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Agenda Item No. 5

 

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Standards Committee: 23rd November, 2017

 

Report of the Monitoring Officer

 

Applications for Dispensations Granted, September 2012 - July 2017

 

Purpose of the Report

  1. To apprise Committee of dispensations granted by the Standards Committee to Members from September 2012 to date.

Recommendation

That Standards Committee note the report.

Reason for the Recommendation

To inform Committee.

Background

  1. As part of the Committee's work programme and to provide information to Members, the list of dispensations granted to Vale of Glamorgan Councillors and Town and Community Councillors is attached to this report.
  2. Applications for dispensation to the Standards Committee are granted under Section 2 of the Standards Committee Grant of Dispensations (Wales) Regulations 2001 (as amended) ('the Regulations').

Relevant Issues and Options

  1. Appendix 1 to the report details Vale of Glamorgan Council dispensations granted from 4th September, 2012 to 13th July, 2017.
  2. Appendix 2 to the report details Town and Community Councils dispensations granted from 4th September, 2012 to 21st September, 2017.
  3. The Appendices also provide details of the paragraphs pursuant to the Regulations that the Standards Committee granted the dispensations under. A copy of the application form and the criteria for granting dispensations are attached at Appendix 3 to this report.
  4. For Members' information, prior to each meeting of the Standards Committee, the Democratic and Scrutiny Services Officer contacts via e-mail all Town and Community Councillors and Vale of Glamorgan Council Members to advise them of the forthcoming meeting should any dispensations wish to be sought. Councillors submitting applications are entitled to attend meetings of the Standards Committee to present their application to the Standards Committee and / or answer queries. Although this is rare, there have been occasions when applicants have been requested to attend meetings to clarify their application.

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. The Regulations are adhered to when considering/granting dispensation applications. Regard is also given to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales' guidance when deciding whether the Standards Committee should exercise its discretion in granting a dispensation to a Member.

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. One of the roles and functions of the Standards Committee (as detailed in the Council's Constitution) is to consider granting dispensations to Councillors, Co-opted Members and Church and Parent Governor Representatives from requirements relating to interests set out in the Members' Code of Conduct.

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 require 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