Board panel for complaints goes on strike

A COMMITTEE in charge of dealing with Board of Deputies complaints relating to its code of conduct is refusing to sit as a result of a row over the provision of protection from legal costs.

The Board confirmed on Tuesday that its Constitution Committee was “waiting until there are provisions in place before continuing to deal with existing complaints”.

A statement released to the JC claimed the Board’s new constitution, which has yet to be adopted by deputies, would contain the relevant “express indemnities as well as a governance and risk trustee.”

The refusal of the constitutional committee to sit means that a number of outstanding complaints against deputies remain unresolved – while new complaints, such one lodged week against Yachad representative Amod Schofield, will not be considered at this stage.

The breakdown in relations with the committee follows what one deputy described as the “poisonous atmosphere” of last Sunday’s meeting at which President Marie van der Zyl failed to secure approval for constitutional reforms that have been the subject of lengthy debate over recent months.

Complaints committee members have raised concerns that they are not given indemnity against legal costs and any other liabilities that may flow from complaints lodged against deputies over alleged breaches of the code of conduct.

At Sunday’s meeting, deputies voted 61 per cent to 39 per cent in favour of a proposed new governing structure. This fell narrowly short of gaining the necessary two-thirds majority – but the Board’s leaders have vowed to hold the vote again in a few weeks’ time.

Asked about the refusal of the constitution committee to sit, a Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “The constitution committee is waiting until there are provisions in place before continuing to deal with existing complaints relating to the code of conduct.”