Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Councillor Alwyn Rowlands declared a prejudicial interest with regard to Item 16 and left the meeting during discussion and voting thereon.

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

None reported.

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

•  17th October, 2016

•  7thNovember, 2016 (Budget)

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 17^th October, 2016 and 7^th November, 2016 (Budget) were presented for the Executive’s approval.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on the following dates be confirmed as correct:-

•  17th October, 2016

•  7th November, 2016 (Budget)

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 December 2016 to July 2017 was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Head of Democratic Services highlighted the changes to the Forward Work Programme as follows :-

Items new to the Forward Work Programme

·           Item 3 – Schools Modernisation – Llangefni area scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 19 December, 2016 meeting;

·           Item 6 – Improvement works to the highway between A55 J3 and Wylfa Newydd along the A5 and A5025 scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 19 December, 2016 meeting;

·           Item 8 – Report on the statutory consultation on lowering the admission age for Ysgol Brynsiencyn scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 23 January, 2017 meeting;

·           Item 9 – Schools Modernisation – Holyhead and Llanfaethlu scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 23 January, 2017 meeting;

·           Item 30 – CSSIW Inspection of Children’s Services in Anglesey scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 20 March, 2017 meeting;

·           Item 31 – Transformation of the Culture Service – Heritage assets scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 20 March, 2017 meeting.

Items rescheduled for consideration

·           Item 23 – Full Business Case for New School at Bro Rhosyr/Bro Aberffraw rescheduled to be considered by the Executive from the 23 January, 2017 to the 13 February, 2017 meeting;

·           Item 25 – Transformation of the Youth Service rescheduled to be considered by the Executive from the 28 November, 2016 to the 13 February 2017 meeting.

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated Work Programme for the period from December, 2016 to July, 2017.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer was presented in respect of the calculation for setting out the Council Tax Base for the whole of and parts of the area for the year 2017/18.

RESOLVED to approve :-

·           the calculation of the Council Tax Base by the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer, will be used by the Welsh Government in the calculation of the Revenue Support Grant for the Isle of Anglesey County Council for 2017/18 financial year, being 30,735.70;

·           the calculation by the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer for the purpose of setting the Council Tax Base for the whole and parts of the area for the year 2017/18 is approved;

·           That, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base)(Wales) Regulations 1995 (SI19956/2561) as amended by SI1999/2935 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) and Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, and the Local Authority (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, the amounts calculated by Isle of Anglesey County Council as its tax base for the year 2017/18 shall be 30,794.83 and as listed within the report for those individual Town/Community area.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer was presented in respect of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017/18 which is consistent with schemes approved annually by the full Council with regard to the Council Tax Reduction which has been in force since the financial year 2014/15.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council :-

·           That its current local Council Tax Reduction Scheme should not be revised or replaced with another scheme;

·           To formally adopt the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the financial year 2017/18;

·           That it provides authority to the Head of Function (Resources)/ Section 151 Officer to make administrative arrangements so that all annual changes for uprating the financial figures or technical revisions in any amending regulation or regulations are reflected in the Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme and for each subsequent year.

To submit a report by the Head of Corporate Transformation.

The report of the Head of Corporate Transformation was presented in relation to the current end of quarter 2.

The Portfolio Holder (Executive Business, Performance Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources) stated that sickness levels have seen a slight improvement in quarter 2.  He stated that continued monitoring of sickness levels will be undertaken by the Senior Leadership Team.

It was RESOLVED to note the areas which the Senior Leadership Team is managing to secure improvements into the future as per section 1.3 of the report along with the mitigation measures as outlined.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer setting out the financial performance of the Council’s services for the second quarter of the financial year, which relates to the period 1 April, 2016 to 30 September, 2016. 

The Portfolio Holder (Finance) referred to the projected financial performance by service within the report which highlighted the predicted overspend and underspend within services of the Council.  The total revenue forecast for 2016/17 is an overspend of £600k.  The Children’s Services overspend is projected to be £683k.  The overspend is caused by pressure on the service due to an increase in the number of children with complex needs which are in care. 

It was RESOLVED :-

·           To note the position set out in respect of financial performance to date;

·           To authorise the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer to capitalise equal pay costs if Welsh Government approves a capitalisation directive for equal pay.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer setting out the financial performance of the capital budget for the second quarter of the financial year was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

It was RESOLVED to note the progress of expenditure and receipts against the capital budget.

To submit a joint report by the Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer and the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The joint report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer and the Head of Regulation and Economic Development was presented with regard to the above.

The Portfolio Holder (Planning, Public Protection and Economic Development) reported that as the report proposes to amend the Scheme of Delegation, which is part of the Constitution, then this report must be considered by the Executive before a final decision is made by the full Council.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council :-

·           To adopt the powers listed within enclosure 1 of the report;

·           To amend the Scheme of Delegation in the Constitution to delegate the exercise of the said powers to the Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development);

·           To authorise the Council’s Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to the Scheme of Delegation, and any consequential amendments, to reflect the adoption and delegation of the said powers.

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

The report of the Head of Service (Economic & Community Regeneration) was presented to the Executive for consideration with regard to the Regional North Wales Economic Ambition Board – Growth Track 360.

The Leader of the Council highlighted details and costing of prioritised infrastructure improvements to the railway network within the report.  He expressed his disappointment that the electrification of the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead has not been included in the table of prioritised infrastructure improvements.

Members of the Executive referred to the Chancellor of the Exchequers Autumn Statement which referred to substantial investment over the next 5 years within the infrastructure sector.  It was suggested that discussions need to be undertaken again in the North Wales Ambition Board with regard to the electrification of the railway from Crew to Holyhead.  Members of the Executive further said that priority needs to be given to improvements to the A55 road network. 

It was RESOLVED :-

·           To adopt the Growth Track 360 as the Councils Rail Improvement Programme;

·           To write to the UK Government Secretaries of State for the Wales Office and Transport (DfT) giving the County Council’s support for Growth Track 360;

·           To write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer with copies to the DfT and the Wales Office seeking £130m to be provided for implementing the Growth Track 360 Short Term Programme in the 2016 Autumn Statement and 2017 Budget;

·           To write to the Welsh Government Minister for Economy and Transport regarding the Growth Track 360 proposed Service Pattern for North Wales to be specified in the new Wales and Border Franchise.

To submit a report by the Head of Learning.

The update report of the Head of Learning with regard to the transformation plan for the Library Service was presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Portfolio Holder (Education) stated that extensive public consultation has taken place since October 2015 to discuss options that have been identified for the future of the library service on the Island.  The timetable for the completion of the review of the service has slipped further due to various communities expressing that the timetable was not realistic.

The Head of Learning said that work is continuing on the Library Service Strategy, modelling and costing of options, taking into account the findings of the public consultation and discussions with interest parties.  The 5 Towns Group (Town Councils) has commissioned a formal study through Menter Môn to look at the practicalities of providing library service in partnership with the local communities.  Mapping and costing of options has been ongoing in order to see the impact on the Authority’s standards together with an assessment of any impact on the residents of Anglesey.  An opportunity has arisen to procure a new mobile library service which may transform the Mobile Library Service and Housebound Service by reviewing the schedule and routes of the service.

It was RESOLVED :-

·           To continue to discussion on ways of working with others to offer a focussed and sustainable service including a volunteer contribution model for added value activities;

·           To consult on the Draft Strategy in May 2017 following the local election;

·           To report on the Draft Strategy, in light of the public consultation findings, and that a final decision on the strategic direction be agreed at the Executive in October 2017;

To submit a report by the Head of Learning.

The report of the Head of Learning was presented to the Executive for consideration with regard to the transformation of the Culture Service.

The Head of Learning said that the Library, Culture and Youth Transformation Board agreed in January 2016 to invite formal applications with business proposals from interested parties in running Melin Llynnon and Tai Crynion/Round Houses site, Beaumaris Gaol and Court.  It was also decided to commission a report on how to maximise the Oriel Ynys Môn’s income and not to include the Oriel in the outsourcing process.   Applications were invited through Sell2wales facility in April 2016 asking interested parties to present business proposals.  The Transformation Board decided to reopen the process again in September 2016 and interested parties have submitted proposals for the Beaumaris Gaol and Court and the Melin Llynnon site.  The newly appointed Business Manager at Oriel Ynys Môn will lead on a three year business plan which will focus on maximising income and strengthening the cultural aspects of the Oriel.  The Head of Learning further referred to a formal notice of 12 months given to Trinity House with regard to bringing the South Stack lease to an end in March 2017.    She noted that a report on the Culture Service will be presented to the Executive in March 2017 with regard to the transformation of the service.

It was RESOLVED to accept the report on the progress to date.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services was presented to the Executive for consideration with regard to the adoption of a new Anti-Social Behaviour Policy for 2016. 

It was RESOLVED to adopt the new Anti-Social Behaviour Policy 2016.

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act1972, 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 defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test”.

It was 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 defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services was presented to the Executive for consideration in relation to the above.

It was RESOLVED to accept the recommendations as set out in the report.