Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor T Ll Hughes declared a personal interest in respect of Item 3 but following legal advice he was able to take part in the discussion of the item and vote thereon.

To consider adoption of the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from 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”.

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.”

A decision made by the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property Services on 30 August, 2018 and subsequently published on 6 September, 2018 in relation to the recommendation to sell former Ysgol Llaingoch, accepting the highest offer has been called in by Councillors Shaun Redmond, Peter S Rogers, Eric Wyn Jones, Bryan Owen and Aled Morris Jones.

The documentation is attached as follows :-

·      The decision published on 6 September, 2018

·      The Call-in application

A decision made by the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property Services on 30 August, 2018 and subsequently published on 6 September, 2018 in relation to the recommendation to sell former Ysgol Llaingoch; accepting the highest offer has been called in by Councillors Shaun Redmond, Peter S Rogers, Eric Wyn Jones, Bryan Owen and Aled Morris Jones.

Councillor Shaun Redmond, as the Lead Call-in Member explained the reasons for calling-in the decision made by the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property Services which was published on 6 September, 2018.   Councillor Redmond considered that the decision to sell the former Ysgol Llaingoch site to the highest offer has not been considered fully and has not been best value to the Council as the site should have been marketed with planning permission.  Furthermore, he outlined the figures for the similar sites and the potential for the site at the former Ysgol Llaingoch site.

Councillors Eric Jones, Peter Rogers and Bryan Owen spoke as signatories of the call-in

request and expressed that the site value had not been received by accepting the bid for the Ysgol Llaingoch site.  Councillor Rogers said that the potential for the site has not been considered and that it should be remarketed.  The Members also expressed that the playing field has also been lost which was an asset to the children of the Llaingoch area.

The Leader of the Council noted that she was representing the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property who was unable to attend due to prior arrangements.    She gave a detailed response to the questions put forward by the signatories of the Call-In and said that the former Ysgol Llaingoch site was first marketed in August 2017 on the property market website in accordance with the Asset Management Plan of the Council.  She gave details of the offers received for the site and the process for dealing with the valuation of the site through the District Valuer and the Principal Valuer of Council.  The Leader further said that the land on the site does not equate to a playing field in respect of this site. 

The Call-in signatories, the Leader of the Council and Officers were then given an opportunity to summarise.

The Chair said that the Committee had three options in coming to a decision on the call-in as follows :-

•           To reject the call-in.

•           To reject the Portfolio Holder’s decision and refer it to the Executive with a recommendation that it be reconsidered and/or amended.

•           To reject the Portfolio Holder’s decision and to refer the matter with a recommendation to the Full Council.

Councillor Lewis Davies proposed and was seconded that the call-in be rejected.

Councillor Bryan Owen proposed and was seconded, that the matter be referred to the Executive.

Following the voting it was RESOLVED to reject the call-in of the Decision of the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property on 30 August, 2018 and subsequently published on 6 September, 2018 in relation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.