referral to Standards Committee.
  • Fines: not specified on the cited page for code breaches.
  • Appeals/review: decisions can be reviewed internally; unresolved matters may be referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for maladministration where appropriate.
Sanctions commonly focus on formal censure, training and loss of council privileges rather than fixed fines.

Escalation, time limits and defences

The Liverpool guidance sets out assessment and potential escalation to formal investigation or referral to committee; it does not specify precise statutory fine ranges or universal time limits for every complaint on the pages cited, so specific time limits are "not specified on the cited page" and will depend on the Monitoring Officer's assessment and the council's procedures[1]. Defences or mitigations commonly considered include a reasonable explanation, absence of intent, or evidence that the conduct is permitted under an approved dispensation.

Common violations

  • Failure to declare interests - likely outcome: investigation, possible censure or recommendation to remedy.
  • Bullying or discriminatory behaviour - likely outcome: investigation, training, censure or referral to other bodies.
  • Misuse of council resources - likely outcome: investigation and formal report; sanctions vary.

Applications & Forms

The council provides a complaint form and guidance for submitting complaints about councillors; the named complaint form and any fees are shown on the council complaint pages. If a specific form name, reference number or fee is required it is published on the official page for complaints about councillors; where the page does not publish a fixed fee or form number that information is "not specified on the cited page" and you should use the Monitoring Officer contact to confirm submission details[2].

Use the council complaint form or the Monitoring Officer email to ensure the complaint is logged correctly.

How complaints are handled

After submission the Monitoring Officer will acknowledge receipt, carry out a preliminary assessment for jurisdiction and seriousness, and decide whether to investigate, seek local resolution, refer to Standards Committee or take no further action. Investigations may lead to findings and recommended sanctions which the council publishes in line with its transparency arrangements. If the complaint involves potential criminal conduct, it may be referred to the police or other relevant regulator.

Action steps

  • Gather evidence: dates, witnesses, documents, messages and any public records.
  • Contact the Monitoring Officer to check the correct submission route and complaint form.
  • Complete and submit the official complaint form or send a clear written complaint to the Monitoring Officer.
  • Track the complaint: note acknowledgment, assessment outcome and any hearing dates.

FAQ

Who investigates complaints about councillors in Liverpool?
The Monitoring Officer of Liverpool City Council carries out the initial assessment and may refer matters to an independent investigation or the Standards Committee.
Can I make a complaint anonymously?
The council considers anonymous complaints but the Monitoring Officer must weigh practicality and fairness; anonymous complaints may limit the ability to investigate.
How long will an investigation take?
Timescales vary by case and the council's caseload; the council's pages describe the process but do not set fixed universal deadlines for all complaints.

How-To

  1. Confirm the behaviour falls under the Members' Code by reading the council's code and guidance.
  2. Collect factual evidence, witness names and timestamps for incidents.
  3. Complete the council complaint form or send a written complaint to the Monitoring Officer with your evidence and contact details.
  4. Await acknowledgement and initial assessment from the Monitoring Officer, and respond to any requests for clarification.
  5. If investigated, attend any hearings or provide further information as requested and note any recommended sanctions.
  6. If dissatisfied with the outcome, ask about internal review options and consider referral to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman where appropriate.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with the Monitoring Officer and the council's official complaint form.
  • Provide clear evidence and dates to support your complaint.
  • Sanctions focus on censure, training or loss of privileges rather than fixed fines.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Code of Conduct for Councillors - Liverpool City Council
  2. [2] Monitoring Officer contact - Liverpool City Council
  3. [3] How to make a complaint about a councillor - Liverpool City Council

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