Members' Code of Conduct Complaints - Liverpool

General Governance and Administration England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

Liverpool, England residents and stakeholders may need to report suspected breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct by local councillors. This guide explains who handles complaints in Liverpool, the typical stages of assessment and investigation, likely sanctions and appeal routes, and the practical steps to submit a complaint. It summarises official Liverpool City Council guidance, the role of the Monitoring Officer and Standards Committee, and where to find published forms and contacts so you can act promptly and with confidence.

How the complaints process works

Complaints about a councillor's behaviour are usually submitted to Liverpool City Council's Monitoring Officer for initial assessment; some complaints may be referred for informal resolution, formal investigation, or a standards hearing. To start a complaint, follow the council guidance and required form on the official reporting page Report a councillor[1].

Use the council form and include dates, witnesses and any documentary evidence when you submit a complaint.

Penalties & Enforcement

The council's publicly stated sanctions for proven breaches are administrative and political rather than criminal; specific monetary fines are not set out on the cited council pages. For statutory basis and procedural detail refer to the council code and Monitoring Officer arrangements Councillor Code of Conduct[2].

  • Fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: matters may move from informal resolution to formal investigation and a Standards Committee hearing; specific step-based fines or monetary ranges are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: censure, formal reports, requests for apologies, training requirements, withdrawal of committee positions or facilities - where listed, these are administrative remedies on the council pages.
  • Enforcer: the Council's Monitoring Officer and the Standards Committee oversee assessment and sanctions; contact and submission routes are given on the council pages cited above.
  • Appeals/review: the cited Liverpool pages describe internal review and referral to Standards Committee; judicial review or complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman are external options but specific statutory time limits are not specified on the cited page.
  • Defences/discretion: the Monitoring Officer and Independent Person(s) consider context, reasonable excuse and mitigation; formal defences and permitted variances are addressed in the code but detailed defences are not specified on the cited page.
The Monitoring Officer assesses whether the complaint merits investigation before any formal step is taken.

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Failure to declare interests - possible censure, requirement to update registers or referral to Standards Committee.
  • Bullying or harassment - may lead to investigation and formal findings recorded by the council.
  • Misuse of council resources - subject to internal audit and standards action where demonstrated.

Applications & Forms

The council publishes a complaint form and guidance on how to report a councillor; where a specific form number is required it is shown on the council reporting page cited above. If no form number or fee is published, the council page indicates how to submit without a fee. See the official reporting page for the current form and submission instructions Report a councillor[1].

Action steps

  • Gather evidence: dates, messages, documents and witness details.
  • Complete the council complaint form and attach supporting documents.
  • Submit to the Monitoring Officer using the contact details on the council site.
  • If dissatisfied with the outcome, consider internal review, Standards Committee referral or contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Keep a copy of every document you send and note dates of correspondence.

FAQ

Who can complain about a councillor?
Any member of the public, council employee or councillor may submit a complaint following the guidance on the council reporting page.
Will my complaint be made public?
Some stages of the process may be open and others held in private; the council explains confidentiality and publicity on its standards pages.
Is there a fee to make a complaint?
No fee is listed for submitting a councillor conduct complaint on the council reporting page.

How-To

  1. Collect factual evidence: dates, witnesses and documents that support the allegation.
  2. Use the council complaint form or online report page to complete your submission.
  3. Attach supporting files and send the form to the Monitoring Officer as instructed on the council site.
  4. Retain copies and note the council's acknowledgement and reference number.
  5. If you disagree with the outcome, request an internal review or seek advice from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Key Takeaways

  • Complaints are handled by the Monitoring Officer and Standards Committee, not by criminal process in most cases.
  • Use the council's official complaint form and include clear evidence.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Liverpool City Council - Report a councillor
  2. [2] Liverpool City Council - Councillor Code of Conduct

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