To receive apologies for absence from Members.   

Members of the Committee were introduced to Kelly Watson, Deputy Monitoring Officer/Group Manager Legal who would be succeeding Mr Andrew Jolley as the Monitoring Officer with effect from 9 July 2018.

The Committee formally placed on record its thanks to Mr Jolley for his guidance and the clarity of advice he gave to both the Committee and to the Authority and for the high quality training he delivered on the Code of Conduct.        

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council on 1 September 2008.

None. 

To receive for approval the Minutes of 08/03/18

RESOLVED:           That the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee of 8 March 2018 be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer reported that there is a vacancy for a Town and Community Councillor on the Standards Committee and there is a need for an appointment to be made to fill the vacancy. 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that the Monitoring Officer had been granted delegated authority at the Annual Meeting of Council on 16 May 2018 to oversee a recruitment and appointment process.  She stated that she would contact all Town and Community Councils within the administrative area of the County Borough seeking expressions of interest. 

RESOLVED:           That the report be noted.           

The Deputy Monitoring Officer reported that the 2018 Standards Conference Wales will be held on 14 September 2018 at Aberystwyth University and sought nominations from members of the Committee wishing to attend.  Details of the conference programme had yet to be received, although Mr N Bennett, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales would be the keynote speaker.  

RESOLVED:           That the Chairperson of the Committee, Councillor M Clarke and Town Councillor G Walter attend the Conference with the Monitoring Officer.   

The Deputy Monitoring Officer reported on a summary of cases which had been undertaken by the Ombudsman’s Office.  The Code of Conduct Casebook is published on a quarterly basis and contains the summaries of those cases for which the hearings by the Standards Committee of Adjudication Panel for Wales have been concluded and where the outcome of the hearing is known for the period October to December 2017. 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that an announcement had been made at the last meeting of Council advising Members to exercise caution when using social media and to be alert before engaging in discussions online.  The Deputy Monitoring Officer also informed the Committee that Clerks to Town and Community Councils had been advised to approach the Monitoring Officer where there are potential complaints forthcoming against Councillors and not for Town and Community Councillors to approach the Monitoring Officer directly.

RESOLVED:           That the report be noted. 

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Rule 4 of the Council’s Procedure Rules, and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.