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: No apologies were received. |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No declarations of personal 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: No urgent matters were raised. |
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The Chairman
shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 1st October,
2018 be signed as a true
record (attached). Minutes: The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 1 October, 2018 as
a true record. |
|
THE REGISTER OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS PDF 47 KB To submit
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the report of
the Monitoring Officer asking the committee for its views
on the process of registering interests and the Interests Registration Form, attached to the report. RESOLVED that
the committee supported the
process of registering interests and was of the opinion that the Interests Registration Form was comprehensive and fit for purpose. |
|
STANDARDS COMMITTEE MEETINGS PDF 48 KB To submit
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Minutes: Submitted - the Monitoring Officer's report seeking the committee's opinion on the frequency and number of committee
meetings. RESOLVED
to conduct three meetings of the Standards Committee annually, timed to correspond with the Council's timetable, with the right to convene an urgent meeting
if required e.g. to consider applications for dispensations. |
|
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MEMBERS PDF 49 KB To submit
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Minutes: Submitted, for information, the report of the Monitoring Officer presenting information about the Ombudsman's decisions on formal
complaints against members. During the discussion, the following points were noted:- ·
It
was noticed that the majority of the complaints stemmed from community
and town councils and it was confirmed that the work of organising training for those
councils was afoot, and it was intended to commence the sessions in the spring. ·
It
was asked if it would be appropriate for one of the Council's scrutiny committees to look at the structure of community and town councils
to see if it was possible to establish a system of
more professional full-time
clerks to be responsible for more than one council. In response,
it was explained that the
Welsh Government was conducting
a research study into the role and
functions of community and town councils
and their future potential. The fact that the Welsh Government was looking into this was welcomed
as many part-time clerks worked under
substantial pressure. RESOLVED to note the report. |
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ADJUDICATION PANEL FOR WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 PDF 45 KB To submit
the report of the Monitoring Officer
(attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted for information,
the report of the Monitoring Officer appending the Adjudication Panel's 2017/18
Annual Report. Specific attention
was drawn to the following matters in the report:- ·
That
one of the themes raised in the cases heard by the Adjudication Panel over the
last year was elected members bullying and harassing council officers and failing to show respect and consideration. ·
The
need to carefully weigh up the essential right of representatives in a
democracy to express their views and the right of others not to be bullied or
abused in the workplace. ·
That
the main matters that had arisen dealt with a lack of respect and failure to
express an interest. Sadness was
expressed regarding the bullying and lack of respect highlighted in the report
and the importance of challenging, not demonising was emphasised. Reference was also made to the importance of
not undermining public confidence by misusing language, especially when using
social media. RESOLVED to note the report. |