Agenda and minutes

As noted above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in relation to any item of business.

None received.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the following meetings :-

·        Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April, 2017.

·        Minutes of the meeting held on 31 May, 2017.

The minutes of the following meetings were confirmed :-

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April, 2017.

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 31 May, 2017.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing in relation to the above.

The Chair welcomed representatives from the Môn Communities First Ltd., to the meeting.

Submitted – the report of the Head of Housing on the Môn Communities First Delivery 2016/17 and Future Plans post Communities First Funding.

The Portfolio Holder (Housing & Social Services said that the Communities First Programme has three key themes : Prosperous Communities; Learning Communities and Healthy Communities.  The main focus of the delivery in Anglesey was under the Prosperous and Learning themes with a range of activities concentrating on improving skills and moving those furthest away from the labour market back into work.  However, in February 2017 the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children announced that the Communities First Programme would be phased out by March 2018. Welsh Government will be introducing a Legacy Fund from April 2018 to enable some of the Communities First’s most effective projects to continue.   She noted that the Council as the Lead Delivery Board (LDB) has a close association with the Communities First Programme and regular monitoring will need to be undertaken to assure support to Communities First and that the  programme continues to deliver it vision for the future.

The Head of Housing reported that funding of £662,200 was secured for Communities First activities in 2016/17.  This has been fully utilised providing the following range of activities :-

·      Core Employment Support

·      Social Enterprise Support

·      Enterprise Support

·      Financial Inclusion

·      Digital Inclusion

·      Youth Provision

·      Basic Skills Provision

·      Community Vocational Academy

She said that whilst the Communities First Programme will be phased out by March 2018 the Welsh Government will be introducing a Legacy Fund of £6m a year from April 2018; this will operate for a period of 4 years.  The funding will no longer be targeted to geographical clusters but will allow other communities on Anglesey to benefit from the Employment Support Services offered by Môn Communities First.  Môn Communities First has been successful over a number of years in securing additional external funding as shown within Appendix 3 of the report.

The Head of Housing referred to a range of services afforded to the deprived areas of Anglesey and specifically to the first key development of a Youth Pod located at Market Street, Holyhead.  The Pod was set up to support young people with a range of facilities during the evenings and school holidays and is used as a drop-in for community consultation and other events during the day time.

She suggested that it would be advantageous for members of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to visit Môn Communities First at Holyhead to have an insight of the activities afforded by the company.

The Head of Service further said that as the Council is a Lead Delivery Board there is a requirement to submit a detailed plan by 31 May, 2017 to Welsh Government on the Môn Communities First Programme.  There will also be a requirement on the Council to identify alternative models for sustaining the structure for grant funded schemes should Môn CF Ltd., be unable to continue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder (Planning, Public Protection & Economic Development) said that the Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) programme was the Welsh Government’s urban regeneration framework, which formed the basis for allocating £100m of capital funds in the period April 2014 – March 2017.  All local authorities in Wales were invited to submit outline proposals for the VVP grant and Holyhead was successful with a grant allocation of £7.49m in capital funding over three years.  The programme was based on taking needs and opportunity under three themes that reflected Welsh Government policy priorities i.e., Homes, Place and People.  Welsh Government has indicated informally that a new urban regeneration programme is likely to take place, commencing in April 2018, but no formal announcement has yet been made.

The Regeneration Manager said that a VVP Programme Board of Senior Council and Welsh Government Officers was established to oversee and steer the programme as a whole.  Delivery of the programme and its constituent projects took place through three main mechanisms :-

·      Direct delivery by the VVP programme office of project plans and studies, events, PR, evaluation etc.

·      Delivery of capital projects by other Council Officers, using VVP funds allocated through an internal grant process, usually alongside other funds;

·      Delivery of capital projects by other organisations, using VVP funds awarded to them through an external grant process, usually alongside other funds.

He noted that based on the Welsh Government VVP criteria it was clear that Holyhead was the only realistic bid from Anglesey.  The VVP funding was allocated over three years under seven budget headings that were agreed with Welsh Government.  The amount of funding allocated was highlighted within the report.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) said that the VVP Programme has achieved substantial improvements to the town of Holyhead.  She referred to the major project at the Holyhead Market Hall which will enhance facilities within the town.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following main issues :-

·      Questions were raised as to the allocation of VVP funding towards the Modernisation of Schools programme in Holyhead.  The Regeneration Manager responded that circa. £500k of the VVP funding was awarded towards the new Ysgol Cybi at Holyhead which is part of the Modernisation of Schools in the area.  Three primary schools will be accommodated within the new Ysgol Cybi;

·      Questions were raised as to whether other towns on the Island could benefit from possible new urban regeneration programme in the future.  The Regeneration Manager responded that any future bid must be realistic and must comply with awaited Welsh Government criteria.  He noted that other large towns in Wales will also be in competition for such funding.  He further noted that other grant funding is available from other sources such as the NDA and Lottery for projects on the Island;

·      Questions were raised as to comments made within the report that the criteria and evidence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a reprot by the Interim Scrutiny Manager in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Interim Scrutiny Manager in respect of the above.

The Interim Scrutiny Manager referred to the Panels and Boards which require elected Scrutiny Members representation.  The terms of reference of each Panels and Boards was attached to the report.

It was RESOLVED to appoint the following members on each Panel and Boards :-

·      Children’s Services Improvement Panel – Councillor G.O. Jones

·      Finance Scrutiny Panel – Councillors Dafydd Roberts and Robin Williams

·      School Progress Review Panel – Councillors Vaughan Hughes, Eric Jones, G.O. Jones and Margaret M. Roberts

·      Partnerships, Communities & Service Improvement Transformation Programme Board – Councillor G.O. Jones    Deputy Member – Councillor R.Ll. Jones

·      Schools Modernisation Programme Board – Councillor Robin Williams

·      Customer Service Excellence Programme Board – Councillor Glyn Haynes

·      Corporate Parenting Panel – Councillor Margaret M. Roberts

ACTION : As noted above.

To submit the Committee’s Work Programme.

Submitted- the report of the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme to May, 2018.

It was RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to May 2018.

ACTION : None