Agenda item

SELF-ASSESSMENT AND WORK PROGRAMME

Meeting of Standards Committee, Monday, 18th April, 2016 11.00 am (Item 6.)

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (attached).

Minutes:

Submitted - the report of the Monitoring Officer asking the committee to hold an assessment of the Committee's work and output during 2015-16 and to consider a draft work programme for 2016-17.

Members were asked to consider the functions listed in the first column of the self-assessment and to note which assessment they believed was relevant to them using the following categories:-

Category 1 – Evidence that the committee is fully meeting the requirements.

Category 2 – Evidence that the committee meets the basic requirements, but can do more to fully comply.

Category 3 – No evidence that the committee is meeting the requirements.

The committee was also invited to add to the ‘Evidence’ and ‘Further Action’ columns and it was explained that any suggestions for further action would be fed through to the committee’s future work programmes.

RESOLVED

(a) To adopt the following as the committee’s self-assessment of its work (additions to the document in italic and underlined):-

FUNCTION

ASSESSMENT

(1/2/3)

Evidence

Further Action

Promote and maintain a high standard of conduct amongst members

The Chair and Vice-chair had attended the North Wales Standards Forum to share experiences with other standards committees.

Some members had attended committees, Full Council, Cabinet and Town and Community Council meetings as observers.

Continue to attend and support

Continue to support, including the use of web casting

Assist the members to adhere to the Code of Conduct

Arrange Training for members of Town and Community Councils

Arrange Training for Council members

Consider feedback on Training and a new programme

Advise the Council regarding adopting or amending the Code of Conduct

Arrangement had been made to circulate amended guidance on the Code of Conduct from the Ombudsman to all Council Members

Observations had been submitted on elements of the Local Government Bill (Wales) 2015

Review the latest amendments to the Code

Monitor the operation of the Code of Conduct

Receive regular reports on allegations against members

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

Receive annual reports in relation to the register of interests and declarations made.

Receive annual reports on the register of interests and hospitality.

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

Consider the amendments to the Code of Conduct and how to share the changes.

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

Members attended the standards conference in Cardiff and reported back.

Arrange Training for members of Town and Community Councils

Arrange Training for Council members

New Training Programme

Grant dispensation to members

Two applications for dispensations were handled, from members of Town and Community Councils.

Conduct and overview of the system to ensure consistency and propriety.

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

One hearing was held during 2015-16

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

(Nothing to measure)

No occasion to pay such an allowance had arisen

Exercise the above functions in relation to community councils

A training session for community council clerks had been held in October 2013

The Committee’s annual report had been sent to all community councils.

The opinion of community councils had been sought on training based on the Code and good governance. Subsequent training had been held in four centres.

Alternative Training programme. It was, however, necessary to produce a model local resolution procedure for use by community councils.

(b) to include a footnote to the self-assessment including some statistics on attendance at the training and stating, bearing in mind that as members did not have to attend the Standards Committee was of the view that it had achieved its requirements successfully in assisting members to adhere to the Code of Conduct, and that councillors should take the training mores seriously.

(c) To approve the following work programme for 2016/17:-

27 June 2016

· Annual Report

· Allegations against members

· Review the arrangements for members to attend committees and community councils - lessons learnt. (Members were asked to consider, between now and June, how to do this.)

3 October 2016

· The Ombudsman’s Annual Report

· Allegations against members

· Local Resolution Procedure for Community Councils

· Protocols review

23 January 2017

· Gifts and hospitality register

· Declaration of Interests Register

· Adjudication Panel's Annual Report

· Allegations against members

27 March 2017

· Self-Assessment and Work Programme

· Training

· Preparation for the 2017 election - raise town and community clerks' awareness of expectations upon them regarding the provision of information to prospective councillors about the requirements of the Code of Conduct.

Supporting documents: