Meetings

3.1 Members considered the draft Code of Conduct for Members of the Senedd and supporting guidance.

4.1 The Committee discussed its review of the Code of Conduct and associated procedures.

2.1 The Committee invited Tom Jackson to present the responses to the consultation on the Review of the Code of Conduct.

2.2 The Committee considered responses to the consultation on the review of the Code of Conduct.

2.3 The Committee noted that the responses will be published onto the Committee’s web site following the meeting.

SoC(5)-19-20 Paper 1- Draft Code of Conduct – Consultation Document

2.1 The Chair welcomed Tom Jackson to the meeting.

2.2 The Committee considered and agreed the draft Code of Conduct for consultation.

2.3 The Committee noted that the consultation would be issued in December and will close on 18 January 2021.

SoC(5)-18-20 Paper 1- Draft Code of Conduct

2.1 The Chair welcomed Tom Jackson to the meeting.

2.2 The Committee considered a table which compared the existing provisions in the Code of Conduct with the updated Code of Conduct.

SoC(5)-17-20 Paper 1 - Draft Code of Conduct

2.1 The Chair invited Tom Jackson to present the draft code of conduct.

2.2 The Committee considered the draft code of conduct and agreed to discuss it further at its next meeting.

Action:

-       The Secretariat to provide a table comparing the draft code of conduct with provisions in the existing code

Dr. Arun Midha, Lay Member of the House of Commons' Committee on Standards

2.1 The Committee received evidence on its review of the Code of Conduct for Senedd Members from Dr. Arun Midah.

2.1 The Committee considered the responses to the consultation on the Code of Conduct review.

2.2 The Committee agreed to seek responses from Members who had previously engaged in the Committee’s work, and Members who had formerly sat on the committee.

2.3 The committee noted that a revised code and complaints procedure based on the evidence gathered to date would be considered by the committee before being issued for wider consultation.

3.1 The Committee noted the Acting Commissioner’s letter highlighting an area of potential discrepancy in relation to whether Members should declare an interest when submitting written questions.

SoC(05)-11-20-p1Code of Conduct – Key issues

SoC(05)-11-20-p2 Research on Codes of Conduct

3.1 The Committee considered the research paper on the Code of Conduct and discussed the review.

3.2 The Committee identified areas for consultation with Members of the Senedd over the course of the summer recess.

SoC(05)-09-20-p1 Research on Codes of Conduct

Research brief

Gerard Elias QC

Research Briefing

Code of Conduct Review: Evidence Session: Sir Roderick Evans, former Commissioner for Standards

2.1 The Committee questioned Sir Roderick Evans QC, former Commissioner for Standards, in relation to the Code of Conduct Review.

3.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Research Briefing

Manon Antoniazzi - Clerk and Chief Executive of the Assembly

2.1 The Committee questioned Manon Antoniazzi in relation to the Code of Conduct Review.

SoC(5)-02-20 Paper 3 – Scoping Paper

4.1 The Chair welcomed Douglas Bain, the Acting Standards Commissioner to the meeting.

4.2 The Committee considered and discussed the paper on the Code of Conduct review, and also took evidence from the Acting Standards Commissioner.

SoC(5)-01-20 Paper 1 – Scoping paper

3.1 Members considered and agreed the scope of its review into the Code of Conduct for Assembly Members and associated matters and agreed a way forward.

SoC(5)-18-19 Paper 1 – Scoping Paper

SoC(5)-18-19 Paper 2 – Letter from Sir Roderick Evans QC

3.1 Members considered and agreed the proposals for the review and noted that a comprehensive paper will be prepared for their consideration at the next meeting.

SoC(5)-16-19 Paper 1 – Discussion paper

2.1 Members considered and highlighted issues they wished the review to cover and agreed to return to this issue at the next meeting when a scoping paper will be available.

SoC(5)-11-19 Paper 1 - Assembly Commission Dignity and Respect Survey: Results report (June 2019)

SoC(5)-11-19 Paper 2 – Statement on Dignity and Respect Survey Results 2019 (3 July 2019)

2.1 The Members had considered the survey results in draft in the meeting on 2 July but noted that the report had been published on 3 July 2019.

SoC(5)-08-11 Paper 2 – Draft revisions to Code of Conduct

4.1 Members considered and agreed the suggested amendments.

4.2 The Clerk will prepare a report for Member’s consideration reflecting the suggested revisions to the Code of Conduct.

SoC(5)-07-19 Paper 3 – Letter from the Llywydd (7 May 2019)

4.1 The update was considered and noted. The Chair agreed to reply to the Llywydd.

SoC(5)-07-19 Paper 4 – Draft revisions to Code of Conduct

SoC(5)-07-19 Paper 5 - Lay Members on Standards Committees

5.1 Members considered and were in agreement to the suggested amendments.

5.2 The Clerks will prepare a further paper for discussion on other proposed changes and once agreed, all the changes will be made to the Code at the same time.

SoC(5)-03-19 Paper 3 – Committee paper

3.1 Members had a further discussion on the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct and agreed to return to this item at the next meeting.

3.1 Members had a further discussion on the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct and agreed to discuss within their political groups and return to this item at the next meeting.

SoC(5)-21-18 Paper 1 – Proposed changes to the complaints process

SoC(5)-21-18 Paper 2 – Ministerial and Parliamentary Codes of Conduct in other Legislatures

3.1 Members considered and discussed the papers and agreed to return to this item at the next meeting.

SoC(5)-19-18 Paper 1 – Welsh Government response on ‘Creating the Right Culture’ report

SoC(5)-19-18 Paper 2 – Letter from Jayne Bryant AM, Committee Chair to Llywydd on ‘Creating the Right Culture’ report (11 October 2018)

SoC(5)-19-18 Paper 3 – Response from the Llywydd to the Committee Chair on ‘Creating the Right Culture’ report (30 October 2018)

2.1 The correspondence was noted. It was agreed that the Chair would write to the incoming First Minister regarding the Ministerial Code early in 2019.

SoC(5)-17-18 Paper 1 – Assembly Commission response on ‘Creating the Right Culture’ report.

2.1 The Members discussed the response from the Assembly Commission to the recommendations contained in the Creating the Right Culture Report.

2.2 Members agreed that the Chair would respond to the Llywydd and seek a clearer timetable for a response on Recommendation 14.

2.3 Members noted that the response from the Welsh Government to Recommendation 12 would be available later in the month and would be considered at the next Committee meeting.

SoC(5)-16-18 Paper 2 – Draft report

SoC(5)-16-18 Paper 3 – Letter from Cardiff University on the Assembly’s Respect and Dignity policy

Soc(5)-16-18 Paper 4 – Letter from Anna Meikle on the Principles of public life

3.1 Members considered draft report. A number of amendments were suggested and it was agreed that a revised version would be circulated to Members outside of Committee for further consideration.

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SoC(5)-15-18 Paper 1 – Key issues

SoC(5)-15-18 Paper 2 – Dignity and Respect Policy

3.1 Members considered the key issues paper and noted that a draft report will be prepared for their consideration at the next meeting.

SoC(5)-14-18 Paper 1 – Assembly Commission – Dignity and Respect Survey: Results report

3.1 Members considered the Assembly Commission’s Report on the Dignity and Respect Survey which had been published on 19 June.

Ben Lewis – Director, Student Support & Wellbeing, Cardiff University

Patrick Wrangles – Head of Health and Wellbeing, Cardiff University

Amy Sykes - ‎Wellbeing Coordinator and Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, ‎Cardiff University

2.1 The Committee discussed the Dignity and Respect Policy with Ben Lewis, Director, Student Support & Wellbeing, Cardiff University; Patrick Wrangles, Head of Health and Wellbeing, Cardiff University and

Amy Sykes, Wellbeing Coordinator and Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, ‎Cardiff University alongside the work in this area Cardiff University has been undertaking.

Gwyneth Sweatman - NUS Wales Women’s Officer

Cerith D Rhys Jones - External Affairs Manager, NUS Wales

3.1 The Members discussed the Dignity and Respect Policy with Gwyneth Sweatman, NUS Wales Women’s Officer and Cerith Jones, NUS Wales alongside the work in this area the NUS has been undertaking.

4.1 The Members discussed the evidence received.

Ruth Coombs - Head of Wales Equality and Human Rights Commission

2.1 The Members discussed the recent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Report – Turning the Tables: Ending sexual harassment at work – with Ruth Coombs, EHRC’s Head.

SoC(5)-10-18 Paper 1 - Ministerial Codes in other Legislatures

3.1 Members discussed the paper.

2.1 Members considered the applications received for the role of expert advisor to the Committee for this inquiry.

SoC(5)-08-18 Paper 1 – National Assembly for Wales Dignity and Respect Policy (draft)

SoC(5)-08-18 Paper 2 – National Assembly for Wales Dignity and Respect Policy – Accompanying Guidance on inappropriate behaviour (draft)

2.1 Members considered the revised draft policy and agreed that the Chair would write to the Assembly Commission with their views.

SoC(5)-07-18 Paper 2 – Letter from the Chair to the First Minister (7 March 2018)

SoC(5)-07-18 Paper 3 – Letter from the First Minister to the Chair (4 April 2018)

4.1 Members noted and discussed the response from the First Minister and agreed to return to the item.

4.2 The Clerk gave an oral update on the revised draft dignity and respect policy. Members agreed to return to this item at the next meeting.

2.1 The Committee considered the paper regarding the direction the review of the Code of Conduct and agreed to:

·       Appoint an Expert Advisor;

·       Establish a Reference Group; and

·       Report by the end of the summer term.

2.1 The Committee received evidence as part of their review into the Code of Conduct.

SoC(5)-05-18 Paper 1 - Code of Conduct – Review: Consideration of Draft Respect and Dignity Policy

3.1 The Committee discussed the draft Dignity and Respect Policy.

SoC(5)-04-18 Paper 1 – Letter from Andrea Leadsom MP

SoC(5)-04-18 Paper 2 – Consultation response from Chwarae Teg

SoC(5)-04-18 Paper 3 – Consultation response from Welsh Women’s Aid
SoC(5)-04-18 Paper 4 – Consultation response from Flintshire County Council

SoC(5)-04-18 Paper 5 – Consultation response from Equality and Human Rights Commission

2.1 The Members noted the letter from Andrea Leadsom MP and the consultation responses.

Cerys Furlong – Chief Executive, Chwarae Teg

Gwendolyn Sterk – Public Affairs Manager, Welsh Women’s Aid

Ruth Coombs – Head of Wales Equality and Human Rights Commission

Iestyn Wyn – Campaigns, Policy and Research Manager, Stonewall Cymru

3.1 The Committee discussed the areas highlighted in the recent consultation regarding the review of the Code of Conduct with Cerys Furlong, Chief Executive, Chwarae Teg; Gwendolyn Sterk, Public Affairs Manager, Welsh Women’s Aid; Ruth Coombs, Head of Wales Equality and Human Rights Commission; Andrew White, Director, Stonewall Cymru and Iestyn Wyn, Campaigns, Policy and Research Manager, Stonewall Cymru.

5.1 Members considered the evidence received.

SoC(5)-03-18 Paper 1 – Covering paper

SoC(5)-03-18 Paper 2 - Respect and Dignity Policy - Draft

2.1 The Members discussed the draft Respect and Dignity policy and noted the Commissioner for Standards comments.

4.1 The Chair agreed to write to the witnesses with the Committee’s comments on the draft Respect and Dignity policy.

Craig Stephenson - Director of Commission Services 

Elisabeth Jones - Chief Legal Adviser

3.1 The Committee and the Commissioner for Standards discussed the draft Dignity and Respect policy with Craig Stephenson, Director of Commission Services and Elisabeth Jones, Chief Legal Adviser at the National Assembly for Wales.

SoC(5)-02-18 Paper 1 – Respect and Dignity Policy – Covering paper

SoC(5)-02-18 Paper 2 – Draft policy

2.1 Members considered the draft Code of Conduct and agreed to return to this item at the next meeting.

SoC(5)-12-17 Paper 1 – Draft letter

SoC(5)-12-17 Paper 2 – Letter from Gerard Elias, previous Commissioner for Standards to the First Minister (17 December 2012)

SoC(5)-12-17 Paper 3 – Letter from the First Minister to Gerard Elias previous Commissioner for Standards (22 January 2013)

2.1 Members agreed the consultation letter, subject to a few minor amendments and also agreed that it be issued during the week of 11 December 2017.

SoC(5)-11-17 Paper 2 – Statement from the Llywydd (15 November 2017)

SoC(5)-11-17 Paper 3 – Inquiry outline

4.1 Members considered the request to work with the Assembly Commission to develop a Respect and Dignity Policy together with undertaking a review of the sanctions available if the Code of Conduct is breached.

4.2 The Committee agreed to:

·       Hold a written consultation to seek views on the process in general, whether there are any reasons people do not come forward with complaints and on any areas of the Code which could be clarified. Members also agreed to consider whether to hold any oral evidence sessions following the receipt of written responses;

·       Develop a communications strategy to promote the work of the Committee and the Commissioner for Standards; and

·       Asked the Committee Clerk to explore with the Welsh Government, whether an elected Member or senior official attend relevant Committee meetings to discuss the Ministerial Code and how the Code can complement the work being undertaken to develop the Respect and Dignity Policy.