Agenda item

Trafod tri chais am ollyngiadau wedi'u cyflwyno'n unol â Rheoliadau'r Pwyllgorau Safonau (Caniatáu Gollyngiadau) (Cymru) 2001.

The Monitoring Officer outlined the following applications for dispensation for the Standards Committee’s endorsement:

1.    The Monitoring Officer sought Committee’s endorsement to grant dispensation to County Borough Councillor P. Jarman to speak and vote on all matters for the duration and adoption of the 2019-20 Budget process in her capacity as Leader of the Opposition.

It was explained that County Borough Councillor P. Jarman’s son works in the Streetcare Department and lives with her at her home address and therefore, Councillor Jarman sought a dispensation to speak and vote on all services affected by the Budget. In her application for dispensation, Councillor Jarman stated that by virtue of being Leader of the Opposition Group, her participation in the Budget process is justified.

The Monitoring Officer continued and advised that one of the grounds for granting dispensation was:

“(f) the participation of the Member in the business to which the interest relates is justified by the Member’s particular role or expertise”

2.    The Monitoring Officer sought Committee’s endorsement to grant dispensation to County Borough Councillor Bevan to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Community and Children’s Services Group, save for any specific matters that directly affect his daughter who is employed by the Council as the Service Manager Community and Children’s Services Group as the Programme Manager – Assistive Technology, with such dispensation being reviewed by the Standards Committee on an annual basis.

Members were informed that Councillor Bevan acknowledged that any dispensation awarded cannot be used if the matter under consideration would confer a greater benefit on the employed family member than on other tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the Council’s area, or be such that a member of the public might reasonably conclude it would significantly affect his ability to act purely on the merits of the case and in the public interest if he were to take part in the discussion.

            In his application for dispensation Councillor Bevan further states that by virtue of being a Cabinet Member his participation in matters relating to the Community and Children’s Services Group is justified.

The Monitoring Officer continued and advised that two of the grounds for granting a dispensation were:-

“(d) the nature of the Member’s interest is such that the Member’s participation in the business to which the interest relates would not damage public confidence in the conduct of the relevant authority’s business”; and

“(f)    the participation of the member in the business to which the interest relates is justified by the member’s particular role or expertise.”

3.    The Monitoring Officer then sought Committee’s endorsement to grant dispensation to County Borough Councillor Michael Powell a dispensation to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Children’s Services department (within the Community and Children’s Group), save for any specific matters that directly affect his wife, who is employed by the Council in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker, with such dispensation being reviewed by the Standards Committee on an annual basis.

Members were informed that County Borough Councillor Michael Powell’s wife works in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker. In his application Councillor Powell stated that his wife is not in a decision making position.

            The Monitoring Officer explained that any dispensation awarded cannot be used if the matter under consideration would confer a greater benefit on his wife than on other tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the Council’s area, or be such that a member of the public might reasonably conclude it would significantly affect his ability to act purely on the merits of the case and in the public interest if Councillor Powell were to take part in the discussion.

The Monitoring Officer continued and advised that the ground for granting dispensation was:

(c) the participation of the member in the business to which the interest

relates is justified by the member's particular role or expertise;

The Standards Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To grant County Borough Councillor Pauline Jarman a dispensation to speak and vote on all matters for the duration and adoption of the 2021-22 Budget process in her capacity as Leader of the Opposition;

2.    To grant County Borough Councillor Robert Bevan a dispensation

to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Community and Children’s Services Group, save for any specific matters that directly affect his daughter, who is employed by the Council in the Community and Children’s Services Group as the Programme Manager – Assistive Technology, with such dispensation being reviewed by the Standards Committee on an annual basis; and

3.    To grant a dispensation to County Borough Councillor Michael Powell to speak and vote on all matters relating to the Children’s Services department (within the Community and Children’s Services Group), save for any specific matters that directly affect his wife who is employed by the Council in the Children’s Services department as a Contact Worker, with such dispensation being reviewed on an annual basis by the Standards Committee.