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 Chair 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 any 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 to follow for committee members only).

Having looked very carefully at the application, and considering Gwynedd Council's Indemnity Policy attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the committee, the Chair should write to inform the member that the Standards Committee is not in a position to offer him indemnity in relation to legal representation at a hearing of the Standards Committee. The case the councillor is defending deals entirely with his role as a Town Council Councillor. Any decision would impact on that role only, and would not have any affect on the councillor's role as a member of Gwynedd Council.

Submitted – the report of the Senior Solicitor (Corporate) inviting the committee to determine the application for indemnity from a councillor under the Council's indemnity terms for Members and Officers.

RESOLVED, having looked very carefully at the application, and considering Gwynedd Council's Indemnity Policy attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the committee, that the Chair should write to inform the member that the Standards Committee is not in a position to offer him indemnity in relation to legal representation at a hearing of the Standards Committee. The case the councillor is defending deals entirely with his role as a Town Council Councillor. Any decision would impact on that role only, and would not have any effect on the councillor's role as a member of Gwynedd Council.