Agenda item

Rhannu fersiwn ddrafft o'r Memorandwm Cyd-ddealltwriaeth ag Aelodau fel bod modd cyflwyno sylwadau ac adborth i'r Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Democrataidd cyn iddo gael ei gyflwyno i'r Cyngor.

The Monitoring Officer provided Members with a draft Memorandum of Understanding for Members comment and feedback to the Democratic Services Committee before its presentation to full Council.

Members were informed that the Democratic Services Committee have

proactively been undertaking work to promote and encourage diversity in

democracy through the Diversity in Democracy Working Group and at a

meeting of the Democratic Services Committee on the 10^th May 2021, Members

received and supported the interim report of the Diversity in Democracy working

group and its resulting recommendations. Furthermore, Full Council

subsequently endorsed the 16 recommendations outlined by the working group

and also committed to becoming a Diverse Council.

The Monitoring Officer reported that within its interim report, the working group took forward a recommendation in respect of the creation of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ namely; “To consider introducing a ‘statement of understanding’ for Members outlining their duties as a Councillor including the need to have mutual respect within the Council Chamber”, whereby the intended outcome of the statement would be a demonstration of mutual respect to other people with varying political opinions and a show of working together for the benefit of its communities. Furthermore, a draft Memorandum was presented to the Democratic Services Committee on the 27^th September, to which Members agreed for its presentation to the Council’s Standards Committee for further comment and feedback.

The Committee learned that the Memorandum would provide an opportunity for Members to publicly commit to using their term of office to work for the Council, the County Borough and its citizens, and to commit to the standards of conduct expected by the Council. Furthermore, it is considered its adoption would strengthen standards and ethical arrangements within the Council and would support and sit alongside the Council’s Code of Conduct for Members, the Standards of Conduct Expected by Members Local Resolution Policy and Member-Officer Protocol.

A Member queried whether the Memorandum of Understanding would be

issued to the Community and Town Councils as an amendment of their Code

of Conduct. In response, the Monitoring Officer reported that there is a

Community Liaison Committee within RCT whereby he would be able to inform

The Committee of the report and also write letters to each Community/Town

Council clerk asking them to consider and sign up to this.

In response to query raised in relation to undertaking the necessary training and whether there should be a set time scale in doing so, the Monitoring Officer reported that he would feedback these comments as part of the Committees findings.  

The Monitoring Officer outlined the work of the Democratic Services Committee Diversity working group which looks to improve the equality and diversity across the County Borough and within the local democracy setting. Also, he advised the Committee of the importance of their role during the current climate and suggested that they may find it beneficial to meet with the group for their own learning requirements and would be happy to arrange this session for them.

Following discussions, the Committee agreed for the Diversity working group to present to Committee to discuss the current issues within Equalities and Diversity in the near future.

The Standards Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To include the Memorandum of Understanding from the Diversity in Democracy Working Group on a future agenda of the Community Liaison Committee and write a letter to each Community/Town Council clerk asking them to consider and sign up.

2.    To feedback comments on the Memorandum of Understanding as part of the Committee’s findings

3.    To invite the Diversity working group to present to Committee.