PURPOSE OF REPORT

To appoint a Fire and Rescue Authority member to serve on the Standards Committee.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Due to Cllr Dylan Rees being the Deputy Chair of the Authority, the Standards Committee has asked that another member be nominated in order to prevent any possible conflict of interest arising.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Authority appoints another member to the Standards Committee instead of Cllr Dylan Rees as he is the Deputy Chair of the Authority.

BACKGROUND

Under the Local Government Act 2000, the Fire and Rescue Authority is required to have a Standards Committee. There are four independent members on the committee.

Under the Standards Committee (Wales) Regulations 2001, the political balance requirements of Part I of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 do not apply to these appointments.

INFORMATION

At the February 2020 Standards Committee meeting, the Deputy Clerk informed members that it had recently been brought to his attention that the Authority’s website stated that “The Fire and Rescue Authority representatives on this Committee cannot be an office holder on the Authority.” It was acknowledged that the source of this decision was unknown and had not come from legislation. Having discussed the matter, members considered that in reality having a FRA office holder on the Committee was not an issue however the perception could be viewed otherwise. It was therefore decided to recommend to the FRA that Cllr Dylan Rees who is now Deputy Chair of the Authority be replaced on the Committee by another FRA Member who is not an office holder.

Any member of the Fire and Rescue Authority, apart from the Chair and Deputy Chair, can be appointed to serve on the Standards Committee.

IMPLICATIONS

Wellbeing Objectives - Considered not relevant
Budget - Attendance costs will be met from existing allocated budget
Legal - Meetings are held in accordance with the agreed terms of reference. Members are expected to abide by their code of conduct at all times
Staffing - Considered not relevant
Equalities/Human Rights/Welsh Language - Considered not relevant
Risks - Considered not relevant