Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 14^th September, 2020 be signed as a correct record.

The Committee considered its 2019/20 Annual Report detailing the work undertaken during that period and noted that, if adopted, it would be presented to the Council meeting in early 2021 for approval.

It was reported that in 2019-20 the Ombudsman had not referred any complaints to the Committee, nor were any matters referred to the Adjudication Panel for Wales in respect of Councillors from Carmarthenshire.  During this period it was noted that the Ombudsman had considered and closed a total of 8 code of conduct complaints against Councillors from Carmarthenshire.  Four were related to County Councillors and four Community Councillors.

The Committee expressed concerns that a small minority of Councils had consistently failed to provide code of conduct data and engage with the Committee.  The Committee noted that it would look to focus its attention on those Councils moving forward and it was suggested that the letters sent to Councils should be updated to advise that non-returns would be named at future meetings.

It was noted that it had been a challenging year and not all Councils had come to terms with virtual meetings, however the training pack that had been circulated appeared to have been widely used.  It was suggested that a small survey could be undertaken to establish how widely used the pack had been and how it could be improved.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT the Standards Committee Annual Report 2019/20 be adopted.

[NOTE: Councillor Gilasbey, having earlier declared an interest in this item, left the meeting prior to the consideration and determination thereof.]

The Committee considered an application submitted by Councillor Jeanette Gilasbey of Carmarthenshire County Council and Kidwelly Community Council, for the grant of a dispensation under the provisions of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and make written representation in respect of the following personal and prejudicial interests:

·         St Mary’s Church Kidwelly – Cllr Gilasbey is a member and trustee of the Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s Church in Kidwelly.

·         Kidwelly RFC – Cllr. Gilasbey is a member, secretary and director of Kidwelly RFC

·         Kidwelly Museum – Cllr. Gilasbey is a trustee of Kidwelly Industrial Museum and trust

It was reported that a dispensation was sought as Councillor Gilasbey had a personal interest in these matters by virtue of paragraph 10(2)(ee) of the Code of Conduct.

Councillor Gilasbey’s interest was also prejudicial as a member of the public, with full knowledge of the facts, would reasonably regard that interest as being so significant that it would be likely to prejudice the Councillor’s judgement of the public interest.  

Councillor Gilasbey had accordingly requested that a dispensation be granted under Regulation 2 (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001.

Councillor Gilasbey had previously been granted a dispensation in respect of these interest on the 28th January 2019 which she had used twice in respect of Kidwelly RFC and once for Kidwelly Museum.

Following a discussion it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2 (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Jeanette Gilasbey to SPEAK AND MAKE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS ONLY at meetings of Carmarthenshire County Council and Kidwelly Town Council in relation to matters regarding:

·         St Mary’s Church Kidwelly

·         Kidwelly RFC

·         Kidwelly Museum

and that these dispensations be valid until the end of her current term in office.

[NOTE: Councillor Gilasbey, having earlier declared an interest in this item, left the meeting prior to the consideration and determination thereof.]

The Committee considered an application submitted by Councillor Jeanette Gilasbey of Carmarthenshire County Council and Kidwelly Community Council, for the grant of a dispensation under the provisions of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and make written representation in respect of the proposed closure and merger of Ysgol Gwenllian and Ysgol Mynyddygarreg primary schools.

It was reported that a dispensation was sought as Councillor Gilasbey had a personal interest in these matters by virtue of paragraph 10(2)(ee) of the Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Gilasbey’s interest was also prejudicial as a member of the public, with full knowledge of the facts, would reasonably regard that interest as being so significant that it would be likely to prejudice the Councillor’s judgement of the public interest.

Councillor Gilasbey had accordingly requested that a dispensation be granted under Regulation 2 (d) and (f) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001.

Following a discussion it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulation 2 (d) and (f) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Jeanette Gilasbey to SPEAK AND MAKE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS ONLY at meetings of Carmarthenshire County Council and Kidwelly Town Council in relation to matters regarding the proposed closure and merger of Ygol Gwnllian and Ysgol Mynyddygarreg primary schools, and that this dispensation be valid until the end of her current term in office.

The Committee considered an application submitted by County Councillor Ken Lloyd for the grant of a dispensation under the provisions of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations to speak and make written representations only in respect Carmarthenshire County Council and Carmarthen Town Council to speak and make written representations in respect of the following personal and prejudicial interests:

·         CAMRA – Cllr Lloyd is a member of this organisation

·         MIND – Cllr Lloyd is a member of this organisation

·         Cwlwm Monduli – Cllr Lloyd is a trustee of the charity

·         Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign – Cllr Lloyd is a member of the campaign

·         Amnesty international – Cllr Lloyd is a member of this organisation

·         Rail services in mid and west Wales – Cllr Lloyd is a member of the Heart of Wales Line Travellers Association (HOWLTA)

·         Carmarthen Museum – Cllr Lloyd and his wife are members of the ‘friends of Carmarthen museum’

·         Carmarthen Archives – Cllr Lloyd and his wife are members of Friends of Carmarthen Archives

·         Shared Lives/Adult social care – Cllr Lloyd is a close personal associate of 2 persons who are approved carers under the Shared Lives Scheme.

It was reported that a dispensation was sought as Councillor Lloyd had a personal interest in these matters by virtue of paragraph 10(2)(ee) of the Code of Conduct.

Councillor Lloyd’s interest was also prejudicial in that a member of the public, with full knowledge of the facts, would reasonably regard that interest as being so significant that it would be likely to prejudice the Councillor’s judgement of the public interest.

Councillor Lloyd had accordingly requested that a dispensation be granted under Regulation 2 (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001.  Councillor Lloyd had previously been granted a dispensation in respect of these interest on the 28th January 2019 which he had used once in order to speak in respect of Shares Lives/Adult Social Care.

Following a discussion it was

RESOLVED that dispensation be granted under Regulations 2 (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to Councillor Ken Lloyd to SPEAK AND MAKE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS ONLY at meetings of the Carmarthenshire County Council and Carmarthen Town Council in relation to matters regarding:

·         CAMRA

·         MIND

·         Cwlwm Monduli

·         Nicaraguan Solidarity Campaign

·         Amnesty international

·         Rail services in mid and west Wales

·         Carmarthen Museum

·         Carmarthen Archives

·         Shared Lives/Adult social care

and that these dispensations be valid until the end of his current term in office.

The Chair advised the Committee that he would not be in attendance at Full Council to present the Standards Committee Annual Report in January 2021.