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Update from Full Council

My questions were not answered and not one councillor made any comment whatsoever.

This is what the Constitution says:

“Can I ask a question at a meeting?

You can ask formal questions of members of the Cabinet at meetings of the Full
Council.

However, you may only ask a question if you have given the Head of Democratic
Services notice in writing (including by email) that you wish to raise a question in
advance of the meeting taking place.


You may only ask one question, but if you cannot attend the meeting then you may
ask the Mayor to put the question on your behalf.

The Mayor may ask the question
on your behalf.”.

My Question Agenda Item 3


I asked that the Mayor  put the following question to the next meeting of the Full Council.

“The Audit Wales Report on the Review of Whistleblowing Arrangements relating to Safeguarding at Merthyr Council was published in August 2019.

This report has never been considered or discussed at any Council Meeting, and no investigation has been conducted into the findings of the report.

When will this report be considered and discussed at a Council meeting, and when will an investigation be conducted on the findings of the report”?

Note

The paragraph highlighted in RED above has not been included in the question on the agenda.

At the meeting of the Full Council on 12th November, the Mayor put the question to the meeting.

In accordance with the Constitution,  a member of the public can ask a formal question of members of the Cabinet at meetings of the Full
Council.

This means that Councillor Louise Minett-Vokes, the Cabinet member with the portfolio for Safeguarding,  should have provided the response.

However, no Cabinet member was involved in providing a response.

That was because the Monitoring Officer interjected saying that he was aware of the situation and that he would look into it.

I find that strange because it was the Monitoring Officer that approved that the question, albeit edited, could be included on the Agenda.

Why did the Monitoring Officer not allow the constitutional process to be followed.

Even Carys Kennedy, on two occasions, allowed the Cabinet member to respond to the questions, albeit without actually providing an actual answer.

Full Council – Questions to Council Members from members of the public.

Will my question to the meeting of the Full Council to be held on Wednesday 12th November 2025 at 5:30pm finally receive a straight truthful answer.

On two previous occasions, the same question was put to the Full Council and, whilst Councillor Julia Jenkins responded with many words, no answers to the questions were provided.

Councillor Louise Minett-Vokes is the Cabinet member with the portfolio that includes safeguarding.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, she will be required to answer the questions.

What are the questions?

• When will the Wales Audit Office Report on the Review of Whistleblowing Arrangements (published in August 2019) relating to Safeguarding at Merthyr Council be considered and discussed at a Council meeting, and
• when will an investigation be conducted on the findings of the report?

It’s not rocket science.

Previous blog posts on this matter

Agenda, including my question (see Item No 3) on the Audit Wales Report on the Review of Whistleblowing Arrangements related to Safeguarding at Merthyr Council,  for the meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday, 12th November, 2025, 5.30 pm