Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

None 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 28 September 2020.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 28 September, 2020 were presented for the Executive’s approval.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 28 September, 2020 be confirmed as correct.

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 November 2020 to June 2021 was presented for consideration and the following new items were noted:-

·      For the 30 November, 2020 meeting

New Item – Pooled budget for Learning Disabilities

·      For the 14 December, 2020 meeting:-

Item 13 - Council Tax Premium for Second Homes

·      For the 25 January, 2020 meeting:-

Item 17 - Interim Housing Strategy 2020/21

·      For the March 2021 meeting:-

·        Item 19 - Annual Equality Report 2019/20;

·        Item 28 - Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan;

·      For the June 2021 meeting:-

·        Item 36 - Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2020/21;

·        Item 38 - Corporate Scorecard – Quarter 4, 2020/21;

·        Item 39 - Revenue Budget Monitoring Report – Quarter 4, 2020/21;

·        Item 40 - Capital Budget Monitoring Report – Quarter 4, 2020/21;

·        Item 41 - Housing Revenue Account Budget Monitoring Report – Quarter 4, 2020/21.

It was RESOLVED to confirm the Executive’s updated Forward Work Programme for the period November 2020 to June 2021 as presented.

To submit a report by the Head of Profession (HR and Transformation).

 The report of the Head of Profession (Human Resources) and Transformation on the Annual Performance Report 2019/20 was presented to the Executive for consideration. The report which the Authority is statutorily required to produce and publish a review of the following:-

·      the Authority’s progress in delivering against its Annual Delivery Document for 2019/20 as outlined under 3 priority objectives (para 1.3 refers);

·      its overall performance including performance based on national indicators (PAM indicators and local KPIs).

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services highlighted a number of achievements under the 3 key objectives whilst also recognising that there are areas of performance where further improvement can be made.   He noted that there are 3 performance indicators which is highlighted in red within the report.  The Portfolio Holder further referred to a number of notable successes which was noted within the report. In highlighting these and other achievements, the Portfolio Member thanked the Council’s staff without whose dedication and hard work they would not have been possible. Looking forwards, although the Council continues to face challenge and uncertainty in delivering its services, he was nevertheless confident that with the support of its staff and partners it would be able to make further improvements and achieve positive outcomes for the people of Anglesey.

Councillor Aled Morris Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee said that the Scrutiny Committee in considering the Annual Performance Report at its meeting on 20 October, and the Scrutiny Committee was pleased to recommend the Annual Performance Report to the Executive.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Property and Waste referred that the recycling figures showed a decrease recently.  He noted that previously recyclable material was taken out of the black bins but now the whole contents of black bin waste is taken to Parc Adfer for incineration. It was noted that the target of 70% is expected by 2024 and the Island recycling figures is already near the Welsh Government target.

The Executive acknowledged the many successes to which the report is testament which it agreed were due to clear leadership, a committed workforce and an effective performance management, assessment and reporting system.

It was RESOLVED to approve the 2019/20 Performance Report as a reflection of the Authority’s work and should be published by the statutory date at the end of October.

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

The report of the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer was presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services said that the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales – Annual Letter 2019/20 is an annual report on the work undertaken by the Ombudsman over the previous 12 months.  He noted that this a positive report as complaints lodged against the Council has decreased.  Of the 26 complaints lodged with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, he concluded that 25 did not require an investigation by his office and 1 complaint lodged was dealt with by way of an early resolution. 

It was RESOLVED to accept the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’ Annual Letter for 2019/20 and delegates to the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer to write to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales by 30 November, 2020 to confirm the same and to state that the Council will continue to monitor complaints, and thereby provide members with the required information in order to help scrutinise performance.

To submit a joint report by the Interim Director of Social Services and the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Interim Director of Social Services and Head of Housing Services in relation to the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy and the timeframe for implementation was presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Chair and Portfolio Holder for Social Services said that the strategy is to promote people to be able to have a better quality of life.  The Prevention Action is defined as the adoption of approaches which build on the active participation of service users and communities to ensure improved outcomes and contribute significantly to making the best possible use of money and other assets. 

The Principal Development Officer (Housing Services) reported that the Prevention and Early Intervention has an integral role to play in reducing demand upon statutory, frontline provision, thus reducing costs and ensuring that all citizens including some of the most vulnerable receive timely interventions to meet their diverse needs.  The Strategy will focus on an Authority wide approach, as outlined in the Action Plan, and will be implemented in parallel with the Council’s Corporate Plan in achieving the 3 core corporate aims as outlined in the report.  He further reported that there is a need for a corporate approach and ownership of the Prevention Strategy which includes financial and staff time across all the Council’s Departments if the aims of the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy is to be fully achieved.  Financial commitment is to be identified over the forthcoming 18 months to 2 years as needs and priorities become clearer.  The Officer further reported that partnership working is key to the success of this Strategy.

Councillor Aled Morris Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee said that the Scrutiny Committee in considering the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy at its meeting on 20 October, the Scrutiny Committee was pleased to recommend the Strategy to the Executive.

The Chair referred that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee raised concerns as to future financial implications of the Strategy as it will be dependent on the allocation of grants.  The Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer said that the success of the Strategy can reduce substantial costs to the Authority over the coming years with people not having to be dependent on services afforded by the Council. 

It was RESOLVED to approve the Corporate Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy and Action Plan.

To submit a joint report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer and the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

The joint report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer and the Head of Highways, Waste and Property was presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property reported that the Executive on 27 January, 2020 approved an all year round, fortnightly chargeable Green Garden Waste collection service from 1 April, 2021.  He noted that this Authority is the only local authority in North Wales that does not charge for green garden waste collection and the recommendation of Welsh Government is that a charge should be implemented on green waste collection in compliance with the national waste strategy towards zero waste.  The current green bin will be used by the households and the collection service will be 26 times per year with an yearly charge of £35 and an additional charge of £30 for any additional green bin.  The payment will be a yearly payment with households given an option to pay online or over the phone.  An identification sticker will be afforded as part of the Information Pack that households will receive once they have signed up and paid for the service.  He said that there will be no charge on village halls, cemeteries, churches and chapels.  The Portfolio Holder referred to the summary of estimated costs as was shown at 5.4 within the report and the need to employ 2 additional Customer Services Advisors on a temporary basis to administer the process of charging for green garden waste.

Councillor Gwilym O Jones, Chair of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee gave an indepth report on the discussion undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee in considering the charging for the collection of Green Garden Waste Collection at its meeting on 22 October.  He said that the Scrutiny Committee recommended to the Executive that a charge for green garden waste collection be implemented from April 2021.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance said that without charging a fee for green garden waste collection for households we wish to receive this service, it would have resulted in the council tax having to be increased by an additional 1%.

The Chair considered that the ‘frequently asked questions’, as part of the

report at Appendix 2, needs to be published on the Council’s website for residents to view as part of the implementation of the charging of green garden waste collection.

It was RESOLVED to authorise:-

·      The charge of £35 per annum for the first Green Garden Waste wheeled bin collection service and £30 per annum for additional wheeled bins;

·      The additional expenditure budget as set out in paragraph 5.4, with the additional expenditure budget being funded from the income generated by implementing the charge;

·      That the ‘frequently asked questions’, as part of this report at Appendix 2, be published on the Council’s website.