The Torfaen Council's Ethics and Standards Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 9 October 2025, to discuss several key items, including member attendance, dispensations for small schemes, and the committee's programme of work. The meeting will also address updates on previous actions and a review of the local resolution protocol¹.

Members' Attendance

The committee is scheduled to review a report on the attendance of elected members at committees and policy seminar sessions. The report, submitted by Delyth Harries, Monitoring Officer and Assistant Chief Legal Officer, includes a summary of member attendance reports and co-opted member attendance.

The report pack notes that:

Part of the remit of every Authority's Standards Committee is to promote standards in public life.

The committee is expected to review the reported attendance of members at meetings for the Civic Year May 2024 – May 2025. Individual member attendances are available on the council's website.

Dispensations in Respect of Members' Small Schemes

The committee is scheduled to consider applications for dispensations related to the Members' Small Schemes. Each elected member of Torfaen County Borough Council has £1,500 per year to allocate as they see fit, according to the scheme's arrangements. Councillors must be granted dispensations on the appropriate statutory grounds.

Appendix 1 of the report pack contains a list summarising the various applications for dispensations in relation to Small Scheme donations that have been submitted for the committee to consider.

For example, Councillor Karl Gauden has applied for a dispensation to award £500 to Ponthir Village Hall Indoor Bowls Section, as he is a trustee of the village hall. Councillor Rose Seabourne has applied for a dispensation to award £300 to Costar Community Partnership, as she is a volunteer trustee and her husband is the treasurer. Councillor Janet Jones has applied for a dispensation to award £50 to Blaenavon Workmen's Hall, as she volunteers for the hall. Councillor Chris Tew has applied for a dispensation to award £100 to Garnsychan Partnership, as he is on the board of directors. Councillor Caroline Price has applied for a dispensation to award £200 to Blaenavon Girls U14's Rugby, as her granddaughter plays for the team. Councillor Catherine Bonera has applied for a dispensation to award £300 to Cwmbran & South Torfaen Allotment, as she is the chair of the committee, her husband is on the committee, and she has an allotment. Councillor Catherine Bonera has also applied for a dispensation to award £75 to Cwmbran Celtic Sports & Social Club, as she is a member of the club. Councillor Janet Jones has also applied for dispensations to award money to Blaenavon Community Museum, King St Baptist Chapel and Blaenavon RBL.

Programme of Work

The committee is scheduled to consider and implement the draft Work Programme for the Committee for the Civic Year 2025/26. The intention is that a work programme is to be considered at each ordinary meeting of the committee.

The programme of work includes items such as the Whistleblowing Policy, Member Development and Training, reviewing the Local Protocol & Procedure, Standards Conferences and Meetings, Dispensations, and the Annual Report.

Quorum

The committee is expected to determine whether a quorum is present, in accordance with Regulation 24 of the Standards Committee (Wales) Regulations 2001. At least three members must be present, including the chair, and at least half of the members present (including the chair) must be independent members.

Local Resolution Protocol

The committee is scheduled to discuss the Local Resolution Protocol.