Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

None.

In accordance with 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.

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Standards Committee held on 9 March 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Approved.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to consider the Committee’s new duties and agree actions to ensure compliance.

Resolved that the action plan as set out in paragraph 2.5 to ensure compliance with their new duties under legislation be approved.

Approved.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report which set out the work of the Standards Committee during 2021-2022.

Resolved that the Standards Committee Annual Report 2021-2022 be approved and forwarded to Council on 7 July 2022 for information.

For information.

The Monitoring Officer presented a “For Information” report to update the Committee on decisions made by the PSOW in relation to allegations that Local Authority and Community and Town Councillors had breached the Code of Conduct.

Approved.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to consider the Committee’s Work Plan and agree the items for consideration by the Standards Committee in 2022/23.

Resolved that the Work plan outlined in Appendix 1 for the 2022/23 municipal year be approved.

Approved.

The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during the consideration of the item(s) of business identified in the recommendation to the report on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exemption paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, relevant to the item(s) of business set out in the report.

The Committee considered the Public Interest Test in deciding whether to exclude the public from the meeting for the item(s) of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant as set out in the report.

Resolved that the public be excluded for the following items of business.

(Closed Session)

Approved.

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to consider requests for dispensation applications in relation to:

i)             Councillor R V Smith;

ii)            Councillor C A Holley;

iii)           Councillor A Pugh.

In considering the granting of dispensations, the Committee sought to balance the public interest in preventing members with prejudicial interests from taking part in decisions, against the public interest of decisions being taken by a representative group of members of the Authority.

The reasons behind the applications were outlined in the report and expanded on by the Monitoring Officer during discussion on the matter.

Resolved that:

(i)           Councillor R V Smith be granted dispensation under paragraph 2 (d) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (as amended): 

To Stay, Speak but not Vote on matters relating to the Appointment of Local Authority Governors.

This dispensation shall not apply if the Councillor is or becomes aware of any impact on a closely associated person (within the meaning of paragraph 10 (2) (c) of the Code of Conduct) that relates to and is specific to the Appointment of Local Authority Governors.

(ii)          Councillor Chris Holley be granted dispensation under paragraph 2 (d) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (as amended): 

To stay, speak and vote and make oral and written representations in respect of issues involving Adult Social Services matters.

The dispensation shall not apply if the Councillor is or becomes aware of any impact on a closely associated person (within the meaning of paragraph 10 (2) (c) of the Code of Conduct) that relates to and is specific to his daughter.

(iii)         Councillor A Pugh be granted the following dispensation under paragraph 2 (d) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 (as amended): 

To Stay, Speak and Vote (but not in relation to her daughters employment) when considering Child & Family Social Services issues.

The dispensation shall not apply if the Councillor is or becomes aware of any impact on a closely associated person (within the meaning of paragraph 10(2) (c) of the Code of Conduct) that relates to and is specific to her daughter.