Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the new term of the Committee from among the Independent Members.

Mr. Michael Wilson was re-elected Chair from among the Independent Members.

To elect a Vice-Chair for the new term of the Committee from among the Independent Members.

Mr. Islwyn Jones was re-elected Vice-Chair from the Independent Members.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

No declaration of interest received.

To receive the report of the Adjudication Panel for Wales, dated 1 September 2015, in relation to County Councillor Peter Rogers. 

Submitted – the report of the Monitoring Officer and Enclosures.

The Chair stated that this is an appeal review following a referral back to the Standards Committee from the Appeal Tribunal of the Adjudication Panel for Wales regarding the matter of Councillor Peter Rogers’ breaches of the Code of Conduct and the Tribunal’s recommendation that the suspension be increased from one to three months. The Chair emphasised that this is not a rehearing of evidence that was presented to the Standards Committee on 19 December, 2014, nor to the subsequent Appeal Tribunal held on 10 and 11 September, 2015.

The Chair further stated that the Standards Committee will determine the level of

suspension to be imposed on Councillor Rogers as a result of his breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct, being either a period of suspension of one month or three months. The Chair stated that the Standards Committee will hear any additional evidence on sanction, since the Appeal, either written, or orally, from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and Councillor Rogers. The Committee received the Appeal Tribunal’s Report on 18^thDecember, 2015 together with written submissions by Councillor Rogers; the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has responded that they have nothing to add.

The Chair outlined the procedure of the meeting and noted that the Committee will adjourn to a closed session to consider its decision and the Monitoring Officer will only be called if any specific advice is requested. Any such advice given will be shared with Councillor Rogers.

The Monitoring Officer was invited by the Chair to present her report to the Committee.  Councillor Rogers requested an adjournment because the Monitoring Officer has been disqualified from advising the Standards Committee in this matter; with an external Solicitor used at previous hearings.

The Monitoring Officer explained that the Standards Committee had decided that owing to Councillor Rogers’ statement to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, with regard to the legal section of the Council, of which she is the Head of Service, it would not be appropriate for her to participate in issues of evidence at the Standards Committee’s hearing held on 19 December, 2014. The hearing before the Adjudication Panel, on 10 and 11 September, 2015 was a re-hearing of all the evidence. These are now closed issues as the Standards Committee has no power to reconsider the findings of facts. In the circumstances the Monitoring Officer considered that she is no longer precluded from advising the Standards Committee on the process at this meeting.

The Committee retired to private session to discuss the matter.

Members of the Standards Committee returned from private session and the Chair

announced that the members of the Standards Committee had come to a unanimous

decision that the Monitoring Officer is to stay at the meeting to advise.

The Chair invited to Monitoring Officer to present her report.

The Monitoring Officer outlined her report to the meeting and stated that the Standards Committee had a full hearing and applied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.