Agenda and minutes

To submit for confirmation, the minutes of the meetings of the County Council held on 27 October, 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 October, 2022 were confirmed as correct.

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

None received.

(a)   To offer a vote of thanks to those former Councillors who retired from the County Council before the election in May 2022.

(b)  To offer a long delayed vote of thanks to Mr Noel Thomas for his service as a former County Councillor.

• A presentation, as a vote of thanks, was given to those former Councillors who retired from the County Council before the election in May 2022 :-

John Griffith, Richard Griffiths, Vaughan Hughes, R Meirion Jones, Richard O Jones and Bob Parry OBE FRAgS

• A presentation, of a long delayed vote of thanks, was given to Mr Noel Thomas for his service as a former County Councillor.

A Member from each political group pad tribute to Mr Thomas and acknowledged the egregious miscarriage of justice which he endured for sixteen years before unequivocally clearing his name.

The Chair made the following announements:-

·           An innovatie project to supply food banks on Anglesey has won a national award recently at the Chartered Housing Assosication award ceremony.  The County Council has led on the project which has seen collaboration between the Anglesey Foodbank, Amlwch Food Bank and Bwyd Da Môn, The Wallich, Care Link and Wild Elements.

·           The Council has won a prestigous awardwith ICE Wales 2022,  for the work on the flood prevention project at Mill Lane, Beaumaris. The ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) Awards are given to the best civil engineering projects in the country.

·           The Council’s ‘Cartrefi Clyd’ venture has won a Children in Care Award at the

‘Children and Young People Now 2022’ awards ceremony.  The Children in Care Award recognises a local authority or care provider which has done the most to improve reults for children or young people who receive care be it in residential care, through fostering or other locations.

·        Even though the campaign of the Wales Football team was a disappointing at the World Cup in Qatar – it was nice to see two from Anglesey representing Wales.  The goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey,from Beaumaris and the goalkeeping coach, Tony Roberts is from Holyhead.

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Condolences were extended to the family of Mr Geoff Murray, former Caretaker of the Council Offices in Llangefni.  Mr Geoff Murray worked for the Council between 1991 and 2016 before retiring.

Condolences were extended to any Member of the Council or Staff who had suffered a bereavement.

Members and Officers stood as silent tribute.

To submit the following Notice of Motion by Councillors Liz Wood, Derek Owen and Aled Morris Jones:-

We request Anglesey County Council to consider all possible avenues to make St David’s Day a bank holiday.  This would allow us to celebrate our Patron St and National Day.

Submitted – the following Notice of Motion by Councillors Liz Wood, Derek Owen and Aled M Jones :-

‘We request Anglesey County Council to consider all possible avenues to make St David’s Day a bank holiday.  This would allow us to celebrate our Patron Saint and National Day’.

Councillor Aled M Jones, in the absence of Councillor Liz Wood, asked that the County Council put pressure on the UK Government that St David’s Day be a bank holiday to allow to celebrate the Patron Saint.   

Councillor Derek Owen seconded the proposal. 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Corporate Business and Customer Experience proposed an amendment to the Notice of Motion that the Council writes to the UK Government following the next general election that St David’s Day be a bank holiday in Wales.  

The Leader of the Council seconded the amendment. 

Councillor Aled M Jones agreed to withdraw his Motion in favour of the amended Motion.

The amended Motion was carried.

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

Submitted – a report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer in relation to the above.

It was RESOLVED:-

In accordance with the collective decision of the Town and Community Councils, to co-opt the following Town/Community Councillors to the Standards Committee with immediate effect –

Councillor Margaret Ann Thomas of Llangefni Town Council and

Councillor Iorwerth Roberts of Bryngwran Community Council

until the next local government elections, or until such time as the appointees are no longer town/community council members; whichever shall occur first.

To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

Submitted – a report by the Director of Social Services in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Members for Social Services, Adults’ and Children’s Services wished to thank the Director of Social Services and the staff of the Social Services Department for their work.  As evidenced in the report, there have been numerous successes achieved within the Service.

However, it was stressed that due to the cost of living crisis there will be added pressure on the Services with more people requiring care and support.

The Director of Social Services reported that the Annual Report is a statutory report and he highlighted the successes within the Social Services Department as was noted within the report.  He specifically referred to the success of the Cartrefi Clyd project which allows for children in care to be cared for within their local communities.  He further said that joint working with the Health Board and the third sector has contributed to the successes within the Services.

Councillor Aled M Jones said that the combine budget within the Adults’ and Children’s Services has increased by 18% over the last 3 years.  He questioned the vision of the Services, in the future as such increases in growth is unsustainable.  The Portfolio Member for Adults’ Services responded that the Council and the Health Board are in continued dialogue to put preventative measures in place to make sure that people are as healthy as possible without having to be admitted to hospital and requiring care packages which can put strain on the Services.  The Portfolio Member for Children’s Services also responded that following grant funding, from Welsh Government, the Cartrefi Clyd project was able to be established here on Ynys Môn.

It was RESOLVED to accept the Annual Director’s report on the effectiveness of Social Services 2021/22.