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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the Committee note the progress made in relation to the reported actions.
RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Michael David Cranham to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of the County Council and Llanelli Town Council relating to or likely to affect Stebonheath Park in Llanelli and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Sean Lucas Rees to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of the County Council and Llanelli Town Council relating to the use of Stebonheath Park in Llanelli by Llanelli AFC and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Janae Annabel Holliday to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of St. Ishmael Community Council relating or likely to affect the River Towy Yacht Club and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Independent Member C. Davies and Community Council Member J. Gilasbey.
There were no declarations of personal interest.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on the 2nd June 2026 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Committee note the progress made in relation to the reported actions.
The Committee received a report which detailed the progress achieved in relation to the actions, requests or referrals which had emanated from previous meetings. The Committee reviews progress against those actions at every scheduled meeting. The Legal Services Manager advised the Committee that the only ongoing action was regarding an upcoming disciplinary hearing, which would be arranged soon. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Committee note the progress made in relation to the reported actions.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Michael David Cranham to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of the County Council and Llanelli Town Council relating to or likely to affect Stebonheath Park in Llanelli and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
The Committee considered an application from County Councillor Michael David Cranham for dispensation under the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and vote in relation to council business relating to or likely to affect Stebonheath Park in Llanelli. Councillor Cranham is a season ticket holder and supporter of Llanelli AFC which is based at the park and as such would have a personal interest in any council business relating to it by virtue of paragraphs 10(2)(a)(ix)(ee) of the code. A member of the public, knowing of this connection, might reasonably conclude that it would influence Councillor Cranham’s judgement when considering such council business. As set out in the report, Councillor Cranham’s application did not specify the grounds in the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, upon which it was made. However, the following ground would appear to be applicable: - His participation would not damage public confidence The Committee were advised that if they were to grant Councillor Cranham’s request, they would also need to determine the duration of that dispensation. Following a discussion, the Committee: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Michael David Cranham to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of the County Council and Llanelli Town Council relating to or likely to affect Stebonheath Park in Llanelli and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Sean Lucas Rees to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of the County Council and Llanelli Town Council relating to the use of Stebonheath Park in Llanelli by Llanelli AFC and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
The Committee considered an application from County Councillor and Llanelli Town Councillor Sean Lucas Rees for dispensation under the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and vote in relation to council business relating to the use of Stebonheath Park in Llanelli by Llanelli AFC. Councillor Rees is a close personal associate of a member of Llanelli AFC and as such would have a personal interest in any council business relating to it by virtue of paragraphs 10(2)(a)(ix)(ee) of the code. A member of the public, knowing of this connection, might reasonably conclude that it would influence Councillor Rees’s judgement when considering such council business. As set out in the report, Councillor Rees’s application did not specify the grounds in the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, upon which it was made. However, the following ground would appear to be applicable: - His participation would not damage public confidence The Committee were advised that if they were to grant Councillor Rees’s request, they would also need to determine the duration of that dispensation. Following a discussion, the Committee: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Sean Lucas Rees to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of the County Council and Llanelli Town Council relating to the use of Stebonheath Park in Llanelli by Llanelli AFC and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Janae Annabel Holliday to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of St. Ishmael Community Council relating or likely to affect the River Towy Yacht Club and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
The Committee considered an application from St. Ishmael Community Councillor Janae Holliday for dispensation under the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and vote in relation to council business relating to or likely to affect the River Towy Yacht Club. Councillor Holliday is a social member of the yacht club and as such would have a personal interest in any council business relating to it by virtue of paragraphs 10(2)(a)(ix)(ee) of the code. A member of the public, knowing of this connection, might reasonably conclude that it would influence Councillor Holliday’s judgement when considering such council business. As set out in the report, Councillor Holliday sought dispensation on several grounds in the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, namely: - Her participation would not damage public confidence. - Her interest is common to herself and a significant proportion of the general public. The Committee were advised that of these it was only the former that would appear to be applicable and that if they were to grant Councillor Holliday’s request, they would also need to determine the duration of that dispensation. Following a discussion, the Committee: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2(2)(d) Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Janae Annabel Holliday to speak and make written representations but NOT vote on business at meetings of St. Ishmael Community Council relating or likely to affect the River Towy Yacht Club and the dispensation be valid until the end of the Councillor’s term of office.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Committee received a report on Code of Conduct Training for Town and Community Councils. The Legal Services Manager noted that the Standards Committee organises Code of Conduct Training for Town and Community Councils in the County every year. This year’s event took place on the 29th July via Zoom. An open invitation was sent to all councils, with no restriction on the number of members who could attend the session. A total of 33 people attended the event compared with 32 and 34 respectively in 2025 and 2024. A copy of the training presentation and a link to the recording of the event were later circulated to all councils in the County. He noted that councils were finding access to the presentation and recording useful, and that the training seemed to be well received. Members noted the importance of Code of Conduct training, especially given the upcoming disciplinary hearing, and that this training was a preventative measure to make sure that such issues did not arise. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Committee received a report on Code of Conduct Data. It was noted in the report that the annual code data exercise took place between June and August 2026. 48 responses were received from the 72 councils asked to provide data. A detailed analysis of the survey responses, along with other relevant Code of Conduct data for the year was included with the agenda. The Legal Services Manager summarised key areas covered in the report as follows: - The response rate was disappointing, but understandable given the request was sent out later than usual. - In addition to the data gathered from responses, data held regarding the number of code complaints was included and showed that there were four complaints regarding Town & Community Councillors and that none of them resulted in action being taken. - There had been an influx of group applications from clerks for many members of the same council, often regarding controversial infrastructure projects in their area, such as the Towy Valley Pylon scheme. - The data indicated that most councils were regularly recording declarations and had a good understanding of when to make them. This was supported by the fact that code complaints received generally related to personal conduct, not a failure to declare interests. - Councils were asked if members and clerks had received code training and of those that replied, 30 stated that at least one of their members had received code training during the year. The Committee was advised that it may wish to consider changes to the code training at a future meeting, given the likelihood of significant change to councils’ membership following the local elections in 2027. - There is a statutory duty for councils to adopt training plans, and of the councils that responded 43 confirmed that they had adopted one. It was suggested that next year’s data gathering exercise place more emphasis on promoting the review of training plans. - 27 councils stated that they had signed up to the Society of Local Council Clerks’ ‘Civility and Respect’ pledge. This was a significant increase from the seven councils in 2024-2025 and suggested that the Committee’s promotion of this achieved some success. - Councils were asked about member vacancies: 23 councils reported no vacancies, the highest number a single council had was seven, with the usual number being one to three. The Committee was advised that there was nothing in the data that suggested a specific trend to which councils had higher vacancies, but that trends had not been analysed in depth. The Committee had the following questions or comments - A question was asked about the format of the ‘Civility and Respect’ pledge, and the Committee was advised that councils signed up as a whole organisation. The pledge was created by the Society of Local Council Clerks due to the lack of an overall code in England and can also be signed by councils in Wales. - A question was asked regarding liaising with One Voice Wales to ascertain which councils within the county had undertaken code training with them, and the Legal Services Manager advised he would contact them to discuss this. - A discussion was had regarding the format of Code of Conduct training, with options suggested including hybrid rather than virtual only, splitting training between new and returning members, and ensuring training for returning members focused on changes in the code. The Committee was advised that this would be considered at a future meeting when a report will be considered regarding the next set of Code of Conduct training. - In response to a question regarding whether Town & Community Councils had a template for training plans, the Committee was advised that there was a limited one sent by the County Council when it became required, and that One Voice Wales may also have one. The Legal Services Manager advised that he would check with One Voice Wales if this was the case. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Committee received a report with a recent decision published by the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) regarding a Code of Conduct complaint. This provided the committee with points of learning for consideration when implementing the code and providing training to councillors. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be noted.
The Committee considered nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee after vacancies arose mid-term UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: 11.1 that Julie James be appointed Chair of the Standards Committee for the remainder of the 2026-27 Municipal Year. 11.2 that Moira Saunders be appointed Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee for the remainder of the 2026-27 Municipal Year.
The Chair confirmed that there were no urgent items.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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