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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 Councillor Michael Allen be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to the Lido Community Asset Transfer at meetings of Milford Haven Town Council; and that the dispensation be valid for the lifetime of the current Milford Haven Town Council.
RESOLVED 1. That Members accepted the structure of the report subject to the addition of a section on unaffiliated Members. 2. The Committee requests that Group Leaders provide their report to the Monitoring Officer by the end of April 2023 3. That the draft report be brought back for approval to the June 2023 Meeting before being considered at full Council in July 2023
RESOLVED That the Standards Committee Programme/Timetable 2023 be noted.
RESOLVED That the Councillor should be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, in respect of the findings of the investigation and any allegation that the former Councillor has failed, or may have failed, to comply with the Code. The Committee then considered a provisional date for the Hearing, where it was agreed that at this stage a provisional date could not be set. Moved by Councillor David Edwards; Seconded by Mr Nick Watt The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated power, in consultation with the Chairman, to confirm the date of a hearing, having regard to the responses from the Councillor. The Committee then reconvened in public and the Chairman outlined the decisions of the Committee
Councillor Guy Woodham declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 4 – Application for dispensation for Councillor Michael Allen. He advised that both he and Councillor Allen sit on Milford Haven Town Council and that he was also Chair of the working group on the Community Asset Transfer, which was a part of what Councillor Allen was seeking dispensation for.
Moved by Ms Corinna Kershaw; 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 12 December 2022 be approved as a correct record
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That Councillor Michael Allen be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to the Lido Community Asset Transfer at meetings of Milford Haven Town Council; and that the dispensation be valid for the lifetime of the current Milford Haven Town Council.
[Councillor Guy Woodham declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item of business as previously stated and withdrew from the meeting.] The Committee considered an application by Councillor Michael Allen for dispensation to speak and vote on matters relating to the Lido Community Asset Transfer. On invitation of the Chair, Councillor Allen addressed the Committee in support of his application; and to explain the purpose of his application. He outlined that he was Chair of the Lido Park Organisation and Visit Milford Haven, which was a voluntary group to promote economic development and regeneration. The Committee were then provided with an opportunity to ask questions of Councillor Allen on his application. In response to a query from Mr Paul Richardson on whether there was any personal gain, Councillor Allen clarified that he did this on a purely voluntary basis and that there would be no personal business interests. Mr Paul Richardson asked whether Councillor Allen could provide the Committee with any justification as to why the request for dispensation to vote wouldn't be seen as prejudicial in any way. He responded that he did not know the answer; however, referred to the mandate of the Community Asset Transfer working group having changed and that this change of mandate should be considered by the full Milford Haven Town Council. Mr Nick Watt queried what would happen to any profit if the Community Benefit Society was established and operated the Lido on a sound financial basis. Councillor Allen highlighted that the submission for a Community Benefit Society had been accepted and outlined how the scheme would work. He clarified that as a trustee he would not be able to invest and that no individual would be able to benefit in a big financial way. Councillor David Edwards highlighted his concerns in relation to Councillor Allen’s reasons for wanting to be on the working group and asked for assurance. In response, Councillor Allen assured the Committee that he would ensure any contribution would be done in a civil and constructive manner. Mrs Suzanne Lewis queried that if the Community Asset Transfer went through what would be the role going forward and whether there would be any financial benefits. He clarified that once it was operational he would have no further role and would step down as Chair. Councillor Allen then withdrew from the Meeting and the Committee considered the application and verbal representations provided. Mr Paul Richardson advised that the application form had provided good reasons to speak and vote; however, following his verbal submission he had concerns about the public perception and on that basis supported granting dispensation to speak only. Councillor David Edwards acknowledged that he had expertise and knowledge in this area that would be useful. He also supported granting dispensation to speak only due to public perception. Mr Nick Watt highlighted he was strongly against granting dispensation to vote and would need to make clear that in regards to speaking it would only be at Milford Haven Town Council Level. Councillor Vanessa Thomas agreed with the consensus of the Committee that should not be granted dispensation to vote; however, recognized that he had a huge amount of expertise. Moved by Mr Paul Richardson; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That Councillor Michael Allen be granted dispensation to speak only on matters relating to the Lido Community Asset Transfer at meetings of Milford Haven Town Council; and that the dispensation be valid for the lifetime of the current Milford Haven Town Council.
[Councillor Guy Woodham returned to the Meeting.] There were no urgent applications for dispensation.
The Chair attended the first Standards National Forum on 27 January 2023 and provided a verbal update to the Committee. It was noted that the purpose of the Forum was to share best practice and provide a forum for problem-solving across the 22 principal councils, the three Fire and Rescue Authorities and the three National Park Authorities in Wales in relation to the work of Standards Committees. The Chair highlighted that the next Meeting would be in late summer and that she would liaise with the Monitoring Officer if anything needed to be raised at the next Forum. The Committee noted the update provided.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED 1. That Members accepted the structure of the report subject to the addition of a section on unaffiliated Members. 2. The Committee requests that Group Leaders provide their report to the Monitoring Officer by the end of April 2023 3. That the draft report be brought back for approval to the June 2023 Meeting before being considered at full Council in July 2023
The Monitoring Officer presented the report, which was for Members to consider the draft structure of the Annual Report and final timeframe for reporting to this Committee and full Council. In considering the report, the key points were highlighted as follows: · Mr Nick Watt suggested that the Annual Report needed a paragraph on unaffiliated Members and how the Committee have engaged with unaffiliated Members and the challenges due to the high amount there were in Pembrokeshire. The Chair and Mr Paul Richardson concurred, with Mr Paul Richardson suggesting it could be included under the special information section. · Mr Paul Richardson raised concerns in terms of the Committee not granting dispensation to vote in his time on the Committee, and that could leave the Committee open to criticism. Mr Nick Watt advised that over his time on the Committee discussion had expanded and the Committee now articulated their reasons more clearly. · Councillor David Edwards suggested that could make it clear in the report that there was a higher bar in relation to granting dispensation to vote in comparison to dispensation to speak. Mr Paul Richardson concurred with this suggestion and also referred to the requirements for the application form, which can be fed back to Council. It was noted that this would be a new process and would need to be reviewed. Moved by Guy Woodham; Seconded by Mr Paul Richardson The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED 1. That Members accepted the structure of the report subject to the addition of a section on unaffiliated Members. 2. The Committee requests that Group Leaders provide their report to the Monitoring Officer by the end of April 2023 3. That the draft report be brought back for approval to the June 2023 Meeting before being considered at full Council in July 2023
The Monitoring Officer presented the report which provided Members with an overview of the outcome of Code of Conduct cases which contain summaries of all reports issued under Section 69(4) of the Local Government Act 2000 that have been published on the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ website since October 2022. Mr Paul Richardson commented that it was a useful report, which provided a deeper insight into Ombudsman Code of Conduct cases. The Committee noted the report.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the Standards Committee Programme/Timetable 2023 be noted.
The Monitoring Officer presented the Standards Committee Timetable 2023 for the consideration of the Committee. Moved by Mr Nick Watt; Seconded by Councillor David Edwards The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Standards Committee Programme/Timetable 2023 be noted.
Moved by Ms Corinna Kershaw; Seconded by Mr Nick Watt RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12, 13 and 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the in relation to Paragraphs 12 and 13.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the Councillor should be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, in respect of the findings of the investigation and any allegation that the former Councillor has failed, or may have failed, to comply with the Code. The Committee then considered a provisional date for the Hearing, where it was agreed that at this stage a provisional date could not be set. Moved by Councillor David Edwards; Seconded by Mr Nick Watt The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated power, in consultation with the Chairman, to confirm the date of a hearing, having regard to the responses from the Councillor. The Committee then reconvened in public and the Chairman outlined the decisions of the Committee
The Committee convened in private session under the terms of Paragraph 18(c) of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 to consider this item of business. The Committee considered a report by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales on her investigation into an alleged breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct. The Committee noted that the finding of the Ombudsman under Section 69 of the Local Government Act 2000 was that the report should be referred to the Monitoring Officer, for consideration by the Standards Committee. In accordance with the Local Government Investigations (Functions of Monitoring Officers and Standards Committee) (Wales) Regulations 2001, the Committee was required to determine in the first instance whether there was no evidence of failure to comply with the Code of Conduct; or whether any person subject to investigation should be given the opportunity to make representations before any determination was made. In considering the Ombudsman’s report, the Committee determined that the Councillor should be given the opportunity to make either oral or written representations to the Committee. Moved by Councillor David Edwards; Seconded by Mr Nick Watt The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Councillor should be given the opportunity to make representations, either orally or in writing, in respect of the findings of the investigation and any allegation that the former Councillor has failed, or may have failed, to comply with the Code. The Committee then considered a provisional date for the Hearing, where it was agreed that at this stage a provisional date could not be set. Moved by Councillor David Edwards; Seconded by Mr Nick Watt The vote for the Motion, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated power, in consultation with the Chairman, to confirm the date of a hearing, having regard to the responses from the Councillor. The Committee then reconvened in public and the Chairman outlined the decisions of the Committee
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.
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