Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update from the Monitoring Officer.

(a)       That the update be received; and

(b)       That an item on the Local Resolution Procedure be scheduled for the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 10 June 2013.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services gave an update on the Local Resolution Procedure to deal with complaints in respect of Members.  He reported that to date 8 Councils in Wales had adopted a Local Resolution Procedure which appeared to be based on 3 models.  He advised that the process was not intended to replace investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales which remained appropriate for determination of serious breaches of the Code of Conduct, but was to be used to address behaviour which fell short of a breach of the Code or which the Ombudsman would be unlikely to investigate.  Members were informed that the Welsh Government and the WLGA had also agreed that local resolution procedures should be adopted. 

                        The Head of Legal and Democratic Services referred to the suggested Flintshire Local Resolution Procedure which had been sent to Group Leaders for consideration and explained that a response to the draft was awaited.   In his response to the questions raised by members the Head of Legal and Democratic Services outlined the potential positive and negative aspects of adopting a Local Resolution Procedure.    

Members agreed that further consideration of the Local Resolution Procedure be scheduled for the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 10 June 2013.  The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said he would distribute copies of the three model procedures used by other Councils in Wales to Committee members for their consideration prior to the next meeting. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the update be received; and

(b)       That an item on the Local Resolution Procedure be scheduled for the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 10 June 2013.