Venue: Committee Room A - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. View directions
Contact: Elizabeth Patterson 01597 826980
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: No apologies for absence were received. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting(s) of the Committee held on the following dates(s) as a correct record: 24th February 2016 Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24th February 2016 subject to the following amendments:
PRESENT Independent Member H Rhydderch-Roberts (Chair) Independent Members: J Evans, S Hays, C Jackson, S Jarman County Councillors M Mackenzie, P Medlicott and K Roberts-Jones
County Councillor referrals 01/16/CC Not investigating
End of document Independent Member H Rhydderch-Roberts (Chair)
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Declarations of interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda. Minutes: A declaration of interest was received from Independent Member C Jackson with regard to item E1 Member Attendance. Ms Jackson is a friend of Cllr G Ratcliffe and took no part in the debate regarding his attendance.
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Report of the Solicitor to the Council PDF 3 MB To receive the report of the Solicitor to the Council. Minutes: The Committee received the report of the Solicitor to the Council. (Copy filed with signed minutes).
A. General Standards Issues for County Councillors and Co-opted Members
A1 Code of Conduct Training
It was still the case that four Members had not undertaken the refresher training despite being offered the opportunity to undertake the training by written response. The Committee expressed concern regarding the lack of response and suggested that the Chair write to those Members requesting an explanation as to why they have failed to undertake the training. If no response was received the Member/s be invited to attend the next meeting of the Standards Committee.
Resolved that the Chair of Standards Committee write to the four Members yet to complete refresher training on the Code of Conduct asking for an explanation as to why they have yet to complete the training. This response to be considered at the next meeting of the Standards Committee. If no response is received the Member/s be invited to attend the next meeting of the Standards Committee.
A2 Local Government Ethical Framework – Amended Code of Conduct
It was confirmed that the County Council had adopted the revised Code of Conduct on 20th April 2016 and a notice had been published in the press to this effect.
The revised regulations relating to Standards Committees allow for Joint Standards Committees to be formed but no other authority had approached the Standards Committee of Powys in this regard. The Powys Standards Committee could, if they wished, approach another Standards Committee to discuss forming a permanent Joint Standards Committee. There was no intention to make such an approach at this stage.
The Chair advised that she had been invited, along with the Vice-Chair, to an informal meeting of other Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Standards Committees in mid and west Wales. It was proving difficult to find a date for this meeting and at present this was expected to take place in October 2016.
B Referral of Councillors to Public Services Ombudsman
B1 County Council referrals
6/15/CC Referred to the Standards Committee 8/15/CC Ombudsman investigating 9/15/CC Ombudsman investigating 01/16/CC Not investigating 02/16/CC Not investigating 03/16/CC Not investigating 04/16/CC Ombudsman investigating 05/16/CC Not investigating 06/CC/CC Not investigating 07/16/CC Ombudsman investigating 08/16/CC Not investigating
C Other Standards issues
None.
D Dispensations
D1 Applications – County Councillors
An application for dispensation had been received from County Councillor Arwel Jones to speak and vote on matters relating to Llanfyllin High School. Councillor Jones holds the Portfolio for Education and is undertaking a review of secondary schools in Powys. He would be responsible for making recommendations to Cabinet and Council on the review of secondary schools.
Councillor Jones advised the meeting that he has two first cousins on the teaching staff at Llanfyllin High school. He confirmed that they lived in the same community as him and he would see them at family gatherings perhaps about every six weeks.
With regard to presentation of reports it was confirmed that in Powys reports ... view the full minutes text for item S24-2016 |