Agenda Item No. 6

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

Standards Committee: 25 January 2017

Report of the Monitoring Officer

Members' Code of Conduct: Training

Purpose of the Report

1. To outline the proposed Members' Code of Conduct training for Vale of Glamorgan Councillors and Clerks to Town and Community Councils.

Recommendation

THAT Standards Committee notes the proposed Members' Code of Conduct training.

Reason for the Recommendation

To apprise the Committee.

Background

2. A suite of induction training will be provided to Members of the Vale of Glamorgan Council following the Local Government Election on 4 May 2017.

Relevant Issues and Options

3. As part of the induction programme, Standards Committee will note that on 16 and 18 May 2017 an all members seminar for Vale of Glamorgan Councillors will be held on the Code of Conduct and Governance Arrangements and will be presented by the Monitoring Officer. To assist the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) in consultation with the All Wales Monitoring Officer Group have compiled a standard presentation which will be utilised and covers the following key themes:

• The Ethical Framework (including the 10 principal underpinning the Members' Code of Conduct);
• Consequences on non-compliance for Councillors;
• Councillor's responsibilities;
• The key aspects of the Members' Code of Conduct including the general rules which need to be followed;
• What to do if you have an interest;
• Predisposition and predetermination;
• Bias;
• How the Code is policed;
• What happens if you breach the Code.

4. The training will entail a number of problem solving exercises and will be supplemented by reference to the Council's Protocol - Standard of Conduct Expected by Members and lessons learnt from recent cases.
5. Arrangements are also in hand for OneVoice Wales to facilitate refresher training on the Members' Code of Conduct for Clerks to Town and Community Councils with at least 2 places being allocated per Town/Community Council for respective Members to attend.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

6. Costs associated with the training will be met from existing budgets.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

7. None directly associated with this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

8. None directly associated with this report, however Members will be required to undertake to comply with the respective Councils' Members' Code of Conduct.

Crime and Disorder Implications

9. None directly associated with this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

10. None directly associated with this report, however the importance of equality as a principle underpinning the Members' Code of Conduct will be highlighted during the induction training.

Corporate/Service Objectives

11. Not applicable.

Policy Framework and Budget

12. Not applicable.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

13. Not applicable.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

14. None.

Background Papers

Members' Code of Conduct.

WLGA, Member Induction Wales 2017 - Ethics and Standards Presentation.

Contact Officer

Debbie Marles, Head of Legal Services (and Monitoring Officer)

Officers Consulted

None

Responsible Officer:

Debbie Marles, Head of Legal Services (and Monitoring Officer)