The Standards Committee of Carmarthenshire Council met on Friday 23 May 2025 to discuss various matters relating to councillor conduct and training. Key decisions included granting dispensations to several councillors to speak and vote on specific planning matters, approving arrangements for code of conduct training for town and community councillors, and adopting the Forward Work Programme for 2025/26.

Dispensation Requests

The committee considered several requests for dispensations from councillors who declared personal interests in matters before the council. These requests are made under the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001, which allow councillors to participate in discussions or votes despite having a personal interest, provided certain conditions are met.

• Councillor David Nicholas received a dispensation to speak and make written representations, but not to vote, on any Planning Committee agenda item where Llandybie Community Council made comments or objections. This was granted because Councillor Nicholas is employed by the Community Council as its clerk, and his participation was deemed not to damage public confidence and justified by his particular role or expertise. The dispensation is valid until the end of the current electoral term.

• Councillor Sharen Davies was granted a dispensation to speak and make written representations, but not to vote, on council business relating to Bryn and Trallwm Sports and Social club. This was based on her membership of the club, with the dispensation valid until the end of the current electoral term. A similar dispensation was granted for council business relating to Llwynhendy Pemberton Forum, where Councillor Davies also holds a membership and the role of secretary.

• Councillor Meinir James requested and was granted a dispensation to speak and vote on community council business concerning Ysgol Bro Myrddin and its access road. Councillor James is a Local Authority appointed member of the school's governing body. The dispensation was granted on the grounds that her participation is justified by her particular role or expertise, and it was deemed not to damage public confidence.

• Councillor James Elfyn Williams requested and was granted a dispensation to speak and vote on council business regarding the proposed Heol Ddu Solar Park in the Llandyfaelog Community Council area. Councillor Williams is a close personal associate of the relevant landowners. The dispensation was granted on the grounds that his participation would not damage public confidence and that at least half of the members considering the business have an interest.

• Councillor Janet Knott requested and was granted a dispensation to speak and vote on council business regarding the proposed Heol Ddu Solar Park. Councillor Knott is a close personal associate of the relevant landowner. The dispensation was granted on the grounds that her participation would not damage public confidence.

• Councillor Nicola Jones requested and was granted a dispensation to speak and vote on council business regarding the proposed Heol Ddu Solar Park. Councillor Jones, who chairs the Llandyfaelog Community Council, is a family acquaintance of the landowner and a community councillor. The dispensation was granted on the grounds that her participation would not damage public confidence, was justified by her particular role or expertise, and that the interest was common to her and a significant proportion of the general public.

• Councillor Shan Rees requested and was granted a dispensation to speak and vote on council business regarding the proposed Heol Ddu Solar Park. Councillor Rees is a close personal associate of a number of landowners affected by the proposals. The dispensation was granted on the grounds that at least half of the members considering the business have an interest and that her participation would not damage public confidence.

All dispensations granted to Councillors James, Williams, Knott, Jones, and Rees are valid until the end of the current electoral term.

Code of Conduct Training

The committee approved the arrangements for the 2025 Code of Conduct training session for Town and Community Councillors. The session will be held in June or July, delivered via Zoom during working hours, and recorded for wider dissemination. The training content will be based on 2024 materials, updated with recent Adjudication Panel decisions. The committee also explored the feasibility of an early evening session to maximise attendance.

Annual Code Data Exercise

The committee endorsed the questions for the annual Town and Community Councils Code of Conduct data gathering exercise, subject to revisions. These revisions include adding questions about the percentage of councillors trained on the code of conduct in the past 12 months and the number of councils that have signed the Civility and Respect Pledge. The questionnaire will be issued electronically with a return deadline of 1 June 2025.

Forward Work Programme

The Forward Work Programme for 2025/26 was adopted. Two additional items were incorporated: an annual statutory meeting between the committee and political group leaders in May, and an annual report on code of conduct complaints that did not result in a referral to the Adjudication Panel for Wales or the Standards Committee.

Review of the Standards Committee Action Log

The committee received an update on the progress of actions from previous meetings. Key actions noted as completed included the arrangement of code of conduct training for county councillors and town and community councillors, updates to the dispensations register, and the amendment of code data questions. Some actions, such as the ongoing data exercise for town and community councils, were marked as ongoing.

Review of Political Group Leaders' Annual Reports and Draft Annual Report

The committee reviewed the annual reports from the leaders of the Plaid Cymru, Labour, and Independent political groups, assessing their compliance with duties under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. This review formed part of the process for the draft Standards Committee Annual Report for 2024-2025, which was presented for finalisation and agreement before being presented to Full Council. The draft report details the committee's activities, including referrals from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, notices from the Adjudication Panel for Wales, and applications for dispensation. It also includes an assessment of the group leaders' compliance with their duties.

Recent Adjudication Panel and Ombudsman Decisions

The committee received a report detailing recent decisions from the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW). This information is used to inform the committee's understanding of the code of conduct and to provide training to councillors.