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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: 1 To note the Group Leaders Reports on the discharge of their new statutory due in relation to standards of conduct contained in appendices A1 – A4 2 That the Annual Report should reflect that the Committee were satisfied that the Group Leaders had complied with their statutory duties. 3 To establish a Standards & Ethics Committee Working Group: Sections 52A and 52B of the LGA 200 and associated guidance Working Group – with the following terms of reference: · Receive training from the Monitoring Officer on the contents of Sections 52A and 52B of the LGA 2000 and the associated guidance; · Consider representations made from Members of the Standards & Ethics Committee and Group Leaders relating to the above; · Report back to the October 2024 Meeting of the Standards &Ethics Committee having regard to the aforementioned representations in respect of the current arrangements for assessing Group Leaders’ compliance with their statutory duty pursuant to Section 52A of the LGA 2000 and how this is assessed by the Standards & Ethics Committee pursuant to Section 52B of the LGA 2000 and any suggested amendments to the same; and · The Chair of the Working Group to have a broad discretion to extend the Terms of Reference.
RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.
RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.
RESOLVED: 1 Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to finalise the Annual Report, having regard to comments provided by Members of the Committee 2 Request that the Chair to present the Committee’s Annual Report 2023/24 to the next suitable meeting of full Council; and 3 Request that the Monitoring Officer to send the Committee’s Annual Report 2023/24 to each of the Community Councils in Cardiff, and a copy to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
RESOLVED: 1 To note the meeting observation feedback received; and 2 To continue to observe meetings of the Council, Committees and Community Councils and provide feedback to the Committee.
RESOLVED to: 1 Note the arrangements for the appointments process as set out in the report; 2 Agree the establishment of an Appointments Panel comprised of three members, as set out in paragraphs 13 to 15 of the report, with delegated authority to shortlist and interview candidates and make a recommendation on appointment to full Council; 3 Authorise the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to make all necessary arrangements for the public appointments process, including appointment and convening of the Appointments Panel; and 4 Note that the recommendation of the Appointments Panel on the appointment of the new independent member of the Committee will be submitted to full Council for approval.
RESOLVED to agree the Work Programme as set out in Appendix A; with the addition of an item enabling Members to suggest topics for discussion by the Committee taking into account its terms of reference and available resources.
No apologies for absence were received, Cllr Latif was late in attending the meeting.
No declarations of interest were received. Cllr Brown-Reckless stated she was not providing the Committee with legal advice.
The minutes of the meeting of the 6th February were approved as an accurate record of the meeting and signed by the Chair.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1 To note the Group Leaders Reports on the discharge of their new statutory due in relation to standards of conduct contained in appendices A1 – A4 2 That the Annual Report should reflect that the Committee were satisfied that the Group Leaders had complied with their statutory duties. 3 To establish a Standards & Ethics Committee Working Group: Sections 52A and 52B of the LGA 200 and associated guidance Working Group – with the following terms of reference: · Receive training from the Monitoring Officer on the contents of Sections 52A and 52B of the LGA 2000 and the associated guidance; · Consider representations made from Members of the Standards & Ethics Committee and Group Leaders relating to the above; · Report back to the October 2024 Meeting of the Standards &Ethics Committee having regard to the aforementioned representations in respect of the current arrangements for assessing Group Leaders’ compliance with their statutory duty pursuant to Section 52A of the LGA 2000 and how this is assessed by the Standards & Ethics Committee pursuant to Section 52B of the LGA 2000 and any suggested amendments to the same; and · The Chair of the Working Group to have a broad discretion to extend the Terms of Reference.
The Group Leaders; Cllr Huw Thomas (Labour Group), Cllr John Lancaster (Conservative Group), Cllr Rodney Berman (Liberal Democrat Group) and Cllr Andrea Gibson (Plaid Cymru, Green Party, Common Ground Group) attended the meeting. Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which allowed the Committee to receive and consider the reports from political group Leaders on the discharge of their statutory duties relating to standards of conduct of members of their groups (introduced under Part 4 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021). (A verbatim transcript of this item was requested, and in the circumstances was agreed) Members debated the establishment of a Working Group, Cllr Brown-Reckless objected to its establishment. The Committee RESOLVED: 1 To note the Group Leaders Reports on the discharge of their new statutory due in relation to standards of conduct contained in appendices A1 – A4 2 That the Annual Report should reflect that the Committee were satisfied that the Group Leaders had complied with their statutory duties. 3 To establish a Standards & Ethics Committee Working Group: Sections 52A and 52B of the LGA 200 and associated guidance Working Group – with the following terms of reference: · Receive training from the Monitoring Officer on the contents of Sections 52A and 52B of the LGA 2000 and the associated guidance; · Consider representations made from Members of the Standards & Ethics Committee and Group Leaders relating to the above; · Report back to the October 2024 Meeting of the Standards &Ethics Committee having regard to the aforementioned representations in respect of the current arrangements for assessing Group Leaders’ compliance with their statutory duty pursuant to Section 52A of the LGA 2000 and how this is assessed by the Standards & Ethics Committee pursuant to Section 52B of the LGA 2000 and any suggested amendments to the same; and · The Chair of the Working Group to have a broad discretion to extend the Terms of Reference.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.
Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which provided the Committee with an update on complaints made against Members of Cardiff Council or any of Cardiff’s Community Councils alleging a breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct, in particular, complaints notified to the Monitoring Officer during Quarter 4 of 2023/24 and Quarter 1 of 2024/25 (the period running from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2024). The Director highlighted that no complaints were received during Quarter 4 of 2023 – 2024, however, during Quarter 1 of 2024 – 2025 four complaints were received. The Ombudsman decided not to investigate any of those complaints. The Committee were updated on two previous complaints reports in Quarters 1 and 2 of 2023 – 2024. In respect of both complaints the Ombudsman investigation found there was no breach of the Code. Members asked questions and sought clarification on the following: Members asked whether the table within the report categorising complaints by type is capable of change should complaints be received from other sources. The Director advised that whilst she had been in post complaints had only been received from the sources referred to, but the table could be amended should the need arise. Members sought clarification of whether all complaints received are reported to the Committee or whether there is a threshold. The Director confirm that if a complaint is received it would be recorded, but often informal concerns are raised and they would not feature in the report. It is important to speak to the person making the complaint to ensure that they understand the process and the significance, and work through that before reporting the matter to Committee. The Committee RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.
Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which enabled the Committee to consider the gifts and hospitality received by Members, which have been registered in accordance with rules set under the Members’ Code of Conduct. Members were reminded that the threshold set by this Committee back in 2007 was 25 pounds. That figure was revisited in the light of and approach adopted across Wales 2023 with the 25 pound threshold being confirmed. The Committee RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1 Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to finalise the Annual Report, having regard to comments provided by Members of the Committee 2 Request that the Chair to present the Committee’s Annual Report 2023/24 to the next suitable meeting of full Council; and 3 Request that the Monitoring Officer to send the Committee’s Annual Report 2023/24 to each of the Community Councils in Cardiff, and a copy to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which enabled the Committee to consider the contents of its Annual Report 2023/24 and arrangements for the report to be finalised and presented to full Council. Members asked questions and sought clarification on the following: In response to a question from Cllr Brown-Reckless in relation to the Group Leader for the Conservative Group providing the Committee with a letter rather than a report, and her statement that consent to provide a Group Leaders Report was being withdraw, the Director advised that the report did not go into that much detail and it was sufficient that the report confirmed that the Committee was satisfied that the Group Leaders had complied with their statutory duty. Members raised concern about a sentence in the Annual Report namely ‘the Committee operates on the clear understanding that Elected Members that sit on the Committee are independent of political allegiance and that all discussions and decisions are taken with ethical principles at the forefront’ The Director advised that it was a view expressed by the National Standards Committee but advised that it could be removed from the Annual Report. Members suggested that the National Standards Forum paragraphs in the report be amalgamated. Cllr Brown-Reckless advised that any previous Conservative agreement to the submission of a Group Leaders Report was withdrawn. The Committee RESOLVED: 1 Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to finalise the Annual Report, having regard to comments provided by Members of the Committee 2 Request that the Chair to present the Committee’s Annual Report 2023/24 to the next suitable meeting of full Council; and 3 Request that the Monitoring Officer to send the Committee’s Annual Report 2023/24 to each of the Community Councils in Cardiff, and a copy to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1 To note the meeting observation feedback received; and 2 To continue to observe meetings of the Council, Committees and Community Councils and provide feedback to the Committee.
Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which allowed the Committee to consider the feedback provided by Committee members following observation of meetings of the Council and Community Councils. The Committee had been provided with 7 different observations of meetings. It was noted that one observation of a meeting had been omitted from the report. Members asked questions and sought clarification on the following: Cllr Brown-Reckless sought clarification about the new process of the observation of meetings and that any agreement to this process was retracted. The Director advised that the observation of meetings has been in place in Cardiff for a number of years and that it is a practice which is adopted by various principal councils. Further it was a decision of the Committee that observations are made as part of the role and functions of the Committee. It is therefore a matter for the Committee and a decision of the Committee to continue with it. Councillor Brown-Reckless raised a concern that she believed that the number of observations of meetings had been ‘ramped up’. The Chair that attends the Council meetings on a regular basis, and other Members had also attended a number of Community Council meetings. A document is sent to Members advising of the dates of meetings of Committee meetings and provided to Independent Members. Cllr Brown-Reckless objected to the practice of Independent Members of the Standards & Ethics Committee observing meetings; that those Independent Members could be conflicted as they were remunerating for attending those meetings; and that any previous Conservative agreement to the practice was retracted. The Committee RESOLVED: 1 To note the meeting observation feedback received; and 2 To continue to observe meetings of the Council, Committees and Community Councils and provide feedback to the Committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 1 Note the arrangements for the appointments process as set out in the report; 2 Agree the establishment of an Appointments Panel comprised of three members, as set out in paragraphs 13 to 15 of the report, with delegated authority to shortlist and interview candidates and make a recommendation on appointment to full Council; 3 Authorise the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to make all necessary arrangements for the public appointments process, including appointment and convening of the Appointments Panel; and 4 Note that the recommendation of the Appointments Panel on the appointment of the new independent member of the Committee will be submitted to full Council for approval.
Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which enabled the Committee to note the vacancy which had arisen for an Independent Member and to approve the arrangements for a public appointments process to fill the vacancy. The Committee were advised that the date of Arthur Hallett’s appointment was in 2021. The Director confirmed that the Panel would comprise a Lay Member, possibly the Chair, or Vice Chair of the Public Services Board with whom she has had experience of; the Community Councillor and to three other Independent Members. Members asked questions and sought clarification on the following: A Member sought clarification as to whether a lawyer could be an member of the Standards & Ethics Committee she could see benefit in that and would add to the skill set of the Committee. The Director advised that lawyers are not precluded; the regulations make it clear who cannot be an Independent Member. The Committee RESOLVED to: 1 Note the arrangements for the appointments process as set out in the report; 2 Agree the establishment of an Appointments Panel comprised of three members, as set out in paragraphs 13 to 15 of the report, with delegated authority to shortlist and interview candidates and make a recommendation on appointment to full Council; 3 Authorise the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair, to make all necessary arrangements for the public appointments process, including appointment and convening of the Appointments Panel; and 4 Note that the recommendation of the Appointments Panel on the appointment of the new independent member of the Committee will be submitted to full Council for approval.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to agree the Work Programme as set out in Appendix A; with the addition of an item enabling Members to suggest topics for discussion by the Committee taking into account its terms of reference and available resources.
Debbie Marles, Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer introduced the report which enabled the Committee to consider the Committee’s Work Programme and agree the items for consideration in 024/25. (A verbatim transcript of this item was requested, and in the circumstances was agreed) The Committee RESOLVED to agree the Work Programme as set out in Appendix A; with the addition of an item enabling Members to suggest topics for discussion by the Committee taking into account its terms of reference and available resources.
Nor urgent items were tabled.
The date of the next meeting of the Committee is on Wednesday 16 October 2024 at 5.00 pm
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