County Council telephone: 01572 722 577 Catmose fax: 01572 758 307 email: [email protected] Rutland web: www.rutland.gov.uk LE15 6HP

14 February 2020

95/20 - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Dear Sir/Madam

Your request for information has now been considered and the information requested is provided below.

Request/Response:

On 21st your correspondence stated:

8 complaints were received by with regards to Council William Cross’s behaviour and alleged response during the period 10/12/18 – 31/12/19.

1. Of the eight complaints received, was the end result of specially each complain?

Answer: The end result for all was that the Code of Conduct only applies when a Councillor is acting as a Councillor. Councillor Cross was acting a private capacity and so the Code does not apply.

2. Under the FOI act, I am able to access copies of each complaint’s complaint with the complainants personal details removed? IF so, please provide copies.

Answer: The 8 complaints received by Rutland County Council were as follows;

1 Dear sir / madam. I was fortunate to visit the , from France. I witnessed a very disturbing sight of a person being physically assaulting a male, upon further information, the assailant was a member of your council. I know a hunt was in progress, BUT it does not give ANYONE the right to assault another person. I gave advice to the assaulted to seek legal advice to the situation. thank you. kind regards. 2 Is William Cross still a member of your local government, considering he assaulted a man on the 14 /12/19. 3 I have just watched the online video of your councillor, Mr William Cross, Tory councillor for Oakham (Braunston and Martinsthorpe), where he manhandles and pushes a person at least a quarter of a mile across a field, whilst almost strangling him. This type of behaviour is unacceptable and is classed as physical assault. I would like to know what Rutland County Council plans to do about the actions of its councillor. 4 Conduct of your members breaking the law, if it was someone else doing it he would want them transported to the colonies we don't own any more.

5 Councillor William cross indulging in illegal activities assaulting oap and illegal fox hunting this is against the law. This man should be held account and sacked. Again, I say illegal and assault. 6 I email in disgust at one of your counsellors, William Cross, being videoed breaking the law and involved in fox hunting. It’s an absolute disgrace. And if this is not enough, he is aggressively man handling someone who is trying to stop the law being broken. Totally shocking. Does he not realise what he is protecting and involved in is AGAINST the law!!!! The council should take action against this vile individual, a so called rep of the county of Rutland. 7 I wish to make a formal complaint against Conservative Councillor William Cross. On Dec 10th 2019 he physically assaulted a member of a hunt saboteurs monitoring illegal hunting. He persistently assaulted the man and threatened other hunt saboteurs. I am disgusted at his behaviour. I believe as a Councillor he is breaking the code of conduct for a person in this standing. I believe he should be held to account by a. Apologising b. Being removed from office. C. Be referred to the Police for criminal assault. To clarify, yes I did vote Conservative last Thursday! His behaviour as a councillor is appalling and should be removed from office immediately. 8 I wish to make a formal complaint against Conservative Councillor William Cross. On Dec 10th 2019 he physically assaulted a member of a hunt saboteurs monitoring illegal hunting. He persistently assaulted the man and threatened other hunt saboteurs. I am disgusted at his behaviour. I believe as a Councillor he is breaking the code of conduct for a person in this standing. I believe he should be held to account by a. Apologising b. Being removed from office. C. Be referred to the Police for criminal assault. To clarify, yes I did vote Conservative last Thursday! His behaviour as a councillor is appalling and should be removed from office immediately.

3. Under the FOI act, I am able to access copies of the council’s responses to each complaint’s complaint with the complainant’s personal details removed? If so please provide copies.

Answer: Of the 8 complaints received, 5 of them requested a response. The response those complainants received was as follows;

“Rutland County Council’s Constitution (part 5) Members’ Code of Conduct states that ‘the Code [of conduct] applies whenever a person is acting on his or her capacity as a Member of the Council or co-opted member of a committee, sub-committee or other body of the Council’ . Mr Cross, in this instance, was acting in his capacity as a landowner and not as a Councillor of Rutland County Council.

Therefore, the Members Code of Conduct does not apply and we are unable to progress the complaint.”

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If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request please contact the Data Protection Officer, Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6HP You can also complain to the Information Commissioner at:

The Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House, Water lane Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF Tel: 01625 545700

Yours faithfully

FOI Administrator Business Support Team Rutland County Council