Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair referred with sadness to the bereavement suffered by the Council Leader and Chair, Councillor Ieuan Williams over the weekend in the loss of his mother. The Executive’s Members sent their condolences to Councillor Ieuan Williams in his and his family’s bereavement. The Members and Officers present stood in silence as a mark of respect and sympathy.

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

No declaration of interest was received.

No urgent matters at the time of dispatch of this agenda.

None reported.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 20^th June, 2016.

The draft minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 20th June, 2016 were presented for the Executive’s approval.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 20th June, 2016 be confirmed as correct.

To submit for adoption, the draft minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 6^th June, 2016.

The draft minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 6th June, 2016 were presented for adoption by the Executive.

It was resolved that the draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 6th June, 2016 be approved for adoption.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services incorporating the Executive’s Forward Work Programme for the period from September, 2016 to April, 2017 was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Head of Democratic Services reported as follows –

•           That an extraordinary meeting of the Executive would be held on 25th July, 2016 to consider the outcome of the latest consultation on gypsy and traveller sites on Anglesey along with a Social Services report on the Families Team and the provision of care in relation thereto.

•           That items 10 (Wylfa  Newydd Construction Worker Accommodation Position Statement)  scheduled for consideration on 19 September, 2016 and  item 29 by Social Services (Social Services and Well-being Act Needs Assessment) scheduled for consideration on 13 February, 2017 are new to the Work Programme.

•           That an item regarding the Welsh Church Acts Fund which was scheduled to have been considered at today’s meeting will be re-scheduled to a date to be confirmed.

•           That item 17 on the Work Programme (Transformation of the Culture Service) has been re-scheduled for consideration on 28 November, 2016.

•           That item 20 on the Work Programme (Full Business Case for a new School at Bro Rhosyr/Bro Aberffraw) has been re-scheduled for consideration on 23 January, 2017.

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated Work Programme for the period from September, 2016 to April, 2017 as presented.

To submit a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation).

The draft Annual Report of the Statutory Director for Social Services for 2015/16 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Social Services reported that this would be the final annual report in its current format and that it provides a profile of Social Services encompassing Adults and Children’s Services for 2015/16 including performance and progress over the course of the year in delivering social services. The report also outlines the focus for improvement for the forthcoming year. The report has been subject to scrutiny and will be presented to the Council for approval in September. The Portfolio Member said that the report contains a number of positives including complimentary comments about the services received as well as some complaints which will receive careful attention. How Social Services continue to move forwards is a key element and to this end, significant investment has been made in the services and in staff in terms of recruitment as well as workforce training especially with regard to Children’s services. A Panel of Members has been established to understand the impact of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 across the range of services. Adults’ Services are undergoing restructuring with a view to ensuring that services are effective within communities and the project for the provision of extra care in Llangefni is underway.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) and designated Director of Social Services reported that the annual report reviews the effectiveness of social services over the year in responding  to challenges whilst also defining the objectives for the year to come. The report looks back and takes stock of how well Social Services have responded to the areas identified for improvement by the CSSIW in its Annual Performance Report for 2014/15 as well as matters noted in the Council’s previous annual report. One of the areas so highlighted was Children’s services where the improvement was fragile. Consequently, Children’s services have been prioritised and an Improvement Programme established along with a cross-party Elected Member Panel to oversee progress against the improvement agenda whilst also improving Members’ understanding of the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. Substantial investment has been made in Children’s Services to ensure both the delivery of statutory services and compliance with statutory requirements. Adults’ Services have faced their own challenges not least the pressure of demand in the context of a changing demography where the number of older people is increasing; whilst a number of exciting new initiatives are being developed, the need to maintain momentum and to continue to update and modernise remains. Essential to this endeavour is the continuation and development of joint working arrangements and collaboration at service and local authority level as well as with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other partners.

The Head of Service (Adults’ Services) reported from the perspective of the delivery of adult social care including the range and nature of the services and support provided; the achievements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the Local Housing Market Assessment for Anglesey, 2016 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Social Services reported that the Welsh Government requires that all local authorities produce a Local Housing Market Assessment (LHMA) to be updated every two years. The assessment provides a detailed analysis of the local housing environment including an assessment of housing need and helps inform the Council’s housing development programme including the element of affordable housing required and is especially important in the context of planning for the proposed Wylfa Newydd nuclear build.

The Housing Strategy and Development Manager elaborated on the main findings of the LHMA under the five themes listed in section 2 of the report and what they mean for the housing and planning policy departments in terms of providing evidence to act on in identifying housing priorities and developing planning guidance and affordable housing programmes.  The Officer said that the assessment which was commissioned from HDH Planning and Development Ltd. in association with AMEC and Aecom who also produced the 2013 assessment, confirms the continuation of many of the trends found in the previous assessment. The information on housing need will be used to help plan the Council’s Housing development programme.

It was resolved to approve the Local Housing Market Assessment for Anglesey for submission to the Welsh Government and to be used as a significant source of baseline evidence for housing requirements on the Island.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development incorporating a new Destination Management Plan (DMP) for the Island for 2016-2020 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Planning and Economic Development reported that the Destination Management approach enables the public sector, the Island’s tourism and non-tourism businesses, non-profit organisations and the community to collaborate to achieve common objectives. The Welsh Government/Visit Wales continue to adopt the principle of destination management planning and the establishment of destination partnerships to deliver. This has been supported by financial resources as the sector is of critical importance to economic development in Wales. As a result of the effective local collaborative approach, considerable private sector engagement and effort, and the Welsh Government’ policy, not reviewing and adopting a new Destination Management Plan is not an option.

The Senior Development Officer (Tourism and Marketing) said that the plan has been presented in partnership with tourism businesses in the private sector. The current plan has been reviewed in the context of diminishing resources for the Council and the new plan is believed to be a realistic plan going forwards to 2020.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Social Services said that the partnership between the Council and the private sector is to be welcomed. The future needs to be viewed positively whilst at the same time acknowledging the challenge of supporting the tourism sector through the Wylfa Newydd building phase.

It was resolved to approve a new Destination Management Plan (DMP) for the Island from 2016 to 2020.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development in respect of the position with regard to EU funded capital projects from 2014 to 2020 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Planning and Economic Development reported that the outcome of the EU referendum has created an environment of enhanced uncertainty with limited clarity on the nature, timing and outcome of negotiations to exit the EU. The political and funding landscape is now completely different and it is almost impossible to accurately predict what the implications of the referendum will be because of the uncertainty. Nevertheless the key messages from the Welsh Government in relation to EU structure funds are that they remain open for business; maintaining focus on implementing current programmes; are continuing to approve projects and encouraging potential project sponsors to continue with their project development. As a result, the pre-referendum recommendations as outlined in the report remain valid and are commended to the Executive.

The Economic Development Manager said that the financial climate for local government is challenging meaning that external funding is increasingly important in order to progress corporate objectives. The Regulation and Economic Development Service has been working hard on project development over the course of the past 18 months, developing project proposals and robust business plans to secure external funding support for the purpose of promoting economic development and to help create prosperous communities. The update report as at Annex A reviews the current landscape as regards EU funded capital projects in the period 2014 to 2020 as well as providing a project development update.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Social Services said that the authority needs to maximise EU funding opportunities whilst they still exist.

The Portfolio Member for Finance said that although there are concerns regarding EU project funding as a consequence of withdrawing from the EU, the Welsh Government has sought assurance from the UK Government that Wales will not lose out financially and that EU funding will be replaced in an increased settlement to the Welsh Government under the Barnett formula. It is important that Anglesey as a recipient of EU funding is not disadvantaged as a result and  there is a case for asking the  WLGA to  look at the formula whereby funding is allocated to the regions.

It was resolved: -

•           To support the development and delivery of the portfolio of capital projects targeting European funding.

•           That the authority to accept offers of grant funding from the Welsh Government and other sources for the projects outlined in Table 1 of Annex A to the report, is delegated to the Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) in consultation with the Section 151 Officer.

•           To support the inclusion of the EU Tourism Attractor Destination and the Building for the Future sub-projects in the Council’s 2016-20 capital programme, and to approve a contribution of £80k towards the match funding of the Holy Island Visitor Gateway project.

•           That the Head of Service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To submit a joint report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development and the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development in relation to the proposed transfer of Holyhead Park to Holyhead Town Council was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Planning and Economic Development summarised the background to the proposal and reported on the reasons for the proposed transfer of Holyhead Park to Holyhead Town Council, and the process undertaken as outlined in the report.

The Commercial Leisure Manager said that the property has been in the Council’s ownership since 1917 when it was gifted to Holyhead Urban District Council (as succeeded by the Isle of Anglesey County Council) under the terms of the Recreation Ground Act 1859. The legal advice is that the park be held in trust; the property has been independently valued by the District Valuer, but as a trust; any income derived from the sale/transfer of this property must be retained for the purpose of the trust object and therefore would be transferred with the asset. The Officer referred to the expressions of interest received and the reasons why Holyhead Town Council outscored the other organisation.

It was resolved to approve the transfer of Holyhead Park to Holyhead Town Council for nil consideration for the reasons set out in the written report.