Agenda, decisions and minutes

          To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology was received from Councillor Anne Lloyd Jones.

          To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

No urgent matters were raised.

The Chair shall propose that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion on the following item due to the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 18C, Part 4, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. This paragraph should apply because it concerns the deliberations of the Standards Committee in reaching a finding on a matter referred to it by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

It is believed that the information should not be disclosed so that the councillor is not prejudiced by any possible publicity of the case before any hearing. Consequently the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item due to the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 18C, Section 4, Schedule 12A, Local Government Act 1972. This paragraph applied because it concerned the deliberations of the Standards Committee in reaching a decision on a matter referred to it by the Public Standards Ombudsman for Wales.  It was believed that the information should not be disclosed so that the councillor was not prejudiced by any possible publicity of the case before a hearing.  Consequently, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider the report of the Senior Solicitor (Corporate) (separate copy for committee members only).

(a)  To invite the person who is the subject of the investigation to submit observations, either orally or in writing, in relation to the conclusions of the investigation and any allegation that he / she had failed to comply with the relevant authority's code of conduct.

(b)   To convene a special meeting of the Standards Committee to consider and make a decision on the matter.

(c)   To invite the Ombudsman to the hearing to present the report and/or explain any matters in it.

(ch)  That the officers, in consultation with the Chair, set a date (together with two in reserve) for the hearing.

Submitted – the report of the Senior Solicitor (Corporate) inviting the committee to consider the Ombudsman’s report regarding an investigation into a complaint against a councillor, and reaching a decision in accordance with the requirements of the relevant regulations.

RESOLVED

(a)     To invite the person who was the subject of the investigation to submit observations, either orally or in writing, in relation to the conclusions of the investigation and any allegation that he / she had failed to comply with the relevant authority's code of conduct.

(b)     To convene a special meeting of the Standards Committee to consider and make a decision on the matter.

(c)     To invite the Ombudsman to the hearing to present the report and/or explain any matters in it.

(ch)   That officers, in consultation with the Chairman, would arrange a date (and earmark two other dates) for conducting the hearing.