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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 Independent Member Kate Robertson be appointed Vice Chair of the Standards Committee.
RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the minutes of the meetings held on 6 March 2026 and 10 April 2026 be received and approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED that the verbal report on the appointment of a County Council member to serve on the Standards Committee be received and noted.
RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.
RESOLVED that the verbal report from the Chair attending meetings be noted.
RESOLVED that the position be noted.
RESOLVED that the report on the meeting of the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum held on 26 January 2026 be received and noted.
RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the forward work programme be agreed.
RESOLVED that the report be received and noted. At this stage in the proceedings, the Monitoring Officer left the meeting.
RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405937, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members.
RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405939, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members.
RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405940 & 202407229, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members. The meeting concluded at 11.40 am.
Independent Member Claire Blanchard and Community Councillor Gordon Hughes. Apologies had also been received from the Head of Corporate Support Service: People/Deputy Monitoring Officer.
No declarations of interest had been raised.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that Independent Member Kate Robertson be appointed Vice Chair of the Standards Committee.
The Monitoring Officer explained the process for the Appointment of Vice Chair and requirement for the Committee to appoint an Independent Member to the position. The Chair proposed, seconded by Independent Member Robert Weston, that Independent Member Kate Robertson be appointed Vice Chair of the Standards Committee. There were no further nominations. RESOLVED that Independent Member Kate Robertson be appointed Vice Chair of the Standards Committee.
No urgent matters had been raised.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the minutes of the meetings held on 6 March 2026 and 10 April 2026 be received and approved as a correct record.
Minutes of the Standards Committee held on 6 March 2026 were submitted. The Chair commented that the circulated minutes were not the ones she had previously seen and commented on: the version that she had been sent had been thorough and comprehensive, but the version included in today’s meeting papers must have been an earlier version as there were substantial areas that lacked clarity; the minor amendments she had suggested to correct typographical errors and improve clarity (on the version she had seen) had also not been included in the final draft; this appeared to be due to an oversight in relation to version control. After receiving advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Committee agreed to approve the minutes based on the Chair’s proposed corrections (set out below), along with any further adjustments agreed during the Committee’s discussion. Accuracy – Page 8, Item 3: Dispensation Requests, first paragraph, fourth line to read ‘The reason for the dispensation was the same as the previous reason where the village shop sought a share offer to bolster funds.’ Page 9, Item 5: Minutes of the last meeting, to read – 'The Chair informed the Committee she had not had previous sight of the minutes to note any grammatical errors. She noted some of the content had been noted inaccurately and needed members attention. The Monitoring Officer stated the pragmatic way would be for the minutes to be agreed subject to minor typographical errors submitted to the clerk to the Committee. Any substantive issues or meaning issue should be discussed. All Members agreed subject to the above to receive the minutes. The minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on the 12 December 2025 were submitted. Accuracy – Page 8 – Committee Attendance – The Chair felt that the minutes did not fully reflect the discussions of the meeting and following the meeting she suggested the minutes should read: ‘The chair welcomed any members of the committee that attended any meetings to share their feedback from those meetings. Samuel Jones informed the Committee that he had attended a St. Asaph City Council meeting (09-07-2025). His observations included that ‘Declarations of Interest’ are a standing item on the City Council meeting agendas. No declarations of interest were raised at this meeting. The meeting was chaired appropriately and the clerk was well-informed. No concerns were identified and there was good, constructive discussion from the attending members. The agenda was available bilingually, and the website was clear and easy to navigate. In his absence, the chair summarised the feedback from two community council meetings that Peter Lamb had attended: Llandegla Community Council (02-10-2025) Website observation was reported to be basic though clerk and councillor contacts were up to date. The website was not bi-lingual. Declarations of Interest was a standard agenda item though none were declared; it is recommended that committee members arriving late should also be asked to declare any interest in any agenda items. The meeting was well chaired and clerked. It was a respectful meeting with no observed concerns. Derwen Community Council (17-09-2025) Observations of the website reported ease of accessibility, both clerk and councillor contact details were up to date, and public notices were visible. Some of the information on the website was bi-lingual. The meeting was well chaired with good support from the clerk. Declarations of Interest was a standing agenda item, none were raised at this meeting. General observation included that there was good and respectful contribution to discussion. No members of the public were in attendance. The chair also attended a meeting at Bodelwyddan Town Council (06-11-2025) The information on the website was only partially available bi-lingually. Clerk contact details were up to date on the website though only 50% of councillor details were available. The visible News and Events Summary is bilingual. Declarations of Interest is a standing agenda item. None were declared at that item. The chair and the clerk also reminded members that they should declare an interest as they went along if anything came up where they realised that they had an interest. This was observed in practice in relation to a donation that was being considered and six members declared an interest and abstained from the vote. Previous sets of minutes showed declarations of interest had been declared though did not always indicate which agenda item they referred to, nor the context of the interest. The meeting was well-chaired. There was a substantial agenda and the balance between discussion and debate, and the need to move on was well-managed. Members were respectful to one another and all were given opportunities to speak. The clerk gave helpful prompts and background information as appropriate throughout e.g. there was a discussion around the rules in relation to getting 3 quotes for works, given that a ‘small’ piece of work has the potential to become much more substantial, No members of the public were present. Members of the Committee queried how the feedback would be shared with the city town and community councils. Officers clarified that letters would be sent to them. It was suggested that the City, Town and Community Council Liaison might circulate the information to them as they were developing a good rapport with those councils Page 14 – Standards Committee Terms of Reference – The last paragraph would read ‘however, they did not quash the matter either and agreed to discuss the matter at a later date with the full Standards Committee as a number of members had submitted apologies for the meeting.’ Page 15 – Code of Conduct – Part 3 Local Government Act 2000 – Members agreed the sentence should read ‘The Monitoring Officer provided a summary of the minor changes notified to the Monitoring Officer since the last meeting of the Committee which included updates regarding two complaints’ Matters arising – Page 9/10 – Protocol for Member/Officer Protocol - The Monitoring Officer informed Committee a workshop had been arranged for Members. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss the member/ officer protocol, officer relations work and members frustrations and how things can be improved. A similar session would be arranged in the Spring for middle managers and higher. He offered his thanks to the Chair for her agreement to attend that session to introduce the item. Page 13 – Group Leaders Report – The Monitoring Officer stated a meeting had taken place with Group Leaders where all Group Leaders presented a report and answered questions from Standards Committee. They were all asked the same questions. A circulation email following those discussions had been circulated to all Standards Committee members. Members noted that one Group Leader had not attended the meeting, the reason had been due to the political group not being formed during the period for discussion. It was noted that some Group Leaders expressed dissatisfaction, the Chair suggested that feedback could be for Standards Committee to offer further support post Ombudsman decisions. The Deputy Monitoring Officer stated the intention for 2025/26 year would be to hold interviews and discussions at an earlier stage of the year. The Chair suggested a brief overview report may be beneficial for Members on the process with Group Leaders.’ Page 12, Item 7: Attendance at Meetings, to read – ‘The Chair invited Members to update the Committee on any visits to City, Town and Community Councils they had visited since the last Standards Committee meeting. Independent Member Kate Robertson stated she had attended Denbigh Town Council meeting. She stated it was the first visit she had undertaken as her role on the Standards Committee and was grateful the Chair also attended for support. She also offered her thanks to Peter Lamb who had also offered to attend a City, Town and Community Council meeting as support. The Denbigh Town Council meeting had taken place on 26 January 2026. The meeting was hybrid with individuals attending both in person and remotely. Prior to the meeting, Kate Robertson stated she had reviewed the website which was fully bilingual with up-to-date details for the clerk and Councillors of the council. The meeting lasted a couple of hours, at the start of the meeting one Councillor raised concern that we were there as observers. The concern revolved around the absence of a Standards Committee Member observing a meeting last year which they felt may have been beneficial and supportive. There were 3 declarations of interest raised at the meeting with the individuals leaving the meeting at the appropriate times. When reviewing the previous minutes it was noted that declarations had been made so it was felt that was the practice of the committee. A member of the public did attend the meeting and during the confidential Part 2 item were kindly asked to leave the meeting for that discussion. The meeting was chaired well and the Chair controlled the meeting respectfully. A minor point of note, on the agenda which was published prior to the meeting it stated ‘please be in the Chamber by 6 pm if you wish to attend’ although the address of the town hall was included on the agenda it did not clearly state the ‘Chamber’ within the building. Access to the Chamber was via a staircase or a lift with some steps to enter the room. It may be that a ramp would be required. Overall, a very well Chaired meeting, with a helpful Clerk. Independent Member Peter Lamb clarified that the attendance at meetings was on a 2 year rolling rota so that may have been why Denbigh Town Council had not received a Standards Committee observation the previous year. If City, Town and Community Councils felt an observation would be beneficial they could invite Standards Committee to attend. The Monitoring Officer added support had been provided to Denbigh Town Community Council the previous year from numerous officers from the authority. The Chair asked if officers could look at the allocation of meetings to visit and recirculate to members. The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee Sam Jones had been a Member of the Standards Committee but had to resign from his position as he had gained work within the local authority. Independent Member Peter Lamb suggested that on occasion some of the locations were difficult to find and it may be beneficial to add further directions for areas which may be difficult to find.’ Page 14, Item 8: Draft Standards Committee Annual Report, paragraph 7, first line to read ‘The Chair suggested that support could be offered by the Standards Committee to assist Group Leaders in managing any fallout following resolved complaints.’ Page 15, Item 8: Draft Standards Committee Annual Report, paragraph 4, to read ‘Independent Member Peter Lamb highlighted the importance of ensuring that Group Leaders were aware they could approach the Standards Committee to progress matters and, where appropriate, make referrals to the Ombudsman. The Chair advised Members that an in‑depth discussion regarding Group Leaders had been recorded in the minutes of the National Standards Forum. She suggested submitting a record of that discussion to the Head of Corporate Support Service – People for consideration.’ Page 22, Item 13: Standards Committee Forward Work Programme, final line to read ‘The Monitoring Officer suggested that a report on induction and training processes be included on the forward work programme for December 2026.’ Matters Arising – Page 21, Item 13: Standards Committee Forward Work Programme – it was noted that two report items scheduled for the June meeting relating to the ‘Officer and Member Code of Conduct’ and ‘Group Leaders’ Reports’ had been rescheduled to the September meeting. Items for the forward work programme would be considered later in the meeting under agenda item 11. Minutes of the Special Standards Committee held on 10 April 2026 were submitted. Accuracy – Page 25, Item 4: Application for Grant of Dispensation by Members of Corwen Town Council – it was agreed that the minutes would record that, following the Committee’s determination in closed session, the Town Clerk and the Corwen Town Councillor had been invited back into the meeting and informed of the decision reached. Matters Arising – there were no matters arising. RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the minutes of the meetings held on 6 March 2026 and 10 April 2026 be received and approved as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the verbal report on the appointment of a County Council member to serve on the Standards Committee be received and noted.
The Monitoring Officer reported on the current composition of the Standards Committee, advising that its membership included two county councillors. Following Councillor Bobby Feeley’s appointment as Chair of the Council in May, she was no longer eligible to serve on the Standards Committee under the constitutional rules, resulting in a county councillor vacancy. County Council would be asked to appoint a replacement for Councillor Feeley at its next scheduled meeting on 7 July. In response to questions, the Monitoring Officer advised that a councillor who was the subject of an ongoing Ombudsman investigation would not be prevented from being nominated for the appointment; however, that councillor would have a prejudicial interest and therefore would not be able to participate in that particular matter. He also confirmed that, while there was no formal rule preventing Political Group Leaders from serving on the Standards Committee, they would be advised against doing so, given that the Committee was required each year to determine the extent to which Group Leaders were fulfilling their duties. Finally, the Monitoring Officer advised that a report would be presented to the Governance and Audit Committee in September regarding the Committee’s recommendation to increase the Standards Committee’s membership from seven to nine. RESOLVED that the verbal report on the appointment of a County Council member to serve on the Standards Committee be received and noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.
A report was submitted by the Solicitor (previously circulated) on the latest case summaries contained in the ‘Our Findings’ section of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) website and the latest decisions made by the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW). The Solicitor guided members through the report. One Code of Conduct complaint had been investigated during the period 18 February to 22 May 2026, and a summary of the case had been provided in Appendix 1. The matter related to a Disclosure and Registration of Interest, and the PSOW concluded that no action was required. Since 25 November 2025, there had been one determination by the APW arising from referrals made by the PSOW, with the relevant extract included in Appendix 2 to the report. None of the cases involved a council within Denbighshire. The Chair thanked the Solicitor for the report which was useful for the Committee. The Monitoring Officer informed members that the Solicitor was attending her last Standards Committee meeting, as she had successfully secured a position with another local authority. He thanked the Solicitor for her hard work and wished her well for the future. The Chair echoed those sentiments on behalf of the Committee. RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the verbal report from the Chair attending meetings be noted.
The Chair reported on her attendance at the following meetings – · Llanynys Community Council – 10 March 2026 The website was up to date, clerk contact details were current, the public notice was clear, the meeting venue was easy to locate and accessible, and councillor contact details were fully bilingual. Overall, the website was considered excellent. Although Declarations of Interest (DoI) was a standing agenda item, there had only been one DoI in recent years, and no DoI made at the meeting. The Clerk advised that at least one member would have an interest in a later agenda item, but no declarations were made. One member left the meeting at that point and did not return. The Chair expressed some concern regarding the situation. In light of this, it was recommended that greater emphasis be placed on DoI during meetings and within the Code of Conduct training for councillors. It was suggested that the City, Town and Community Council Liaison Officer could highlight that a high number of declarations would be expected at meetings and to gain feedback as to whether specific training could help. DoI training could also be delivered at the September meeting, to which Clerks would be invited. The Chair had led the meeting effectively, and the Clerk was well‑prepared and knowledgeable. Eight members attended, (with one leaving early); apologies were received from two others. After the initial DoI item, the meeting ran smoothly, with respectful contributions from all. The Clerk’s detailed guidance, supported by advice sought from One Voice Wales and council departments, was particularly helpful. · Llantysilio Community Council – 11 May 2026 The website was up to date and comprehensive; it was available only in English rather than bilingually, though the information provided was excellent. Notably, it included a summary of the Code of Conduct for elected members and a tabulated register of general member interests, both of which were considered good practice. Declarations of Interest was a standing agenda item, but none were made at the meeting, and no declarations had been made over the past six months. While this may reflect no relevant interests, some items discussed related to land and property near member‑owned land, where declarations might reasonably be expected. This suggested that further training could be useful for the Clerk/Chair. The meeting was well-chaired, with the Clerk providing helpful guidance throughout. Members were respectful and all had the opportunity to speak. Eight councillors attended with one apology. No public were present. The ‘Community Problems’ agenda item meant councillors could raise any concerns they had, and a wide range of issues were raised. · Denbighshire County Council – 12 May 2026 (up to and including agenda item 12) The Chair had attended the meeting to present the Standards Committee Annual Report and had taken the opportunity to observe the proceedings. Declarations of Interest was a standing item and was covered comprehensively at the start of the meeting. The appointments of Chair and Vice‑Chair were completed smoothly, and both outgoing and incoming Chairs managed the meeting effectively. Agenda item 12 involved strong views and lengthy debate, which the Chair handled well. During one heated exchange, the Monitoring Officer intervened appropriately after an unacceptable allegation was made, and discussion then continued constructively. A few members referred back to (and criticised) historic officer decisions; this may present a learning opportunity within the context that the Council is committed to improving Member – Officer relations, to strengthen practice where reference to such issues can be made without refueling discontent. Overall, members were respectful and courteous. A copy of the report would be sent to the Chair of the Council. The Monitoring Officer advised that a Workshop with members on Member – Officer relations had been held with a similar session delivered from the officer perspective at the Council’s Senior Leadership Conference for middle managers and above. That work would continue in the lead-up to the local government elections in May 2027, and the Member – Officer Protocol would also form part of the induction programme for newly elected members. With regard to attendance at meetings, the Chair advised that the new Independent Members, who had not yet completed their induction, did not need to undertake those visits until after the Standards Committee’s September meeting. Appropriate support would then be provided to help them begin that process. RESOLVED that the verbal report from the Chair attending meetings be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the position be noted.
The Monitoring Officer advised that no dispensation requests had been received, although an enquiry had been made regarding dispensations. Should a formal dispensation request be submitted, a special meeting of the Standards Committee may be required to consider the matter. RESOLVED that the position be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report on the meeting of the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum held on 26 January 2026 be received and noted.
An update report by the Head of Corporate Support Services: People, was submitted enclosing the notes of the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum meeting held on 26 January 2026 (previously circulated). The Chair noted that the covering report referred to her attendance at the meeting; however, she had submitted apologies due to a clash with a meeting of Conwy’s Standards Committee. She did however highlight the following topics in the meeting notes – · 4.1 – Local Resolution Protocols (Town/Community Councils) – the operation of a protocol for handling low-level conduct complaints about members remained voluntary and was applied inconsistently across councils. A need for clearer guidance and improved training for clerks and councillors was highlighted. · 4.2 & 4.3 – Duty to promote and maintain standards (Group Leaders Duty) and involvement of elected councillors on the Standards Committee – it was reported that approaches across Wales for supporting and assessing Group Leaders in their duty to uphold high standards of conduct varied. These included meetings between councillors and Standards Committee members after receiving the Group Leader reports, and quarterly or annual reports discussed either collectively or in one-to-one Group Leader meetings. Involvement of elected members also differed, with Denbighshire inviting the full Standards Committee to meetings with Group Leaders, while in some councils elected members did not take part. There was some debate about the different approaches to Group Leader reports and frequency of meetings across local authorities. Denbighshire’s Standards Committee currently receive annual reports from Group Leaders and hold separate meetings with each of them. The Chair, who also serves on Conwy’s Standards Committee, outlined Conwy’s model, which includes six-monthly meetings between the Chair, Vice-Chair and Group Leaders, and an annual meeting with the Standards Committee which for the first time this year had been held without elected members. The Monitoring Officer agreed to seek the views of Group Leaders and other local authorities on the matter, including the frequency of meetings, and to bring a report to a future Standards Committee meeting to review the current practice in Denbighshire. · 5 – Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) Update – with regard to the length of time taken for Ombudsman investigations there had been a reduction in the number of cases open for a very long period. The number of cases older than 12 months fell from 32 in December 2024 to 18 in December 2025. As of January 2026, there were 53 open investigations, of which 17 were classed as aged – 13 relating to Town and Community Councils and 4 to County Councils. The Chair acknowledged the stress caused by lengthy investigations and noted that, while the Ombudsman’s office was working hard to shorten timescales, complex cases would inevitably take longer to resolve. The Monitoring Officer referred to agenda item 16 where many of the recently closed cases had been ongoing for 18 months or longer. He commented that long delays created stress, particularly in small community councils where disputes could affect the entire council. However, the Ombudsman was aware of these concerns and was working to improve the timeliness of investigations. Faster resolution would improve evidence quality and avoid reopening settled matters. RESOLVED that the report on the meeting of the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum held on 26 January 2026 be received and noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the forward work programme be agreed.
The Standards Committee Forward Work Programme was presented for review. Members noted the standing items and reports scheduled for the next meeting in September and that an item on the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum would be added. As City, Town and Community Councils would be invited to the next meeting, and in light of the issues raised at the National Standards Committee Chairs Forum on 26 January 2026 regarding Local Resolution Protocols (agenda item 10), it was agreed that an item on Local Resolution Protocols would be added to that agenda. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the Code of Conduct training for Clerks covered local resolution and highlighted the challenges Clerks face in applying that process, particularly in smaller community councils. Members also agreed that the review of Denbighshire’s approach to supporting and assessing Group Leaders in their duty to promote and maintain high standards (agreed under the previous item) be scheduled for the December meeting. RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the forward work programme be agreed.
Members noted that the Standards Committee’s next meeting had been scheduled for 10.00 am on Friday 11 September 2026. As agreed earlier in the meeting, the training session held immediately before the next meeting would cover Declarations of Interest. The Clerks and Chairs of the City, Town and Community Councils would be invited together with the City, Town and Community Council Liaison Officer to provide an update on work undertaken.
RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received and noted. At this stage in the proceedings, the Monitoring Officer left the meeting.
[This item was brought forward on the agenda with the consent of the Chair] The Monitoring Officer submitted a confidential report (previously circulated) providing an overview of complaints against members lodged with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales since 1 June 2025. The Monitoring Officer provided a summary of two new Ombudsman determinations issued since the Committee’s last meeting: the first resulted in a decision not to investigate the complaint, and the second concluded with no further action following investigation. Members noted that, in relation to the second complaint, the Ombudsman appeared to place some weight on whether any detriment or harm had resulted from the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct when deciding whether further action was warranted following the investigation. Members also reviewed the ongoing complaints listed in the report. In response to questions about timescales, the Monitoring Officer explained that the Ombudsman aimed to complete investigations within twelve months, although the length of time taken also depended on the complexity of each case. The Chair thanked the Monitoring Officer for the overview which had been useful. RESOLVED that the report be received and noted. At this stage in the proceedings, the Monitoring Officer left the meeting.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405937, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members.
As the agenda contained three consecutive but separate report items arising from the same incident, the Legal Services Manager proposed addressing them together, while emphasising that the Committee would still be required to make an individual decision on each case. The Committee agreed to proceed on that basis. The Legal Services Manager presented a confidential report from the Head of Corporate Support Services: People (previously circulated), summarising the findings of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in the investigation into an alleged breach of the statutory Code of Conduct in relation to case number 202405937. A copy of the Ombudsman’s report had been provided to Standards Committee members in advance, together with the procedure for considering allegations made against councillors and referred to the Committee. The Ombudsman had investigated a complaint that the member had breached the Code of Conduct by failing to declare a prejudicial interest and by making a pre-determined decision during a meeting. The Ombudsman concluded that the member’s conduct fell below the expected standards and was suggestive of breaches of paragraphs 6(1)(a) (disrepute), and 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), and 14(1)(e) (prejudicial interests), but not paragraph 8(a) (pre-determination) of the Code. As a result, the case had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration. The Committee was asked to consider the Ombudsman’s report and determine either that there was no evidence of a breach of the Code, or that a hearing should be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach. Members considered the report and sought clarification from the Legal Services Manager on matters of evidence and due process. The Legal Services Manager addressed questions relating to the evidence, the implications of the Ombudsman’s findings, and the procedure the Standards Committee must follow when deciding whether there was sufficient evidence to progress to a hearing. After reviewing all the information before them, the Committee determined that there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to a hearing and that the member should be given the opportunity to make representations. The Legal Services Manager outlined the next steps, including pre‑hearing requirements, the arrangements for convening the hearing, and the associated procedural matters. RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405937, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405939, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members.
The Legal Services Manager presented a confidential report from the Head of Corporate Support Services: People (previously circulated), summarising the findings of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in the investigation into an alleged breach of the statutory Code of Conduct in relation to case number 202405939. A copy of the Ombudsman’s report had been provided to Standards Committee members in advance, together with the procedure for considering allegations made against councillors and referred to the Committee. The Ombudsman had investigated a complaint that the member had breached the Code of Conduct by failing to declare a prejudicial interest and by making a pre-determined decision during a meeting. The Ombudsman concluded that the member’s conduct fell below the expected standards and was suggestive of breaches of paragraphs 6(1)(a) (disrepute), 11(1), 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), and 14(1)(e) (interests), but not paragraph 8(a) (pre-determination) or 11(2)(a) (interests) of the Code. The case had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration. The Committee was asked to consider the Ombudsman’s report and determine either that there was no evidence of a breach of the Code, or that a hearing should be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach. Members carefully considered the contents of the report and determined that there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to a hearing in this case and that the member should be given the opportunity to make representations. RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405939, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405940 & 202407229, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members. The meeting concluded at 11.40 am.
The Legal Services Manager presented a confidential report from the Head of Corporate Support Services: People (previously circulated), summarising the findings of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in the investigation into an alleged breach of the statutory Code of Conduct in relation to case number 202405940 & 202407229. A copy of the Ombudsman’s report had been provided to Standards Committee members in advance, together with the procedure for considering allegations made against councillors and referred to the Committee. The Ombudsman had investigated a complaint that the member had breached the Code of Conduct by failing to declare a prejudicial interest and by making a pre-determined decision during a meeting. The Ombudsman concluded that the member’s conduct fell below the expected standards and was suggestive of breaches of paragraphs 6(1)(a) (disrepute), and 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), and 14(1)(e) (prejudicial interests), but not paragraph 8(a) (pre-determination) of the Code. As a result, the case had been referred to the Standards Committee for consideration. The Committee was asked to consider the Ombudsman’s report and determine either that there was no evidence of a breach of the Code, or that a hearing should be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach. Members carefully considered the contents of the report and determined that there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to a hearing in this case and that the member should be given the opportunity to make representations. RESOLVED that a hearing be convened to examine the investigation’s findings and any alleged breach in respect of case number 202405940 & 202407229, and that the member concerned be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, regarding the findings and any allegation that they had failed or may have failed to comply with the statutory Code of Conduct for members. The meeting concluded at 11.40 am.
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.
The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.
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