Agenda and minutes

To submit for confirmation, the minutes of the meetings of the County Council held on the following dates:-

7^th April, 2015 (Extraordinary)

14^th May, 2015 (10.30am)

14^th May, 2015 (2.00pm)

3^rd September, 2015 (Extraordinary)

The minutes of the meetings of the Isle of Anglesey County Council held on the dates noted below were presented and confirmed as correct :-

•  7th April, 2015 (Extraordinary)

•  14th May, 2015 (10.30 a.m.)

•  14th May, 2015 (2.00 p.m.)

•  3rd September, 2015 (Extraordinary)

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

The following Members declared personal interest in Item 9 – Provision of Free Breakfast Clubs in Primary Schools. A collective application for dispensation for Members of the County Council was submitted to a Dispensation Panel of the Standards Committee on 24th September, 2015.  Dispensation was granted to enable such Members to speak and vote, provided the issue relates to all/several schools :-

Councillors Jeff M. Evans, K.P. Hughes, Llinos M. Huws, Carwyn Jones, Bob Parry OBE, Nicola Roberts, Peter Rogers.

Councillor Dafydd R. Thomas declared a personal interest in respect of Item 10.

Councillor K.P. Hughes a personal interest in respect of Item 12.

Councillor G.O. Jones declared a prejudicial interest in respect of Item 12 and left the meeting during discussion of the item.

The Chief Executive declared a personal interest in respect of Items 12 and 14 and left the meeting during discussion of these items.

The Chair made the following announcements :-

•  This will be the last meeting of the County Council for Mr. Richard Micklewright, Interim Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer. The Chair thanked Mr. Micklewright for his services to the authority over the last 17 months.  On behalf of the Authority he extended his best wishes to Mr. Micklewright for the future. The Chief Executive and Councillor H. Eifion Jones (Portfolio Holder – Finance) also expressed their best wishes to Mr. Micklewright for services to the County Council.

Mr. Micklewright thanked the Chair of the Council, Chief Executive, Portfolio Holder (Finance) and all Members of the Council for their kind words.

•  Congratulations were extended to Councillor Raymond Jones on his recent marriage.

•  The County Council wished to congratulate the Chair of the Standards Committee, Mr. Michael Wilson on his selection to design and create the Eisteddfod Paradwys a’r Fro Chair to be held on 21st May, 2016.

•  Congratulations was extended to Ms. Emma Knowles ,who is originally from Penysarn, Amlwch, on winning the prestigious 2015 Sir Kyffin Williams Drawing Prize.  Ms. Knowles was presented with her prize at a special ceremony at Oriel Ynys Môn recently.

•  The Chairman’s Sunday will be held on Sunday, 11 October, 2015 at Rhos y Gad Chapel, Llanfairpwll at 2.00 p.m., with afternoon tea arranged following the service at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge.

To receive a petition in accordance with Paragraph 4.1.11 of the Constitution.

No petitions received.

•  To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer, as presented to the Audit Committee on 23rd September, 2015.

•  To accept the recommendations of the Audit Committee on 23rd September, 2015.

Submitted – the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the finalised Statement of Accounts 2014/2015.

The Chair of the Audit Committee reported that the Audit Committee at its meeting on 23 September, 2015, upon consideration of the Statement of Accounts had resolved to recommend that the County Council accepts and approves the Statement of Accounts for 2014/2015.

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

•  Questions raised regarding processes put in place to close the accounts earlier next year.  The Accountancy Services Manager responded that the Finance Department has now put in place necessary processes to close the accounts in May rather than in June each year;

•  Questions raised regarding short-term debts and long-term liabilities together with processes for the collection of debts.  The Interim Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer processes have been put in place for the collection of debts together with high percentage of sundry debtors been collected.  He stated that he would afford the Elected Members with detailed analysis of the processes undertaken.

RESOLVED to confirm acceptance of the 2014/2015 Statement of Accounts.

• To submit the report of the Head of Transformation.

• To report that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 21st September, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that it accepts the recommendations contained within the report.

•  The report of the Head of Transformation incorporating the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Performance Report for 2014/15 was presented for consideration.

•  To report that that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 21 September, 20145 had resolved as follows :-

 “that the final version of the Annual Performance Report for 2014/15 be published by the statutory October deadline and is completed to that end by Officers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.”

The Portfolio Holder (Performance Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources) highlighted the Council’s progress against its Improvement Objectives for 2014/15 as outlined through 7 key areas set out in the 2014/15 Annual Delivery Document.

The Committee considered the report and made the following comments thereon :-

•  The Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee expressed his concerns that the comments of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 17th September, 2015 had not been incorporated within the report to the full County Council.  The Chief Executive gave assurance that the comments of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee will be incorporated within the final report.

•  That performance indicators should be shown within the Improvement Plan for 2015/16 under the title of Improving the Economy/Communities.

•  Extra Care facilities for Older Adults in the South of the Island – an indicator should be included which shows what the authority has been unable to achieve.

It was resolved to accept and approve the Annual Performance Report for 2014/15 for publication by the 31 October statutory deadline.

• To submit the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer.

• To report that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 21st September, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that it accepts the recommendations contained within the report.

•  Submitted – the report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources)/ Section 151 Officer.

•  It was reported that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 21st September, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that it accepts the recommendations contained within the report.

It was resolved to endorse the recommendation of the Executive and to accept the Annual Treasury Management Review for 2014/15.

•  To submit the report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer.

•  To report that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 20th July, 2015, had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that it accepts the recommendations contained within the report.

•  Submitted – the report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer.

•  It was reported that the Executive upon consideration of the above at their meeting on 21st September, 2015 had RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that it accepts the recommendations contained within the report.

It was resolved to endorse the recommendation of the Executive and to accept the Constitutional Changes to the Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

To submit the report of the Head of Learning.

Submitted – the report of the Head of Learning in relation to the above.

The Head of Learning reported that a Task and Finish Group was established made up of Head-teachers, school governors, elected members and education officers was established to discuss the provision of free breakfast clubs in Primary Schools. The recommendations of the Task and Finish Groups was as follows :-

•  Schools to run a fee paying pre-school care club between 8.00 a.m., and 8.25 a.m.  Schools to then run a free breakfast club between 8.25 a.m., and 8.50 a.m.  These Clubs to be distinct from each other and attendance at the pre-school club is not a requirement for attendance at the breakfast club;

•  This recommendation to be consulted upon with the stakeholders in a similar way to the previous consultation e.g. use of surveymonkey and correspondence with Governing Bodies.  This to be done as the recommendation outlined above was not an option outlined as part of the original consultation;

•  The new arrangements, if approved, to be implemented in September 2016.  If the on-line payment system is available by April 2016, the new arrangements to be implemented from the beginning of the summer term, April 2016;

•  The Task and Finish Group to continue as a monitoring and standards

group for the new arrangements.  Details for the proposed arrangements

are:-

•  Current staff employed under the Free Breakfast Scheme to continue as

they are employed for one hour under existing arrangements i.e. 7.50 a.m.

to 8.50 a.m.;

•  The fee to be set at 75p per day per child for the pre-school care club.  If

a family has three or more children attending the pre-school care club then

the fee to be set at £2 per day for the family;

•  The Authority will put in place a system for the collection of fees

electronically.  Any cash collected will need to be banked within the

school’s usual banking arrangements;

•  There will be no change in Caterlink’s role as the provider of the

breakfasts;

•  The Authority will have to consider the effect on the need for registration

with CSSIW on an individual school basis as registration is required if the

school runs a pre-school and after school club for a total of more than two

hours in one day.  There is no cost involved with CSSIW registration.

The Committee considered the report and congratulated the Task and Finish Group and Officers for their work.  The following matters were raised :-

•  The collection of the fee for the pre-school clubs should be administered

properly. 

•  That parents, particularly those from poorer background, should make

use of the free school breakfast clubs due to its nutritional value;

•  Officers to consider provision that parents who are entitled to tax credits

 and other benefits associated with child care are made aware of how to

claim back their expenses.

RESOLVED to accept the report and to approve the recommendations of the Task  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To submit the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Aled Morris Jones:-

“We urge Anglesey County Council to write to the Ministry of Justice seeking retention of the Magistrates Courts in Holyhead and Llangefni.

Since the Act of Union in 1563, the present Magistrates Courts have been administrating the Justice of the Crown in the County of Anglesey.”

Submitted – the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Aled Morris Jones :-

“We urge Anglesey County Council to write to the Ministry of Justice seeking retention of the Magistrates Courts in Holyhead and Llangefni.

Since the Act of Union in 1536, the present Magistrates Courts have been administering the Justice of the Crown in the County of Anglesey.”

Councillor Aled M. Jones stated that Magistrates Courts were set up across the county, including Beaumaris and Amlwch which have now both closed.  He noted that it is important for retention of the Magistrates Court at Holyhead and the Family Court in Llangefni as travelling to Caernarfon would be impossible for some residents of the Island due to costs and the lack of public transport.  He urged the Elected Members to write to the Ministry of Justice by the 8^th October, 2015 to retain the Courts and Holyhead and Llangefni.

Members of the County Council unanimously supported the motion that the Holyhead Magistrates Court and Family Court in Llangefni is essential for the Island and its residents. 

RESOLVED to authorise the Officers to write to the Ministry of Justice on behalf of the County Council seeking the retention of both the Magistrates Court in Holyhead and the Family Court in Llangefni.  

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.”

To confirm the recommendations of the Appointments Panel on 28^th August, 2015.

Submitted – the recommendation of the Appointments Committee held on 28th September, 2015.

RESOLVED :-

•  To ratify the decision of the Appointments Committee held on 28th September, 2015 to appoint the candidates to the two posts of Assistant Chief Executives.

•  To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to designate which of the two Assistant Chief Executive posts is to be filled by the two successful candidates.  

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.”

To submit the report of the Head of Profession (Human Resources).

Submitted – the report of the Head of Profession – Human Resources in relation to the above.

RESOLVED having considered the written report and verbal update from the Head of Profession (HR), to accept the proposal in the report and to delegate authority to the S151 Officer, Monitoring Officer and Head of Profession (HR) collectively to resolve/settle any issues arising in, or from, this process.