Meeting documents

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2009

PRESENT          :     Mr Jeffrey Cotterell (Chair);

                    Mrs Pamela Moore;

                    Mr Robert Hugh Gray Morris;

                    Mrs Susan Morris;

                    Professor Robin Grove-White;

IN ATTENDANCE     :     Monitoring Officer;

                    Solicitor to the Monitoring Officer (RMJ);

                    Committee Officer (JMA);

APOLOGY          :     Councillor Raymond Evans;

1.     DECLARATION OF INTEREST

     There was no declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect

     of any item of business.

2.     MINUTES

     The minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 16th October 2008

     were submitted and confirmed as correct.

3.     CORRESPONDENCE TO THE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND LOCAL

     GOVERNMENT

     A copy of the Standards Committee’s letter to the Minister for Social Justice and                Local Government dated 10 September 2009 was submitted and noted for

     information.

     The Chair said he had sent the letter so as to ensure the Minister recognised

     the problems at the Council. He reported also that he had attended a lunchtime

     meeting with the Recovery Board and that further progress should be made within

     the next ten days.

     RESOLVED to note the contents of the letter and update by the Chair.

4.     ADVICE TO COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS

     A copy of the Standards Committee’s letter of advice to County Council Members           following an inspection of Public Registers of Members’ Interests was submitted.

     The Chairman drew attention to the fact that a further review of all new entries in    

     the public Registers of Members’ Interests at the end of the first quarter of 2010.

     The Chair drew attention to the fact that the Standards Committee exists to

     assist Members whenever possible and that he was anxious to dispel any feelings

     Members may have that the Committee exists for the sole purpose of sitting in

     judgement on Members.

     RESOLVED that the Chair write to Members to give assurances to Members

     regarding the dual role of the Standards Committee.

5.     MATRIX OF CONDUCT COMPLAINTS

     Submitted for consideration -  a matrix of conduct complaints filed with the Public           Services Ombudsman for Wales since May 2008.

     The Chair stated he had the impression the Ombudsman believed some of the

     complaints were of a vexatious nature.

     The Monitoring Officer confirmed that three complaints referred to within the

     matrix related to three complaints by one complainant in relation to the same

     meeting. Part one of the complaint referred to a complaint against an individual

     Councillor for misleading the Committee, part two of the complaint was against the

     Chair of that Committee for failing to challenge the Councillor and part three of

     the complaint was against the Councillor’s Group Leader for failing to address the

     Councillor’s conduct at the meeting.

     The Ombudsman had found in the main complaint against the Councillor that there

     was no case to answer but there was no suggestion that the complaint had been of

     a vexatious nature. In respect of part two and part three of the complaint, the

     Ombudsman had found that both complaints were vexatious. She added that the

     Group Leader had refused to take action against the Councillor as a result of advice

     she had given to him (no concurrent jurisdiction) and that with regard to the alleged           failure of the Chair to     challenge the Councillor, the Ombudsman had agreed

     it was not the role of the Chair to cross examine members but to manage the                meeting.

     The Monitoring Officer added that under Section 69, the Ombudsman could have

     taken action against the complainant by initiating a complaint himself. However,

     whilst he acknowledged there had been technical breaches he did not consider

     those breaches of a nature where the Standards Committee would apply sanctions

     as the threshold for doing so had not been met. She confirmed that both the

     complainant and the two Councillors had been informed of the Ombudsman’s

     views and decision. In response to a question by a Member, the Monitoring Officer

     explained that “vexatious complaints” generally refer to complaints which are

     made so as to cause distress and/or irritation and are without merit.

     The Monitoring Officer also confirmed there are no additional complaints since the

     previous matrix was submitted to Members and that there have been no findings

     to date although a number of complaints are ongoing in terms of investigations.

     RESOLVED to accept the Matrix and note the comments made by the

     Monitoring Officer.

6.     STANDARDS COMMITTEE CONFERENCE

     The Chair informed Members that he, Profressor R.Grove White, the Monitoring

     Officer and the Solicitor to the Monitoring Officer  will be attending the All Wales                Standards Committee Conference in Cardiff on 15th October 2009. He confirmed

     that the Officers would arrange the most cost effective means of travel and

     accommodation. The Chair added that he had been invited to give a short

     presentation at one of the Workshop Sessions. It was understood that three

     other Chairs of Standards Committees in Wales would also be participating at the

     Workshops.

     RESOLVED to note the above information.

MR JEFFREY COTTERELL

CHAIRPERSON