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RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 16th September 2024 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
RESOLVED i. That the Committee notes the matters relating to Code of Conduct Complaints reported in the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Annual Report and Annual Letter to this Council 2023-2024.
RESOLVED i. To note the Independent Review of investigations by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales into Code of Conduct complaints.
RESOLVED to: i. To consider the contents of the report and provide any comments/feedback on the complaints received by the Ombudsman during the period 1st September 2024 – 31st October 2024.
RESOLVED: 1. It is recommended the Committee considers the recent decision made by the Adjudication Panel for Wales (as appended to the report); and 2. Determines whether there are any possible messages or lessons to be learnt arising out of the decision that could be communicated as part of future training for Members on the Code of Conduct
RESOLVED 1. To note and consider the contents of the summary of investigation outcomes concerning alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct, originally published by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales on the ‘our findings’ section of her website and attached as Appendix 1 to the report
RESOLVED 1. To consider the further draft of the revised Council’s Member-Officer Relations Protocol, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report; and 2. to commend the amended Member-Officer Relations Protocol to Full Council for adoption, Subject to the inclusion of the Head Of Democratic Services as a named officer within the protocol.
RESOLVED: i. To note the feedback from the meeting of the National Standards Forum held on 24th June 2024, attached at Appendix 2B. ii. To consider whether there are any items the Committees wishes to put forward as suggestions for consideration by the National Standards Forum at its future meetings.
RESOLVED: i. To grant County Borough Councillor Michael Powell a dispensation to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Children’s Services department (within the Community and Children’s Group), save for any specific matters that directly affect his wife, who is employed by the Council in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker, with such dispensation being reviewed by the Standards Committee on an annual basis.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 16th September 2024 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 16th September 2024 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
The Chair advised the Committee that he has attended a meeting of Full Council on the 6th November to present the Committees Annual Report, which was well received.
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RESOLVED i. That the Committee notes the matters relating to Code of Conduct Complaints reported in the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Annual Report and Annual Letter to this Council 2023-2024.
The Monitoring Officer provided Members with a summary of matters pertaining to standards of conduct of County, Town and Community Councillors as set out in the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ (‘PSOW’) Annual Report and Annual Letter to this Council for 2023-2024. Members were advised that the Annual report Executive Summary was attached at Appendix 1 of the report and Members were also advised of the Annual Letter to each Local Authority in Wales from the Ombudsman with a summary of complaints received by his office that relate specifically to that Local Authority. The Monitoring Officers advised that the Ombudsman had received 328 new complaints about the Code of Conduct – 16% more than in 2022/23 (283). 54% (176) of those complaints concerned Town and Community Councils. 45% (151) of the total complaints received related to County and County Borough Councillors. There was 1 complaint about a member of a National Park Authority and zero complaints related to members on Fire & Rescue Authorities & Police and Crime Panels. The Monitoring Officer continued to provide further detail regarding the findings of the Annual Letter and Executive Summary. Following consideration of the report, the Committee RESOLVED i. That the Committee notes the matters relating to Code of Conduct Complaints reported in the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Annual Report and Annual Letter to this Council 2023-2024.
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RESOLVED i. To note the Independent Review of investigations by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales into Code of Conduct complaints.
The Monitoring Officer advised Members of the purpose of the report, which was to enable the Committee to consider the Report of the Independent Review of Investigations by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales into Code of Conduct Complaints published on 27th September 2024. Members were reminded that the aim of the review was to provide assurance as to whether the Ombudsman’s Code of Conduct Team processes, delegations and decisions in relation to the assessment and investigation of complaints by the Code Team and FCTM have been sound, free from political bias and that lessons are learned from what has happened. The Monitoring Officer advised that a number of recommendations had been provided following the review and provided the Committee with details of such. The Monitoring officer concluded that the review had found that the Ombudsman office investigations had been sound and non bias in their processing and complaint assessment and Members could rest assured and could continue to have trust and confidence in the work of the PSOW and its Code Team. Members were content with the outcome of the review and RESOLVED i. To note the Independent Review of investigations by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales into Code of Conduct complaints.
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RESOLVED to: i. To consider the contents of the report and provide any comments/feedback on the complaints received by the Ombudsman during the period 1st September 2024 – 31st October 2024.
The Monitoring Officer presented his report which provided Members with a summary of complaints made against Members which were submitted to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales for the period 1st September 24 – 31st October 2024. Members were referred to the summary of the anonymised complaints concerning two county borough councillors contained within the table in the report. Following detail of the complaints the Monitoring Officer advised that neither complaint resulted in an investigation. The Committee RESOLVED to: i. To consider the contents of the report and provide any comments/feedback on the complaints received by the Ombudsman during the period 1st September 2024 – 31st October 2024.
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RESOLVED: 1. It is recommended the Committee considers the recent decision made by the Adjudication Panel for Wales (as appended to the report); and 2. Determines whether there are any possible messages or lessons to be learnt arising out of the decision that could be communicated as part of future training for Members on the Code of Conduct
The Committee were referred to the report which presented Members with the opportunity to consider recent decisions made by the Adjudication Panel for Wales. Members were reminded that the Adjudication Panel Wales issues decision notices following the conclusion of the cases it considers and the Monitoring Officers proceeded to provide detail of the recent decisions published. Following a detailed overview of the actions and behaviour of the respondent, Members were advised that as a result of these and other incidents the Ombudsman report contended that there had been multiple breaches of the code. The Case Tribunal unanimously concluded that the appropriate sanction in all of the circumstances was for the Respondent to be disqualified for 3 years from being or becoming a member of authority or of any other relevant authority within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2000. One Committee Member commented on the ‘red flags’ of certain behaviours that needed immediate action and early interventions to address, to which many Members agreed with. A quey was raised as to any further safeguarding issues that would have been raised during the investigation and eligibility for re-election to which the Monitoring Officer responded advising of potential disqualification period. Following Members Comments it was RESOLVED: 1. It is recommended the Committee considers the recent decision made by the Adjudication Panel for Wales (as appended to the report); and 2. Determines whether there are any possible messages or lessons to be learnt arising out of the decision that could be communicated as part of future training for Members on the Code of Conduct
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RESOLVED 1. To note and consider the contents of the summary of investigation outcomes concerning alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct, originally published by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales on the ‘our findings’ section of her website and attached as Appendix 1 to the report
The Monitoring Officer provided Members with the summary of investigation outcomes concerning alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct as published by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) on the ‘our findings’ section of the website. Members were reminded of the actions available to the PSOW following such breaches, before the Monitoring Officer provided detail of the investigation outcomes as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report. Committee RESOLVED 1. To note and consider the contents of the summary of investigation outcomes concerning alleged breaches of the Members’ Code of Conduct, originally published by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales on the ‘our findings’ section of her website and attached as Appendix 1 to the report
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED 1. To consider the further draft of the revised Council’s Member-Officer Relations Protocol, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report; and 2. to commend the amended Member-Officer Relations Protocol to Full Council for adoption, Subject to the inclusion of the Head Of Democratic Services as a named officer within the protocol.
Members were reminded of the previous consideration of the draft amendments to the Member-Officer Relations Protocol during its meeting in September, following the Democratic Services Committee’s feedback and, whilst in agreement with the Committees proposed changes, requested some further clarity be given around the wording used in respect of Section 9 of the protocol, relating to ‘Correspondence and Emails’, with specific reference to Section 9.4 and the meaning in relation to ‘note taking’ of meetings between Members and Officers. Members attention was drawn to the proposed amendments following further consideration by the Monitoring Officer and it was also highlighted the need to also include reference to the statutory required post of Head of Democratic Services within the protocol. Members were happy with the proposed amendments and RESOLVED 1. To consider the further draft of the revised Council’s Member-Officer Relations Protocol, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report; and 2. to commend the amended Member-Officer Relations Protocol to Full Council for adoption, Subject to the inclusion of the Head Of Democratic Services as a named officer within the protocol.
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RESOLVED: i. To note the feedback from the meeting of the National Standards Forum held on 24th June 2024, attached at Appendix 2B. ii. To consider whether there are any items the Committees wishes to put forward as suggestions for consideration by the National Standards Forum at its future meetings.
The Chair and the Monitoring Officer provided the Committee with details of the National Standards Forum held on 24th June 2024. Members were also advised that the next meeting of the forum would be on 27th January 2025. The Monitoring Officer advised of a potential Standards Forum Conference and sought Members views whether this would be of interest to Members and for any future agenda items. The chair commented on previous attendance at such events prior to COVID and the valued learning opportunities such events provided. Members of the Committee commented on the importance of training and welcomed any training opportunities that were available to assist them in their role It was suggested that following Members concerns in the previous agenda items, whether ‘red flags’ and early interventions could be put forward as a potential agenda item for consideration. It was RESOLVED: i. To note the feedback from the meeting of the National Standards Forum held on 24th June 2024, attached at Appendix 2B. ii. To consider whether there are any items the Committees wishes to put forward as suggestions for consideration by the National Standards Forum at its future meetings.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: i. To grant County Borough Councillor Michael Powell a dispensation to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Children’s Services department (within the Community and Children’s Group), save for any specific matters that directly affect his wife, who is employed by the Council in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker, with such dispensation being reviewed by the Standards Committee on an annual basis.
The Monitoring Officer presented his report which sought the Committees decision as to whether to grant a dispensation to County Borough Councillor Michael Powell to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Children’s Services department (within the Community and Children’s Services Group), save for any specific matters that directly affect his wife who is employed by the Council in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker, with such dispensation being reviewed on an annual basis by the Standards Committee. Members were reminded that Paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct sets out the procedures to be followed regarding participation in meetings when a Member has declared a personal and prejudicial interest. However the participation by a Member in any business which is prohibited by Paragraph 14 is not a failure to comply with the Code if the Member has acted in accordance with a dispensation from the prohibition granted by the Standards Committee in accordance with regulations. It was added that any dispensation awarded cannot be used if the matter under consideration would confer a greater benefit on his wife than on other tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the Council’s area, or be such that a member of the public might reasonably conclude it would significantly affect his ability to act purely on the merits of the case and in the public interest if Councillor Powell were to take part in the discussion. It was RESOLVED: i. To grant County Borough Councillor Michael Powell a dispensation to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Children’s Services department (within the Community and Children’s Group), save for any specific matters that directly affect his wife, who is employed by the Council in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker, with such dispensation being reviewed by the Standards Committee on an annual basis.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
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