Issue - meetings

To decide on the Application.

Allow dispensation to speak but not to vote on the matter when the matter arises.

Submitted – the report of the Propriety and Elections Manager requesting the committee to consider and make a decision on an application for dispensation by Councillor Morwenna Pugh, a member of the Ffestiniog Town Council. It was confirmed that the applicant had confirmed that she would not be able to attend the meeting.

Then, the Propriety and Elections Manager detailed the application in question, stating:-

-       That Ffestiniog Town Council needed to consider whether they wished to accept Barnardo's offer to transfer the building to the Council's ownership. Barnardo's owned the building and operated from one part of it, whilst the other part had been let to the 'O Law i Law' nursery.

-       The Clerk had confirmed that the situation was now public, and the matter was no longer confidential as noted in the application form.

-       That Councillor Morwenna Pugh had no interest in the building itself but has a personal and prejudicial connection.

-       That the Councillor had grandchildren who attended the childcare provision in the building which was run by one of the tenants in the building.

-       If the Committee wished to approve the application, it should be satisfied that the member had a specific role or expertise to contribute to the field.

The Committee agreed to approve the application under paragraph (dd) of the circumstances where dispensations could be approved. It was noted that Councillor Morwenna Pugh was the only female member of the council and therefore the Council believed that this unique perspective that could be offered in the particular circumstances of this case would not otherwise be available to the council.

This meant therefore that Councillor Morwenna Pugh would be required to declare her interest at the meeting, explaining that it was a prejudicial interest but that she had received dispensation by the Standards Committee to speak but not vote. The Councillor would also be required to leave the room after contributing to the discussion.

RESOLVED

To approve dispensation to speak but not to vote on the matter whenever the matter arises.