Agenda item

To consider a report by the Deputy Monitoring Officer (copy enclosed) for members of the Committee to debate and consider the adoption of a Forward Work Programme.

 

The Deputy Monitoring Officer (DMO) submitted a report (previously circulated) presenting the Forward Work Programme and Review for consideration and adoption.

 

The DMO detailed the reasoning behind the production of a Forward Work Programme.  The majority of Committees within the Council utilised a Forward Work Programme. 

 

Members of the Committee were proactive, such as attending in person at County, City, Town and Community Council meetings.  Feedback, following attendance at meetings, was presented at the Standards Committee meetings.

 

Within the report had been a list of indicative areas of work that the Committee were to discuss to make the decision whether to adopt within the Forward Work Programme.

 

In-depth discussion took place with the following points being raised:

 

·        Training members on the Code of Conduct.

Ø  Face to face training by the Monitoring Officer (MO) and the DMO.  There would be limited capacity to deliver the training throughout the year.  Members suggested on attendance at City, Town and Community meetings, they could produce the training cd and elaborate on the same with the members. 

Ø  E-learning – code of conduct training had been filmed.   There was a possibility the film could be edited and copied for the Clerks to distribute to members. 

Ø  Training of Clerks – this would be delivered by the MO and DMO. The Clerks would then be in a position to deliver training to their members.  Members agreed specific training sessions could be held for the Clerks in County Hall, Ruthin.

Ø  Co-ordinated training via NW Standards Committee for City, Town and Community Councils.  The training could be delivered and the costs shared.

·        Raising awareness of the Code.

Ø  The DMO confirmed raising awareness of the Standards Committee and the Code could be achieved within a letter together with the enclosure of a cd.  The City, Town & Community Council Clerk would be notified in advance of a request for a Member of Standards Committee to attend the meeting to raise the awareness of the Committee, and to include training.  Ms Margaret Medley suggested a return receipt form be added at the bottom of the letter as acknowledgement from the Clerk that the letter and cd had been received.

It was agreed the draft letter together with a sample cd be presented at the next Standards Committee meeting.

It was also agreed the Code of Conduct be sent to all City, Town and Community Council Clerks electronically.  The Clerks would be requested to print copies and to circulate to members.

·        Standards Committee Report from the Chair to all City, Town and Community Councils with reference to PSOW case studies.

Ø  It was agreed to a copy of the case book which had been produced by the Ombudsman to be enclosed with the letter from the Chair.

·        Review Standards Committee Terms of Reference.

Ø  A recommendation was made to approach the Corporate Governance Committee for their opinion regarding Standards Committee tackling more issues which were currently covered by their Committee.

·        Annual Report to Full Council.

Ø  It had been agreed the Chair of Standards Committee present an Annual Report to Full Council at either the September or October meeting.

·        Monitoring of Complaints across the County at Community and County level.

Ø  This was currently a standing item on the Standards Committee Agenda and all members agreed to the continued inclusion of this item.

·        Attendance at meetings.

Ø  A checklist of all City, Town and Community Councils to be produced at the next Standards Committee meeting to enable Standards Committee members to indicate their preference, in advance, which meeting they would attend.

·        Mandatory Code training.

Ø  This was already adopted at county level within the Code and the Council Constitution.  It had been agreed training for City, Town and Community Council members would not be mandatory as there would be a possibility it could act as a deterrent to some members which could cause a problem in attracting people to become City, Town and Community Councillors.

·        Publicly promoting work of Standards Committee.

Ø  Report to Full Council would raise awareness and promote the Standards Committee.

·        Use of Social Media.

Ø  Work currently ongoing by the MO.  This item would be added to the Forward Work Programme for a future meeting.

 

It was agreed that the Forward Work Programme become a standing item on the Agenda of all future Standards Committee meetings.

 

RESOLVED that subject to Members’ comments and observations above, the Forward Work Programme be adopted by the Standards Committee.