The Ethics and Standards Committee has recently welcomed four new members following the end of term of two others.
Chair Eddie Ffoulkes-Jones and Vice-chair Stephen Cripps gave 10 years’ service to the Committee between 2008 and 2018 and departed in February 2018. In their place, sees Chair Hywel Wyn Jones and Vice-chair Caroline White. Two new independent members, Carol Edwards and John Weston, have also been appointed.
Eifion Evans, Chief Executive of Ceredigion County Council said, “Ceredigion County Council has benefitted from a decade of excellent advice and guidance from the members of the Ethics and Standards Committee under the Chairmanship of Eddie Foulkes Jones and we are deeply indebted to him, Vice-Chair Stephen Cripps and the committee members. However, we are now embarking on a new era with four new members of the committee. Their input to the function of the Ethics and Standards Committee will be greatly appreciated and we look forward with confidence that the Council will continue to function effectively and efficiently in an open and transparent manner.”
Commenting on his appointment as Chairman of the Committee, Hywel Wyn Jones said, “I feel honoured to have been appointed as chair of Ceredigion County Council’s Ethics and Standards Committee and look forward to carrying on the excellent lead of my predecessor, Eddie Foulkes Jones, and to working with my colleagues, comprising both Elected Members and independent appointees, to maintain the high ethical standards that have been set”.
The members of the Committee have a clear vision for the future. Hywel Wyn Jones continued, “An important part of the committee’s work is to consider applications by councillors for dispensation to take part in debates on issues in which they may have some personal and prejudicial interest. In these cases, we are always aware of the need to enable members to represent and speak for their electors, except when their personal situation makes that inappropriate.”
Ceredigion County Council Chairman, Councillor Lynford Thomas, said, “Our thanks go to Eddie and Stephen who have given of their time to contribute to the Committee and we welcome the new members.”
Hywel Wyn Jones concluded, “The issue of ethical standards in public life has had a great deal of media attention recently, and Standards Committees of local authorities exist to do all that is possible to promote and safeguard the standards that the public rightly expect from their elected representatives. Ceredigion has a good record of compliance, and I’m confident that this can continue, despite the heavy pressures that members are under, particularly due to the severe financial cuts facing our councils.”
Hywel Wyn Jones Chaired his first Committee on 06 April 2018. The Committee is an open meeting, made up of five independent members, two county councillors and two community councillors. Meeting quarterly, papers for the Ethics and Standards Committee can be seen on the Council website: www.ceredigion.gov.uk
06/04/2018