A meeting of the council’s Constitution and Ethics Sub-Committee took place today (Wednesday 21 January) to determine a complaint made by a resident against Councillor Kirsty Knight.
The Sub-Committee meeting followed an investigation by the council that concluded that the Members’ Code of Conduct had been breached, and that alternative or informal resolution was not appropriate.
This related to a complaint made against Councillor Knight in March 2025 by a resident regarding an interaction at the resident’s home.
At the meeting today, panel members were asked:
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Whether Councillor Knight had failed to comply with the Code of Conduct and provide brief reasons for their conclusions.
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To consider, in the light of any conclusions reached in relation to the Code of Code complaint, what, if any, action is appropriate.
Following presentation of the evidence both in writing (including representations made by Councillor Knight) and orally at the hearing and written correspondence recently submitted by Cllr Knight, the panel found that Councillor Knight had breached the code of conduct in relation to:
(i) 3.1.2 Bullying – the panel found Cllr Knight has breached the Code in relation to bullying. The panel do not find that Cllr Knight harassed and/or discriminated against the complainant;
(ii) 3.1.5 Disrepute – the panel found that Cllr Knight has brought her Office as a Councillor into disrepute. The panel do not find that Cllr Knight has brought the Council into disrepute; and
(iii) 3.1.6 Use of Position – the panel found that Cllr Knight abused her position as a Cllr.
Upon reaching its conclusions, the panel agreed that it was appropriate to impose the following sanctions:
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Publication of the panel’s findings.
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Cllr Knight issues a written apology to the complainant and an apology to Full Council.
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Cllr Knight undertakes appropriate training on the member code of conduct; and
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A Recommendation to Full Council to remove Cllr Knight from the role of Chair of the Council’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here - Agenda for Constitution and Ethics Sub-Committee on Wednesday 21st January, 2026, 10.30 am | Peterborough City Council