Determinations of the Standards CommitteeI19
1
After considering any representations, a Standards Committee must determine:
a
that there is no evidence of any failure to comply with the code of conduct of the relevant authority and that therefore no action needs to be taken in respect of the matters which are the subject of the investigation;
b
that a member or co-opted member (or former member or co-opted member) of a relevant authority has failed to comply with the relevant authority’s code of conduct but that no action needs to be taken in respect of that failure;
c
that a member or co-opted member (or former member or co-opted member) of F1a relevant authority has failed to comply with the authority’s code of conduct and should be censured, or
d
that a member or co-opted member of a relevant authority has failed to comply with the authority’s code of conduct and should be suspended or partially suspended from being a member or co-opted member of that authority for a period not exceeding six months F2or, if shorter, for the remainder of that person’s term of office.
2
Where an appeals tribunal drawn from the Adjudication Panel for Wales makes a recommendation in accordance with F5regulation 12(1)(a)(ii) below that a different penalty should be imposed, the Standards Committee must also determine whether or not it should uphold its original determination or accept the recommendation.
F33
After making a determination in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) the Standards Committee must notify:
a
the person or persons who is or are the subject of the investigation;
F6aa
where a subject of the investigation is a member or co-opted member of a corporate joint committee and is also a member or co-opted member of—
i
a constituent council of the corporate joint committee;
ii
a National Park authority which is required by regulations under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 to appoint a member of the corporate joint committee,
the monitoring officer of that constituent council or National Park authority;
b
the person or persons making the allegation of misconduct giving rise to the investigation;
c
the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales; and
d
where the Standards Committee has made its determination pursuant to arrangements with the monitoring officer or Standards Committee of another relevant authority, the Standards Committee of that authority.
4
After making a determination in accordance with paragraph (2) above the Standards Committee must also notify the president of the Adjudication Panel for Wales.
F45
Notice given under paragraphs (3) and (4) must include reasons for the determination.