The Standards Committee of Carmarthenshire Council met on Monday, 2 March 2026, to discuss various matters relating to councillor conduct and the operation of the committee. Key decisions included granting a dispensation to Councillor Edward Thomas, approving amendments to the protocol for low-level complaints between members, and endorsing the proposed arrangements for Code of Conduct training for Town and Community Councillors. The committee also reviewed the annual Code Data Exercise questionnaire and adopted the Forward Work Programme for 2026/2027.

Dispensation Request by Councillor Edward Thomas

The committee considered and unanimously resolved to grant a dispensation to Councillor Edward Thomas. This allows him to speak and make written representations, but not vote, on matters relating to the former Ysgol Tregib school site, particularly any Cabinet decisions affecting it. Councillor Thomas, a Cabinet member and director of Tregib Sports Facilities Ltd, has a personal interest in the site due to his role with the company that uses its facilities. The dispensation is valid until the end of the current electoral term. This decision was made under specific regulations of the Standards Committees (Grant of Dispensation) (Wales) Regulations 2001, citing grounds that his participation would not damage public confidence, his interest is common to a significant proportion of the public, his role or expertise justifies his participation, the business is to be considered by an overview and scrutiny committee, and the business relates to a voluntary organisation of which he is a member with no other interest.

Protocol for Dealing with Low Level Complaints Between Members

The committee received a report on the amended draft protocol for dealing with low-level complaints between members. This protocol aims to reduce the number of such complaints referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW). Following consultation with Group Leaders, proposed changes were agreed, including a provision allowing Group Leaders to delegate complaint resolution to a nominated representative. The committee noted the protocol, subject to further approval, and the Legal Services Manager will liaise with the Monitoring Officer regarding the necessary approvals from the Council and the Constitutional Review Working Group (CRWG).

Review of Code of Conduct Complaints

The committee received an annual report detailing eight Code of Conduct complaints notified to the Monitoring Officer between 1 April 2025 and the report's publication date. These complaints had not been referred to the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) or the Committee. The report noted a change in the Ombudsman's practice, with notifications now being sent at the beginning of cases rather than at their conclusion. The committee discussed the possibility of including information on whether complaints relate to Town and Community or County Councillors in future reports, and the Legal Services Manager confirmed this could be incorporated.

Code of Conduct Training for Town and Community Councillors

The committee approved the arrangements for the 2026 Code of Conduct training for Town and Community Councillors. Building on the successful approach from 2025, the training will be held in June or July via Zoom during working hours. The session will be recorded and made available to councils, with training materials updated to reflect recent Adjudication Panel decisions. The training will also be advertised to all County Councillors. A proposal was made to include a question in the upcoming annual questionnaire to ascertain Town and Community Councils' preferred training methods.

Annual Code Data Exercise

The committee endorsed the questions for the annual data-gathering exercise on Code of Conduct compliance from Town and Community Councils. The questionnaire, which covers issues such as Declarations of Interest and Code of Conduct training, has been updated based on previous feedback. The exercise will be conducted electronically, with a response deadline of 1st June 2026, and findings will be reported to the committee in September 2026. Additional questions were proposed to be included, focusing on council vacancies, member turnover rates, and the types of Code of Conduct training attended by Town and Community Councils. The Legal Services Manager will amend the questionnaire to incorporate these additions, and a revised version will be circulated for informal feedback.

Recent Adjudication Panel and Ombudsman Decisions

The committee received a report outlining recent decisions from the Adjudication Panel for Wales (APW) and the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) concerning Code of Conduct complaints. This information is intended to provide learning points for the committee in implementing the Code and delivering training to councillors.

Forward Work Programme 2026/2027

The committee adopted the Forward Work Programme for the 2026/2027 municipal year. Key amendments to the previous programme include scheduling the statutory meeting between the committee and the Council's political group leaders for the June meeting. An annual report on Code of Conduct complaints notified to the Monitoring Officer that did not result in a referral to the APW or the Committee will be introduced. This anonymised report will detail the part of the Code breached, the nature of the complaint, the Ombudsman's decision, and the reasons for it. The committee agreed that this report would be considered in June to capture the full scope of complaints for the municipal year. A report on Gifts and Hospitality was also agreed to be included for the June meeting.

Ombudsman's Decision Notice

The committee considered formal decision notices issued by the PSOW regarding Code of Conduct complaints against councillors. Following the application of a public interest test, it was resolved not to publicise the content of the report, as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of individuals. The committee unanimously resolved to note the decision notices.