Meeting documents

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public were excluded from the meeting during the discussion as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 7 and 9  of Schedule 12A to the said Act.”

Submitted for consideration - an application dated 17 October 2006 for dispensation pursuant to SI 2001 No.2279 (W169) Local Government, Wales made by Councillor Gareth Winston Roberts OBE in respect of that interest referred to in Paragraphs 5.1.3.4(ix) of the Code “any visit outside the United Kingdom for which the Authority has paid or will pay.”

The Monitoring Officer reported that the application was for a dispensation for the Leader of the Council to take part in discussion and voting at the Executive and the full Council, on matters relating to a proposed business development, details of which were annexed to the application.

The Interest which the Leader would have is that he will travel to “X” as part of a delegation of Officers and representatives of the Assembly, to meet with the proposed developers. The visit will be funded by the Council. This will create a personal interest under the Code. The Application is for a dispensation to speak and vote on the issue and not a dispensation to undertake the visit.

     The Statutory Grounds on which the Leader sought the dispensation are either:-

     (i)     his participation is justified by his particular role or expertise;

     (ii)     the business to which the interest relates will be considered by an Overview

          and Scrutiny Committee and the interest is not a pecuniary one;

     (iii)     that the Committee considers that, in the interests of the people of

          Anglesey, the restriction should be removed;

     Members were afforded the opportunity to question both the Leader of the Council and the Corporate Director Environment and Technical Services for the purposes of clarification on the application. The Committee subsequently retired to private session to consider the application.

     On returning to public session, the Chair announced that a unanimous decision had been reached in respect of the request for Dispensation and announced that the Committee had :

     RESOLVED that :-

     Pursuant to paragraphs 2(f) (g) (i) of Statutory Instrument 2001 No.2279 (W169) Local Government Wales The Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations)(Wales) Regulations 2001, a Dispensation is granted to Councillor Gareth Winston Roberts OBE, the Leader of the County Council, to discuss and/or vote at any meetings of the Executive and the full Council on any matters arising from any visit/visits or proposed visit/visits  to “X” for the purpose of discussing, negotiating or progressing the development to which the application relates.

     The Chair, on behalf of the Standards Committee, wished the Leader of the Council and the            Corporate Director Environment and Technical Services a successful visit.