Agenda item

Report of the Solicitor to the Council

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.        General Standards Issues for County Councillors and Co-opted

Members

 

A1.      Code of Conduct Training

           

            It was noted that there was nothing to report on this issue.

 

A2.      Mandatory Training

 

            The Committee noted the report.

           

RESOLVED:

Reason for decision

That the Committee notes that the three Members have completed their Mandatory Treasury management training for 2017-18.

To monitor attendance at Mandatory Development sessions.

 

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/2017   Ombudsman investigating

 

01/CC/2018   Referred to APW

02/CC/2018   Concluded no breach

05/CC/2018   Concluded no further action

08/CC/2018   Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

09/CC/2018   Ombudsman deciding whether or not to investigate

10/CC/2018    Ombudsman investigating

11/CC/2018    Ombudsman investigating

12/CC/2018    Ombudsman investigating

 

1/CC/2019      Ombudsman not investigating

           

 

C.           Dispensations

 

C1.    Applications- CountyCouncillors

 

No applications for dispensation have been received from County Councillors.

 

D.           LatePayment ofExpenses

 

A claimfor paymentof expenseswas submittedby County Councillor Bryn Davies for mileageexpenses (submittedon November, 2018for September 2017to November2018).

 

The Committeeapproved thisapplication (whichwas thefirst one for mileage madeby thisMember) andthanked theMember for theexplanation hehad provided.

 

RESOLVEDTHAT

REASONFOR DECISION

the payment of the late claim submitted by County Councillor Bryn Davies for mileage be paid for the period September 2017 – November 2018.

Toreimburse expensesincurred by County Councillor Bryn Davies.

 

E.           Ombudsman’s Casebook

The Ombudsman had published the July – September 2018 Code of Conduct Casebooks which can be accessed at.  (Copy filed with signed minutes).

 

F.           Arrangements to fill one vacancy arising from the completion of a term of office of an Independent [Lay] Member on the Standards Committee.

 

The Committee noted the appointments process.

 

RESOLVED THAT

Reason for decision

Depending on their availability the Appointments Panel would consist of:

Independent Members - Claire Jackson and Chris Mullholland [Jacqueline Evans reserve]

County Council representative – County Councillor Kathryn Silk or Kath Roberts-Jones.

To enable the Appointment process to continue.

 

G.          Correspondence

 

There was no correspondence.

 

However, with the Chair’s agreement the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ [PSOW] Draft Corporate Plan 2019/20 – 2021/22 was considered by the Committee.  It was noted that the consultation closed on 5 March, 2019.

 

The Committee considered the above with the Standards Sub-Committee members.  The comments were as follows:

 

Strategic Aim 1

KPI 3 and KPI 4 – in response to comments that the timescales for completing investigations should be shorter the Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that the timescales were reasonable.  However, investigations should be completed and closed as soon as possible, as delays cause unacceptable stress to the parties involved. 

 

To raise awareness of the PSOW service and eliminate any know barriers to access from vulnerable groups [page 08]

The 1st action point needs to be clarified as it is not clear what this means.  Is it a programme of activity once a year or an annual programme of activity?  The Committee considered that this should be an annual programme of activity.

The 5th action point needs clarifying.

 

Strategic Aim 3 [page 12]

To adopt international best practice, to serve Wales in the best way we can

It is noted that the PSOW will strengthen its presence in North Wales but the Committee wonder what it intends to do in respect of Mid Wales.

 

A general comment was made that the Plan needs to be in plain English and Welsh, to ensure it is accessible to the public, as a whole.

 

H         Meeting dates

 

            The Committee noted the meeting dates:

            Wednesday 5 June, 2019

            Wednesday 2 October, 2019.

 

 

As the Chair’s term of office was coming to an end in May 2019, this was her last scheduled meeting.  She thanked Members and officers for their support.  She commented that she had enjoyed the Committees work and had learnt a lot.

 

The Vice Chair thanked the Chair for her work and presented her with a card and flowers on behalf of the Committees.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: