Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from a 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 to report.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 20^th March, 2017.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 20 March, 2017 were presented for confirmation.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 20 March, 2017 be confirmed as correct.

To submit for adoption, the draft minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on the 6^th March, 2017.

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 6th March, 2017 were presented for adoption.

It was resolved that the draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 6th March, 2017 be adopted.

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 May to December, 2017 was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Head of Democratic Services reported on changes to the Forward Work Programme since the previous reporting period as follows –

•           Items new to the Forward Work Programme

•           Item 10 (Gypsies & Traveller Sites), item 11 (Syrian Refugees) and item 12 (Waiving of Tendering Requirements for the Care & Support Provision Contract) which are scheduled for consideration at the 12th June, 2017 meeting of the Executive.

•           Item 17 (Vacant Homes Strategy) and item 18 (Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services 2016/17) which are scheduled for consideration at the 17th July, 2017 meeting of the Executive

•           Item 24 (Proposed Changes to the Contract Procedure Rules) and item 25 (CSSIW Inspection of Children’s Services on Anglesey Improvement Plan) which are scheduled for consideration at the 18 September, 2017 meeting of the Executive

•           Items deferred to a later date

•           Item 9 (Energy Efficiency Strategy) has been re-scheduled from the 24 April, 2017 meeting of the Executive to the 12 June, 2017 meeting.

•           Item 15 (Schools’ Modernisation – Strategic Outline Programme Band B 2019-24) has been re-scheduled from the 12 June, 2017 meeting of the Executive to the 17 July, 2017 meeting.

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated Forward Work Programme for the period from May to December, 2017 as presented.

To submit a report by the Head of Learning.

The report of the Head of Learning summarising the outcome of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and incorporating a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Action Plan for 2017 to 2022 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Education reported on the legislative requirements on local authorities in Wales with regard to sufficient childcare availability. Under Section 26 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are required to complete a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan every 5 years. Annual progress reports will be required to detail the progress which has been made against the actions, priorities and milestones in the action plan.

The Head of Learning reported on the key messages arising from the first full assessment of the sufficiency of childcare on Anglesey since the revised guidance was issued in July, 2016. The assessment confirms that the Isle of Anglesey generally has a wide variety of childcare in various locations across the county. The main towns all have sufficient childcare availability for children 0-4 years old in day nursery and childminder provision. All the county’s primary schools offer a childcare club from 8:00 a.m. followed by a free breakfast club from 8:25 a.m. Childcare providers are supported through a variety of means.

The Officer said that the assessment has also highlighted some gaps in provision which are described in the report. An Action Plan has been formulated to address the identified gaps and the proposed measures to be implemented are listed.

The Chair said that a lack of Welsh speaking childminders across the county was a concern. He said that he had seen the closure of the Cylch Meithrin in Benllech and added that he understood the leaders of the Cylch Meithrin in Moelfre were retiring which made him anxious for the future of Cylch Meithrin provision in that area as well. The Chair said that he had as Leader contacted the Chief Executive of Mudiad Meithrin and the Area Officer with regard to reforming the organisation’s governance arrangements – he suggested it might be helpful if the Mudiad was to consider establishing a Pwyllgor Meithrin in the secondary schools’ catchment areas. He asked the Chief Executive and Head of Learning to follow up this matter with Mudiad Meithrin. The Chair also requested that the Executive be provided with an update report within six months on progress against the action plan with regard to bridging the gaps in provision; he highlighted the absence of registered after school or holiday provision in Llangefni as a standout matter and he considered that putting in place some form of provision for the town’s primary school population of 547 pupils needs to be expedited.

It was resolved to accept the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan for publication and to be presented to the Welsh Government by 30th April, 2017.

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

The report of the Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) and the Head of Function (Council Business) was presented for the Executive’s consideration. The report set out the changes that need to be made to the Council’s Constitution in order to reflect the requirements of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 and the Size and Composition of Local Planning Authority Committees (Wales) Regulations 2017 (“the Regulations”). The Regulations came into effect on 5 May, 2017 and place requirements on the Council as a Local Planning Authority with regard to the size and composition of Local Authority Planning Committees as well as in relation to substitute members and the quorum of the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Planning, Public Protection and Economic Development reported that the Planning Committee of the Isle of Anglesey County Council already complies with most of the Regulations; the changes that need to be made to the Constitution in order to implement the requirements of the Regulations are set out in paragraph 3.3.1 of the report and they relate to provisions with regard to the quorum of the Committee and not allowing substitute members.

It was resolved to recommend to the Full Council that the changes to the Council’s Constitution as set out in paragraph 3.3.1 of the report are made.

As this was the last meeting of the Executive before the Local Government Election on 4th May, 2017, Councillor H. Eifion Jones and Councillor Alwyn Rowlands who were both retiring as Elected Members thanked the Chair for his leadership of the Council during the past five years which they considered has placed the Council on a sound footing for the future. Councillor Jones and Councillor Rowlands also thanked the Officers for their support and guidance and said that they had enjoyed working with their fellow Members for the benefit of the Council. They wished the Council and its staff continuing success for the future.

The Chair in turn thanked Councillor H. Eifion Jones and Alwyn Rowlands for their work as Members and as Portfolio Holders over the course of this Council. He also acknowledged the contributions made by all the Elected Members as well as the work of the Officers during this time, and in particular the support provided to the Executive and Administration by the staff of the Democratic Services.