Agenda and decisions

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillor Antony Wren declared a personal and prejudicial interest on Agenda item 4: Dispensations

Councillor Bernie Attridge declared a personal interest on Agenda Item 9 : Overview of Ethical Complaints

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst declared a personal and prejudicial interest on Agenda item 9: Overview of Ethical Complaints

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2023.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

One has been received from Councillor Debbie Owen and is attached to the agenda.

Members of the press/public will be able to remain at the meeting whilst an application for dispensation is presented to the Committee and will be able to return to hear the Committee’s decision.  However, under Paragraph 18C Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972 the Committee will exclude the press and public from the meeting whilst it deliberates on any application for a dispensation.

That the Committee resolved to grant a Dispensation to allow Councillor Owen to speak and write to Officers. When speaking to Officers this must be in the presence of an independent witness, another officer, with minutes taken of that conversation. The Dispensation to last for 12 months. 

To receive verbal reports from independent members of the Committee on their visits to the following councils:

·         Flint Town Council (Jacqueline Guest 20.03.23)

·         Shotton Town Council (Jacqueline Guest – 03.04.23)

·         Queensferry Community Council (Jacqueline Guest 09.05.23)

·         Hawarden Community Council (Jacqueline Guest 10.07.23)

That the verbal reports be received and feedback given to the Town and Community Councils.

(a)      That the current protocol prohibiting the use of council IT to produce councillor’s newsletters remained in place.

(b)      That councillors were made aware of the provision that they can produce an annual report that will be published on the council’s website.

(a)      That the draft agenda for the next Ethical Liaison Meeting be agreed.

(b)      That the final agenda be agreed by the Chief Officer Governance in consultation with the parties to the meeting.

That the Committee reviewed the cases summarised in the appendix to this

report, and identified any issues or themes which it felt needed to be raised

with all councillors.

That the Committee note the number and type of complaints

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

That the Forward Work Programme, as amended, be approved.

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