Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee recommends to Council that it applies the changes to the national model to its own local code; and

(b)       That the Council provides guidance to Town and Community Councils to enable them to make the same changes. 

The Monitoring Officer distributed copies of a letter from the Welsh Government concerning the Local Government Ethical Framework.  He reported that following consultation existing legislation had been amended through implementation of the statutory instruments on The Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2016; and The Local Government (Standards Committees, Investigations, Dispensations and Referral) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, which come into force on 1 April 2016.  He reported that the instruments also implemented other proposals to improve the operation of the local government ethical standards framework in Wales. 

The Monitoring Officer distributed copies of a letter from the Welsh Government which detailed the proposals and reported on the main considerations.  He also distributed copies of the text of the amended Model Code of Conduct for Members and Co-opted Members with voting rights.  The Monitoring Officer advised that in accordance with section 51 of the 2000 Act, all relevant authorities must adopt a revised code of conduct by 26 July 2016.

During discussion the Monitoring Officer responded to the queries raised by members and commented that the obligation was to adopt a national model by a code of conduct which was no less onerous.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee recommends to Council that it applies the changes to the national model to its own local code; and

(b)       That the Council provides guidance to Town and Community Councils to enable them to make the same changes.