Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mr S Hayes.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 3 October, 2018 as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 3 October, 2018 as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

No declarations were received.

To receive the report of the Solicitor to the Council.

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 noted that there was nothing to report on this issue.

A2.      Mandatory Training

            The Committee noted the report.

B.        Referral of Councillors to the Public Services Ombudsman

B1.      County Council Referrals

            The current position regarding matters with the Ombudsman is as follows:

02/CC/2017   Ombudsman investigating

01/CC/2018   Referred to APW

02/CC/2018   Concluded no breach

05/CC/2018   Concluded no further action

08/CC/2018   Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

09/CC/2018   Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

10/CC/2018    Ombudsman investigating

11/CC/2018    Ombudsman investigating

12/CC/2018    Ombudsman investigating

1/CC/2019      Ombudsman not investigating

C.           Dispensations

C1.    Applications- CountyCouncillors

No applications for dispensation have been received from County Councillors.

D.           LatePayment ofExpenses

A claimfor paymentof expenseswas submittedby County Councillor Bryn Davies for mileageexpenses (submittedon November, 2018for September 2017to November2018).

The Committeeapproved thisapplication (whichwas thefirst one for mileage madeby thisMember) andthanked theMember for theexplanation hehad provided.

E.           Ombudsman’s Casebook

The Ombudsman had published the July – September 2018 Code of Conduct Casebooks which can be accessed at.  (Copy filed with signed minutes).

F.           Arrangements to fill one vacancy arising from the completion of a term of office of an Independent [Lay] Member on the Standards Committee.

The Committee noted the appointments process.

G.          Correspondence

There was no correspondence.

However, with the Chair’s agreement the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ [PSOW] Draft Corporate Plan 2019/20 – 2021/22 was considered by the Committee.  It was noted that the consultation closed on 5 March, 2019.

The Committee considered the above with the Standards Sub-Committee members.  The comments were as follows:

Strategic Aim 1

KPI 3 and KPI 4 – in response to comments that the timescales for completing investigations should be shorter the Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that the timescales were reasonable.  However, investigations should be completed and closed as soon as possible, as delays cause unacceptable stress to the parties involved. 

To raise awareness of the PSOW service and eliminate any know barriers to access from vulnerable groups [page 08]

The 1^st action point needs to be clarified as it is not clear  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.