Who can make a complaint about a councillor?

Any member of the public may submit a complaint alleging a breach of the Members Code of Conduct; details are provided on the council complaints page.

What happens after I submit a complaint?

The Monitoring Officer assesses whether the complaint falls within the code, may seek further information, and decides whether to investigate or take other action.

Can I appeal a decision?

If you are unhappy with the council's handling or outcome, you can seek external review by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman once local processes are exhausted.

Members Code of Conduct Complaints in Liverpool

Signs and Advertising England 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026

Liverpool, England maintains procedures for handling complaints about councillors under its Members Code of Conduct. This guide explains how complaints are assessed, the range of possible sanctions, who enforces the code, and practical steps to submit or appeal a complaint within Liverpool City Council.

Overview

Complaints alleging breaches of the Members Code of Conduct for Liverpool councillors are handled by the council's monitoring arrangements and, where necessary, referred to the Standards Committee for consideration. Complainants usually start by submitting a written complaint to the council's Monitoring Officer who assesses whether the allegation is within scope and the appropriate next steps. For external review, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman provides a route where local remedies are exhausted or unsuitable.^[1]^[2]

Complaints are assessed by the Monitoring Officer before any formal investigation.

Penalties & Enforcement

Liverpool City Council's public information sets out the local process for investigating and deciding complaints under the Members Code of Conduct. Specific monetary fines for code breaches are not listed on the council's complaints pages and are generally not a standard sanction for code breaches in local government; see the council guidance for details and the external review route.^[1]

Enforcer: Monitoring Officer and Standards Committee for investigation and determination.
Appeals/review: external referral to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman where applicable; further legal remedies may be available in court for matters involving criminal conduct.^[2]
Fines: not specified on the cited Liverpool City Council page.
Time limits: the council page does not set a fixed statutory time limit; complainants are advised to submit allegations promptly.
Escalation: assessment by Monitoring Officer, possible investigation, Standards Committee decision, and recommended sanctions or actions.
Non-monetary sanctions: may include requests for apology, training, counselling, censure, reporting to committees, or removal from committee positions where the council's arrangements permit.

Sanctions for code breaches are typically corrective or reputational rather than financial according to council guidance.

Applications & Forms

The council publishes a complaints form and guidance for alleging a breach of the Members Code of Conduct; the form explains what information to include, how to submit the complaint to the Monitoring Officer, and any required contact details. Where a specific form is not available, the council accepts a written complaint containing the necessary details. See the council complaints page for the current form and submission details.^[1]

Common Violations & Typical Outcomes

Failure to declare interests - outcome: investigation and possible requirement to publicise or update declarations.
Bullying or disrespectful behaviour - outcome: apology, training, or censure.
Use of position for personal gain - outcome: investigation and referral to appropriate authorities.

If criminal conduct is suspected, matters may be referred to the police in addition to local standards processes.

Action Steps

Gather evidence: collect dates, witness names, documents, emails and any public records.
Submit complaint: complete the council complaints form or send a written complaint to the Monitoring Officer as set out on the council page.^[1]
Cooperate with assessment: respond to any requests from the Monitoring Officer for further information.
Escalate if needed: if you are dissatisfied with the council's handling, consider referral to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.^[2]

FAQ

Who can make a complaint about a councillor?: Any member of the public may submit a complaint alleging a breach of the Members Code of Conduct; details are provided on the council complaints page.^[1]
What happens after I submit a complaint?: The Monitoring Officer assesses whether the complaint falls within the code, may seek further information, and decides whether to investigate or take other action.
Can I appeal a decision?: If you are unhappy with the council's handling or outcome, you can seek external review by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman once local processes are exhausted.^[2]

How-To

Check the council's Members Code of Conduct and complaint guidance to confirm your concern falls within scope.
Complete the council's complaint form or prepare a written statement with dates, facts and supporting documents.
Submit the complaint to the Monitoring Officer by the method described on the council complaints page.
Keep records of submissions and any council responses; respond promptly to requests for more information.
If the council's outcome is unsatisfactory, consider contacting the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for independent review.

Key Takeaways

Submit a clear written complaint to the Monitoring Officer with evidence.
Sanctions are mainly non-monetary and administered locally via the Standards Committee.
External review is available through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.