PURPOSE OF REPORT

To present the Standards Committee annual report to the Fire and Rescue Authority as required by legislation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

As a matter of good corporate governance the Standards Committee provides the Authority with an annual report on its activities during each financial year.

Consequently the Committee’s sixteenth annual report is attached for Members’ consideration.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That Members note the Standards Committee’s annual report for 2020/21.

 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE OF NORTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY 2020/21

Background

This is the Standards Committee’s sixteenth annual report to the Fire and Rescue Authority and spans the period from April 2020 to March 2021. Legislation requires that Standards Committees meet at least annually.

The Terms of Reference of the Standards Committee provide a remit to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by Members of the Authority. Also, where statute permits, to receive reports and complaints about Members and to conduct or oversee investigations and make recommendations to the Authority.

Membership

Mr Antony P Young’s second term of office came to an end in March 2020, therefore he was ineligible to remain on the Committee for another term. There were no other issues in relation to independent members.

In terms of FRA representatives on the Committee, it was agreed that since Cllr Dylan Rees had been appointed Deputy Chair of the FRA it would be prudent to have another member of the Authority sit on the Committee; Cllr Michael Dixon will join Cllr Owen Thomas on the Committee to represent the FRA. Therefore, the Standards Committee’s membership is as follows:

Independent Members
Sally Ellis 01/01/18 – 31/12/2021 (eligible for a second term) (Deputy Chair)
Julia Hughes 01/01/18 – 31/12/2021 (eligible for a second term) (Chair)
Gill Murgatroyd 01/09/19 – 31/08/23
Gareth Pritchard 01/09/19 – 31/08/23

Fire and Rescue Authority Members
Councillor Owen Thomas (19/06/18 until the next council elections)
Councillor Michael Dixon (09/11/20 until the next council elections)

Attendance

A meeting was held on 17 September 2020 via Zoom. Julia Hughes was elected Chair and Sally Ellis elected Deputy Chair. Gill Murgatroyd, Gareth Pritchard and Cllr Owen Thomas were in attendance.

A second meeting was held on 25 February 2021 via Zoom. All members were present.

Issues Discussed

At its meeting on 17 September 2020 the Committee reviewed:

• FRA members’ attendance at meetings. It was highlighted that failure to attend meetings represents a significant issue for the Authority as it reduces its capacity and creates gaps in Members’ understanding that can take time to overcome. The Deputy Clerk has worked with constituent councils to improve attendance. During the year the number of meetings was also considerably reduced due to restrictions imposed to manage the coronavirus pandemic. The move to virtual/remote meetings will reduce the need for members to travel and will thereby make it easier for members to fulfil their duties on the Authority
• the Authority’s gifts and hospitality policy which appears to be in line with other such policies in the other fire and rescue authorities and principal councils in Wales
• the work programmes of the Standards Committees in the other Welsh fire and rescue authorities. Their work programmes already closely resembled its own and the committee has further harmonised its work programme to align more closely whilst considering additional reports as necessary.

The Committee met again on 25 February 2021. At this meeting, Members considered the following matters:

• PSOW Consultation on Revised Guidance on the Code of Conduct
• Directions Issued by the Adjudication Panel for Wales
• PSOW casebook and annual report
• Joint standards committee
• Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

The Committee has also looked at significant public reports to see whether there are recommendations or instances of good practice which the Authority could adopt. It specifically looked at the report into the Manchester Bombing and the report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life into the Ethical Regime in England. It has made recommendations to amend the code of conduct based on the latter report which the Authority has adopted.

Training

The committee has agreed that it will undertake training at each of its meetings on matters pertinent to its terms of reference.

Forward Work Plan

The Committee has set itself a forward programme to ensure that it fulfils its terms of reference and considers all items that it needs to cover within a year. Forthcoming items include, amongst others, the regular training slot( referred to above), feedback from Independent Members’ observations of meetings, whether to form a Joint Standards Committee with another North Wales authority (either a council or the parks authority) and continued review of attendance.

The Committee conducts a rolling review of the codes and protocols within its terms of reference so that each is considered at least once per Authority term. That programme is complete for this term but will start again after the elections in 2022.

Complaints against Members of the Fire and Rescue Authority

There were no complaints about FRA Members during this period.

Financial Implications

The budget for the Standards Committee is managed through a single budget heading for all Authority costs. Since 2012, independent members of the Standards Committee are entitled to claim remuneration based on meetings and events attended. For attending meetings in this financial year, a total of £850 has been claimed.

Conclusion

The Standards Committee recommends that the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority notes its annual report 2020/21.