Vale of Glamorgan Council
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Agenda Item No. 6

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Standards Committee: 22nd March, 2018

 

Report of the Monitoring Officer

 

Code of Conduct Training 2017 - Vale of Glamorgan Town and Community Councils and Co-Opted Members of the Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Purpose of the Report

  1. To apprise Members of Code of Conduct Training undertaken by Town and Community Councillors and Co-opted Members of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

Reason for the Recommendation

To inform Members of the Standards Committee.

Background

  1. At the meeting of the Standards Committee on 25th January, 2018 the Committee received feedback in respect of Code of Conduct Training undertaken on behalf of the Vale of Glamorgan Council by One Voice Wales.  Town and Community Councillors, Clerks and an Audit Lay Member attended the training, (a total of 73 people) with five sessions being made available which were held on 17th, 19th, 24th October and 7th and 14th November, 2017.
  2. With regard to the four Co-opted Members on the Council's Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee, as Monitoring Officer, I provided Code of Conduct training to three members on 16th October, 2017.  The remaining co-opted member who was only recently appointed to the Committee will receive training on 26th March prior to their attendance at the next Scrutiny Committee meeting.
  3. There being 26 Town and Community Councils within the Vale of Glamorgan which covered some 270 seats, the Standards Committee subsequently resolved

"THAT all Town and Community Council Clerks be requested to ensure that Councillors in their area had received the necessary training on Code of Conduct and the Standards Committee be informed accordingly." 

Relevant Issues and Options

  1. Following an e-mail to all Town and Community Clerks, a number of responses have been received as attached at Appendix 1 to this report. 

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

  1. The cost of each session provided by One Voice Wales was £375 which was funded from existing budgets.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

  1. There are no direct implications arising from this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

  1. As referred to earlier in this report.

Crime and Disorder Implications

  1. There are no direct implications arising from this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

  1. There are no direct implications arising from this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

  1. This report relates to the role of the Standards Committee to promote and maintain high standards of conduct of Members as detailed in the Council's Constitution and to develop and assist Town and Community Councillors and Clerks to be compliant with 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. This report does not require consultation to be undertaken.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

  1. None

Background Papers

One Voice Wales' training documentation

Contact Officer

Karen Bowen, Democratic and Scrutiny Services Officer,

Tel: (01446) 709856; email democratic@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Officers Consulted

None

Responsible Officer:

Ms. Debbie Marles, Monitoring Officer