Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer.

To accept the report.

Submitted – a report by the Monitoring Officer reporting formally that in accordance with Part 5 of the Constitution, the Council Leader had acted to rearrange the Cabinet Members' Portfolios.

A member commented that the majority of the Cabinet members were from the Arfon area, and that only one represented Meirionnydd.  It was also noted that the Cabinet Members from Dwyfor lived near to Arfon.  As such, the member queried how it could be ensured that there was no unconscious prejudice when making decisions based on geography, and to what extent could the Cabinet avoid lack of compassion with the outer-most parts of the County, which had the most dispersed population?  ⁠In response, the Chief Executive noted:-

·         That he would not pass comment on the content of the observation as this was a report for information regarding changing the Constitution, and it was a matter for the Leader to appoint her Cabinet.

·         As the one leading the Council's staff, he noted the observation and could assure the member that no unconscious geographical bias existed from the perspective of the staff.

A member thanked the four Cabinet Members who had stood down earlier this term on a matter of principle for their service.  It was noted that those members had called for a public inquiry and independent review of the matter, and they welcomed the fact that this was now taking place.

RESOLVED to accept the report.