Venue: Ystafell Gwyrfai, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. LL55 1SH
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
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APOLOGIES To receive any
apologies for absence. Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Dr
Einir Young (Chair). |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any
declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No declarations of personal interest were
received from any members present. |
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URGENT ITEMS To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman
for consideration. Minutes: No urgent matters were raised. |
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The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this
committee held on 18th March, 2019 be signed as a true record (attached). Minutes: The Chair signed the minutes of the previous
meeting of this committee held on 18 March, 2019 as a true record. |
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 2018-19 PDF 45 KB To consider the
report of the Senior Solicitor (Corporate)
(attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the draft of the committee's annual
report for 2018-2019. The committee's observations and approval of the document
were invited. Members were asked to check their biographies
and to contact the Senior Solicitor - Corporate with any amendments / updates. RESOLVED (a)
To approve the annual report to be
submitted to the Full Council on 18 July, subject to changing the reference to
2016-2017 in the English version in the main heading on page 15 to read '2018-2019’. (b) Authorise
the Monitoring Officer to complete the forewords, in consultation with the
Chair. |
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APPLICATION FOR DISPENSATION PDF 61 KB To consider the
report of the Monitoring Officer (to
follow). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the
report of the Monitoring Officer requesting that the committee consider and
decide on an application by Councillor W. Gareth Roberts, a member of the
Aberdaron ward on Gwynedd Council, for a dispensation relating to the proposed
scheme to create electricity near Bardsey Island, which was in his ward, where
he was also a tenant farmer. The Senior Solicitor
- Corporate explained: ·
Should the scheme be realised, the Councillor would benefit in the sense
that there would be an electricity supply available to him on Bardsey
Island. This created an interest because
a decision on the scheme either way would impact his personal interest. The interest was also a prejudicial one. ·
The Councillor wished to take part in the local discussions due to his
knowledge as a local member, but also as someone who had unique knowledge and
experience of Bardsey Island. He also wished to have the right to speak as a
local member, but not to vote, when the scheme was presented to this Council. On this point,
Councillor Dewi Roberts declared a personal interest in the item as he was a
member of the Bardsey Island Trust and had been Vice-chair of the Bardsey
Island Council. He was of the opinion
that it was a prejudicial interest, and he withdrew from the meeting during the
discussion on the item. The committee was
asked to weigh up the public interest in preventing the Councillor from taking
part in the discussions due to the interest, against the public interest, in
allowing him to take part due to his unique knowledge and experience of Bardsey
Island. The Committee was also asked to consider the practicality of asking
another member to step into the role of the local member in this context. During the discussion
on the application, the following observations were noted: ·
The Councillor would not benefit financially from the scheme. ·
As the Councillor already used electricity on the island, the scheme would
not mean any more to him than changing the core supply. ·
That the wording of the Councillor's application for a dispensation
suggested that he had a definite view in favour of the arrival of an
electricity supply on the island.
Despite that, it was possible that others might have reasons for
opposing the development and that view needed to be heard in any discussions
also. ·
That the scheme's advantage to the Councillor as a tenant was clear, as
having an electricity supply on the island would facilitate things for him. ·
That the Councillor could talk on the matter as a private landowner and
that he could ask an adjacent member to represent him in his role as a local
member. RESOLVED to refuse the application by Councillor W.
Gareth Roberts for a dispensation to take part as a member of Gwynedd Council
in the local discussions and to speak when the scheme to create electricity
near Bardsey Island came before this Council, on the following grounds: (a) That the committee was of the opinion that ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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SELF-ASSESSMENT AND WORK PROGRAMME PDF 53 KB To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the report of the
Monitoring Officer inviting the committee to: ·
hold a self-evaluation of the committee's work and
output during 2018-19; and ·
consider the draft work programme for 2019-20. RESOLVED (a) To adopt the following as the
committee’s self-evaluation of its performance in 2018-19:
(b) Approve the following work programme for
2019/20: 17 June, 2019 Annual Report Allegations against members The Ombudsman’s Casebook 4 November, 2019 Gifts and Hospitality Register Declaration of Interests Register The Ombudsman’s Annual Report Allegations ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE PDF 61 KB To consider the
report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the
report of the Monitoring Officer inviting the committee to discuss matters
noted in the report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life on the
findings of its review of the existing arrangements' effectiveness for
standards in Local Government in England. It was noted that although
the review was only in relation to implementing the standards system in
England, the report and its recommendations would be of interest to members of
the Standards Committee. Attention was drawn
to some of the report's main messages in a number of various fields, including
the declarations of interest, allegations of misconduct, bullying, the role of
officers, corporate arrangements, leadership and culture along with outsourcing
and collaboration arrangements. It was suggested that the committee could come
back to some of these matters in future. RESOLVED to
accept the report. |
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OMBUDSMAN'S CODE OF CONDUCT CASEBOOK PDF 48 KB To consider the
report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the
report of the Monitoring Officer inviting the committee to discuss matters
noted in the Ombudsman's Code of Conduct Casebook - Edition 20. During the discussion,
it was noted that: ·
The first case in the Case Summaries outlined the importance of retaining
the evidence. ·
That receiving an overview of what was happening in other places was a good
way of identifying problems across north Wales. RESOLVED to
accept the report. |
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ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MEMBERS PDF 46 KB To consider the
report of the Senior Solicitor (Corporate) (attached). Minutes: Submitted, for
information, the report of the Senior Solicitor (Corporate) presenting
information about the Ombudsman's decisions on formal complaints against
members. RESOLVED to
accept the report. |