Issue - meetings

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Meeting: 17/06/2024 - Standards Committee (Item 5)

5 SELF-ASSESSMENT AND WORK PROGRAMME PDF 131 KB

To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer.

Decision:

(a) To adopt the following as the Standards Committee's self-evaluation of its performance in 2023/24.

FUNCTION	ASSESSMENT (1/2/3/4)	Evidence	Further action
1. Promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members	1.	The Chair and Vice-chair have attended the Wales Standards Forum to share experiences with other standards committees. Submit the annual report to the Full Council.	Continue to attend and support.
2. Assist the members to adhere to the Code of Conduct	1.	The Monitoring Officer and his team provide advice and guidance at meetings, and on a one-to-one basis for members.
3. Advise the Council with regard to adopting or amending the Code of Conduct	1.	No occasion had arisen to revise the Code. However, the Internal Resolution Procedure was reviewed to support the duty of Leaders of Political Groups under 52A(1) of the Local Government Act 2000.
4. Monitor the implementation of the Code of Conduct	1.	Receive regular reports on allegations against members. Receive the annual reports of the Ombudsman and the Adjudication Panel for Wales.	Continue to monitor and consider alternative methods of receiving information. Receive annual reports on the register of interests and hospitality.
5. Advise, train or arrange for members to receive training on matters relating to the Code of Conduct	3.	Full Code of Conduct training was arranged for members with the first session taking place during February and the second in April.	Need to look at providing further training as many members did not attend.
6. Granting dispensations to members	1.	Two applications for dispensation were discussed and allocated by the Committee in February 2024.
7. Deal with reports of case tribunals and any reports from the Monitoring Officer on matters referred by the Ombudsman	1.	One hearing was held during the year regarding a Member of Cyngor Gwynedd. In addition, the procedure for hearings was reviewed to strengthen the communication.
8. Authorise the Monitoring Officer to pay allowances to persons assisting with an investigation	No action required.	None to report
9. Monitor the compliance of Leaders of Political Groups on the Council and their duties under Section 52A(1) of the Local Government Act 2000. Advise, train or arrange for the Council's Political Group Leaders to receive training on matters relating to those duties.	2.	A joint session was held with Political Group Leaders and the Standards Committee Leaders to consider the duty. Criteria and a reporting on duty procedure were adopted. The Monitoring Officer has met with the Group Leaders individually to discuss the Code of Conduct matters.	The arrangements will be undertaken in accordance with the statutory guidelines.
10. Exercise the relevant above functions in relation to community councils	3.	The Monitoring Officer and his team provide advice and guidance to councillors, clerks and members. However, it was acknowledged that providing for an activity such as training has been challenging and this area needed attention and to come to a conclusion regarding the way forward.	Need to consider resuming the programme virtually when resources allow.

(b) Agree to move ... view the full decision text for item 5

Minutes:

Submitted – the report of the Monitoring Officer inviting the committee to:-

·       undertake a self-assessment of the work and outputs of the committee during 2023/24; and:-

·       consider the draft work programme for 2024/25.

The following points were highlighted:-

·        It was believed that more work was needed on matters relating to the Code of Conduct noting that the further training in question had not been arranged yet and the work had slipped. It was noted that two detailed, half-day courses had been held at the beginning of the year for the Code of Conduct. Dissatisfaction was expressed that approximately a third of the Members had not attended this mandatory course which meant that around 20 Members needed to complete it. Further sessions would be held but it was acknowledged that work was to be done to increase the numbers that had completed this training.

·        It was acknowledged there had been significant progress in the work of monitoring the compliance of the Group Leaders but it was highlighted that there was a need to move from the induction period to the performance period. It was reiterated that a great deal of work had been done last year to establish the duty but there was now a need to move to a more operational system as the initial arrangements were in place.

·        It was noted in relation to the work on Community Councils, that a pilot and course had been run however, the training programme had not been created due to the workload. The desire to complete the work was expressed but it was noted that it was currently in competition with other resources and priorities.

When conducting the self-assessment, the following points were noted:-

·        It was asked what could be done to ensure that all Members completed the training. It was suggested there was room to promote it further through the Group Leaders although it was acknowledged that Group Leaders could not force the Members to complete the training. Further suggestions were offered such as offering a course that was slightly different or that took less time.

·       It was expressed that further work was to be done with the Group Leaders but it appeared that the Leaders were working well with the Monitoring Officer and the work done so far had been good. It was noted there was a structure in place and there had been good progress in the work over the last year.

·        In terms of the Community Councils, it was acknowledged that more work was needed but the comments about scarce resources were accepted. It was noted that although the training programme had not been created, that the Legal Service provided advice and support to the Community Councils throughout the year.

While discussing the Work Programme for 2024/25 it was noted there was a need to hold a meeting with the Political Group Leaders during the year. The Committee was reminded that last year's meeting had been held after one of the Standard Committee's meetings. The possibility of holding ... view the full minutes text for item 5