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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 report be noted.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
RESOLVED: That Members extend an invite to Group Leaders of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, to attend a meeting of the Standards Committee, to discuss code of conduct related matters to fulfil the legal obligations under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
RESOLVED: That the delegation of the Standards Committee function of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee to Neath Port Talbot Council Standards Committee be noted, and that reports be brought on a future basis for Members consideration.
RESOLVED: That the Code of Conduct questionnaire (attached at Appendix 1 of the circulated report) be issued to Town/Community Clerks, and a report be brought back to Members at a future meeting of the Standards Committee
RESOLVED: That Community Councillors Sonia Reynolds and Sarah Thomas be granted a dispensation to speak and vote, on the terms set out in paragraph 9 of the circulated report, and that the dispensation runs to the Standards Committee which follows the Annual Meeting of Council, 2027.
RESOLVED: That pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, and Members introduced themselves.
The following Members made Declarations of Interest – these interests were considered prejudicial, so the Members left the meeting at these items, and took no part in the meeting or discussion thereon: Councillor Sarah Thomas Agenda Items 9 and 12, Grant of Dispensation under S81(4) of the Local Government Act 2000 (Community Council and County Borough Council), as she was named in both reports as seeking dispensations for her involvement with Canolfan Maerdy and Adult Learning Wales. Councillor Wayne Carpenter Agenda Item 12, Grant of Dispensation under S81(4) of the Local Government Act 2000 (County Borough Council), as he was named as seeking dispensations within the report.
Members noted the Forward Work Programme for the Standards Committee, which would be a standing item at each meeting going forward.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That Members extend an invite to Group Leaders of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, to attend a meeting of the Standards Committee, to discuss code of conduct related matters to fulfil the legal obligations under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
Members noted a new addition to the remit of the Standards Committee – specifically the inclusion of the new legislative requirement to invite Group Leaders to attend the Standards Committee. Members discussed the proposed questions to put to Group Leaders, which were contained within the circulated report. How the various political groups utilised the Code of Conduct, within their own standing orders, was discussed, as well as any training that the Group Leaders had received re the new duty, and how it had been received. The proposed set of questions to put to Group Leaders (contained within the circulated report) was discussed, and Members felt it was more appropriate to ask (at question B) ’How appropriate do you think the Code of Conduct is?’ as opposed to ‘Do you consider that it is still appropriate to have a Code of Conduct in Wales, which applies to all councillors and co-opted members?’ Members suggested adding a sentence on how to rate the effectiveness of any training given, to question H - ‘What are your views on the Authority’s Code of Conduct training? How could it be improved so as to raise the ethical standards of Councillors /Co-opted Members?’ The Monitoring Officer would include all the points above, prior to sending the questions to the Group Leaders. RESOLVED: That Members extend an invite to Group Leaders of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, to attend a meeting of the Standards Committee, to discuss code of conduct related matters to fulfil the legal obligations under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the delegation of the Standards Committee function of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee to Neath Port Talbot Council Standards Committee be noted, and that reports be brought on a future basis for Members consideration.
RESOLVED: That the delegation of the Standards Committee function of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee to Neath Port Talbot Council Standards Committee be noted, and that reports be brought on a future basis for Members consideration.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Code of Conduct questionnaire (attached at Appendix 1 of the circulated report) be issued to Town/Community Clerks, and a report be brought back to Members at a future meeting of the Standards Committee
Members discussed the current training arrangements for the Town/Community Councils, including the take up of any training sessions, and the format of the training. It was noted that ‘your role as Group Leader’ in Question 7 of the questionnaire, should be altered to ‘your role as Clerk’. The Monitoring Officer extended a welcome to all Standards Members to attend various meetings of Town/Community Councils – dates would be circulated in due course. RESOLVED: That the Code of Conduct questionnaire (attached at Appendix 1 of the circulated report) be issued to Town/Community Clerks, and a report be brought back to Members at a future meeting of the Standards Committee
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That Community Councillors Sonia Reynolds and Sarah Thomas be granted a dispensation to speak and vote, on the terms set out in paragraph 9 of the circulated report, and that the dispensation runs to the Standards Committee which follows the Annual Meeting of Council, 2027.
(At this point in the meeting, Councillor S.Thomas reaffirms her interest, and leaves the meeting for the discussion and voting thereon.) RESOLVED: That Community Councillors Sonia Reynolds and Sarah Thomas be granted a dispensation to speak and vote, on the terms set out in paragraph 9 of the circulated report, and that the dispensation runs to the Standards Committee which follows the Annual Meeting of Council, 2027.
No urgent items were received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
RESOLVED: That pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
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.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.