Agenda item
Dispensations
Purpose: To receive any requests for dispensations.
Decision:
County Councillor Clive Carver
That a letter be sent to Councillor Carver to advise that his interest was not prejudicial and provide him with the details which would offer adequate protection if required. The situations where that exemption would not apply would also be explained.
Community Councillor Peter Gibbons
That Community Councillor Peter Gibbons be granted dispensation under paragraphs (f) and (h) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak and/or answer questions at Mostyn Town Council meetings in relation to agenda items on match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group, and to leave the room during the debate and when the matter is voted on. 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.
Community Councillor Angela Tattum
That Community Councillor Angela Tattum be granted dispensation under paragraphs (f) and (h) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak and/or answer questions at Mostyn Town Council meetings in relation to agenda items on match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group, and to leave the room during the debate and when the matter is voted on. 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.
Community Councillor David Roney
That Community Councillor David Roney be granted dispensation under paragraphs (f) and (h) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak and/or answer questions at Mostyn Town Council meetings in relation to agenda items on match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group, and to leave the room during the debate and when the matter is voted on. 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.
Minutes:
Following despatch of the agenda, four dispensation requests had been received from County Councillor Clive Carver, Mostyn Community Councillor Peter Gibbons, Mostyn Community Councillor Angela Tattum and Mostyn Community Councillor David Roney. The Chair advised that as the three dispensations from Mostyn Community Councillors were identical, they would be dealt with together.
County Councillor Clive Carver
The Committee were asked to consider a request for dispensation submitted by County Councillor Clive Carver “to be able to communicate, in writing, telephone or in person, with the Clerk of Hawarden Community Council and to be able to discuss the matter with other Hawarden Community Councillors, both at and outwith Hawarden Community Council meetings, the more so since there are four Hawarden Community Councillors on the Hawarden Institute Management Committee”.
Councillor Carver explained that the dispensation related to works to Hawarden Community Council’s Council Chamber. He was a member of Hawarden Community Council which rented the Council Chamber from the Hawarden Institute for which body he was the Chair of the Management Committee. Following the increase in the number of Ewloe Ward Councillors from four to seven from the May 2017 elections, it had previously been decided to investigate the best way of accommodating the additional Members within the Council Chamber, ideally carrying out the work so that it would be ready for the meeting following the AGM. It was his understanding that the Community Council would take the lead in the design and for the Management Committee to be consulted on the plans for the work. The process had stalled and it was difficult to progress.
The Monitoring Officer sought clarity on the basis of which Councillor Carver had been appointed to the Hawarden Institute body. Councillor Carver explained that he had been appointed by Hawarden Community Council at the AGM. Following that explanation, the Monitoring Officer explained that Councillor Carver did not require a dispensation as paragraph 12(2)(a)(iii) of the Members’ Code of Conduct meant that his interest was personal but not prejudicial. This was because he had been appointed to the body by the Community Council. He also added that should a planning application be submitted in relation to the works then this exemption would not apply. A letter would be sent to Councillor Carver from the Monitoring Officer to provide him with the details which would offer adequate protection if required and explain the situations where that exemption would not apply.
Mostyn Town Councillors Peter Gibbons, Angela Tattum and David Roney
Having earlier declared an interest in this part of the item, Councillor Heesom left the room.
The Deputy Monitoring Officer provided details of the background to the applications which related to an agenda item at Mostyn Community Council which was requesting match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group (charity number 1170389) with a further 70% from Cadwyn Clwyd to secure a bid for a LEADER grant from the rural development programme. All three Community Councillors were trustees. The Deputy Monitoring Officer explained that when the item was due to be considered at the recent meeting of the Community Council, the item had to be deferred due to not enough information being available due to those three Members declaring personal and prejudicial interests and leaving the room. He confirmed that the relevant paragraphs under which dispensations were sought were (f) and (h).
Councillor Woolley and Mr Dewey spoke in support of the applications on the basis of, if dispensations were not granted, the item would not be able to be discussed due to the lack of information being available.
RESOLVED:
County Councillor Clive Carver
That a letter be sent to Councillor Carver to advise that his interest was not prejudicial and provide him with the details which would offer adequate protection if required. The situations where that exemption would not apply would also be explained.
Community Councillor Peter Gibbons
That Community Councillor Peter Gibbons be granted dispensation under paragraphs (f) and (h) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak and/or answer questions at Mostyn Town Council meetings in relation to agenda items on match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group, and to leave the room during the debate and when the matter is voted on. 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.
Community Councillor Angela Tattum
That Community Councillor Angela Tattum be granted dispensation under paragraphs (f) and (h) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak and/or answer questions at Mostyn Town Council meetings in relation to agenda items on match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group, and to leave the room during the debate and when the matter is voted on. 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.
Community Councillor David Roney
That Community Councillor David Roney be granted dispensation under paragraphs (f) and (h) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to speak and/or answer questions at Mostyn Town Council meetings in relation to agenda items on match funding for Mostyn Sports and Leisure Group, and to leave the room during the debate and when the matter is voted on. 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.