Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Mr R Stafford-Tolley (Independent Member) and Councillors I McIntosh and L Rijnenberg.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 25 October 2023 as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2023 as a correct record.

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

No declarations of interest were received in respect of Items 4 to 6.

To receive the report of the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer.

The Committee received the report of the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer (copy filed with signed minutes).

A.        General Standards Issues for County Councillors and Co-opted

Members

            There were no updates.

B.        Referral of Councillors to the Public Services Ombudsman

The Committee noted the information regarding referrals in the table below.  The abbreviations used in the headings are as follows:

MO – Monitoring Officer

OW – Ombudsman Wales

Stds – Standards Committee

APW - Adjudication Panel for Wales

C.           Dispensations

No applications for dispensation had been received from County Councillors.

D.           Ombudsman Wales – Our Findings

The Committee noted the Ombudsman Wales - Our Findings   The Committee noted that at a recent meeting of all Welsh Monitoring Officers, the Ombudsman’s office was asked to consider re-instating the “Casebook”,  which was considered to be more helpful. The Ombudsman has declined to reinstate the “Casebook” but is committed to improve the searchability of its website.

E.        Adjudication Panel for Wales [APW]

Details of cases considered by the APW are available via the following link:

Decisions | The Adjudication Panel for Wales (gov.wales)

F.         National Forum for Standards Committees

            The Forum met on 29 January 2024.  The Chair attended the meeting and his notes were available at Appendix 2 to the report.  The Chair  was thanked for attending these meetings.

G.       Whistleblowing

            The Committee considered the report detailing the Whistleblowing cases and outcomes since 2019/20.  This report was required as part of the Committee’s Work Programme.  The Committee noted that Human Resources [HR] is currently developing a toolkit to accompany the Whistleblowing Policy. 

It was noted that Section 115 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 requires the Council’s Governance and Audit Committee to review and assess the authority’s ability to handle complaints effectively.  The reporting of whistleblowing complaints will be made to the Governance and Audit Committee.  In response to a question the Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that the Whistleblowing Policy was for employees of the Council.  Councillor W Powell advised he is a member of the Governance and Audit Committee and is content with what had been discussed.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that in light of this new legislation, the Constitution relating to the role and function of the Standards Committee would need to be considered.

H.        Meeting Dates

            To note dates of meetings in 2024 as follows, all starting at 2pm:

10 April – annual meeting with Group Leaders – if possible, a new date would be arranged for this meeting, due the unavailability of the Chair on the scheduled date

12 June

30 October

To consider the report

The Committee considered the report on the annual review of acceptance of gifts and hospitality by Members.

The Committee noted the details of gifts and hospitality recorded by members on the website between 19 May 2022 and 1 February 2024.  The Committee had no concerns about the level of hospitality recorded by members and noted the hospitality offered by the Green Man Festival.  It was considered that this current level was not of concern but if it was found that the majority of members were being offered hospitality by an organisation, such as a festival,  the Committee may wish to look at this.  It was suggested that an annual reminder should be sent to members and the Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that this would be done.

To note the Work programme and add any new items or agree changes.

The Committee noted the Work Programme.

Comment was made whether the Committee could consider the number of committees on which a member sits, as someone who only participates in a few committees can achieve a higher attendance rate more easily than someone who sits on a number of committees or on committees which meet more frequently.  In response the Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that the Committee’s role was to look at the attendance levels of members.  If a member’s attendance level was below 60%, reasons for this would be considered including the number of committees on which the member sits.

The Monitoring Officer has determined that Category 8 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following report. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 11.8 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to a particular individual and would allow information to enter the public domain before that individual has had an opportunity to make representations in respect of it. These factors in his view outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information at this stage.

Members are asked to consider these factors when determining the public interest test, which they must decide when considering excluding the public from this part of the meeting.

RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to the next item  on the agenda.

Mrs Moore and Councillor W Powell declared personal interests in relation to their membership of an organisation.

The Committee considered the Deputy Monitoring Officer’s report and the discussed the preliminary issues relating to a referral of a complaint from the Ombudsman Wales [Ref:202201455].