Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Chair of the Standards Committee.

To accept the report.

Mr Eifion Jones, Chair of the Standards Committee, was welcomed to the meeting to present the committee's annual report for 2022/23.

The Chair noted that it had been a privilege for him to be elected as Chair of the Standards Committee in February this year, and that he wished to sincerely thank his predecessor in the Chair, Dr Einir Young, who had provided her service and guidance to the Committee over her 10-year period as a member.

When submitting the report, the Chair drew attention to the new statutory duty on the leaders of political groups and thanked the three Leaders for their collaboration on the initial steps that had been taken to deal with the duty.  He emphasised the importance of keeping a close relationship between the Leaders and the Monitoring Officer, noting that the full Standards Committee would arrange a meeting with the Leaders in the near future.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Chair of the Standards Committee for his work during the year.

Members were given an opportunity to make observations and ask questions. 

It was asked how the senior officers of the Council, such as the Monitoring Officer, were moderated.  In response, it was noted that:

·         The role of the Standards Committee was to look at public conduct and the way elected members behaved as a part of their work.

·         That there was a Members' Code of Conduct and an Officers' Code of Conduct, and that everyone adhered to this to the best of their abilities, at all times.

·         That there was a completely separate performance management procedure for matters relating to officer performance in respect of their work, and that this was a completely separate matter to the remit of the Standards Committee.

·         That the role of Monitoring Officer was a statutory role and that the post holder was accountable and responsible for this function to the Full Council.  Should any party wish to lodge a complaint against the Monitoring Officer, they would be required to raise the matter with the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED to accept the report.