Issue - meetings

(a)       That the changes to the national model Code of Conduct for Councillors as part of the Flintshire County Council Code of Conduct with effect from the Annual Meeting on 10 May 2016 be adopted; and

(b)       That it be noted that the County Council will place a joint advert announcing changes to the code on behalf of Town and Community Councils (subject to certain conditions).

The Chief Officer (Governance) introduced the report which provided details of the changes to the National Model Code of Conduct for Councillors.  The changes were set out in the appendix to the report and had been reported to both Standards Committee and Constitution Committee.

Any changes to the Code of Conduct must be advertised as soon as reasonably practical with the advert being in a local newspaper stating where a copy of the Code could be inspected.

To save Town and Community Councils the cost of advertising, they had been invited to share the County Council’s advert.  To do so they had to notify officers no later than 31 May 2016 that they had adopted the national model or revised their Code, and provide a copy of it for inspection.

On the amendment “permitting a Councillor with a prejudicial interest to make written representations to a Committee on a matter provided the public have a right to speak at that Committee”, Councillor Clive Carver asked if those written representations would be read out.  The Chief Officer (Governance) explained that the Code did not state that and this was something that could be considered at Planning Strategy Group.  Councillor Carver then moved an amendment to include the following along with the recommendations as printed “That if a Councillor exercises the right to make written representations then those should be read out by an officer at the Committee”.  On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

Councillor Attridge moved the substantive motion which was seconded by Councillor Aaron Shotton and on being put to the vote, was carried.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the changes to the national model Code of Conduct for Councillors as part of the Flintshire County Council Code of Conduct with effect from the Annual Meeting on 10 May 2016 be adopted; and

(b)       That it be noted that the County Council will place a joint advert announcing changes to the code on behalf of Town and Community Councils (subject to certain conditions).