Agenda and minutes

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

•  12th December, 2016 (Extraordinary)

•  15th December, 2016

•  2nd February, 2017 (Extraordinary)

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

·           12 December, 2016 (Extraordinary)

·           15 December, 2016

·           2 February, 2017 (Extraordinary)

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

The Strategic Leadership Team together with the Heads of Function for Resources and for Council Business declared an interest in Item 10 – Pay Policy Statement 2017 and were not present at the meeting during any discussion or voting thereon.

Councillor Peter Rogers declared a personal interest in Item 6 – Budget 2017/18.

The Chair made the following announcements :-

·           Congratulations were extended to Councillor Jeffrey M. Evans on the completion of his charitable bike ride to Italy.

·           Congratulations were extended to Amlwch Town Walking Football Team on winning their first tournament recently in Chester.  Councillor Richard O. Jones the Vice-Chair of the Council is a member of the Team.

·           The Chair extended his best wishes to his fellow Elected Members in the forthcoming Local Government Elections to be held in May.

Condolences were 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.

None received.

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

None received.

a)  Revenue Budget 2017/18

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

(b)  Capital Budget 2017/18

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

(c)  Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2017/18

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

(ch) Council Tax Setting

To submit a report by the Head of Function (Resources)/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 the above papers need to be considered as a single package).

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the Executive’s proposals for the Revenue and Capital budgets 2016/17, Treasury Management Strategy Statement and setting the Council Tax as 6(a) to (ch) within the Agenda.  He wished to thank the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer and his staff for their work in preparing the budget.  He also thanked the Corporate Scrutiny Committee for their work and to all the Elected Members who had attended numerous seminars and meetings which have taken place with regard to the budget.

He said that during the consultation process with regard to the budget it has been possible to bring the increase to the Council Tax to 2.5% instead of 3% originally proposed; this is one of the smallest increases in Council Tax in Wales.  The level of reserves is £8m is the highest ever, this compares favourably with other local authorities which are much larger.   The positive collaboration between the political groups within the Council over the last 4 years has achieved this favourable budget before the Council at today’s meeting. 

The Leader of the Opposition Group, Councillor Llinos M. Huws also wished to thank the Officers of the Finance Department for their work in preparing the budget.  As the Young Peoples Champion she wished to thank the Council for allowing the Llais Ni Forum of young people to be able to contribute and express opinion during the budget consultation process.

Members of the County Council wished to thank the Portfolio Holder for Finance for his leadership with regard to the budget and for his work over the last 4 years. 

Following consideration of the papers as a single package it was RESOLVED :-

·      To accept the budget proposals and Treasury Management Strategy as presented for 2017/18;

·      To accept the draft Council Tax Resolution as (ch) in the Agenda :-

1. RESOLVED

(a)     Pursuant to the recommendations of the Executive, to adopt the Medium Term Financial Plan at Section 13 Medium Term Financial Plan and 2017/18 Budget at Section 10, as a Budget Strategy within the meaning given by the Constitution, and to affirm that it becomes part of the budget framework with the exception of figures described as current.

(b)     Pursuant to the recommendations of the Executive, to adopt a revenue budget for 2017/18 as shown at Appendix 4 Medium Term Financial Plan and 2017/18 Budget.

(c)   Pursuant to the recommendations of the Executive, to adopt a capital budget as shown in the Capital Bids 2017/18 report.

(ch) To delegate to the Head of Function (Resources) the power to make adjustments between headings in Appendix 4 Medium Term Financial Plan and 2017/18 Budget in order to give effect to the Council’s decisions.

(d)   To delegate to the Executive Committee, for the financial year 2017/18, the powers to transfer budgets between headings as follows:-

(i)      unlimited powers to spend each budget heading in Appendix 4 Medium Term Financial Plan and 2017/18 Budget against the name of each  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer incorporating a review of the mid-year position in respect of treasury management activity was presented for the Council’s acceptance.

It was RESOLVED to accept the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review Report 2016/17.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer with an amendment to the Council’s Constitution was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Executive Business, Performance, Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources.

The Portfolio Holder for Executive Business, Performance, Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources reported that the Executive at its meeting held on 14 February, 2017 upon consideration of the above had resolved to recommend to the full Council that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make and publish the following amendments to the Council’s Constitution :-

·           That paragraph 2.2.2 shall now read ‘the regular election of Councillors will be held on the date and at the intervals determined by the Welsh Government.  The terms of office of Councillors will start on the fourth day after being elected and will finish on the fourth day after the date of the next regular election’.

·           That paragraph 2.7.3 shall now read ‘The Leader’s term of office will be for the duration of the term of the Council, subject to paragraph 2.7.3.3 below’.

·           Any consequential amendments relevant to 1 and 2 above, including those arising from the Government of Wales Bill, or the exercise of powers under the Local Government Act 2000.

It was RESOLVED to authorise the Monitoring Officer to make and publish the amendments to the Council’s Constitution as noted above.

To submit a report by the Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Head of Adult’s Services was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Social Services.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Social Services reported that the Executive at its meeting held on 14 February, 2017 upon consideration of the above had resolved to recommend to the full Council as follows :-

·           ‘That the report be approved;

·           To amend Section 3.2 of the Constitution to include the approval of a Population Needs Assessment under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act (2014) as a function which can only be exercised by the full Council;

·           To authorise the Council’s Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to the matters reserved as functions which require full Council approval under the Constitution, and any other consequential amendments, to reflect the approval of the same.”

It was RESOLVED to approve the report and the recommendations as noted above.

To submit the report of the Head of Profession.

The report of the Head of Profession – Human Resources was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Executive Business, Performance, Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder for Executive Business, Performance, Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources said that the Localism Act 2011 requires authorities to develop and make public their pay policy on all aspects of Chief Officer Remuneration. 

He wished to thank the Head of Profession – Human Resources and her staff together with staff from the Finance Department for their work in the completion of the job evaluation process within the authority.

It was RESOLVED to endorse the Pay Policy Statement 2017/18.

To submit the Schedule of Council Meetings for 2017/18 by the Head of Democratic Services.

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

It was RESOLVED to approve the Schedule of Council Meetings for 2017/18.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

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

It was RESOLVED to adopt the Induction Training Plan as a framework for Member Development following the Local Government Elections in May 2017 and to authorise the Head of Democratic Services to make any further modifications as deemed necessary.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services was presented to the Council as a result of the resignation been received from Councillor D.R. Hughes as a Member of the County Council.  There is now a requirement to review the political balance arrangements on the Councils Committees.

It was RESOLVED :-

·           To confirm the political balance arrangements and the number of seats allocated to each of the Groups under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as set out in the matrix attached to the report;

·           That the Leader provides details to the Head of Democratic Services in relation to the Independent Group Members serving on various Committees as a result of this review.

Councillor Aled M. Jones abstained from voting in respect of this item.

To submit a report by the Head of Corporate Transformation.

The report of the Head of Corporate Transformation was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Executive Business, Performance, Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources in relation to the above.  He said that the legislation for the future of generations and Wellbeing Act 2016 requires the Council to adopt and publish the aims and objectives for local wellbeing by 31 March, 2017.

It was RESOLVED to adopt and publish the aims and objectives for local wellbeing by 31 March, 2017.