Agenda and minutes

To submit for confirmation and signature, the minutes of the following meetings of the County Council held on:-

•  4th December, 2014 (Extraordinary) (10.00 am)

•  4th December, 2014 (2.00 pm)

•  20th January, 2015 (Extraordinary)

•  4th February, 2015 (Extraordinary)

The minutes of the previous meetings of the Isle of Anglesey County Council held on the following dates were submitted and confirmed as correct :-

•   4 December, 2014 (Extraordinary) (10.00 a.m.)

•   4 December, 2014 (2.00 p.m.)

•   20 January, 2015 (Extraordinary)

•   4 February, 2015 (Extraordinary)

•   The Chair made the following announcements :-

    •  Best wishes for a speedy recovery to the Vice-Chair, Councillor Jim

    Evans who has been hospitalised recently. 

    •  The Chair was pleased that Councillor Jeff Evans has recovered from his

    knee replacement surgery.

    •  Best wishes was extended to the Deputy Chief Executive, Mrs. Bethan

    Jones on her appointment with the Besti Cadwaladr University Health

    Board. The Chair wished to thank Mrs. Jones for her contribution to the

    services of the County Council since 2012. 

    The Leader of the Council also wished to thank Mrs. Bethan Jones for her

    service to the Council and wished her well in her new post.

    The Chief Executive wished to thank Mrs. Bethan Jones on behalf of the

    Senior Officers and staff of the County Council for her work over the last 2

    years with the Authority.  He wished Mrs. Jones well in her new post.

    The Deputy Chief Executive thanked the Members and Officers for their

    kind words.

    •  The Chair wished to remind the Members of the Chairs Charitable

    evening to be held at the Breeze Hill Hotel, Benllech on the 27th March,

    2015 at 7.00 p.m.  He noted that the entertainment will be provided by Ynys

    Môn Young Farmers and the proceeds will be towards the Anglesey Marie

    Curie Nurses and Samaritans.

    •  Congratulations were extended to Miss Enid Williams, Principal Youth

   Officer on her appointment as President of the Anglesey Show for 2015/16.

    •  Condolences are extended to Mr. Evan Jones, Highways Department on

    the loss of his wife Mrs. Elizabeth Jones.  Mrs. Jones was a former

    Administrative Officer at Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch and a former

    Clerk of the Llannerch-y-medd Community Council.  She was also active in

    supporting Eisteddfod Môn.

    •  Condolences were also extended to any Member of the Council or staff

    who had suffered bereavement. 

   Members and Officers stood in silent tribute as a mark of their respect and

   sympathy.

•  The Chief Executive reported that a report on the result of the consultation process in respect of the restructuring of the Senior Leadership Team will be submitted to a special meeting of the full County Council in due course.

To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Declarations of Interest received by :-

Councillors Llinos M. Huws, Carwyn Jones, Bob Parry OBE, Nicola Roberts and Peter S. Rogers in respect of Item 5 during discussion on the proposal to charge for the Breakfast Club at schools. The Members left the meeting during discussion of the matter.

To receive any petition in accordance with Paragraph 4.1.11 of the Constitution.

None received.

(a)       Revenue Budget

To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer.

(b)      Capital Programme

To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer.

(c)   Treasury Management Strategy Statement

To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer.

(ch)  Council Tax Setting

To submit the report of the Interim  Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer. 

(d)      Amendments to the Budget

To submit any amendments to the Budget of which notice has been received under Paragraph 4.3.2.2.11 of the Constitution.

(Note: All of the above papers need to be considered as a single package).

The Portfolio Holder (Finance) presented the Executive’s proposals for the Revenue and Capital budgets 2015/16, Treasury Management Strategy Statement and setting the Council Tax as 5 (a) to (ch) within the Agenda.  He noted that it has been a financial challenge to the Council in preparing the budget for the financial year but he wished to thank the Head of Function (Resources) and his staff for their work in preparing the budget.  He also thanked the Shadow Portfolio Holder, Councillor John Griffith for his attendance at numerous meetings in respect of setting the budget for 2015/16. Numerous seminars and meetings have taken place for Members to have an input to the budget together with a public consultation before Christmas.

He noted that no significant budget reductions in statutory services are proposed.  The social services and education budgets have been safeguarded completely.  The authority received a 3.9% reduction in its Revenue Support Grant for 2015/16 meaning that it was required to identify savings in the region of £4m.  The public consultation exercise on the budget drew responses mainly regarding the increase in Council Tax and the savings proposal in relation to school breakfasts which is included in the efficiencies schedule subject to consultation and scrutiny.  In proposing a 4.5% increase in the Council Tax, the Authority has been mindful of the number of low income families on the Island however the rate of Council Tax on Anglesey remains still one of the lowest in Wales. 

The Shadow Portfolio Holder for Finance also thanked the Officers of the Finance Department for their work in preparing the budget. He was pleased that the he has been involved in the Budget Steering Committee in preparing for the budget.   He raised the following matters of concern to him within the budget :-

•  The proposal to charge for school’s breakfast clubs was of concern due to some families with more than one child. 

•  Risk factors in respect of the revenue budgets i.e. private fostering care, out of county placement for children, therapy for mental health issues;

•  Budgetary cuts within the highway maintenance service of £400k;

•  Increase in parking fees;

•  The Capital Bid for the Smarter Working project will require £1.1m to upgrade the reception area and other departmental building work.  The project is dependent on selling the authorities assets which may not sell as quickly as anticipated;

•  Increase in transportation fees for 16+ students to attend schools;

•  £60k cuts in the bus tender provision with the potential loss of bus service in rural communities;

•  School budgets should be maintained as toilets in some schools are in dire repair;

•  The rewiring of education buildings needs to be addressed.

The Leader of the Council referred to the savings proposal in respect of school’s breakfast clubs and noted that the matter will be subject to consultation with relevant stakeholders.  He anticipated that the matter will be discussed by the Executive at its May meeting.  Members of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

•  To submit the report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

•  To report that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 9^th February, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that :-

·      “Council approve the changes to the Constitution, as contained in Appendix 1 attached to this report;

·      The Head of Profession (Human Resources) be authorised to amend any relevant policies and procedures to reflect the said changes;

·      The Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential amendments to the Constitution to reflect the said changes.”

Reported – that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 9th February, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that :-

•  “Council approve the changes to the Constitution, as contained in Appendix 1 attached to this report;

•  The Head of Profession (Human Resources) be authorised to amend any relevant policies and procedures to reflect the said changes;

•  The Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential amendments to the Constitution to reflect the said changes.”

RESOLVED to endorse the recommendation of the Executive in this respect.

•   To submit the report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

•   To report that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 9th February, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that:-

 • “ The Council approve the reappointment of the independent Members of the Standards Committee for a further term of 4 years, from 17^th December, 2015;

  • The Council delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer to make all consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution, and the Standards Committee’s Constitution, to extend all future appointments to an automatic two terms for all independent Members of the

Standards Committee.”

Reported – that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 9th February, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that :-

•  ‘The Council approve the reappointment of the independent Members of the Standards Committee for a further term of 4 years, from 17th December, 2015;

•  The Council delegates authority to the Monitoring Officer to make all consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution, and the Standards Committee’s Constitution, to extend all future appointments to an automatic two terms for all independent Members of the Standards Committee’.

•  To submit the report by the Head of Housing Services.

•  To report that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 12th January, 2015 had RESOLVED as follows :-

·           “To recommend the Local Housing Strategy and accompanying Action Plan for adoption by the County Council;

·           That the Executive be provided with an annual update on progress on performance against the Action Plan and Strategy.”

Reported – that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 12th January, 2015 had RESOLVED as follows :-

•  ‘To recommend the Local Housing Strategy and accompanying Action Plan for adoption by the County Council;

•  That the Executive be provided with an annual update on progress on performance against the Action Plan and Strategy.’

RESOLVED to endorse the recommendation of the Executive in this respect.

To submit the report of the Chief Public Protection Officer.

Submitted – the report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection in relation to the above.

RESOLVED to endorse the report and adopt the amended policy following the review of the Authority’s Street Trading Policy.

To consider the report of the Interim Head of Democratic Services.

Submitted – the report of the Interim Head of Democratic Services in relation to the above.

RESOLVED to endorse the report and the schedule of Council meetings for 2015/16.

To consider adoption of the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test”.

RESOLVED to adopt the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as define din Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

To submit the report of the Head of Profession – Human Resources.

Reported by the Head of Profession (Human Resources) - That the Localism Act 2011, required English and Welsh Authorities to produce and publish a pay policy statement for each financial year. The Act required Authorities to develop and make public their pay policy on all aspects of Chief Officer Remuneration. In the interests of transparency and accountability, the Council had chosen to take a broader approach and produce a policy statement covering all employee groups, with the exception of school teachers as their remuneration was not within local authority control.

The Council published its first pay policy statement in 2012 and minor amendments to reflect current Council Strategy had been incorporated into this year’s report with amendments which cover the Welsh Government Regulations as noted in 1.2 of the report.

RESOLVED :-

•  To include within the Authority’s Pay Policy statement a clause giving the Council the authority to implement any nationally negotiated pay awards to Chief Officers to which they are contractually entitled.

•  To endorse the Pay Policy Statement for 2015/16 and to the amended 2014/15 Pay Policy statement.

Councillors Jeff Evans and Nicola Roberts wished it to be recorded that they abstained from voting in respect of this item.