Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

No member of the Executive declared an interest.

Councillor Dylan Rees (not a Member of the Executive) declared a personal but not prejudicial interest with regard to item 12 on the agenda.

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 18^th June, 2018.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 18 June, 2018 were presented for the Executive’s confirmation.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on the 18 June, 2018 be approved as correct.

To submit for adoption, the draft minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 11^th June, 2018.

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 11 June, 2018 were presented for adoption by the Executive.

It was resolved that the draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 11 June, 2018 be adopted.

To submit the report of the Chief Executive and the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Communities and Service Improvement).

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement) incorporating the report on the outcome of the statutory consultation on the modernisation of the primary education provision in the Llangefni area relating to Ysgol y Graig and Ysgol Talwrn was presented for the Executive’s consideration. The statutory consultation process was conducted in the period from 1 May, to 18 June, 2018.

The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Culture and Youth reported on the aims and objectives of the Schools’ Modernisation Programme which involves evaluating the future of schools and the effects on stakeholders including children, parents, school staff and governors. He acknowledged that it can be a contentious matter and a challenging task for the Authority and is also an issue that causes concern for parents which is understandable. However, what is under consideration is the future of the Island’s schools for the next 50 years; a schools’ service that is wilting under the pressure of financial cuts; a maintenance backlog, the demands of the curriculum as well as a number of other issues. The Council has to give serious consideration to making the schools’ system more effective so as to create an environment wherein both pupils and teachers can succeed, and also to making it more efficient so that resources are used effectively and all schools get a fair share of the budget. Although Ysgol Talwrn and Ysgol y Graig are under consideration at this meeting they cannot be considered in isolation; the issues affecting the two schools form part of a bigger picture encompassing the Island as a whole and the Education Service within it.

The Portfolio Member highlighted that the Education Service’s budget makes up 40% of the Council’s overall budget with the Education Service facing possible savings of £5.2m over the next 3 years. Education has been protected from the worst of the financial cuts in the past but that situation cannot continue - the schools’ maintenance backlog cost is approximately £16m. Anglesey and other councils are labouring under the financial pressures resulting from the Westminster Government’s continuing austerity agenda. The Authority’s Schools’ Modernisation Programme seeks to improve educational outcomes for children; to improve leadership standards and the quality of teaching and learning and also to ensure there are sector leading schools in each area. The drivers of change remain the same; these are listed in the report and a number of those drivers apply in this particular situation. The Portfolio Member referred to the role of the Elected Member in the schools’ modernisation process requiring of them a duty to their individual communities but also a duty to consider the Island as a whole i.e. the wider corporate responsibilities that extend beyond a single area.

The Assistant Chief Executive referred to the main themes and issues raised by stakeholders at the two schools in responding to the consultation process and the Authority’s response to those matters as set out in detail in section 9 of the report. Those issues can be summarised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services incorporating the Executive’s Forward Work Programme for the period from August, 2018 to March, 2019 was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Head of Democratic Services reported that there were three new items on the updated Forward Work Programme as noted below, and that these constituted the only changes to the Programme presented –

Item 11 – Health and Safety Annual Report to be considered by the Executive at its 17 September, 2018 meeting

Item 23 – 2018/19 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report for Quarter 3 to be considered by the Executive at it 18 February, 2019 meeting.

Item 27 – Corporate Scorecard Quarter 3, 2018/19 to be considered by the Executive at its 25 March, 2019 meeting.

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated Forward Work Programme for the period from August, 2018 to March, 2019 as presented.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer incorporating a summary of the draft final accounts for 2017/18 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor Ieuan Williams drew attention to the fact that he was named in the report, but as the report is a factual account the legal advice is that he was not required to declare an interest.

The Portfolio Member for Finance reported that the audit of the draft final accounts has commenced and that the final audited accounts will be presented to the Audit Committee and to the Full Council in September, 2018.

The Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer confirmed that the audit process may result in minor amendments to the figures contained in the summary of the Financial Statements. The Officer clarified that the Consultancy Costs for Quarter 4 are included as part of the report as they were not reported on in the Revenue Budget Monitoring report as is usual practice.

The Executive noted that the financial outcome for 2017/18 indicates that the continuing austerity programme is having an impact on public spending. The Authority is making every effort to identify savings but reconciling this need with delivering a balanced budget is becoming ever more challenging.

The Executive also noted that although the Council’s General Reserve Fund has reduced at the end of 2017/18 due mainly to meeting the overspend on the revenue budget, the Council does hold money in reserve for such a purpose i.e. as security against unforeseen events or unplanned for expenditure.

It was resolved –

•  To note the draft unaudited main financial statements for 2017/18.

•  To note the position on earmarked reserves and to approve the use of,  or increases to individual reserves as noted in Appendix 4 of the report.

•  To approve the new reserves amounting to £0.513m as shown in Table 3 of the report.

•  To note the school balances position.

•  To note the HRA balances as at 31 March, 2018.

•  To note the Consultancy costs for Quarter 4.

To submit the report of the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy following consultation was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Housing and Supporting Communities reported that the Anti- Poverty Strategy was considered by the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 9th July, 2018; the Scrutiny Committee recommended that the Strategy be approved and that it also becomes an objective for each service within their annual Service Delivery Plan. The Portfolio Member said that he was grateful for the Scrutiny Committee’s input and saw the inclusion of the strategy as an objective in service delivery plans as a point of strength giving added impetus to tackling poverty.

The Head of Housing Services said that the Anti-Poverty Strategy has been through a comprehensive consultation process.

It was resolved –

•  To approve the Anti-Poverty Strategy as presented

•  That each Service includes the Strategy as an objective within the annual Service Delivery Plan.

To submit the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation)/Statutory Director of Social Services.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Governance and Business Process Transformation) and Statutory Director of Social Services on the effectiveness of Social Services during 2017/18 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that the Annual Report had been scrutinised by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 5 July, 2018. She commended the report to the Executive.

The Assistant Chief Executive/Statutory Director of Social Services said that this is the second year wherein the Annual Report has followed the current format which is prescribed by the Code of Practice and is based on six Quality Standards. The report is aimed at a varied audience including elected members, the general public, service users, partners and Care Inspectorate Wales and seeks to promote awareness and accountability for the performance and progress made over the past year in delivering Social Services within the Isle of Anglesey County Council. The Service held a well-attended Service Challenge session on 14 June, 2018 to which partner organisations, third sector organisations, carers, and providers had been invited.

The Officer said with reference to Adults’ Services that the Service has made good progress during the year, in particular the re-modelling of Garreglwyd in Holyhead in order to provide specialist support for older people with dementia, thereby enabling them to remain on Anglesey closer to family and friends. Hafan Cefni, the new Extra Care facility in Llangefni is scheduled to open later in 2018 and will also enable more people to remain within their community as their care and support needs increase. In addition, the service has tendered for new Domiciliary Care arrangements which will improve access and consistency of service. The Social Services’ collaboration with partners has also improved during the year in particular with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Police and Third Sector partners.

Significant progress has been made in improving Children and Families’ Services during the year as acknowledged by Care Inspectorate Wales in its letter of January, 2018. Although a number of elements in the post Inspection Action and Improvement Plan are now in place, the Service continues on its journey of improvement and is due to be re-inspected by CIW later in 2018.

The Officer added that the Social Services’ support to the people of Anglesey is also a corporate responsibility and is not limited to statutory Children and Adults’ Services. The Service has arranged for all Council staff to receive training on Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence which is mandatory on all councils and other public organisations; 75% have received training at the first level which compares well with other local authorities

The Statutory Director of Social Services thanked all those who had contributed to the Social Services’ performance during the year be that by collaboration or by providing support and challenge; those include the Service’s partners and service providers; communities on Anglesey, the staff of Adults’ and Children and Families’ Services and also the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To submit the report of the Chief Executive.

The report of the Chief Executive incorporating a Governance Agreement for the first stage of regional working in relation to the Growth Deal Bid for North Wales was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Chair reported that all partners to the Growth Deal Bid work have adopted a preferred governance model i.e. a regional joint-committee under the working title of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board; the model is now well-established and is on track to present a Bid to Government for initial agreement within 2018. A Governance Agreement (GA1) has been developed for this first stage of the Growth Deal Bid for adoption by all partners to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.

The Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer reported that the Governance Agreement has now been adopted by the other five North Wales local authorities. The four partner colleges are not expected to come to a decision until September following the summer holiday period. It is anticipated that the Governance Agreement will be signed at the end of September or the start of October. The Executive is asked to agree to the GA1 as the Governance model for the development and presentation of the Growth Bid to Government. The creation of a governance mechanism to be able to do this is one of the requirements of Government prior to its considering the Bid. In response to a question by the Executive regarding the engagement of legal specialists to undertake work on the Agreement, the Officer clarified that the Government requires public bodies in Wales to use the National Procurement Service framework to engage specialists such as legal specialists. Legal advisors Pinsent Mason were selected by Flintshire Council as the most appropriate to provide expert independent advice on the development of the GA1.

The Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer confirmed that no decision in relation to future financial contributions other than each partner organisation’s contribution to the development of the GA1, has been made.

It was resolved –

•  To note and welcome the progress on the development of a Growth Deal Bid.

•  To approve the first stage Governance Agreement subject to the Full Council’s approval of the non-Executive arrangements i. e. the arrangements for Scrutiny.

•  That Full Council be presented with the final draft Growth Deal Bid for review and consent in September/October 2018 prior to the stage of reaching Heads of Terms with both Governments.

•  To recommend that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive and the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Leader to finalise the terms of the Governance Agreement substantially in accordance with the draft attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

•  To recommend that Executive arrangements contained within the Governance Agreement be included in the Constitution and that the Council be asked to include the non-Executive arrangements relating to Scrutiny within the Constitution.

To consider adopting 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”.

In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair took the Chair for this and item 12 on the agenda.

It was resolved under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the Public Interest Test presented.

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

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development in relation to the future of the Shire Hall building in Llangefni was presented for the Executive’s consideration. The report set out the three options open to the Executive in deciding on a course of action with regard to the Shire Hall, and it detailed the implications, consequences and risks in connection with each option as well as recommending a way forward in light of those considerations.

Councillor Dylan Rees, a Local Member spoke on the matter as a member of Llangefni Town Council.

It was resolved to authorise Property Services to proceed in accordance with the recommendation of the report.