To receive the report of the Solicitor to the Council.
Minutes:
The Committee received the report of the Solicitor to the Council (copy filed with signed minutes).
A Referral of Councillors to Public Services Ombudsman
A1. Town and Community Councillor Referrals
The current position regarding existing matters with the Ombudsman was as follows:
7/17/TCC Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate
14/17/TCC Ombudsman not investigating
16/17/TCC Ombudsman reviewing decision not to investigate
2/18/TCC Complaint received – Ombudsman not investigating
3/18/TCC Complaint received – Ombudsman not investigating
4/18/TCC Complaint received – Ombudsman not investigating
5/18/TCC Complaint received – Ombudsman not investigating but now subject to review
6/18/TCC Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate
7/18/TCC Complaint received – Ombudsman not investigating but now subject to review
8/18/TCC Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate
9/18/TCC Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate
10/18/TCC Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate
11/18/TCC Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate
B. Dispensations
B1. Applications - Town and Community Councillors
One application for dispensation had been received from Councillor David Jones from Montgomery Town Council. This was received in November 2017 and unfortunately was not included on the agenda in February 2018. The application was, in part, a continuation of a previous dispensation granted in December 2012 and the Chair and Vice-Chair agreed to grant a temporary dispensation to be formally confirmed at the next meeting of the Standards Community Sub-Committee.
As the application for a dispensation was a continuation of the previous dispensation and there are no changes in circumstances, the Committee was asked to reaffirm the dispensation granted on 5th December, 2012 from the date of this meeting until the first meeting of the Standards Sub-Committee after the next Council elections in 2022.
The application also requested permission to speak with regards to Montgomery Show. The Clerk to the Council has confirmed that Councillor Jones has not been appointed to the Show Committee by the Town Council. However, this application was already covered by the general dispensation granted by the Sub-Committee in October, 2017 relating to the membership of voluntary bodies, and therefore the Committee did not need to take a decision in this respect.
RECOMMENDATION: |
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: |
(i) That the Sub-Committee reaffirms the dispensation granted to Councillor Jones on 5th December, 2012, from the date of this meeting until the first meeting of the Standards Sub-Committee held after the next Council elections in 2022. (ii) That Councillor Jones be advised that in relation to his application relating to membership of the Montgomery Show Committee, that no dispensation is required as this is already covered by the general dispensation granted by the Sub-Committee in October, 2017.
|
To determine an application for dispensation. |
C Delegation of urgent matters
There are only three meetings a year of the Standards Community-Sub Committee in the diary. Extraordinary meetings of Standards Community Sub-Committee may be called where urgent matters are required to be decided. Members considered delegating authority to the Chair and Vice-Chair of Standards Community Sub-Committee together with the Monitoring Officer to take a holding decision pending confirmation of the position at the next Standards Community Sub-Committee. Decisions such as this will be limited to non-controversial applications for dispensation and it was stressed that if it was deemed necessary for a meeting to call this would happen.
RESOLVED THAT: |
REASON FOR RESOLUTION: |
Committee delegate non-controversial applications for dispensation to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standards Community Sub-Committee in consultation with the Monitoring Officer to grant a temporary dispensation subject to confirmation at Standards Community Sub-Committee for a trial period of one year.
|
To allow applications for dispensation to be decided in a timely manner but confirmed at a meeting of the Standards Community Sub-Committee. |
D Ombudsman’s Casebook
The Ombudsman had published Code of Conduct Casebooks for the following period:
· October - December 2017
· January – March 2018
E Annual Report from Adjudication Panel for Wales
The Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) had published its Annual Report for 2016/17.
The report can be accessed from the APW website.
F. Meeting Dates.
To note dates of future meetings as follows:
Friday 14th September 2018 – Standards Conference Aberystwyth University
Wednesday 3rd October 2018 Standards Community Sub-Committee
Supporting documents: