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: Mr David Wareing. |
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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 10th July 2017 be signed as a true record. Minutes: The Chair signed
the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 10 July, 2017 as
a true record subject to removing the words in brackets in the decision on Item
6 (a) To adopt the following as the committee's self-assessment of its work
(additions to the document in italic and underlined). |
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REVIEW OF PROTOCOLS PDF 465 KB To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer. Minutes: Submitted - the
report of the Monitoring Officer. The committee was asked to make observations
and approve the two named protocols for supporting the Code of Conduct for
Members. Reference was made to
the Protocol on Member / Officer Relations and specifically to -
point 21.7 Roles of Employees and it was suggested that there was a need to
include additional wording to the role of a member in terms of the power to
propose policies under 21.5. -
point 21.9.4 Familiarity. It was noted that there was a need to declare
friendships between Members and Employees.
It was suggested o that the
Police's protocol should be compared with the Gwynedd Council protocol. o to adapt the
wording to include 'creates a situation of impropriety'. It was explained that
a further report would be submitted to the Standards Committee after consulting
Members and officers in general about the contents and the implementation of
the protocol. Reference was made to
the Protocol for Members on Gifts and Hospitality and specifically to point 5.2
'You should only accept offers of hospitality if there is a genuine need to
impart information or represent the Council in the community.' The point was
discussed in detail and it was explained that the aim of the point was to get
Members to think before they accepted invitations. It was agreed that no
specific needs had arisen to review the Policy. RESOLVED to accept the observations as they arrived. |
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THE OMBUDSMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 PDF 182 KB To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer. Additional documents: Minutes: The Monitoring
Officer submitted the report and drew attention to the reduction in the number of
complaints. Attention was drawn to the fact that Council
members who were standing for re-election were subject to the Code of Conduct
and that other candidates were not subject to the same rules. It was suggested
that those applicants who stood elections without currently being a member
should be subject to a Conduct protocol as current members had to conduct
themselves in accordance with the protocol. It was noted that there were some
constraints within election law, but they did not match the Code. It was noted that
there was extensive information on the Council website for new candidates. RESOLVED to note the
report. |
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ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MEMBERS PDF 233 KB To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer. Minutes: Submitted, for information – the report of
the Monitoring Officer on formal complaints made against members. It was explained that the format of the
report now only included details of the allegations that had been closed. RESOLVED
to note the report. |
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APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS PDF 263 KB To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer. Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the
report of the Monitoring Officer asking the committee to consider and determine
three applications for general dispensation from the Bangor area members in
association with a review of education provision in the Bangor area that was
being undertaken by the Council. Before
considering the individual applications, the Monitoring Officer provided an
outline of the school organisation process. He reminded the Committee that it
had set guidelines for dealing with such applications and had approved
dispensations in the past to enable members to participate in local discussions. Aled Jones (Independent Member) declared an interest in the matter and
left the meeting. Details were given on the three applications
individually, namely: ·
An application
from Councillor Dafydd Meurig, asking for permission to speak only as his sister
worked for Caban y Faenol Cyf Nursery, which was located on the land of Ysgol y
Faenol, Bangor. He was the Local Member for Arllechwedd, and would represent
the interests of the school in his ward, namely Ysgol Llandygai. Any interest would arise should there be a
discussion on a matter that would be likely to affect the Caban y Faenol
Nursery specifically. ·
An application from Councillor Elin Walker Jones,
asking for the right to speak only as she was a member of the Ysgol y Garnedd
and Ysgol Tryfan Governing Bodies (with responsibility for special educational
needs) and was also the parent of two children at Ysgol Tryfan, and a former
parent at Ysgol y Garnedd. It was explained that the only connection that led
to prejudicial interests was the fact that she was a parent with children at
Ysgol Tryfan. ·
An application from Councillor Menna Baines, asking
for the right to speak only as she had children who were pupils at Ysgol Tryfan
and who were former pupils of Ysgol y Garnedd.
She was also a member of the Ysgol y Faenol Governing Body. It was
explained that the only connection that led to prejudicial interests was the
fact that she was a parent with children at Ysgol Tryfan. Each application was considered and voted on
individually and the committee was in favour of approving the three
applications for dispensation on the same terms that had been approved for
similar applications in the past. RESOLVED 1.
To approve dispensation for
Councillor Dafydd Meurig to speak but not to vote at meetings under the
auspices of the Council regarding the process of reorganising education provision of the Bangor area, but
that he may not speak, or be present or vote at a meeting of the Council,
Cabinet or any of his committees, and that he is required to clearly state that
he has been granted a dispensation at every meeting he participates in,
explaining the exact nature of the restraints on him, and that this is noted in
the minutes of such meetings. 2. To approve dispensation for Councillor Elin Walker Jones to speak but not to vote at meetings under the auspices of the Council regarding the process of reorganising education ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |