Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the minutes of the meeting held on 04 June 2026
AGREED to note the contents of the report and request that the Monitoring Officer consider the issues raised regarding the complaints process and report back to the Committee as appropriate.
AGREED that (i) approval of the draft Guidance be deferred and represented to the next meeting with a clearer explanation of the changes and supporting documentation; and (ii)the amendment to the Dispensation Form at Appendix 2 be approved.
AGREED (i)that the contents of the report be noted; and (ii) to support exploring amendments to the report format, including the use of graphs and longer comparative periods of up to two years to better identify trends, however, one Member suggested that the trends could be collated as from this meeting. The Chair agreed to discuss the matter further with the Monitoring Officer and to bring proposals for consideration at a future meeting.
AGREED to approve the draft Ethics and Standards Committee Annual Report, 2025/26, prior to presentation to Council on the 24 September 2026.
AGREED to note the minutes of the National Standards Committee Chair Forum subject to a report being presented on the protocol for the Council adopting Civility and Respect Pledge.
AGREED that the item be represented to Committee for consideration once the format and wording had been amended
AGREED to note the Forward Work Programme subject to the following be added to the 03 December 2026 meeting: • List of Policies and Procedures • Civility and Respect Pledge report • Amended Code of Conduct Information Sheet for Town and Community Councillors • Updated Action Log
Councillor Caryl Roberts and Ms Elin Prysor apologised for their inability to attend the meeting.
None.
Caryl Davies declared a personal interest in Item 7 of the agenda in relation to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) decision concerning a Councillor of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the minutes of the meeting held on 04 June 2026
It was RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the minutes of the meeting held on 04 June 2026
The following was reported by the Chair: (i) Action 6 –the report on the Local Resolution Process had not been completed, as new guidelines had not been received; (ii) Action 9 – revised guidance from the Ombudsman was still awaited; (iii) Minute 8 – Review of Gifts and Hospitality Threshold was on the Forward Work Programme; (iv) Minute 12 – the information sheet to support Town and Community Council Members on the Code of Conduct was on the agenda for consideration; (v) Minute 14 – List of Policies and Procedures. It was agreed that the item be presented to the next meeting to ensure that the document included all relevant policies and procedures; (vi) Minute 18 – PSOW Annual letter to be included on the Forward Work Programme along with the list of policies; (vii) Minute 15 – Self-Assessment. No feedback had been received, and the item was now concluded until the 2026/27 assessment next year; (viii) Minute 16 – Duties including the Annual Report and the Hospitality declarations were included on agenda; (ix) Minute 17 – The Ethics and Standards Committee Vision Statement had been updated on the Council website (x) Minute 18 – The agreed Terms of Reference were to be submitted to Full Council on 24 September 2026 (xi) Minute 19 – Ethics and Standards Annual Report was included on the agenda.
The Committee agreed to note the Action Log as presented, subject to the to amending the log with the matters arising above.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the contents of the report and request that the Monitoring Officer consider the issues raised regarding the complaints process and report back to the Committee as appropriate.
Consideration was given to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales – Code of Conduct Findings. Members discussed the value and effectiveness of Ombudsman reports where no breach of the Code of Conduct was found and no further action was required. It was suggested that greater emphasis could be placed on identifying lessons learned from such cases, particularly in relation to unfounded complaints and their impact on councillors. The Committee also discussed the complaints process, including whether some form of initial filtering or assessment could help reduce vexatious or unfounded complaints and alleviate pressures on both councillors and the Ombudsman’s office. Members acknowledged, however, the importance of maintaining public confidence in the process and avoiding any perception of members protecting one another. It was agreed that these matters should be explored further with the Monitoring Officer, including the possibility of discussion through the Standards Committees’ Chairs’ Forum – Wales and the Monitoring Officers group. It was AGREED to note the contents of the report and request that the Monitoring Officer consider the issues raised regarding the complaints process and report back to the Committee as appropriate.
Consideration was given to the report on the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’s Annual Letter 2024/25, which had previously been delayed due to amendments required by the Ombudsman and had subsequently been presented to Cabinet but not to the Committee. The report highlighted national Code of Conduct complaint trends and complaint outcomes relating to Ceredigion. Members noted that one complaint relating to Ceredigion County Council was not investigated as it was not considered to be in the public interest, and one complaint relating to Borth Community Council was not investigated due to no prima facie evidence of a breach. Members also noted that the Ombudsman's Annual Letter 2025/26 would be presented to the Committee when received. The Committee NOTED the report.
The Committee NOTED the contents of the report
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED that (i) approval of the draft Guidance be deferred and represented to the next meeting with a clearer explanation of the changes and supporting documentation; and (ii)the amendment to the Dispensation Form at Appendix 2 be approved.
Applications for Dispensation Procedures – Guidance for Councillors and variation of Dispensation application form Consideration was given to the report regarding the protocol for Members attending in person to present applications for dispensation. The current protocol had been reviewed following concerns that the existing procedure was inefficient where multiple Members submitted similar applications relating to the same issue. It was reported that the revised protocol updates officer titles, clarifies the procedure, and introduces arrangements allowing multiple applicants with similar applications to present their cases at the beginning of the item before the Committee considers the applications. Members expressed concern that the amendments contained within the report were not sufficiently clear and requested further evidence and clarity regarding the changes made. Following consideration, it was AGREED that (i) approval of the draft Guidance be deferred and represented to the next meeting with a clearer explanation of the changes and supporting documentation; and (ii)the amendment to the Dispensation Form at Appendix 2 be approved.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED (i)that the contents of the report be noted; and (ii) to support exploring amendments to the report format, including the use of graphs and longer comparative periods of up to two years to better identify trends, however, one Member suggested that the trends could be collated as from this meeting. The Chair agreed to discuss the matter further with the Monitoring Officer and to bring proposals for consideration at a future meeting.
The Committee received an update report from the Monitoring Officer on trends and statistics relating to Code of Conduct matters for Quarter 1 of 2026/27. The report outlined trends, advice provided, complaints activity and other Code of Conduct related matters concerning both County Council and Town and Community Council Members. Members noted that, at County Council level, recurring issues related to respect and consideration towards fellow councillors and members of the public, the use of position to create disadvantage, and actions that could compromise officer impartiality. The Monitoring Officer reported a decrease in Code of Conduct issues during the quarter, together with six meetings and a number of written and oral advice sessions provided to councillors. The Committee also noted trends within Town and Community Councils, including an increase in failures to declare prejudicial interests, the need for members to consider how their language may be perceived by the public, and the importance of avoiding inadvertent discrimination. The report highlighted the need for continued Code of Conduct training and guidance on declarations of interest and dispensations. It was AGREED (i)that the contents of the report be noted; and (ii) to support exploring amendments to the report format, including the use of graphs and longer comparative periods of up to two years to better identify trends, however, one Member suggested that the trends could be collated as from this meeting. The Chair agreed to discuss the matter further with the Monitoring Officer and to bring proposals for consideration at a future meeting.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to approve the draft Ethics and Standards Committee Annual Report, 2025/26, prior to presentation to Council on the 24 September 2026.
It was AGREED to approve the draft Ethics and Standards Committee Annual Report, 2025/26, prior to presentation to Council on the 24 September 2026.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the minutes of the National Standards Committee Chair Forum subject to a report being presented on the protocol for the Council adopting Civility and Respect Pledge.
It was AGREED to note the minutes of the National Standards Committee Chair Forum subject to a report being presented on the protocol for the Council adopting Civility and Respect Pledge.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED that the item be represented to Committee for consideration once the format and wording had been amended
Members reviewed the draft document. Comments were made regarding the format and wording of the document and that further consideration be given to the Information Sheet to ensure consistency with the content of the Code of Conduct. It was AGREED that the item be represented to Committee for consideration once the format and wording had been amended
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the Forward Work Programme subject to the following be added to the 03 December 2026 meeting: • List of Policies and Procedures • Civility and Respect Pledge report • Amended Code of Conduct Information Sheet for Town and Community Councillors • Updated Action Log
It was AGREED to note the Forward Work Programme subject to the following be added to the 03 December 2026 meeting: • List of Policies and Procedures • Civility and Respect Pledge report • Amended Code of Conduct Information Sheet for Town and Community Councillors • Updated Action Log
None.
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