Agenda item

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

·         Gwernaffield Community Council (David Davies - 09.11.2022)

·         Whitford Community Council (Gill Murgatroyd - 10.11.2022)

·         Holywell Town Council  (Gill Murgatroyd - 15.11.2022)

·         Mostyn Community Council  (David Davies – 21.11.2022)

·         Connah’s Quay Town Council (Ian Papworth - 28.11.2022)

·         Mold Town Council (Julia Hughes – 30.11.22)

RESOLVED:

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

The Chair provided background information and  invited the Independent Members to provide verbal reports on the following visits which had been undertaken recently:

David Davies provided verbal feedback on his attendance at the meeting of Gwernaffield and Pantymwyn Community Council held on 9 November 2022.  He also provided verbal feedback on his attendance at the meeting of Mostyn Community Council held on 21 November 2022.

Gill Murgatroyd gave verbal feedback on her attendance at the meeting of Whitford Community Council held on 10 November 2022.  She also provided verbal feedback on her attendance at the meeting of Holywell Town Council held on 15 November 2022.

Ian Papworth provided verbal feedback on his attendance at the meeting of Connah’s Quay Town Council held on 28 November 2022.

Julia Hughes provided verbal feedback on her attendance at the meeting of Mold Town Council held on 30 November 2022.

The Independent Members agreed that the visits had been positive experiences and praised the level of commitment and contributions by those in attendance. They were impressed that all meetings were well chaired and ably supported by clerks.

The following points were raised which were to be fed back to support Town and Community Councils in their procedures:

• The Independent Members noted that as a matter of good practice Declarations of Interest were standing items on all agendas. When declaring interests, Members need to be specific in whether it is a personal or personal and prejudicial interest so that everyone knows whether they intend to stay in the room. There have been examples of people leaving the room when they only had a personal interest. This is not necessary. Potentially, it deprives the Council of what might be useful information or insight and might make others reluctant to declare a personal interest because it is “the norm” when declaring any interest that one is not able to take part.

There are some exemptions in the Code which automatically downgrade personal and prejudicial interests to personal interests only:

o   a Councillor has been appointed by the Council to an outside body, he or she only has a personal interest in matters affecting that body (provided the matter is not a planning, licensing or other regulatory application)

o   Town and Community Councillors (not County Councillors) can award grants of up to £500 even though they might be associated with the body being funded.

• Independent Members have no statutory right to “carry out inspections” and attend Town/Community Council meetings as though they were a member of the public. If a Town/Community Council meeting goes into closed session they should therefore be excluded from the meeting along with anybody else that isn’t a Councillor. However, this makes it difficult for the Independent Member to carry out their role. If needed to go into closed session could consideration be given to allow the Independent Member to remain in the meeting. They will be bound by the same Code of Conduct as Councillors and must respect confidential information.

The Committee intended that the feedback would be useful and acknowledged the dedication and good work undertaken by Town/Community Councillors in their voluntary roles.

RESOLVED:

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