Agenda and decisions

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst declared a personal and prejudicial interest on minute number 41 which was an urgent confidential item to be discussed at the end of the meeting, as agreed by the Chair.  Councillor Parkhurst left the meeting prior to the start of that item.  Councillor Antony Wren declared a personal interest on the same item.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2023.

That subject to the two amendments, the minutes be approved as a correct record.

To receive any requests for dispensations.

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.

None received.

To discuss any ethical issues or the work of the Standards Committee raised by Town and Community Councils.

To provide an overarching feedback in respect of all the visits to Town and Community Councils.

(a)       That the report include examples of good practice observed at the meetings; and

(b)       That the report is circulated to all Town and Community Councils in Flintshire and the common themes and suggestions at paragraph 1.04 of the report are endorsed as recommendations of best practice to those councils.

To receive verbal reports from Independent Members of the Committee on their visits to the following meetings:

·         10.10.23 - Environment and Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee (David Davies)

·         17.10.23 - Cabinet (Gill Murgatroyd)

·         19.10.23 - Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee (David Davies)

·         24.10.23 - Flintshire County Council (Mark Morgan)

That the Committee notes the verbal feedback to be shared with all Members.

We check all Codes and Protocols at least once per Council Term to ensure they are pertinent and up to date. This is the check of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

That the Committee amends the value above which gifts and hospitality must be registered from £10 to £25.

Do Members have any suggestions for items they would like to see discussed at the National Forum for Chairs of Standards Committees in January?

That the suggested items be put forward for inclusion on the agenda of the next meeting of the National Forum for Chairs of Standards Committees.

To provide feedback from the Ethical Liaison Meeting.

That the Committee oversees the development of a training programme for County Councillors and Group Leaders.

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

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

(a)       That the Monitoring Officer write to all County Councillors (copied to the Standards Committee) to convey the Committee’s concerns following consideration of feedback from a recent visit to a County Council meeting and the findings of a PSOW case; and

(b)       That once visits to County Council meetings had been completed for the 2023/24 municipal year, the Committee would review the situation to assess if further visits were required.