Agenda item

To submit for  confirmation the Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th June, 2014.

(ENCLOSURE ‘A’)

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 June, 2014 were confirmed as correct.

ARISING THEREON

The Vice-Chair referred to the Welsh version of the agenda, and the translation of documents into Welsh. He pointed out that the quotations were not translated, and that these documents were published on the Council website. He requested that this should be looked into.

Action: The matter to be referred to the Translation Section.

Item 3 - Standards Committee Forum Page 1

The Chair provided an update on Item 3 on the agenda – to obtain a job description for Clerks of Town and Community Councils and submit a copy to the Chair.

The Chair reported that the Solicitor (Corporate Governance) had sent out a document, namely ‘The Essential Clerk’s Guide’ from One Voice Wales to Town and Community Councils. There are also expectations set out in the Ombudsman’s Guidance on the Code.

In response, it was concluded that there was not a general job description, and that it was the responsibility of the Town and Community Councils to agree their expectations with their Clerk.

Action: Monitoring Officer will address issue with the Clerks at the forthcoming training.

Item 4 - Declaration of Interests in Meetings and Register of Gifts and Hospitality

Mrs Shaw asked the Chair for an update on funding on software. The Chair responded that he had attended a meeting with the Group Leader and it was agreed that the initiative of the Standards Committee was supported.

The Monitoring Officer reported that it had been agreed in principle, and a report had to be presented to the Executive to allocate funding from the Group Leaders’ contingency. They had asked the Standards Committee to contact the WLGA to see if there was funding available. A response has been received from the WLGA, stating that they could not provide funding. The Monitoring Officer further reported that the rationale for refusing funding was the commercial and contractual relationship between the Council and the software developer. The Solicitor (Corporate Governance) would contact the WLGA again to see if they would reconsider.

The Monitoring Officer stated that the report has been prepared and approved formally, but that she was not taking it forward until the WLGA have given their final answer or if any other Councils can provide funding.

Action:

·           The Solicitor (Corporate Governance) to write back to the WLGA following discussion with the Council’s Web Manager and provide a further update;

·           To await a final response from the WLGA or other Councils before moving forward.

·      Then seek an Executive decision

Item 9 – Training for Committee Member and Town and Community Councils

Mrs Shaw questioned the position regarding training for Community Councils.

The Monitoring Officer responded stating that the dates had been fixed and invitations sent out, but response has not been very good.

The Chair referred to an engagement meeting. The response by Clerks of the Town and Community Councils was that they did not believe it was their responsibility to provide advice on the Code of Conduct. The Chair attended another meeting in which Town and Community Councils in Holyhead had suggested grouping together for a training session. The majority of Clerks seemed less than enthusiastic about the training.

The Monitoring Officer suggested that the Standards Committee carry on with the training as planned. It was considered that building that relationship further would be beneficial.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Action: To approach the Clerks of Town and Community Councils to remind them of the training being offered.