Agenda and minutes
Venue: Ystafell Gwyrfai, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. LL55 1SH
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
No. | Item |
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APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: None. |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No declarations of 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: None. |
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The Chairman
shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 18th April,
2016 be signed as a true record (attached). Minutes: The Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting that took place
on 18 April, 2016, as a true record. Councillor Lesley Day thanked her fellow members for their
good wishes. Councillor Michael Sol Owen noted that he
had inadvertently forgot to
send an apology. |
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THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 PDF 181 KB To consider
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted – the report of
the Monitoring Officer appending a draft of the committee's annual report for the period from 1 April
2015 up to 31 March 2016. The committee's observations and approval of the document were invited. It was noted that the Chair and the Monitoring
Officer would add a foreword to the report prior to its publication. The Senior Solicitor noted that it was intended
to circulate the report to
the clerks of community and town councils
following the full Council meeting in October. Members were asked to check
their personal details and to then e-mail the Senior Solicitor. During the discussion on the contents of the report:- ·
It was suggested that a reference should be made to Linda Byrne's inability to continue as an independent
member due to illness. ·
Councillor Lesley Day noted that she was not the chair of the Democratic Services Committee in 2015/16. It was asked if it
would be possible to present the annual report to the Council's July meeting from
now on, however,
the Monitoring Officer explained that the calendar did not favour this. RESOLVED to approve
the draft of the annual report and to submit
it to the Council’s meeting on 6 October.
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ATTENDING AND OBSERVING MEETINGS PDF 112 KB To consider
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Minutes: Submitted - the report of
the Monitoring Officer reviewing the system of visiting
Cyngor Gwynedd meetings and
the County's Community Council meetings and the benefit gained and requesting
the committee to consider if there was value
in identifying a more structured programme to observe meetings. During the discussion:- ·
It was suggested that
it would be useful for the Standards Committee to observe the work of preparing for the 2017 Local Government Elections, and specifically the sessions to raise awareness of prospective candidates and the induction programme for elected
members following the elections. It was also suggested
that it would
be a good idea to include an item
on the work of the Standards Committee in the awareness raising sessions in order that
prospective candidates know how to behave
in campaign activities. The Monitoring Officer noted that he
was already in discussion with the Democratic Services regarding raising awareness within the induction system about the role of the Standards Committee. ·
It was suggested that
it would be sensible to contact councils beforehand to inform them of a member's intention to come and observe
a meeting, especially if that member
required a translation service. RESOLVED (a)
That there was value in identifying a more structured programme of observing meetings and to trust in
the Monitoring Officer and the Senior Solicitor to agree on a draft
programme of visits to as many councils
as possible, over the next 12 months. (b)
To request that the Monitoring Officer provides a brief report to the next meeting outlining
the preparation work for the 2017 Local Government Elections and how the Standards
system interweaves with this. |
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ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MEMBERS PDF 12 KB To consider
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Minutes: Submitted, for information – the report of the Monitoring Officer on formal complaints
made against members. Further to the contents of the written
report, the Senior Solicitor
noted that the Ombudsman had now informed the Council that he was investigating
Case 201600999. RESOLVED to note
the report. |