Agenda and minutes

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

None to declare.

The Chair extended a warm welcome to the Minister for Local Government and Government Business and her staff to today’s meeting. A welcome was also extended to the Commissioners, the members of the Standards Committee, the Lay members of the Audit Committee and the representatives of the Wales Audit Office and the CSSIW.

The Minister for Local Government and Government Business will address the Council on the future of the Council post May 2013.

At approximately 10:25 the Minister will receive and respond to a short question and answer session from the members of the Council.

The Minister for Local Government and Government Business addressed the Council on the future of the Council post May 2013. The following is the text of the Minister’s address:-

“We are all well aware of the history of the problems which plagued this Council. Problems that were both serious and long-running. They related, in the main, to poor member behaviour and a lack of strategic direction. The situation within the Council was dire and could no longer be tolerated. It demanded vigorous and sustainable action to restore the Council’s standing and its ability to meet the needs of the people of Anglesey.

In 2009, the Auditor General for Wales produced a highly critical inspection report which the Welsh Government could not and did not ignore. As a result, in 2009 a Ministerial Recovery Board was established to help the Council address its problems.

In early 2011, the Recovery Board concluded the Council was unlikely to achieve a sustainable recovery in the foreseeable future. This prompted a special re-inspection by the Auditor General. Again, his findings and recommendations were damning. The concerns and difficulties were played out over many months. My predecessor as Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant, was left with no choice other than to appoint in March 2011, five Commissioners to run the Council on his behalf.

I know it was not an easy decision for him to make. It was totally unprecedented. No other Local Authority in the UK has ever had all of its powers withdrawn. However, it was the right choice given the seriousness of the Council’s problems. Such drastic action was essential in order to protect the future of the Council and most importantly the citizens of Anglesey.

However, that brave decision proved to be a turning point. Since the appointment of the Commissioners, the Council has completely turned itself around and made remarkable progress. It is clear everyone involved in the recovery programme has benefitted greatly from the Commissioners’ oversight and expertise.

In recognition of this, last October the number of Commissioners was reduced from five to three and also their presence in the Council. And most importantly day to day running was handed back to you, the Council.

Since then you have continued to do well. You have demonstrated you have matured as a Council taking considered and appropriate decisions and have the capacity to operate effectively without external control. For instance:

(i)You appointed a new senior leadership team which is progressing well on your transformation programme;

(ii)You became the first Local Authority in North Wales, and only the second in Wales, to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard;

(iii)In March, you approved your budget for 2013-14 in a mature and effective manner; and

(iv)You recently secured highly commended for the Management Consulting Association’s Public Sector Change Management Project of the year.

These are just some of your recent achievements, which are all the more significant for a Council that was so damaged only four short years ago.

As  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.