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RESOLVED That Councillor Neil Prior be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Housing; and that the dispensation be valid until the end of his current term of office. The Committee then considered his application for dispensation to speak on matters relating to a potential tourism levy. In considering the application the key points were highlighted as follows: · Concerns were highlighted about public perception. · Noted that although there was financial independence with his partner, it was also highlighted that there was still a close personal association whether there was shared financial interests or not. · Councillor Prior had been open and transparent by bringing this to the attention of the Committee · It was noted that he had knowledge and expertise in the matter. · Concerns that the circumstances in his close personal association could change. For the Motion: Councillor David Edwards, Ms Corinna Kershaw, Ms Suzanne Lewis, Councillor Vanessa Thomas, Ms Sian Vaughan, Councillor Hugh Watchman and Councillor Guy Woodham [7]. Abstention: Mr Nick Watt [1] There were no votes against. Moved by Ms Sian Vaughan; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards RESOLVED That the application not be granted.
RESOLVED • That Group Leaders submit an annual report to Standards Committee in the form set out in appendix 1 • Informal meetings to take place at least annually between the Chair and Vice-Chair and Group Leaders • Annual Report to be considered at July Council 2023
There were no declarations of interest received.
The following errors were highlighted: Page 7 – remove the word Councillor put in front of Ms Corinna Kershaw Page 9 – remove the s from Mr Nick Watts Page 16 – Mr Paul Richardson has been put as the Mover and Seconder of the Motion. Moved by Mr Nick Watt; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 October 2022 be approved as a correct record, subject to the above amendments.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED That Councillor Neil Prior be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Housing; and that the dispensation be valid until the end of his current term of office. The Committee then considered his application for dispensation to speak on matters relating to a potential tourism levy. In considering the application the key points were highlighted as follows: · Concerns were highlighted about public perception. · Noted that although there was financial independence with his partner, it was also highlighted that there was still a close personal association whether there was shared financial interests or not. · Councillor Prior had been open and transparent by bringing this to the attention of the Committee · It was noted that he had knowledge and expertise in the matter. · Concerns that the circumstances in his close personal association could change. For the Motion: Councillor David Edwards, Ms Corinna Kershaw, Ms Suzanne Lewis, Councillor Vanessa Thomas, Ms Sian Vaughan, Councillor Hugh Watchman and Councillor Guy Woodham [7]. Abstention: Mr Nick Watt [1] There were no votes against. Moved by Ms Sian Vaughan; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards RESOLVED That the application not be granted.
Due to Councillor Neil Prior having two applications that were being considered he was invited to address the Committee in support of each application and to explain the purpose for each application. Councillor Prior addressed the Committee in support of his first application, which was for dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Housing. He highlighted that he was a non-executive director on Pobl Group, which owns and operates around 13,000 homes in Wales and was the largest housing association in Wales. He stated that as a non-executive director he was not involved in the day-to-day operational aspects. It was noted that dispensation had previously been granted to speak only on this matter in May 2021. In response to a query from Councillor David Edwards, Councillor Prior clarified, that he had not been appointed as a Member to the board by the Authority. Councillor Prior then addressed the Committee in support of his second application, which was for dispensation to speak on matters relating to a potential tourism levy. He highlighted that his partner owned and managed a self-catering property in Pembrokeshire and that he had no financial interest or controlling stake in the business. Mr Nick Watt referred to Councillor Prior highlighting in his address that he did not live with his partner; and queried whether there were any other aspects of mutual financial dependence. Councillor Prior clarified that they were both financially independent of each other. At this point Councillor Prior withdrew from the Meeting and the Committee considered his first application for dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Housing. It was the consensus of the Committee that Councillor Prior should be granted dispensation to speak on the grounds of his invaluable knowledge and expertise in this area. The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a roll-call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillor David Edwards, Ms Corinna Kershaw, Ms Suzanne Lewis, Councillor Vanessa Thomas, Ms Sian Vaughan, Mr Nick Watt, Councillor Hugh Watchman and Councillor Guy Woodham [8]. There were no votes against or abstentions. Moved by Councillor David Edwards; Seconded by Mr Nick Watt RESOLVED That Councillor Neil Prior be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Housing; and that the dispensation be valid until the end of his current term of office. The Committee then considered his application for dispensation to speak on matters relating to a potential tourism levy. In considering the application the key points were highlighted as follows: · Concerns were highlighted about public perception. · Noted that although there was financial independence with his partner, it was also highlighted that there was still a close personal association whether there was shared financial interests or not. · Councillor Prior had been open and transparent by bringing this to the attention of the Committee · It was noted that he had knowledge and expertise in the matter. · Concerns that the circumstances in his close personal association could change. For the Motion: Councillor David Edwards, Ms Corinna Kershaw, Ms Suzanne Lewis, Councillor Vanessa Thomas, Ms Sian Vaughan, Councillor Hugh Watchman and Councillor Guy Woodham [7]. Abstention: Mr Nick Watt [1] There were no votes against. Moved by Ms Sian Vaughan; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards RESOLVED That the application not be granted.
There were no urgent applications for dispensation.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED • That Group Leaders submit an annual report to Standards Committee in the form set out in appendix 1 • Informal meetings to take place at least annually between the Chair and Vice-Chair and Group Leaders • Annual Report to be considered at July Council 2023
The Monitoring Officer presented the report for Members to consider the frequency and form of a report from Group Leaders to the Standards Committee and agree on the frequency of formal and/or informal meetings; and to agree the timetable for the Standards Committee’s annual report to full Council. In considering the report the key points were highlighted as follows: · The Monitoring Officer responded to a query by Councillor Guy Woodham in relation to the training section of the form. She confirmed that training information could be provided to Group Leaders by Democratic Services if required. It was noted that there were plans for refresher Code of Conduct Training to be provided to Members on at least an Annual basis, which was to be captured in the training section of the form. · Councillor Guy Woodham suggested taking the Annual report to July Council as that would allow for a timeline for Group Leaders to report in line with either a financial of administrative year, as currently they were being asked to submit by 1st March. The Monitoring Officer advised that May Council had been chosen due to the legislation stating that ‘as soon as reasonably practicable at the end of each financial year’; however, she advised that Members could amend the timeline if they felt it was more useful for group leaders to incorporate the financial year within their report. · The Chair concurred with the timeline suggested by Councillor Guy Woodham, with the Annual Report being considered at July Council. · Mr Nick Watt commented that it was important to have the training section on the Group Leader report as it would capture any refresher training and any members that might be elected midterm. · Councillor Guy Woodham queried whether there was anything that could be done in relation to those members that fall outside the legislation. The Monitoring Officer highlighted that a representative from the unaffiliated members had been invited to the last meeting; however, they had no statutory obligation under the legislation. She highlighted that the legislation was limited in Pembrokeshire due to the amount of members who were not part of a political group. · The Chair referred to the Annual Standards Conference she attended, where she had raised the issue of unaffiliated members with Welsh Government and stated that they had not provided any answers on this issue. · Councillor Guy Woodham suggested that data on unaffiliated members attendance at seminars could be included in the Annual Report as a way of capturing some meaningful data on unaffiliated members. In response the Monitoring Officer advised that this could be looked at when the Committee consider the final format of the Annual Report. She also referred to the data collated in relation to the low-level complaints that would be considered at the next agenda item. · Councillor Hugh Watchman concurred with the timeline suggested for group leaders to collate their reports following the financial year, and the Annual report be considered at July Council. · Mr Nick Watt suggested that the Annual Report could have a specific training section that included issues that had arisen in unaffiliated members acknowledging the unique situation in Pembrokeshire. Moved by Councillor David Edwards; Seconded by Councillor Hugh Watchman The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED • That Group Leaders submit an annual report to Standards Committee in the form set out in appendix 1 • Informal meetings to take place at least annually between the Chair and Vice-Chair and Group Leaders • Annual Report to be considered at July Council 2023
The Monitoring Officer presented the report, which was to provide Members with an overview of code of conduct complaints that were not upheld or investigated by the Ombudsman and concerns raised and resolved informally through local resolution for the period May – November 2022. The Committee considered the report and the key points were highlighted as follows: · The Chair expressed her disappointment that meeting behaviour was the highest type of complaint captured since May 2022. She highlighted that although there were only 21 complaints, it was still a significant amount that 9 of those were due to meeting behaviour. · In response to Councillor David Edwards query in relation to whether the complaints were from only a small number of Members or spread across the Membership, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that there was a fair spread across Members in terms of low level matters referred in respect of Meetings. · Mr Nick Watt suggested that it might be useful for the Chair to write to the Leader of Council or whomever would be appropriate, appending this report and highlighting the concerns of the Committee in relation to the number of low-level complaints/concerns being raised. · Councillor Hugh Watchman commented that following a full year of data would be able to understand any themes and identify if any individuals required further training. · Councillor Guy Woodham stated that this was a work in progress and should be brought back, as still only a small amount of data. He also highlighted the importance that this was in the public domain so the public had an understanding as to what the type of issues were that get raised in relation to appropriate conduct and standards. · Mr Nick Watt concurred that this matter should be brought back and reviewed on a regular basis; however, he stated that the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act provided an opportunity for the Committee to have a positive effect rather than just a reviewing effect on a message throughout the Council/ Town and Community Councils that behaviour was being monitored. · The Monitoring Officer clarified that this matter was scheduled in the Committee programme to come to alternating meetings. · The Chair undertook to write to the Leader to highlight the concerns of the Committee in relation to this report.
It was agreed that the Committee Programme/Timetable would be updated to reflect the amendments to the Duty of Group Leaders Timetable and sent out to the Committee.
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