Agenda and minutes

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

No declaration of interest.

The Chair was extremely pleased to welcome Councillor Dafydd R. Thomas to the County Council following his recent illness. Councillor Thomas wished to thank the Members for their good wishes during his illness and the support his close family have received by family and friends.  He also wished to thank Team Alaw at Ysbyty Gwynedd for their kindness during his illness.

The Chair extended his sympathy to Councillor J. Arwel Roberts on the loss of his mother-in-law recently.

He also extended his sympathy to the family of Ben Calveley who was killed in a road accident near his home in Carmel, Llannerchymedd.  Ben Calveley was related to Councillor Nicola Roberts.

The Chair extended his sympathy to the family of Issac Nash who remains missing following having been sweep to the sea at Aberffraw whilst on holiday on Anglesey.

The Chair sympathised with any member of the Council or staff who had suffered bereavement.  Members and Officers stood as a mark of their respect.

The Vice-Chair congratulated the Chair on the publication of his book ‘Cymru Fawr’ recently.

•  To report that the Audit Committee at its meeting on 23^rd  September, 2014, resolved to recommend that the County Council accepts and approves the Statement of Accounts for 2013-14.

•  To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer, as presented to the Audit Committee on the 23rd September, 2014.

Submitted – the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the finalised Statement of Accounts 2013/2014.

The Chair of the Audit Committee reported that the Audit Committee at its meeting on 23th September, 2014, upon consideration of the Statement of Accounts had resolved to recommend that the County Council accepts and approves the Statement of Accounts for 2013/2014.

The Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer stated that  minor adjustments had been made to Pages 43 and 70.

RESOLVED to confirm acceptance of the 2013/2014 Statement of Accounts.

To submit a report by the Chief Executive. - TO FOLLOW

Submitted – a report by the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive gave a background report on the White Paper on Local Government Reform.    He noted that a Task and Finish Group was established in August 2014 to discuss the implications for Anglesey in the Government’s proposals and having already declared its response to the Williams Commission recommendations on the case for public service reform.   The Group has met on two occasions to date and has scrutinized in detail all the relevant documentation, the presentations made by Senior Officers, together with the emerging views within the region and on a national basis. 

A Seminar was held for all Members of the Council on 18 September, 2014 which provided information regarding the Government White Paper on Local Government Reform and to raise awareness of key issues to be addressed from an Anglesey prospective. 

The Chief Executive gave details of the advantages and disadvantages of becoming an early adopting Authority in respect of a proposal to merge.

Members of the County Council raised the following main issues :-

•  They were not convinced that there would be benefits to mergers and would answer the financial cuts by local authorities across Wales;

•  The views of the residents of the Island should be paramount and consideration should be given to holding a Referendum on the viewpoints of the electorate in respect of the propose merger with a neighbouring authority;

•  Voluntary merger would have huge cost implications;

•  Staff implications;

•  Possible Council Tax increase for the residents of Anglesey due to merger.

The Council consider the recommendations of the report and approved 7.1 to 7.4.

In respect of recommendation whether to enter into a voluntary merger with one or more authorities, a recorded vote was taken under the provisions of 4.1.18.5 of the Constitution. 

The recorded vote was as follows :-

Not to declare an expression of interest in an early adopted or a merged Authority :-

Councillors R.A. Dew, Jeff M. Evans, Ann Griffith, John Griffith, D.R. Hughes, K.P. Hughes, T.Ll. Hughes, T.V. Hughes, Vaughan Hughes, W.I. Hughes, Llinos M. Huws, A.M. Jones, G.O. Jones, H.E. Jones, Raymond Jones, R.Ll. Jones, R. Meirion Jones, R.O. Jones, Alun Mummery, Bob Parry OBE, Dylan Rees, J. Arwel Roberts, Alwyn Rowlands, D.R. Thomas, Ieuan Williams.                                                                                             TOTAL 25

Against the recommendation :-

Councillor P.S. Rogers                                                                   TOTAL 1

Abstentions :                                                                                   NIL

It was RESOLVED

•  To request further information from Welsh Ministers regarding the options available for consideration by this Council, before determining its position on proposals for merger with other Authorities and, in particular, to seek better clarity around the financial incentives to become an early adopter Authority and, to that end, request that the Minister of Public Services be invited to a meeting of the Full Council to discuss these matters at his earliest convenience.

•  That in its response to the series of questions raised in the White Paper on Local Government Reform :-

   • The Council draws attention to its previous  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider adoption of the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act1972, 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 involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

To consider a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.

Submitted and accepted - a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.