Gifts of flowers, whisky and football tickets offered to councillors

FLOWERS, whisky and tickets to a Wales women's international football match are among the gifts and hospitality that have been offered to Gwynedd councillors.

- By DALE SPRIDGEON Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

A list of declared items has been published in a standards committee report by Cyngor Gwynedd, due to be discussed on Monday, November 3.

The Model Code of Conduct for council members makes it compulsory for them to provide written notification to the council's Monitoring Officer of "any offer of a gift, hospitality material benefit or advantage" above a value set by the authority, within 28 days.

Gwynedd set its value at £25, and the report notes that offers must be registered, whether accepted or not.

Whilst the council must publish a register of members' interests on its website there is no obligation over the Register of Gifts and Hospitality.

The current details have been set out in a table as part of the standards committee's work to monitor standards within the council.

The committee will be asked to note the information and offer observations on the current arrangements.

Among the items declared by councillors on the gifts and hospitality register, the majority refused, were: