Agenda and draft minutes

The CJC Chief Executive welcomed everyone to the Inaugural Mid Wales CJC Standards Sub Committee and summarised the purpose of the Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee and its Sub Committees giving the background and the challenges faced to date.

To receive apologies of absence –

Emma Palmer, Chief Executive PCC

Apologies received - 

Emma Palmer, Chief Executive, Powys CC

Carwyn Jones Evans, Corporate Manager: Strategic Economy Investment / Strategic Lead – Growing Mid Wales, Ceredigion CC

Carol Edwards, Independent Member, Ceredigion CC

To receive any disclosures of personal interest relating to matters to be considered on the agenda.

There were no disclosures of interests to declare relating to matters to be considered on the agenda.

To appoint a Chair and Vice-Chair

To appoint a Chair and Vice Chair.

The Monitoring Officer advised that only two candidates can stand for Chair and Vice Chair – Russell Stafford-Tolley and Gail Storr.

APPOINTMENTS

Gail Storr volunteered to become Chair and this was unanimously agreed.

Vice Chair – Russell Stafford-Tolley proposed by the Chair and seconded by Stephen Hays.

The Monitoring Officer to confirm that Members of Ceredigion and Powys County Councils have undertaken the Code of Conduct Training

The Monitoring Officer to confirm that Members of Ceredigion and Powys County Councils have undertaken the Code of Conduct Training.

All Members confirmed that they have undertaken the Code of Conduct Training with Ceredigion and Powys County Councils.

Statutory and non-statutory guidance on democracy within principal councils | GOV.WALES (see pages 28-29)

The Monitoring Officer has included this item on the agenda to ensure that all Members have received a copy of the Statutory Guidance on role of Sub Committees.

The relevant paragraphs relating to the CJC Standards Sub Committee is set out on pages 28-29 of the guidance.

To receive a report from the Monitoring Officer.

The Monitoring Officer introduced himself and apologised in the first instance for a small error at the beginning of the report regarding the Terms of Reference for the CJC Standards Sub Committee so the first sections 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are inaccurate.

The Monitoring Officer suggested sharing the correct version on screen which shows the composition of the Sub Committee as follows –

Two Independent lay members from each of the Standards Committees of Powys and Ceredigion County Councils together with one Councillor from each from the Standards Committees of each Authority.

In addition to that there is one member from the BBNPA and at this moment in time they have not yet nominated that individual.

The terms of office for lay members of this Sub Committee appointed for a period of not less than 4 years and not more than 6 years but they can be reappointed as mentioned by SH earlier in the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer also pointed out that the Terms of Reference have been taken from the Powys Standards Committee and have been approved by Elin Prysor on behalf of Ceredigion County Council.

Councillors of the Standards Sub Committee will have a term of no more than 5 years or until the next ordinary election.

Meetings of the CJC Standards Sub Committee are required to be held at least once annually.

The quorum of the CJC Standards Sub Committee is three Members including the Chair and at least half the Members present must be lay Members.

Each Member of the CJC Standards Sub Committee is entitled to vote and decisions taken by a majority at that meeting.

If there is a tie in the vote, the Chair has a second and casting vote.

The Chair of the CJC Standards Sub Committee must be an Independent Member as well as the Vice Chair.

If the Chair is absent, then the Vice Chair automatically takes over the meeting. If both are absent, then the Sub Committee will be required to elect a Member to Chair the meeting from those present at that meeting.

The roles and functions are set out in section F7, Sub section 6, Section 65 of the Constitution of the CJC.

All the issues therein are common to what is required in both Ceredigion and Powys County Councils.

Section B of the report sets out the Code of Conduct for Members as explained earlier in the meeting. (Pages 8 to 36)

As this is the first meeting there are no general standard issues to report on and no report on referrals to the Ombudsman.

We have not received any requests for dispensation.

The Monitoring Officer will remind everyone of the online link to findings of the Ombudsman at each meeting.

Similarly, the Monitoring Officer will always refer to the Judication Panel for Wales Members in terms of sanction.

Finally, please see the minutes of the National Forum for Standards Committees which met earlier on in January of this year.

The next meeting date is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

No other business to discuss today.

A meeting date to be set for six months’ time.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending today.