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    • Agenda and minutes

    Standards Community Sub-Committee - Monday, 5th December, 2022 2.00 pm

    • Attendance details
    • Agenda frontsheet PDF 80 KB
    • Agenda reports pack PDF 672 KB
    • Printed minutes PDF 92 KB

    Venue: Hybrid meeting - Zoom - County Hall. View directions

    Contact: Carol Johnson  01597 826206

    Media

    Items
    No. Item

    1.

    Apologies

    To receive apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    Apologies for absence were received from Community Councillor N Dodman.

    2.

    Minutes pdf icon PDF 58 KB

    To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 17 February 2022 as a correct.

    Minutes:

    The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of 17 February 2022 as a correct record.

     

    3.

    Declarations of Interest

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

    Minutes:

    There were no declarations of interest.

    4.

    Report of the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer pdf icon PDF 92 KB

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

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix 1 - Standards Community sub-committee - Blanket dispensations , item 4. pdf icon PDF 99 KB
    • Appendix A - Combined Stds Community Sub-Cttee minutes re dispensations 2017-2022 , item 4. pdf icon PDF 271 KB

    Minutes:

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

     

    A         Referral of Councillors to Public Services Ombudsman

     

    A1.      Town and Community Councillor Referrals

     

    The current position regarding matters with the Ombudsman is detailed below:

    03/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

    09/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

    10/20/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

     

    04/21/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

    05/21/TCC    Ombudsman no action taken    

    11/21/TCC    Ombudsman investigating

    13/21/TCC    Complaint withdrawn

    14/21/TCC    Ombudsman no action taken

    15/21/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

     

    01/22/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

    02/22/TCC    Ombudsman not investigating

    03/22/TCC    Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

     

    The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer advised that in respect of 12/21/TCC, which was shown in the report as Ombudsman investigating, the Ombudsman had advised the previous week that this case had been referred to the Adjudication Panel for Wales [APW].  The Ombudsman had advised that as the complaint was in respect of a former community councillor the APW had greater sanctions available to it than the Sub-Committee and so the Ombudsman had made the referral.  He advised that this case was detailed on the APW website and it was in respect of the former Community Councillor Sheila Jenkins of St Harmon Community Council.  The public hearing will probably be online and is likely to take place in March or April and a link would be sent to the Sub-Committee.

    B.        Dispensations

     

    B1.      General Dispensations

     

    The Sub-Committee considered general dispensations which had been previously agreed by the Sub-Committee during the last term of the Council. 

     

    The Sub-Committee agreed the following dispensations which would continue until the first meeting of the Sub-Committee after the election in 2027 unless before those elections the Sub-Committee revokes, amends or alters the dispensation.

     

    School Modernisation and School Transport Reviews:

     

    RESOLVED THAT

    REASON FOR DECISION

    That a general dispensation (the dispensation) in relation to school modernisation and any school transport issue be granted to all Town and Community councillors in accordance with and, subject to, the following provisions of this resolution:-

    (a)     the dispensation shall relate to all prejudicial interests under the Members Code of Conduct PROVIDED ALWAYS that the dispensation shall not apply where the councillor (irrespective of whether or not he/she is a member of the Cabinet or Scrutiny Committee) has a pecuniary prejudicial interest other than one that relates to out of school transport costs;

     

    (b)       “school modernisation” means any modernisation proposal being undertaken by or for the Powys County Council Cabinet in relation to both primary, secondary and special schools but does not include non-modernisation issues (e.g. the budget, inspection, employment matters, ICT, catering, cleaning, refurbishment, repair or property items);

     

    (c)     “school transport issue” means any issue relating to the planning, commissioning and procurement of transport for pupils attending primary, secondary and special schools both in and outside of Powys where Powys County Council has a duty to provide such transport but does not include interests which are specific to a particular school, route or pupil unrelated to such review;

     

    (d)     “pecuniary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.