Agenda item

Members considered the above report and noted that in line with Section 5 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 the Authority was required to make arrangements for every elected Member to provide an annual report at the end of each civic year.

Despite initial early interest from Members there was a rapid decline in the number of reports being prepared to the effect that in 2016/17 there were no annual reports. 

The Welsh Government would be publishing its draft Local Government Bill which may well include the compulsory completion of annual reports by Members.

In order to take this forward it was proposed to establish a focus group to review the current scheme.  In addition the Head of Corporate Strategy and Democratic Services suggested that a more modern approach be taken with the use of blogs, Facebook etc.  and that a letter be forwarded to Welsh Government to this effect.

RESOLVED:      That a focus group be established to review the current Member Annual Report Scheme, comprising of the following Members and that the Head of Corporate Strategy and Democratic Services send a letter to Welsh Government, on behalf of the Committee, suggesting that social media would be a more appropriate way of communication:-

Councillor J.D.Morgan

                             Councillor S.ap Dafydd

                             Councillor S.K.Hunt

                             Councillor S.Miller