Agenda item

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

Submitted - the report of the Monitoring Officer asking the committee to hold a self-assessment of the Committee's work and outputs during 2016-17 and to consider the draft work programme for 2017-18.

 

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 had made significant progress in achieving the functions or in the case of specific tasks, that the need to act had not arisen.

 

·         Category 2 – Evidence that the Committee had substantially implemented the function, maintaining the same standard as last year.

 

·         Category 3 – Evidence that the Committee had implemented the function but there was a need to give further attention.

 

·         Category 4 – There was no evidence that the Committee had implemented the function and there was a basis for concluding that the area needed attention.

 

It was also explained:

 

·         It was necessary to note the evidence which supported the category which the
Committee awarded.

·         By assigning a category to each function and noting the evidence, it was possible for the Committee to come to a conclusion regarding which further steps it needed to take (if any).

·         Any suggestions for further actions would be fed through to the Committee work programme in the future.

It was noted that the 2016-2017 work programme (Appendix 2 to the report) should include the reason for not holding a meeting of the committee on 27 March, 2017.

 

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 (1/2/3/4)	EVIDENCE	FURTHER ACTIONS
Promote and maintain a high standard of conduct amongst members	2	The Chair or Vice Chair have attended the North Wales Standards Forum to share experiences with other standards committees.     The number of complaints brought before the committee is very low   An induction programme is provided for new members.	Keep an eye on complaints patterns.
Assist the members to keep to the Code of Conduct	1	Supported an induction programme for the new Council   Nearly all members have attended the brief sessions on the Code of Conduct on the induction days that introduce the essentials to the members.  Approximately 20 members have attended further training and more training is on the way in September.	The committee to consider the feedback data from the training sessions and use this as a basis for effective targeting.  The quantitative report should also note the percentage of members who have received the training.   Consider methods of increasing members’ interest in the subject.   The committee to receive a report on how community and county members are trained with the intention of forming a plan that will use less conventional training methods.
Advise the Council regarding adopting or amending the Code of Conduct	2	The Committee considered amendments to the Model Code of Conduct for adoption by the Council	Consider whether there is a need for more local considerations on the Illustrative Code of Conduct.
Monitor the operation of the Code of Conduct	2	Receive regular reports on allegations against members. Receive the annual reports of the Adjudication Panel for Wales and the Ombudsman. Receive annual reports in relation to the interests register and the declarations made. Receive annual reports on the register of interests and hospitality.	Look at the method of reporting on the registers of interests / hospitality and seek to obtain a better understanding of the interests and hospitality environment. Is the guidance clear on this?   The committee to receive a report on the draft interests / hospitality protocols.  The report should include examples of the types of gifts that are appropriate / inappropriate, also looking for any patterns in terms of who has given gifts etc.
Advise, train or arrange training for members on matters relating to the Code of Conduct	2	That input is given to the training.   The induction sessions and also the 2-3 course that have been run. It should also be noted that it is an election year.	New Training Programme and follow this further.   Look at the entire training regime on the Code of Conduct
Grant dispensations to members	1	The Committee dealt with applications for dispensations in an objective and appropriate manner.
Deal with reports of tribunals and any reports from the Monitoring Officer on matters referred by the Ombudsman	N/A	No hearings arose during the year.
Authorise the Monitoring Officer to pay allowances to persons assisting with an investigation	N/A	No need arose for such allowances to be paid
Exercise the above functions in relation to community councils		The amendments to the Model Code were communicated to the Community Councils and a joint advertisement was prepared with a number of them.	Look at ways of raising awareness and developing the relationship with community councils.

 

(b)        To approve the following work programme for 2017-2018, with the suggestions for items that have been fed through from the further steps noted above under (a):

 

10 July 2017

 

Annual Report

Self-Assessment and Work Programme

Allegations against members

One Voice Wales’ Local Resolution Procedure

 

2 October 2017

 

The Ombudsman’s Annual Report

Allegations against members

Protocols Review

 

22 January 2018

 

Gifts and Hospitality Register

Declaration of Interests Register

Adjudication Panel's Annual Report

Allegations against members

 

27 March 2018

 

Self-Assessment and Work Programme

Training