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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from County Councillor Beecham. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee as a correct record. Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2022 as a correct record. |
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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: No declarations were received.
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Report of the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer PDF 96 KB To receive the report of the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received the report of the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer (copy filed with signed minutes).
A. General Standards Issues for County Councillors and Co-opted Members
A1. Code of Conduct Training
The Committee noted that all County Councillors and co-opted/ lay members had completed the Code of Conduct training.
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/2020 Ombudsman referred to Standards Committee
01/CC/2021 Ombudsman not investigating 04/CC/2021 Ombudsman investigating 05/CC/2021 Ombudsman not investigating 06/CC/2021 Ombudsman not investigating 07/CC/2021 Ombudsman not investigating 08/CC/2021 Ombudsman not investigating
01/CC/2022 Ombudsman not investigating 02/CC/2022 Ombudsman not investigating
In response to comments the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer acknowledged the time the Ombudsman takes to consider complaints but advised this was outside the Council’s control. The Chair commented that with the establishment of the National Forum the time for complaints to be considered by the Ombudsman could be discussed at this.
C. Dispensations
C1. General Dispensations
The Committee considered general dispensations which had been previously agreed by the Committee during the last term of the Council.
The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer advised that the delegation of non-controversial applications for dispensations had not been used during the last Council term. A question was raised whether the delegation to the Chair and Vice Chair was correct and whether it complied with the 1972 Act. The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer advised that the delegation to the Chair and Vice Chair, with advice from the Monitoring Officer was correct. In response to a question he advised that the Chair and Vice Chair would consider if an issue was non-controversial, with advice from the Monitoring Officer. If agreement could not be reached a meeting of the Committee would be arranged to consider such an application.
The Committee agreed the following dispensations which would continue until the first meeting of the Committee after the election in 2027 unless before those elections the Standards Committee revokes, amends or alters the dispensation.
School Modernisation and School Transport Reviews:
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To consider the format of the Work programme and content. Minutes: The Committee considered and welcomed the draft Work programme. The Committee would need to consider the process and format of how the it would meet with Group Leaders to discuss their new duties. Group Leaders could be invited to a meeting as a group or individually. The Chair advised he had drafted a form on which Group Leaders could record information relating to their new duties. The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer advised that Flintshire County Council had drafted a form which he would circulate to the Committee.
The Committee agreed the draft Work programme with the addition of the following topics to be added to the June meeting: · a report on the use of General dispensations and · an anonymised report on the number of whistleblowing cases and outcomes.
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