A west Suffolk councillor could face further action after failing to comply with sanctions following a serious code of conduct breach.

Nick Clarke, who represents Clare, Hundon and Kedington, was found to have committed ‘serious’ breaches of the Suffolk code of conduct including bullying, disclosing confidential information, using their positions to the advantage or disadvantage of themselves or anyone else, and bringing their role or local authority into disrepute in May. 

The West Suffolk Standard Committee was unanimous in finding Councillor Clarke in breach of the Suffolk code of conduct. 

Several sanctions were imposed on councillor Clarke including writing a letter of apology to each of the complainants and also apologise to the council for the breaches.

The letters were to be approved by the chair of the West Suffolk Standards Committee as part of the sanction.

Cllr Clarke has failed to carry out the sanctions since May and the committee will now consider their next steps.

Among the steps that may be taken includes the standards committee chair writing to councillor Clarke's group leader, and the West Suffolk Conservative Association notifying them of the breaches and failure to comply with the sanctions. 

Councillor Roger Dicker, chair of the West Suffolk Standards Committee, said: “The West Suffolk Standards Committee is concerned that councillor Clarke has failed to comply with the Code of Conduct determination made by the Committee on May 13 2024 and therefore continues to be in breach of the Code. 

"Unfortunately, the sanctions which can be imposed upon him are limited so the committee is looking to councillor Clarke’s Conservative Group and Party to implement appropriate actions in accordance with their own group/party rules.”