Agenda, decisions and minutes

Purpose: To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None were received.   

Purpose: To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2016.

That the minutes be received, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2016 were submitted. 

The Monitoring Officer explained that, in the lead up to the County Council elections in May 2017 and in an attempt to raise awareness of candidates, candidates would be asked for their views on the start time of Committee meetings.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be received, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Purpose: To receive any requests for dispensations.

RESOLVED:

County Councillor Richard Jones

That County Councillor Richard Jones be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (e) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to enter into written communications with officers on car parking charges in Buckley, to take part in the debate but not vote when the item was reported to a Committee or County Council meeting but to remain in the room to hear the debate.  The duration of the dispensation was granted for 12 months ceasing on 3 July 2017.

Town Councillor Stephen Rodham

That Town Councillor Stephen Rodham be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to correspond with officers on the CAT of the Community Centre, Library and Youth Centre.  Also to speak to officers provided that there was a witness which would ensure that at least three people would be present, and that the conversation be minuted.  To speak and/or answer questions at Town Council meetings, to remain in the room during the debate but not vote at Council or Committee meetings.  It was also agreed that in the absence of a Code of Conduct of the CIO that the Town Council’s Code of Conduct be followed.  In addition, should Councillor Rodham become a County Councillor then the dispensation should be reviewed.

Town Councillor Shelley Streeter

That Town Councillor Shelley Streeter be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to correspond with officers on the CAT of the Community Centre, Library and Youth Centre.  Also to speak to officers provided that there was a witness which would ensure that at least three people would be present, and that the conversation be minuted.  To speak and/or answer questions at Town Council meetings, to remain in the room during the debate but not vote at Council or Committee meetings.  It was also agreed that in the absence of a Code of Conduct of the CIO that the Town Council’s Code of Conduct be followed.  In addition, should Councillor Streeter become a County Councillor then the dispensation should be reviewed.

Following despatch of the agenda, three dispensation requests had been received from County Councillor Richard Jones, Saltney Town Councillor Stephen Rodham and Saltney Town Councillor Shelley Streeter.

County Councillor Richard Jones

            The Committee were asked to consider a request for dispensation submitted by County Councillor Richard Jones which related to changes to the car parking policy.  The request was to speak to officers, Members and others, to make written representations and to speak to Council Committees and to remain in the Chamber to hear the related debate.

            Councillor Jones explained that he had been appointed President of the Buckley and District Chamber of Commerce and that body was making representations to the Council, seeking to have the car parking charges policy amended for Buckley.  The change would continue to provide the anticipated levels of income for the Council, but also attract recent lost trade, whilst avoiding further trade loss in the town.  He added that he was a member of Buckley Town Council and his wife was a trader in the town.

            He provided details of businesses that had recently closed in the town for a variety of reasons and felt it was important that there was continued dialogue between Flintshire County Council, Buckley Town Council and Buckley and District Chamber of Commerce for the benefit of the town.

            It was the suggestion from Buckley and District Chamber of Commerce and the Town Council that a two part ticket be introduced in the town.  This would enable traders who were part of the scheme to reimburse the parking cost to the customer on receipt of the second part of the ticket.  This would therefore have no impact on income levels to the Council. 

            In response to a question from Councillor McGuill, Councillor Jones explained that 22 traders of the town were in agreement with the suggested amended scheme when it was discussed at a recent meeting of the Buckley and District Chamber of Commerce, which included Costa Coffee and Iceland.

            Councillor Jones left the room whilst the Committee considered the request.

            The Chair commented that Councillor Jones had received a previous dispensation relating to car parking charges and the Monitoring Officer explained that this was in relation to his wife’s business in the town.  In advising the Committee, he said to approve anything less than had been granted in May 2015 there would need to be a material difference in circumstances of which there was not.

            Following a discussion the Committee decided that Councillor Richard Jones be granted dispensation to enter into written communications with officers on car parking charges in Buckley, to take part in the debate but not vote when the item was reported to a Committee or County Council meeting but to remain in the room to hear the debate.  The duration of the dispensation was granted for 12 months ceasing on 3 July 2017.

            Councillor Jones was called back into the meeting and informed of the decision.

Saltney Town Councillor Stephen Rodham and Saltney Town  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To discuss topics for the next meeting of the North Wales Standards Forum (verbal report).

That any further topics should be sent to the Chair and Vice Chair for review and a composite list be sent to the Monitoring Officer to forward on to the host authority of the Conference.       

The Monitoring Officer explained that a date had not yet been confirmed for the North Wales Standards Forum Conference which was to be hosted by Anglesey County Council however it was likely to be in September 2016.

                        Topics of interest were sought from the Committee for the Chair or Vice Chair to put forward and the following was agreed:

·         Possibility of a Joint North Wales Standards Committee

·         What standing reports got considered by the Standards Committee in each authority

·         How did each authority approach dispensation requests, particularly if they did not meet on a frequent basis

·         Local Resolution Procedures

·         Training for new Members following the elections in May 2017

·         Annual Report from the Adjudication Panel for Wales

It was agreed that any further topics should be sent to the Chair and Vice Chair for review and a composite list be sent to the Monitoring Officer to forward on to the host authority of the Conference. 

            RESOLVED:

That any further topics should be sent to the Chair and Vice Chair for review and a composite list be sent to the Monitoring Officer to forward on to the host authority of the Conference.

Purpose: For the Committee to consider topics to be included on the attached Forward Work Programme.

The Monitoring Officer explained that at the next meeting of the Committee he would present the Ombudsman’s Annual Report.

                        A discussion took place on the absence of an Annual Report from the Adjudication Panel for Wales and it was agreed that this would be added to the list of topics for the North Wales Standards Forum Conference.

            RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b)       That the Ombudsman’s Annual Report be presented to the Committee in September 2016.

There were no members of the press or public in attendance.