The Standards Committee of Carmarthenshire Council met on Monday 09 December 2024 to consider several requests for dispensations from councillors, review the committee's action log, and discuss protocols for dealing with low-level complaints between members. The committee granted dispensations to three councillors, allowing them to speak and make written representations on specific matters despite having personal and prejudicial interests.

Dispensation Requests Granted

The committee unanimously resolved to grant dispensations to three councillors, allowing them to speak and make written representations on specific council business, but not to vote. These dispensations are valid until the end of the current electoral term.

• Councillor Katharine Rees (Llandeilo Town Council) received dispensation to speak and make written representations regarding the Llandeilo Business Forum and the Llandeilo Community Pylons Group. Councillor Rees is a member of or holds a position of control in these groups, creating a personal and prejudicial interest. The dispensation was granted under Regulations 2(d) and 2(f) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, based on the argument that her participation would not damage public confidence and was justified by her role or expertise.

• Councillor Leann Marie Douglas (Kidwelly Town Council) received dispensation to speak and make written representations concerning the Princess Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly. Councillor Douglas is employed at the Centre, creating a personal and prejudicial interest. The dispensation was granted under Regulations 2(d) and 2(f) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, for similar reasons of public confidence and justified role or expertise.

• Councillor Carys Jones (Carmarthenshire County Council) received dispensation to speak and make written representations regarding the future of Llansteffan School. Councillor Jones is a LEA nominated governor of the Bancyfelin, Llangain and Llansteffan Schools Federation and has a close personal relationship with Ysgol Llansteffan. The committee noted that while her governor role was a personal but not prejudicial interest, her close personal relationship constituted a personal and prejudicial interest. The dispensation was granted under Regulations 2(d) and 2(f) of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, with the committee clarifying that Councillor Jones sought to speak and make written representations only, not to vote.

Review of Standards Committee Action Log

The committee received and noted a report detailing the progress made on actions, requests, and referrals from previous meetings.

Group Leaders Duty

The committee reviewed and adopted a revised Group Leaders Reporting Template and Assessment Criteria. This follows the duties placed on Standards Committees and political group leaders by the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, which requires group leaders to report annually to the Standards Committee to promote compliance with the code of conduct. Amendments were made to the template to include a direct reference to the assessment criteria and an additional point for group leaders to study and note decisions from the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) and Ombudsman regarding Code of Conduct complaints.

Protocol for Dealing with Low Level Complaints Between Members

The committee approved the Protocol for Dealing with Low Level Complaints between Members. This protocol is a requirement under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 and aims to facilitate the resolution of minor disputes between councillors at a local level, reducing the burden on the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. The protocol places the onus of resolving such complaints on the relevant political group leaders.

Recent Adjudication Panel and Ombudsman Decisions

The committee considered a report detailing recent decisions published by the Adjudication Panel for Wales and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales concerning Code of Conduct complaints. These decisions serve as learning points for the committee in implementing the code and providing training to councillors. The committee noted these decisions.