Agenda item

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 attended the North Wales Standards Forum to share experiences with other standards committees.

A series of induction courses were held for members along with in-depth courses based on the WLGA template.

Review Gifts and Hospitality and Officer-Member Contact Protocols.  Offer amendments to the Member-Officer Contact Protocol, which was adopted by the Council in July 2018.

Submit the Annual Report to the Full Council.

Approve the guidelines on declaring an interest and member contact when using the Council's services in their private life.  They had been circulated to members.

Continue to attend and support

Assist the members to adhere to the Code of Conduct

1

The Monitoring Officer and his team provide advice and guidance at meetings, and on a one-to-one basis for members.

The Standards Committee has adopted declaration guidelines, and on how to deal with private circumstances.

Hold a discussion for Council members

Advise the Council regarding adopting or amending the Code of Conduct

N/A

No opportunities had arisen to amend the Code.

Monitor the implementation of the Code of Conduct

1

Receive regular reports on allegations against members

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

Continue to monitor the consideration of alternative methods of receiving information.

Receive regular reports from the Ombudsman's Code of Conduct Casebook.

Receive annual reports on the register of interests and hospitality.

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

3

Support an induction programme for the new Council.

New training for Council members that are about to start.

Grant dispensation to members

1

The dispensations procedure was reviewed, and the submission process by the applicant was adopted, and the quality of the information submitted was improved.

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

N/A

The need for hearings did not arise during the year

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

N/A

No occasion to pay such an allowance had arisen

Exercise the above functions in relation to community councils

3

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

Adopt a training pilot on the Code of Conduct.  A session has been included to pilot the content of the course.

Arrange a new training programme.

Need to proceed with implementing the pilot.