Agenda item

With reference to Minute 3 of the meeting held on the 12^th November 2018 the Committee considered applications submitted by County Councillors Jean Lewis, Hazel Evans, Joseph Davies, Alun Lenny, Kim Broom, Andrew James, Arwel Davies, Ann Davies, Eirwyn Williams, Mansel Charles, Tyssul Evans, Ken Howell, Gareth Thomas and Cefin Campbell for the grant of  dispensation under the provisions of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and make written representations at meetings of Carmarthenshire County Council in respect of any Council business relating to farming and farming related matters.

It was reported that dispensation was sought by each Councillor in that they could potentially have a personal interest in such business by virtue of paragraphs 10(2) of the Members Code of Conduct in that they were all either actively engaged in farming in the county, owned farm land which was actively farmed by others or had close personal associates who were actively engaged in farming.

The members’ interests were also prejudicial as a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard that interest as being so significant that they would be likely to prejudice the councillors’ judgement of the public interest.

The Councillors had accordingly requested that they be granted dispensation on two grounds set out in the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, namely:-

(1)       The Councillors’ participation in such matters would not damage public confidence in the conduct of the Council’s business;

(2)       That their participation is justified by their particular expertise.

It was noted that the committee had previously granted dispensations in respect of farming related interests to members of the Council on 12/11/2018, 28/09/2017, 03/06/2016, 03/12/2015 and 29/07/2015 and that all fourteen named councillors had utilised dispensations previously granted to them by the Standards Committee (or by the Monitoring Officer under delegated authority from the committee) to speak upon a Notice on Motion put before full council in respect of a farming related issue.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

4.1      that dispensation be granted under Regulations 2(d) and (f) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to County Councillors Jean Lewis, Hazel Evans, Joseph Davies, Alun Lenny, Kim Broom, Andrew James, Arwel Davies, Ann Davies, Eirwyn Williams, Mansel Charles, Tyssul Evans, Ken Howell, Gareth Thomas and Cefin Campbell to SPEAK, BUT NOT VOTE, AND TO MAKE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS at meetings of Carmarthenshire County Council in respect of any Council business relating to farming and farming related matters generally, until the 31^st May 2022;

4.2      that the above mentioned Councillors be advised that they should  seek further legal advice and, if necessary, apply for another dispensation in the event that they wish to participate in council business which specifically relates to or is likely to affect them or close personal associates’ farming activities or farm land.