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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.
Resolved that: 1. it recommends that the town/community council considers changing its constitution to state that Code of Conduct training is mandatory for all members and co-opted members and that mid-term refresher Code of Conduct training is also made mandatory, 2. the Clerk accesses resources and advice available from the Society of Local Council Clerks to support them in their role, 3. representatives of the Standards Community Sub-Committee will continue to observe a number of Council meetings and report back to the Sub-Committee, 4. the Ombudsman will be advised of the meeting and the above and 5. in respect of Code of Conduct training, the external training provider will be contacted to see whether the recording can be sold to town and community councils.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R White, town and community council representative.
The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 12 February and 19 March 2025 as correct records.
There were no declarations of interest.
The Committee received the report of the Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer (copy filed with signed minutes). A Referral of Town and Community Councillors to the Ombudsman Wales The Sub-Committee noted that the Ombudsman was now sending information when complaints are received and an initial assessment of the complaint is undertaken. The current position regarding matters with the Ombudsman is detailed below: Ref Date OW advised initial assessment Date OW advised investigating or not investigating Date OW’s decision Date considered by Stds Date considered by APW 03/22 and 06/22 --- 26/09/22 investigating and 31/05/23 investigating 19/02/25 referred to Stds 19/03/25 initial hearing. 2nd hearing to be arranged 05/23 --- 29/11/23 investigating 06/23 --- 19/03/24 investigating 04/24 --- 14/08/24 investigating 13/24 --- 16/12/24 investigating 14/24 --- 16/12/24 investigating 17/24 --- 21/03/25 not investigating --- --- --- 18/24 --- 10/04/25 not investigating --- --- --- 19/24 --- 02/05/25 not investigating --- --- --- 01/25 10/06/25 B. Dispensations - Applications by Town and Community Councillors No applications for dispensation had been received from Town or Community Councillors. C. Ombudsman’s Casebook The Community Sub-Committee noted that details of cases are available in Ombudsman Wales - Our Findings D. Adjudication Panel for Wales Details of cases considered by the APW are available on its website Decisions | The Adjudication Panel for Wales (gov.wales) E. Meeting Dates The following Committee date was noted: The meeting will follow the Standards Committee meeting which commences after the Standards Committee meeting: 13 October
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 8 of The Council’s Access to Information Rules.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: 1. it recommends that the town/community council considers changing its constitution to state that Code of Conduct training is mandatory for all members and co-opted members and that mid-term refresher Code of Conduct training is also made mandatory, 2. the Clerk accesses resources and advice available from the Society of Local Council Clerks to support them in their role, 3. representatives of the Standards Community Sub-Committee will continue to observe a number of Council meetings and report back to the Sub-Committee, 4. the Ombudsman will be advised of the meeting and the above and 5. in respect of Code of Conduct training, the external training provider will be contacted to see whether the recording can be sold to town and community councils.
The Chair welcomed representatives of a town/community council to the meeting. The Sub-Committee received an explanation as to what had taken place within the council during 2023/24 and also how over the last few months how things had changed and how issues are being addressed. The Sub-Committee discussed issues with the representatives. The Chair thanked them for attending. In private the Sub-Committee considered the information provided. Resolved that: 1. it recommends that the town/community council considers changing its constitution to state that Code of Conduct training is mandatory for all members and co-opted members and that mid-term refresher Code of Conduct training is also made mandatory, 2. the Clerk accesses resources and advice available from the Society of Local Council Clerks to support them in their role, 3. representatives of the Standards Community Sub-Committee will continue to observe a number of Council meetings and report back to the Sub-Committee, 4. the Ombudsman will be advised of the meeting and the above and 5. in respect of Code of Conduct training, the external training provider will be contacted to see whether the recording can be sold to town and community councils.
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