Meetings

SOC(4)-03-16 Paper 5 - Removing dual registration

6.1 Members considered the paper and agreed to include a recommendation in the Committee’s Legacy Report.

SOC(4)-03-16 Paper 1 – Protocol for notifying breaches under Standing Order 2

3.1 Members considered and agreed that the protocol should come into force from the beginning of the fifth Assembly in May 2015.

SOC(4)-03-16 Paper 2 – Cover paper - Draft Code of Conduct for Assembly Members and Associated Documents

SOC(4)-03-16 Paper 3 – Draft Code of Conduct for Assembly Members and Associated Documents

4.1 Members noted the compendium’s content and that it will be published for the beginning of the fifth Assembly.

SOC(4)-02-16 Paper 2

3.1 Members considered the guidance and agreed to include reference to it in the Committee’s legacy report.

SOC(4)-02-16 Paper 3

4.1 Members considered and agreed the changes to the Code of Conduct.

3.1 Members considered and agreed the draft report. The report will be published in due course.

3.1 The Committee considered and agreed the report.

SOC(4)-01-14 Paper 1

·         Gerard Elias QC, Commissioner for Standards

SOC(4)-06-13 Paper 1

·         Gerard Elias QC, Commissioner for Standards

·         Gareth Rogers, Head of Table Office

2.1 The Committee considered the Commissioner for Standards’ paper and gave him their thoughts on the sections highlighted to assist with the forthcoming consultation exercise.

2.1 The Legal Adviser agreed to liaise with the Commissioner for Standards over dual registration in relation to financial sponsorship.

SOC(4)-05-13 – Paper 1

The Chair noted that there were five recommendations to the National Assembly for Wales in the report.

The Committee considered a paper on the report and noted that the recommendations on shareholdings and gifts should be considered again when reviewing the registration of interests in the autumn. It was also noted that the recommendation relating to conduct of Members’ support staff should be taken into consideration as part of the review of standards procedures and the Members’ Code of Conduct.

SOC(4)-05-13 – Paper 2

Gareth Rogers – Head of Table Office

The Committee considered the paper from the Commissioner. The paper updated the Committee on the second phase of the review of standards procedures.

The Committee agreed that the Commissioner should proceed with a piece of work on the Standing Orders, Code of Conduct and associated guidance dealing with Registrable Interests and make recommendations to the Committee in this area.  The Chair noted that this would be considered further at the next meeting.

The Committee noted and agreed the initial draft Code of Conduct sections provided by the Commissioner – the Preamble & Section 1 of the proposed new Code. 

SOC(4)-04-13 – Paper (to note) 2

SOC(4)-04-13 – Private paper 1

2.1 Subject to a few minor amendments the Committee agreed the draft report on Sanctions. The report will be published on 15 May and referred to the Business Committee for consideration before the summer recess.

4.1 Paper noted.

SOC(4)-03-13 – Private paper 2

·         Gerard Elias QC – Commissioner for Standards

3.1 The Commissioner introduced his report on amendments to the Assembly’s Sanctions regime.

3.2 The Commissioner noted that in preparing his report he had consulted with all Assembly Members, the Presiding Officer and Party Leaders.

3.3 Members discussed the report and in particular the issues surrounding ‘rights and privileges’, any maximum period of suspension and the importance of making it clear that sanctions against an Assembly Members would not impact on that Members’ support staff. 

3.4 The Chair noted that a Committee report on Sanctions for submission to the Business Committee would be drafted for consideration at the next meeting on 7 May. 

SOC(4)-02-13 – Private Paper 3

·         Gerard Elias QC – Commissioner for Standards

3.1 The Commissioner introduced his briefing note.

3.2 The Committee considered the format for Codes of Conduct in other legislatures and agreed a preferred format for the Assembly’s revised Code of Conduct in four sections, to incorporate the Nolan principles, and to clearly set out:- 1) the range of possible breaches; 2) the applicable legislation/Standing Orders; 3) any guidance issued; and 4) the range of sanctions available for breaches.

3.3 The Committee gave further consideration to a model for an amended sanctions regime. It was agreed that sanctions would be amended as a matter of priority, and included in the new Code when it was finalised. The Committee agreed the Commissioner’s suggestion that he consult with all Assembly Members on the Committee’s preferred approach on sanctions.

3.4 A report on amending the sanctions regime, subject to the results of the Commissioners consultation, would be drafted for consideration at the next meeting on 23 April.

Gerard Elias QC, National Assembly for Wales’ Commissioner for Standards

The Committee formally agreed the complaints procedure.

The Chair noted that a joint letter from the Chair and Commissioner would be sent to all Assembly Members informing them of the revised procedure, before it was laid before the Assembly.

It was agreed that a timetable for stage 2 of the review will be considered at the next formal committee meeting.  

Gerard Elias QC, National Assembly for Wales’ Commissioner for Standards

The Commissioner talked the Committee through the proposed amendments to the procedure.

The Committee agreed that the Commissioner would give further consideration to the following:

-       the re-wording of section 8.2;

-       to review the wording in relation to an independently qualified person to consider appeals in respect of safeguards to protect against conflict of interest;

-       the wording of 6.1to take account of concerns regarding the possibility of criminal offence in relation to recording employing family members (SO 2.5ii).

The Committee agreed the amendments in principle and noted that a final version would be agreed formally at the next meeting.

The Chair noted that a timetable for the next stage of the review would be considered at the next meeting on 24 April.

SOC(4)-01-11 (p2)

Gerard Elias QC, Commissioner for Standards

4.1 The Committee agreed the approach to the review as detailed in the Commissioners paper.