Sutton Councillor Sheldon Vestey is facing allegations of breaching the council's code of conduct, following a series of complaints regarding social media posts, disclosure of confidential information, and misuse of council resources. Specifically, Councillor Vestey is alleged to have misused council resources by using council email to send unsubstantiated allegations against another councillor.
The allegations were reviewed at a Code of Conduct Panel meeting on Thursday, 17 July 2025. The complaints were brought forward by Councillor Tim Crowley, Councillor Nick Mattey, and one anonymous complainant. According to the Outcome of Code of Conduct Investigations - Report, the complaints were investigated by Verina Wenham, with peer review by Hoey and Ainsworth Associates.
The investigator found that Councillor Vestey could reasonably be regarded as being in breach of paragraphs 3, 6 and 14 of the Code of Conduct in relation to the complaint submitted by Councillor Tim Crowley and Councillor Nick Mattey, and paragraph 3 of the Code of Conduct in relation to the complaint submitted by the anonymous complainant.
The relevant sections of the Code of Conduct include:
- Treating others with respect.
- Not bullying or harassing any person.
- Ensuring appropriate use of council resources.
The Agenda frontsheet for the meeting indicates that the panel, consisting of Councillor Colin Stears (Chair, Audit and Governance Committee), Councillor Mike Dwyer, and Councillor Tim Foster (Leader of the Sutton Independent Residents Group), was to determine what actions, if any, to take in response to the complaints and investigation reports.
The panel's options, as outlined in the meeting's Public reports pack, range from dismissing the complaint to recommending censure or removal from committees. According to the 2025 Code of Conduct Hearing Panel Procedure, the panel does not have the power to suspend or disqualify the member or withdraw the member's allowance.
The meeting agenda also included a motion to exclude the press and public, citing the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. The specific exempt information was not detailed in the agenda.
The Standards Regime Complaints Procedure outlines how complaints are handled, from initial assessment to potential hearings. The procedure states that the Monitoring Officer will review every formal Code of Conduct complaint received and, after consultation with the Independent Person, take a decision as to whether it merits formal investigation.
