Agenda item

To consider a report by the Deputy Monitoring Officer (copy enclosed) to extend a dispensation granted on the 6^th March, 2015 by a further 12 months.

Councillor B. Mellor vacated the meeting at this point.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer (DMO) submitted a report (previously circulated) on the application made to extend, by a further 12 months, the dispensation which had been granted on the 6^th March 2015.  Rhyl Town Council had requested the Committee reconsider the dispensation and were seeking an extension.  The original report dated the 6^th March, 2015 had been attached as Appendix 1.

The DMO explained that it had been requested that the Committee grant a dispensation, pursuant to Regulation 2(a) and (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, to full Council, including those new Members of the Town Council, based on the terms as originally granted.  The dispensation granted on the 6^th March, 2015 had been granted in accordance with the conditions set out below:-

(i)  the Dispensation applies only to matters considered by Rhyl Town Council relating to the Rhyl in Bloom Committee (or such other name it is replaced by);

(ii)  the Members must still declare a personal interest at the meeting(s) at which such items are discussed.  They may then speak and vote in so far as they are permitted to do so by this Dispensation;

(iii)  the Dispensation will apply for 12 months from the date of this Standards Committee meeting (6 March 2015).  Thereafter, the Clerk of Rhyl Town Council is to apply in writing to the Monitoring Officer for an extension to the Dispensation and setting the Rhyl in Bloom Committee (or such other name it is replaced by) activities;

(iv)  on election of a new Member, the Clerk of Rhyl Town Council to notify the Monitoring Officer in writing for the Dispensation to be applied to the new Member.

Since the original dispensation had been granted Councillors Stanley Frederick Walker, Jacquie McAlpine and Anthony Thomas had been elected to the Council and would require to be included in the dispensation.

Mr Gareth Nickels, Clerk to Rhyl Town Council (CRTC), was in attendance and provided a summary of the application, and details of Rhyl Town Council Members involvement and activities in relation to the Rhyl in Bloom Committee.  At this point the CRTC vacated the meeting.

The following concerns and issues were raised by Members of the Committee:-

-               Independent Member, J. Hughes (JH) referred to 4. (iv) of the report  “on election of a new Member, the Clerk of Rhyl Town Council to notify the Monitoring Officer in writing for the Dispensation to be applied to the new Member”.  She expressed concern that a newly appointed Member could be granted Dispensation without referral to the Monitoring Officer or the Standards Committee, which might be perceived as a form of prejudice or a weakness in the process. 

-               Members felt that the dispensation should be granted to all current Members of the Rhyl Town Council, and that the Monitoring Officer be informed in writing of the election of any new Member or Members, and any new appointments should be subject to an Application for Dispensation.

-               The Committee supported the suggestion that the period of the Dispensation be from the 8^th April, 2016 to the 4^th May, 2017, the date of the Local Government Elections.

-               It was noted that there had been no adverse publicity in relation to Rhyl Town Council Members and any links with the Rhyl in Bloom Committee.  

-               The Chair commended Rhyl Town Council for their actions in complying with the proper procedures and submitting an Application for a Dispensation.  Members felt it would be important not to discourage Members of Rhyl Town Council from their involvement in improving the local community.

During the ensuing discussion it was agreed that the Dispensation be granted, pursuant to Regulation 2(a) and (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations)(Wales) Regulations 2001, to all current Members of the Rhyl Town Council, based on the terms as originally granted.  The Dispensation to be granted for the period from the 8^th April, 2016 to the 4^th May, 2017, and the Monitoring Officer be informed in writing of the election of any new Member or Members, and any new appointments should be subject to an Application for Dispensation. 

The current membership of Rhyl Town Council to include:-

Councillors Ian Armstrong, Brian Blakeley, Mrs. Joan Butterfield, Mrs. Jeanette Chamberlain Jones, Mrs. Ellie M. Chard, Ms. Janette Hughes, Alan R. James, Mrs. Patricia M. Jones, Ms Jacquie McAlpine, Barry Mellor, Brian F. Moylan, Mrs. Win Mullen-James, Peter Prendergast, Stephen H. Ratcliffe, Miss Sarah L. Roberts, Andrew J. Rutherford, Miss Rebecca Siddall, Dave Simmons, William N. Tasker, Anthony Thomas, Rev. Stanley Frederick Walker, and Miss Cheryl Williams.

RESOLVED –that the Standards Committee:-

(a)          grants the dispensation, pursuant to Regulation 2(a) and (d) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations)(Wales) Regulations 2001, to all current Members of the Rhyl Town Council as listed above, based on the terms as originally granted.

(b)          agrees the period of the Dispensation be from the 8^th April, 2016 to the 4^th May, 2017, and

(c)          requests that the Monitoring Officer be informed in writing of the election of any new Member or Members, and any new appointments should be subject to an Application for Dispensation

         (LJ to Action)

Councillor Mellor and the CRTC returned to the meeting at this juncture and were informed of the Committee’s decision.