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Agenda Item No. 7

 

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Standards Committee: 23 November 2017

 

Report of the Monitoring Officer

 

Adjudication Panel for Wales Annual Report 2014/15 - 2015/16

 

Purpose of the Report

  1. To apprise Members of the Annual Report of the Adjudication Panel for Wales which is combined for the years 2014/15 and 2015/16 ('the APW Report').

Recommendation

That the Standards Committee considers and notes the contents of the Adjudication Panel for Wales Annual Report 2014/15 - 2015/16 attached at Appendix 1 to this report.

Reason for the Recommendation

To apprise Members.

Background

  1. The Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) is an independent tribunal set up to determine alleged breaches of an Authorities' Statutory Members' Code of Conduct by elected and co-opted Members of Welsh County, County Borough and Community Councils, Fire and National Park Authorities.
  2. The APW has two statutory functions in relation to breaches of the Members' Code of Conduct:
  • to form case or interim case tribunals to consider references from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales following the investigation of allegations that a Member has failed to comply with their authority's Members' Code of Conduct and
  • to consider appeals from members against the decisions of local authority Standards Committees that they may have breached the Members' Code of Conduct.

Relevant Issues and Options

  1. The APW Report is attached at Appendix 1 to this report, section 2 (at page 7) provides details of the performance and progress from 2011 to 2016 and details the number of references and appeals that have been received each year. Summaries of case tribunal hearings can be found at Section 3 (pages 11-14) of the APW Report.
  2. Members are requested to consider the contents of the APW Report.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Crime and Disorder Implications

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Policy Framework and Budget

  1. This is a matter for decision by the Standards Committee

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

  1. The report does not involve consultation to be undertaken.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

  1. None.

Background Papers

None

Contact Officer

Mrs. Karen Bowen, Democratic and Scrutiny Services Officer, Tel: 01446 709856

Officers Consulted

None

Responsible Officer:

Ms. D. Marles, Monitoring Officer