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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 minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 7 September 2023 be signed and approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: a) That the Standards Committee Forward Work Programme be approved, subject to the addition of the Consultation on the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Ethical Standards Framework That applications for dispensations be a standing item on the Standards Committee agendas.
RESOLVED: a) That Councillor Harry Saville be allowed to speak with officers and write to officers and/ or the Council regarding licensing and home to school transport matters, except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd for a period of 12 months. b) That Councilor Harry Saville be allowed to speak and take part in debates and answer questions in Licensing Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Cabinet and Council relating to home to school transport or taxi provision, including policy discussions (but should leave the room before any vote is taken), except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd for a period of 12 months. c) That the dispensation be granted under paragraphs 2 (d) and (f) (and paragraph 2 (g) in respect of Scrutiny committees) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations.
RESOLVED: That Members consider Public Services Ombudsman for Wales cases on a regular basis to assist in their duties promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct.
RESOLVED: That, having had regard to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales annual report and having noted that the Code of Conduct complaints relating to Conwy that were submitted during 2022/2023 were not investigated or were discontinued, the Committee concludes that no action is needed.
RESOLVED: That the Councillors’ Register of Interests be approved by the Standards Committee.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph Paragraph 18a of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
None.
Clive Wolfendale (Chair) declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 (Re-appointment of Independent Member to the Standards Committee), as the item concerned his re-appointment to the Standards Committee. As the interest was considered prejudicial, Mr Wolfendale left the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 7 September 2023 be signed and approved as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 7 September 2023 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 7 September 2023 be signed and approved as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: a) That the Standards Committee Forward Work Programme be approved, subject to the addition of the Consultation on the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Ethical Standards Framework That applications for dispensations be a standing item on the Standards Committee agendas.
The Forward Work Programme for the Standards Committee (FWP) was presented. The Monitoring Officer advised that an update would be provided at the next meeting on the Welsh Government Consultation on the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Ethical Standards Framework (Richard Penn report) It was suggested that applications for dispensations be included as a standing agenda item. RESOLVED: a) That the Standards Committee Forward Work Programme be approved, subject to the addition of the Consultation on the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Ethical Standards Framework That applications for dispensations be a standing item on the Standards Committee agendas.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: a) That Councillor Harry Saville be allowed to speak with officers and write to officers and/ or the Council regarding licensing and home to school transport matters, except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd for a period of 12 months. b) That Councilor Harry Saville be allowed to speak and take part in debates and answer questions in Licensing Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Cabinet and Council relating to home to school transport or taxi provision, including policy discussions (but should leave the room before any vote is taken), except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd for a period of 12 months. c) That the dispensation be granted under paragraphs 2 (d) and (f) (and paragraph 2 (g) in respect of Scrutiny committees) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations.
Councillor Harry Saville presented an application for dispensation for matters relating to taxi licensing and home to school transport due a family member’s connections, employment and interests concerning Phoenix Transport Ltd, a private hire company and contracting partner with the Local Authority providing home to school transport. The following was discussed: • Members within multi-member wards may have different interests and different areas of expertise. • Whilst Overview and Scrutiny Committees made recommendations to Cabinet, these recommendations were not always supported. • Matters relating specifically to Phoenix Transport Ltd had not been considered by the Licensing Committee in recent years. • Councillor Saville’s mother-in-law was a member of the Conwy Taxi Operators Group and whilst the group no longer met, correspondence from Conwy County Borough Council in relation to matters such as road closures was still shared with the group. • The dispensation request related to policy changes and not to decisions specifically relating to Phoenix Transport. At this point the committee Members went into private session to determine the application. RESOLVED: a) That Councillor Harry Saville be allowed to speak with officers and write to officers and/ or the Council regarding licensing and home to school transport matters, except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd for a period of 12 months. b) That Councilor Harry Saville be allowed to speak and take part in debates and answer questions in Licensing Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Cabinet and Council relating to home to school transport or taxi provision, including policy discussions (but should leave the room before any vote is taken), except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd for a period of 12 months. c) That the dispensation be granted under paragraphs 2 (d) and (f) (and paragraph 2 (g) in respect of Scrutiny committees) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations.
(Note: As the Chair had declared a prejudicial interest in this item, the Vice-Chair took the Chair). The Monitoring Officer sought approval to recommend to Council that that Clive Wolfendale be re-appointed for a second term as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That Clive Wolfendale be re-appointed to the Standards Committee for a second term. Note: Clive Wolfendale (Chair) declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 (Re-appointment of Independent Member to the Standards Committee), as the item concerned his re-appointment to the Standards Committee. As the interest was considered prejudicial, Mr Wolfendale left the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That Members consider Public Services Ombudsman for Wales cases on a regular basis to assist in their duties promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct.
The Deputy Monitoring Officer presented a report on the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) "Our Findings". One case had been reported since the last meeting which related to a Conwy County Borough Council Councillor. The allegation was investigated and no further action was taken. It was confirmed that the Monitoring Officer had discussed the incident with the Member. RESOLVED: That Members consider Public Services Ombudsman for Wales cases on a regular basis to assist in their duties promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct.
Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That, having had regard to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales annual report and having noted that the Code of Conduct complaints relating to Conwy that were submitted during 2022/2023 were not investigated or were discontinued, the Committee concludes that no action is needed.
The Deputy Monitoring Officer presented the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) Annual Report 2022/2023. It was advised that Cabinet was not required to note the contents of the report, this had been included in error within the cover report. RESOLVED: That, having had regard to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales annual report and having noted that the Code of Conduct complaints relating to Conwy that were submitted during 2022/2023 were not investigated or were discontinued, the Committee concludes that no action is needed.
Gill Murgatroyd (Independent Member) had attended two Town and Community Council meetings. The following update was provided: Colwyn Bay Town Council – 23 October 2023 • The Town Council’s website was well laid out and meeting information was accessible. • Whilst there was a specific item for declarations of interest, declarations were not made at this point and were instead made later in the meeting. • The Clerk offered appropriate advice. • The meeting was well structured and online polls were used for voting. Llanddulas and Rhyd y Foel Community Council – 29 October 2023. • The website was currently being updated, however agendas and minutes were accessible. • The agenda was shown on screen during the meeting. • Whilst a declaration of interest was made at the appropriate time, it was not clear what item the declaration related to and whether it was a personal or prejudicial interest. • Three further declarations were made later in the meeting. • The Chair and a County Councillor left the meeting whilst the last agenda item was discussed, however, there was no explanation as to why they had left. • The meeting was well run and well-structured and the Clerk was effective.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Councillors’ Register of Interests be approved by the Standards Committee.
The Councillors’ Register of Interests was presented for the inspection of the Standards Committee. Issues with how the Register of Interests was laid out would be reviewed. RESOLVED: That the Councillors’ Register of Interests be approved by the Standards Committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph Paragraph 18a of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph Paragraph 18a of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
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.