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  • Agenda and decisions

    Standards Committee - Monday, 9th June, 2025 10.30 am

    • Attendance details
    • Agenda frontsheet PDF 147 KB
    • Agenda reports pack PDF 1 MB
    • Printed decisions PDF 155 KB

    Venue: Cyfarfod Rhithiol / Virtual Meeting. View directions

    Contact: Iwan Edwards  01286 679018

    Items
    No. Item

    1.

    APOLOGIES

    To receive any apologies for absence.

     

    2.

    DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

    To receive any declaration of personal interest.

     

    3.

    URGENT ITEMS

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

     

     

    4.

    MINUTES pdf icon PDF 98 KB

    The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meetings of this committee held on the 17 February 2025 and 7 April 2025 be signed as a true record  (attached).

     

    Additional documents:

    • Minutes (07.04.25) , item 4. pdf icon PDF 79 KB

    5.

    ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 119 KB

    To submit the report of the Propriety and Elections Manager

    Additional documents:

    • Annual Report 2024/25 , item 5. pdf icon PDF 262 KB

    Decision:

    To approve the Annual Report of the Standards Committee for 2024/25.

     

    6.

    ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MEMBERS pdf icon PDF 97 KB

    To submit the report of the Propriety and Elections Manager

     

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix , item 6. pdf icon PDF 95 KB

    Decision:

    To note the information.

     

    7.

    SELF-ASSESSMENT pdf icon PDF 61 KB

    To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix , item 7. pdf icon PDF 64 KB

    Decision:

     

    DECISION:

     

    To adopt the following as the Standards Committee’s self-evaluation of its performance in 2024/25

     

     

    FUNCTION

    ASSESSMENT

    (1/2/3/4)

    Evidence

    Further Action

    Promote and maintain a high standard of conduct amongst members

     

    1

    The Chair and Vice Chair have the Welsh Standards Forum to share experiences with other standards committees.

     

     

     

    Submit an annual report to the Full Council.

     

     

    .

    Continue to attend and support

     

     

    Assist the members to keep to the Code of Conduct

     

    1

    The Monitoring Officer and his team provide advice and guidance in meetings and on a one to one basis.

     

     

     

    Advise the Council regarding adopting or amending the Code of Conduct

     

    1

    There were no instances where a need to amend the code arose.

     

     

     

    Monitor the operation of the Code of Conduct

     

    1

    Receive regular reports on allegations against members

     

    Receive the annual reports of the Adjudication Panel for Wales and the Ombudsman

     

     

     

     

    Continue to monitor.

     

    .

    Receive annual reports on the declaration of interests register.

     

    Advise, train or arrange training for members on matters relating to the Code of Conduct

     

    2

    Training Sessions on the Code of Conduct were undertaken during the year – 2 sessions in December and April. The course is now available as an online resource

     

    Consider new training for Council Members.

    Grant dispensations to members

     

    1

    There were no instances of making such a decision in the course of the year.

     

    Deal with reports of tribunals and any reports from the Monitoring Officer on matters referred by the Ombudsman

     

    1

    There was no relevant instance during the year.

     

    Authorise the Monitoring Officer to pay allowances to persons assisting with an investigation

     

    1

    No occasion has arisen

     

    Monitoring compliance by leaders of political groups on the council with their duties under section 52A(1) Local Government Act 2000;

               

    Advising, training or arranging to train leaders of political groups on the council about matters relating to those duties.

    2

    A joint session was arranged  with Group Leaders and members of the Standards Committee to consider the duty

     

     

    A meeting was held between the Chair and the Monitoring Officer with the new Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group in the context  of the duty

     

    The Monitoring Officer has met with the Group Leaders individually to discuss Code of Conduct issues

    The arrangements will be undertaken in accordance with the statutory guidance.

    Exercise the relevant above functions in relation to community councils

     

    1

    The Monitoring Officer and his team provide advice and guidance to councils, members and clerks.

     

    A training programme has been started during the year with two sessions held during March.

     

    To continue with the courses and provide an on- line resource.

     

     

     

    8.

    TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY COUNCILS pdf icon PDF 113 KB

    To submit the report of the Propriety and Elections Manager

     

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix , item 8. pdf icon PDF 153 KB

    Decision:

    To note the information.

    9.

    DECLARATION OF INTEREST IN MEETINGS pdf icon PDF 115 KB

    To submit the report of the Propriety and Elections Manager

     

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix , item 9. pdf icon PDF 58 KB

    Decision:

    To accept and note the information.

     

    10.

    EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

    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 denied in paragraph 11, Part 4, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. This paragraph should apply because it includes information relating to an individual Standards Committee.

     

    The information is provided on a confidential basis by the Ombudsman and disclosure would be detrimental to the operation of the investigation of complaints under the Local Governance Act 2000.  Consequently, there is significant public interest in conducting the investigation process in a fair and appropriate manner and therefore the matter should be exempt.

    11.

    THE OMBUDSMAN'S DECISION ON A COMPLAINT AGAINST A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY COUNCIL

    To submit the report of the Propriety and Elections Manager (separate copy for committee members only).