Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014

Reports, etc.

Reports, etc.

57.—(1) Where the Commissioner determines in relation to any case that a finding under section 55(5)(a) or (b) is appropriate, the Commissioner—

(a) may produce a report on the outcome of the investigation;

(b) may—

(i) provide a summary of any such report to any newspapers circulating in the district of the council concerned; and

(ii) take other steps to publicise the summary;

(c) must send a copy of any such report to the clerk of the council concerned and to the councillor; and

(d) where the Commissioner does not produce any such report, must inform the clerk of the council concerned and the councillor of the outcome of the investigation.

(2) Where the Commissioner determines in relation to any case that a finding under section 55(5)(c) is appropriate, the Commissioner must—

(a) produce a report on the outcome of the investigation;

(b) send a copy of the report to the clerk of the council concerned; and

(c) send a copy of the report to the councillor.

(3) Where a person is no longer a councillor of the council concerned but is a councillor of another council the references in subsections (1)(b), (c) and (d) and (2)(b) to the council concerned are to be treated as including references to that other council.

(4) A report under this section may cover more than one investigation under section 55 in relation to any councillors (or former councillors) of the same council.

(5) The Commissioner must take reasonable steps to inform any person who made any allegation which gave rise to the investigation, of the outcome of the investigation.

(6) In subsections (1) and (2) “councillor” means the councillor (or former councillor) who is the subject of the investigation.

Interim reports

58.—(1) Where the Commissioner considers it necessary in the public interest, the Commissioner may, before the completion of an investigation under section 55, produce an interim report on that investigation.

(2) An interim report under this section may cover more than one investigation under section 55 in relation to any councillors (or former councillors) of the same council.

(3) A copy of any report under this section must be given—

(a) to any person who is the subject of the report; and

(b) to the clerk of the council concerned.

(4) Where a person is no longer a councillor of the council concerned but is a councillor of another council the reference in subsection (3)(b) to the council concerned is to be treated as including a reference to that other council.