Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Clwyd Committee Room, County Hall, Mold CH7 6NA

Contact: Nicola Gittins / 01352 702345  Email: nicola.gittins@flintshire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest (Including Whipping Declarations)

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Decision:

None.

Minutes:

None.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 9 April 2018.

Decision:

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

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 9th April were submitted and confirmed as a correct record.

 

RESOLVED:

 

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

3.

Dispensations pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To receive any requests for dispensations.

Decision:

That County Councillor Dennis Hutchinson be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak for five minutes at Planning Committee and make written representations on planning applications 058212 and 58489, or any application which, in the opinion of the Monitoring Officer, is similar. Councillor Hutchinson is to leave the meeting after speaking and before the applications were debated and voted on. The dispensations to be granted for 12 months, ceasing on 3rd June 2019.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer explained that one application for dispensation had been received from Councillor Dennis Hutchinson and was included in the agenda.  In addition, a further application for dispensation had been received from Councillor Hutchinson and copies were made available at the meeting.

 

The first dispensation related to planning application number 058212, land adjacent to Woodside Cottages, Bank Lane, Drury, Buckley.  A similar dispensation had been received, and granted, on 5th December 2016 which had now expired. 

 

Councillor Hutchinson explained that he was applying for dispensation as he owned land in close proximity to the application site and the development would therefore have an impact on his land.

 

Councillor Hutchinson left the room whilst the dispensation was considered. 

 

In response to a question from Julia Hughes, the Monitoring Officer provided examples of similar requests from other Members where the decisions had been to grant the dispensations.

 

It was agreed that the dispensation would be granted under paragraphs (d) and (f), to speak at Planning Committee for five minutes and communicate in writing with officers, but to leave the meeting before the debate and the vote. The dispensation would apply for a period of 12 months and include similar applications as deemed by the Monitoring Officer.  Councillor Hutchinson returned to the room and was advised of the decision.

 

On the second dispensation, the Monitoring Officer advised the Committee that the circumstances of the dispensation sought were similar and on the same basis as the first dispensation.  Councillor Hutchinson explained that this related to planning application number 58489.  He was part owner of land to the rear of ‘Hillcrest’, off Mount Pleasant Road which had planning consent for housing and the site was within one mile of the application site.

 

Councillor Hutchinson left the room whilst the dispensation was considered.  Given the advice of the Monitoring Officer in that this was deemed a similar application, the Committee granted the dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f), to speak at Planning Committee for five minutes and communication in writing with officers, but to leave the meeting before the debate and the vote.  The dispensation would apply for a period of 12 months and include similar applications as deemed by the Monitoring Officer.  Councillor Hutchinson returned to the room and was advised of the decision.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That County Councillor Dennis Hutchinson be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak for five minutes at Planning Committee and make written representations on planning applications 058212 and 58489, or any application which, in the opinion of the Monitoring Officer, is similar. Councillor Hutchinson is to leave the meeting after speaking and before the applications were debated and voted on. The dispensations to be granted for 12 months, ceasing on 3rd June 2019.

4.

Overview of Ethical Complaints pdf icon PDF 76 KB

That the Committee notes the number and type of complaints.

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the number and type of complaints be noted; and

 

(b)       That future reports include a timeline.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer presented the Overview of Ethical Complaints report which provided a running total of complaints alleging a breach of the Code that had been submitted to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.  The complaints distinguished between different Councils and Councillors whilst remaining anonymous. 

 

There had been a significant number of complaints submitted relating to one Town Council since the previous report.  Of these, one complaint had been submitted by a member of the pubic, which the Ombudsman had decided to investigate.

 

In response to a question from Julia Hughes the Monitoring Officer explained that a timeline could be added to the data in future reports.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the number and type of complaints be noted; and

 

(b)       That future reports include a timeline.

5.

Review of the Members’ Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 81 KB

That the Committee notes that the evidence indicates that existing systems seem to be working and that the members’ code of conduct does not need revision.

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That it be noted that the evidence indicates systems seem to be working and that the Members’ Code of Conduct does not need revision;

 

(b)       That anonymised data be sent to the Committee on the complaints in 2017; and

 

(c)       That a reminder be sent to Clerks of Town and Community Councils on the Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer presented the Review of the Members’ Code of Conduct report and explained that the Local Government Act 2000 required the Council to adopt a Code of Conduct based on a national prescribed model.

 

The Council last reviewed its Code in 2016 when it adopted revisions to the national model. The Council had been careful to seek to establish a working culture of respect and professional behaviour, which was fundamental to reducing behaviour that gave rise to complaints.  As a consequence the number of complaints about County Councillors was low and below the Wales average.  The Council was also often able to resolve low level complaints through discussion and/or the local resolution process without the need for a formal complaint.

 

            In response to a comment from Rob Dewey, the Monitoring Officer said he could provide anonymised details relating to the complaints in 2017 and share that information with the Committee.

 

            Councillor Johnson asked if the Council nominated Councillors to bodies that did not have a Code of Conduct.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed it did and there were many outside bodies.  The Councils Code of Conduct would apply if any of the bodies did not have their own.

 

            Julia Hughes suggested that a reminder be sent to Clerks of Town and Community Councils to remind their Members about the Code of Conduct.  The Monitoring Officer explained that each Town and Community Council had their own Code of Conduct but a reminder could be sent out.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That it be noted that the evidence indicates systems seem to be working and that the Members’ Code of Conduct does not need revision;

 

(b)       That anonymised data be sent to the Committee on the complaints in 2017; and

 

(c)       That a reminder be sent to Clerks of Town and Community Councils on the Code of Conduct.

6.

Training for Town and Community Councillors pdf icon PDF 71 KB

That a report is brought to a future meeting of the Committee regarding the level of attendance at a training event on the Members’ Code of Conduct delivered to Town and Community Councillors by the Monitoring Officer on 1st May 2018.

That the Deputy Monitoring Officer delivers a further training session on the Members’ Code of Conduct in September 2018 and a report is brought to a future meeting of the Committee regarding the level of attendance at that training event.

Decision:

(a)       That a report be brought to a future meeting of the Committee on the level of attendance at a training event on the Members’ Code of Conduct delivered to Town and Community Councillors by the Monitoring Officer on 1st May 2018;

 

(b)       That the Deputy Monitoring Officer delivers a further training session on the Members’ Code of Conduct in September 2018 and a report is brought back to a future meeting of the Committee on the level of attendance at that training events; and

 

(c)        That alongside the reminder to Clerks of Town and Community Councils on the Code of Conduct, details of the training event in September also be included.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer introduced the report on Training for Town and Community Councillors which provided details of the level of attendance at training events on the Members’ Code of Conduct prior to and following the elections in 2017.

 

            Following a question from Julia Hughes, the Monitoring Officer explained that the training sessions were published through the County Forum including the provision of the training material being available.  He suggested that Standards Committee members could promote any future training sessions at any Town and Community Councils they were to visit in the future.

 

            Details of the attendance at the training session on 1st May would be included in a future report alongside the details of the forthcoming session in September.  Julia Hughes suggested that alongside the reminder to Clerks of Town and Community Councils on the Code of Conduct, details could also be provided on the training session in September which was supported.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That a report be brought to a future meeting of the Committee on the level of attendance at a training event on the Members’ Code of Conduct delivered to Town and Community Councillors by the Monitoring Officer on 1st May 2018;

 

(b)       That the Deputy Monitoring Officer delivers a further training session on the Members’ Code of Conduct in September 2018 and a report is brought back to a future meeting of the Committee on the level of attendance at that training events; and

 

(c)        That alongside the reminder to Clerks of Town and Community Councils on the Code of Conduct, details of the training event in September also be included.

7.

Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 53 KB

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

Decision:

That the Forward Work Programme be noted, including the topics suggested.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer introduced the Forward Work Programme and invited suggestions for any items. 

 

Rob Dewey said a North Wales Standards Forum was scheduled for later in the month and suggested that an item be placed on the agenda with feedback from that meeting.

 

Julia Hughes said a decision had not yet been made as to which members of the Committee would visit which Town and Community Councils.  The Monitoring Officer suggested that the related paperwork for the visits could be shared but not in the main Committee meeting.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Forward Work Programme be noted, including the topics suggested.

8.

Members of the Press and Public in Attendance

Minutes:

There was one member of the public in attendance.