The Isle of Anglesey County Council's Standards Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 9 October 2025, to consider applications for dispensation from two county councillors. The meeting will take place in the Committee Room, Council Offices, Llangefni and virtually via Zoom.

Applications for Dispensation

The committee will be considering applications for dispensation from Councillor Keith Roberts and Councillor Jeff Evans. Both councillors are Local Authority appointed Governors of Holyhead High School. They are seeking dispensation in relation to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee's consideration of the:

• Results of the Consultation on the Proposal to Relocate Holyhead Highschool Learners to a New School Building for 11-18 year olds
• Modernising Learning Communities: Strategic Outline Case (extraordinary item)

The report pack includes the applications for dispensation, as well as a briefing note on dispensations, and a methodology note for the consideration of applications for dispensation.

Background

The report pack states that members who have a personal and prejudicial interest are generally precluded from any discussion on that matter. However, in limited circumstances, a member may be able to overcome this impediment by obtaining a dispensation from the Standards Committee.

The applications from Councillor Keith Roberts and Councillor Jeff Evans note that they are both Local Authority appointed Governors of Holyhead High School. As such, they have a personal interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Members of the Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The report pack explains that there is an exemption in paragraph 12(2)(a)(iii) of the code which means that they do not have a prejudicial interest unless the matter concerns the determination of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration (paragraph 12(3). However, the report pack says that:

Given the significant nature of the matters, and their impact to the local community it is considered prudent and best interests of transparency and maintaining public confidence to seek a dispensation.

Councillor Jeff Evans is also the Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

Grounds for Dispensation

The report pack includes a briefing note for members on the topic of dispensations, which states the grounds on which a dispensation may be granted. These are included in the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 as amended by Section 4 of the Local Government (Standard Committees, Investigations, Dispensations and Referral) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016.

The grounds include:

• if the nature of the member's interest is such that the member's participation in the business to which the interest relates would not damage public confidence in the conduct of the relevant authority's business
• if the participation of the member in the business to which the interest relates is justified by the member's particular role or expertise

The report pack also includes guidance notes for the Standards Committee Panel when considering councillors' applications for dispensation.

Declaration of Interest

The agenda includes an item to receive any declaration of interest from a member or officer regarding any item of business.