Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Standards Committee held on 3 June 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Matters Arising:

Minute 34 – Feedback on Annual Meetings with Political Group Leaders, Chief Executive and Chairs of Committees.

The Chair reminded the Committee of the action from the previous meeting in relation to the Independent Members of the Standards Committee attending Community / Town Council meetings as an evidence gathering exercise.

RESOLVED that the Head of Democratic Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer draft a document outlining the remit and scope of the exercise as soon as possible.

The Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services / Deputy Monitoring Officer provided an update to the Committee in relation to the New Model Code of Conduct report presented to Council on 19 May 2016. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services / Deputy Monitoring Officer presented a report following a technical consultation undertaken between 30 November 2015 and 10 January 2016, on the Local Government (Standards Committees, Investigations, Dispensations and Referral) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 which came into force on 1 April 2016.

The above 2016 Regulations amended the following regulations:

·       The Standards Committees (Wales) Regulations 2001;

·       The Local Government Investigations (Functions of Monitoring Officers and Standards Committee) (Wales) Regulations 2001;

·       Local Authorities (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Issue 6 – October 2015

Issue 7 – January 2016

The Chair updated the Committee on the most recent publications of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Code of Conduct Casebooks as follows:

·       Issue 6 - October 2015;

·       Issue 7 - January 2016.

RESOLVED that the report and appendices be noted.

Huw Evans, Head of Democratic Services

The Head of Democratic Services provided a verbal report on the Process for the Appointment of Independent Member to Standards Committee.  He would be advertising for two positions, one to commence in approximately September and the other to commence in approximately December 2016.

A discussion ensued in relation to the previous process followed for the appointment of Independent Members and whether the process could be improved on.

The Head of Democratic Services took the opportunity to thank the Chair for his leadership during his term of office and wished him all the best for the future.

RESOLVED that the Head of Democratic Services commence the process of advertising for the Independent Members in Summer 2016.

The Head of Democratic Services provided a Work Programme for 2016-2017: 

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

The Chair thanked his colleagues for all of their assistance during his term of office.