Agenda item

Dispensations

Meeting of Standards Committee, Monday, 13th April, 2015 6.30 pm (Item 55.)

Decision:

That Councillor Brian Dunn be granted dispensation to enter into written communication with officers, on proposals for Flintshire payments to no longer be able to be made at Post Offices. To take part in the debate but not vote when the item is reported to a Committee or County Council meeting. The duration of the dispensation was granted for one year ceasing on 12 April 2016.

Minutes:

The Democracy and Governance Manager advised that a dispensation request had been submitted from Councillor Brian Dunn, to speak to officers and to speak and vote on proposals for Flintshire payments to no longer be able to be made at Post Offices if considered at any Council or Committee meeting. This was a personal and prejudicial interest as Councillor Dunn was owner and Postmaster at Wepre Post Office in Connah’s Quay.

The Committee had previously granted three similar applications, two of which from County Councillors and related to the modernisation of Post Offices and one from a Town Councillor who worked at a sorting office.

The Democracy and Governance Manager advised that oral communication was not usually granted by the Standards Committee but written communication was if they were so minded. Whilst the previous similar applications had been granted to speak and vote the current subject more closely affected individual Post Offices with the footfall reducing and payments for such transactions no longer being received.

Councillor McGuill said Councillor Dunn represented his community who would no longer be able to use his Post Office for such transactions. The decision on how to pay for their Council Tax was being taken away from them and she felt it was important that Councillor Dunn was able to represent those residents, many of whom, in her view, were the most vulnerable in the community. In her experience, the financial gain from such payments was minimal. Mr Dewey whilst partly agreeing expressed concern over the direct financial benefit.

Councillor Woolley said the Committee should consider public perception because Councillor Dunn’s financial interest could be impinged by any decision taken. Mr Duggan-Keen concurred with this view and said regardless of whether the amount was minimal, it was about public perception.

The Chair said members needed to bear in mind that as a Post Master, Councillor Dunn would be in receipt of a financial gain for such payments and added that his views could still be represented by speaking at meetings but not voting which would not then be seen as him voting for something for his own financial gain.

Councillor McGuill said the Council had a number of other Councillors who were Post Masters and asked what advice they would receive. The Democracy and Governance Manager explained that there was an Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting in May where a report on this topic may be submitted. Councillor Rosetta Dolphin had sought advice from him and he had advised that there was a Standards Committee meeting prior to that Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting to which Councillor Dolphin could submit a request for dispensation. The same advice would be given to any other Post Masters who were Councillors if they approached the Democracy and Governance Manager.

Councillor Woolley proposed that dispensation be granted for Councillor Dunn to communicate with officers in writing and to take part in debates, but not vote, when the topic was submitted to a Council or Committee meeting which was seconded.

Councillor McGuill proposed an amendment to Councillor Woolley’s proposal to allow Councillor Dunn to also vote which was not seconded.

Members voted on the substantive motion proposed by Councillor Woolley which was approved and following a suggestion by the Democracy and Governance Manager, it was agreed that the dispensation be granted for a period of one year.

RESOLVED: