Issue - meetings

(a)       That the report be received; and

(b)       That a copy of the WLGA guide ‘A Guide for New Councillors In Wales’, which set out the role of a Councillor, be sent to County Councillors and Town and Community Council Clerks.

The Head of Democratic Services introduced the report which provided details of the role of a County Councillor and the potential expectations of them.

                        A Councillor was an integral part of the Council as collectively, all seventy Councillors in Flintshire were Flintshire County Council. 

                        The role description for a Flintshire County Councillor was published on the website and covered accountabilities, role, purpose and activity.

                        As a guide, the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) believed that the role of a ‘back bench’ Councillor was likely to be the equivalent of three working days a week.  A Cabinet Member was likely to work the equivalent of a 37 hour week. 

                        Town and Community Councillors had their own separate roles.  It was important that County Councillors and Town and Community Councillors worked together in representing their communities and likewise, County Councils and Town and Community Councils were encouraged to work closely together and may hold regular liaison meetings – this was the purpose of the Flintshire Forum.

                        The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) published a new Councillor guide ‘A Guide for New Councillors in Wales’ which set out the role of a Councillor, and was appended to the report.  In addition, a Local Government association guide to working within a political environment was also appended to the report.  The Committee welcomed the report, in particular the WLGA guide and requested that this be sent out to all County Councillors and to Town and Community Clerks.

                        Ken Molyneux commented that the information on social media was sparse within the document.  The Head of Democratic Services explained that the WLGA had a separate social media protocol; the Monitoring Officer explained that this had previously been reported to Standards Committee and could also be found on the WLGA website.  In addition, he said that other such information would be available, via the Town and Community Clerks, who had access to One Voice Wales or the Society of Local Council Clerks.

            RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the report be received; and

(b)       That a copy of the WLGA guide ‘A Guide for New Councillors In Wales’, which set out the role of a Councillor, be sent to County Councillors and Town and Community Council Clerks.