The Standards Committee Selection Panel of Isle of Anglesey Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 23 September 2025 to discuss the recruitment of a new independent member for the Standards Committee. The panel, including Councillor Aled Morris Jones, Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Dylan Rees, Councillor Margaret Murley Roberts, Ann Kennedy and Dr Teleri Jones, will consider recruitment criteria, approve advertising and documentation, and discuss interview questions. The meeting will also consider excluding the press and public for a portion of the meeting.

Recruitment of Independent Member

The panel is expected to discuss and decide on the recruitment criteria for a new independent member of the County Council's Standards Committee. The Director of Function (Council Business) / Monitoring Officer has submitted a report stating that after the advertising process, the Selection Panel will score applications against the agreed criteria, interview shortlisted candidates, and make recommendations to the County Council, who will confirm the appointment.

The report outlines the legislative requirements for the role, included in Enclosure 1, which any applicant must satisfy. Additional requirements, also known as local choice criteria, may also be applied to ensure the most suitable candidates are appointed. Examples of local choice criteria are included in Enclosure 2.

The report notes that in previous years, statutory requirements were the only criteria used in recruitment processes, but in 2017, local choice criteria were also requested. The panel is asked to agree on any local choice criteria to include in addition to the legislative requirements. Examples of skills which may be considered advantageous include:

Can demonstrate the following qualities and skills:

• Listening skills
• Ability to understand and weigh up evidence
• Independence of mind
• Impartiality
• Ability to come to an objective view and explain that view by reference to the evidence
• Team working skills
• Respect for others and an understanding of diversity issues
• Discretion
• Personal integrity
• Does not actively participate in local or national politics

Advertisement and Documentation Approval

The Director of Function (Council Business) / Monitoring Officer has also submitted a report regarding the draft newspaper advertisement and proposed Application Form for the recruitment process. The Standards Committee Selection Panel is required to approve the documentation for the recruitment process for the new independent member. The final version of the draft documentation will reflect the decision made regarding the recruitment criteria.

It is a legal requirement that the advertisement for the recruitment of any independent member be placed in at least two newspapers circulating in the area of Isle of Anglesey County Council. In 2023, the vacancy was advertised on the council's website, Twitter, and Facebook, as well as in the Bangor and Anglesey Mail and the Daily Post. A draft advert is reproduced in Enclosure 1.

The report states that the advert must:

2.3.1.1 Notify the electors of the area that the IOACC is seeking to appoint an independent member to its Standards Committee; 2.3.1.2 Publish the criteria for the appointment.

The advert may also include details that the Chair and Vice-Chair are appointed from among the independent members of the Committee, and notify electors of the qualities and experience that may be required of independent members.

The report also refers to an application form, and states that every prospective candidate will receive a letter with enclosures including:

• Background Information for Applicants
• The Code of Conduct
• Schedule of Allowances
• Application Form, including information on eligibility, disqualifications and a privacy notice.

The Panel is asked to consider the draft documentation and confirm what it requires to be added or removed prior to publication, and authorise the Director of Function (Council Business) / Monitoring Officer to amend the paperwork to reflect any decision made on the qualities or skills that the Panel considers relevant.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The committee will consider a proposal to exclude the press and public from the meeting during discussion of the item regarding possible interview questions for candidates. This is on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.

The public interest test included in the report pack states:

Within this item, interview questions will be discussed. There is a reasonable expectation that each applicant is treated fairly within a recruitment process. So as to ensure a successful recruitment process, it is reasonable for interview questions to be asked at the time so that the best applicant is chosen.

Possible Interview Questions

The Director of Function (Council Business) / Monitoring Officer has submitted a report requesting the Panel to consider suitable interview questions for prospective candidates.