Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Chair of the Interview Panel.

To appoint Dr Peter Barnes, Mr Dewi Lewis a Mr Paul Millar-Mills as Lay Members of the Governance and Audit Committee for the next five years, subject to receiving acceptable references.

The report was submitted by Cllr Anne Lloyd Jones in the absence of the Chair of the interview panel. It was stated that there was a need to appoint three Lay Members to the Governance and Audit Committee and there were three members on the interview panel - the Chair of the Council, the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Chair of the Democracy Services Committee.

Four individuals had been interviewed, and after careful and thorough consideration it was noted that three had met the criteria. As a result, it was requested to appoint Dr Peter Barnes, Mr Dewi Lewis and Mr Paul Millar-Mills as members of the Governance and Audit Committee for the next 5 years.

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

Dissatisfaction in terms of gender balance among lay members was expressed. Of 18 elected and lay members, it was noted that there were only 4 women which was not a fair reflection of society. It was asked whether more effort could be made to attract women. Since the change to have six lay members back in 2022, the Head of Finance noted that the committee had never had full lay membership. It was emphasised that the committee could not control who applied to be a lay member, but it was stressed that over the years the department had tried all sorts of ways to attract members, but it was emphasised that it had been a fair process and that all applications had been given fair attention.

It was asked what kind of checks and references were required when applying, whether the members were having thorough background searches and what they had achieved. It was explained that the appointments were subject to the receipt of acceptable references which would be received over the coming weeks.

RESOLVED To appoint Dr Peter Barnes, Mr Dewi Lewis and Mr Paul Millar-Mills as Lay Members of the Governance and Audit Committee for the next five years, subject to receiving acceptable references.