Agenda and minutes

To submit for confirmation, the minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 10^th March, 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Isle of Anglesey County Council held on 10 March, 2016 were presented and confirmed as correct.

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

No declaration of interest was received.

The Chair made the following announcements:

•  Congratulations to Mr Rhun ap Iorwerth on his re-election as the Assembly Member for Ynys Môn and best wishes to him in the post.

•  Congratulations to Mr Arfon Jones on his election as the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.

•  Best wishes to all competitors at the Urdd National Eisteddfod to be held in Flintshire at the end of this month.

•  Best wishes to all competitors at the Spring Show to be held in Builth Wells this month.

•  Best wishes to all participants in the Young Farmers Rally on 14th May, 2016.

•  Condolences are extended to the family of former Councillor David Lewis Roberts who passed away recently.

•  Condolences are extended to former Councillor Mrs Fflur Hughes and her family on their bereavement last week.

•  Condolences are also extended to any Member or any staff member of the Council who have suffered bereavement.

Members and Officers stood in silence as a mark of sympathy and respect.

Councillor Aled Morris Jones referred to the fine work undertaken by the Leaders, Carol Whittaker and Gordon Hayes, and the young people of Penysarn Youth Club who have conducted research into the local connections within the First World War and have succeeded in clarifying the family connections of a hitherto unknown individual named on the Penysarn War Memorial. He asked the Chair to write to the young people of Pensarn Youth Club in recognition of their work.

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

No petition had been received in accordance with Paragraph 4.1.11 of the Constitution.

To consider the Council Leader’s Annual Report in accordance with paragraph 4.1.16 of the Constitution.

The Annual Report for 2015/16 by the Leader of the Council was presented to the Council.

The Leader referred to some of the key issues that have faced the Administration in the preceding year as follows:

•  The continuing pressures of budget reductions and the challenge of delivering services within a context of financial austerity.

•  Restructuring of the Senior Leadership Team.

•  Ensuring progress against the objectives of the Corporate Plan – the Council’s long-term improvement plan - under its six main themes. 

•  Other developments including confirming the Authority’s participation in the Home Office Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS); working to identify sites for gypsies and travellers; welcoming the National Eisteddfod to the Island in 2017 and playing a part in the development of Wylfa Newydd.

The Leader concluded his report by thanking the Chief Executive, the Senior Leadership Team, Department Heads and all Council staff for their hard work and dedication over the past year. He also expressed appreciation for the support provided by his fellow councillors.

The Council was given the opportunity to ask questions of the Leader on the contents of the Annual Report. Clarification was sought, and was provided with regard to the following issues:

•  That in order to boost the local economy, every effort will be made to secure opportunities for companies local to Anglesey and the immediate neighbourhood  in the context of Energy Island developments and especially the preparatory work for the development of Wylfa Newydd.

•  That consideration will be given at the appropriate time to increasing the Authority’s participation in the SVPRS by giving sanctuary to more vulnerable Syrian refugees over and above the 10 families/30 individuals regarding whom a commitment has been made over the next three years.

•  In respect of the Energy Island programme and the development of Wylfa Newydd, that every regard will be had of the need to mitigate any negative impacts on communities and in particular the village of Tregele and its residents as a community that will be party to major construction works.

It was resolved to receive the report and to note its contents.

To submit a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement).

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement) incorporating a proposed Draft Welsh Language Policy was presented for the Council’s approval.

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting held on 25th April, 2016 had resolved –

•  To approve the Language Policy and to authorise the relevant officers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to complete any further editorial work on the draft policy before it is submitted to full Council.

•  To recommend to the County Council that the Council’s Welsh Language Policy be adopted as a matter of local choice and that the Council’s Policy Framework be amended to reflect this as follows:

•  Delete “Welsh Language Scheme” from the list of those plans required by  

 law to be adopted by the Council (part 3.2.2.1.1 of the Constitution).

•  Include the “Welsh Language Policy” under the list of those other plans and strategies which the Council decided should be adopted by the full Council as a matter of local choice (part 3.2.2.1.3) of the Constitution.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvement) reported on the context and said that progress will be monitored on an annual basis.

Councillor Llinos Medi Huws proposed an amendment to paragraph 3.2.4 of the Policy to the effect that the Council will monitor progress annually by the issuing of a report thereon to be presented to Scrutiny at the same time as the annual report on the operation of the Welsh Language Policy. Councillor R. Meirion Jones seconded the proposal and the amendment was approved by Council.

It was resolved to endorse the Executive’s recommendations and to approve the Welsh Language Policy for the Council as set out in Appendix 1 to the report subject to the amendment to paragraph 3.2.4 as outlined.

To submit a report by the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer, as submitted to the Executive on 25^th April, 2016.

The report of the Head of Function (Council Business) and Monitoring Officer regarding the delegation of powers contained within the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to appropriate officers within the Council was presented for the Council’s approval.

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting held on 25th April, 2016 had resolved as follows:

To recommend to full Council:

•  That it adopts powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014 in respect of civil injunctions, community protection notices and orders, closure notices and powders, absolute ground for possession of dwelling houses, public spaces protection orders and premises closure orders.

•  That it agrees to amend the scheme of delegation to officers in the Constitution to delegate the exercise of powers as adopted amongst the relevant Heads of Service as detailed in the report.

•  That it authorises the Council’s Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to the scheme of delegation to officers in the Constitution to reflect the adoption and delegations of the powers contained within the Act as provided for by the report.

It was resolved to endorse the Executive’s recommendations, and

•  To adopt powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014 in respect of civil injunctions, community protection notices and orders, closure notices and orders, absolute ground for possession of dwelling houses, public spaces protection orders and premises closure orders.

•  To agree to amend the scheme of delegation to officers in the Constitution to delegate the exercise of powers as adopted amongst the relevant Heads of Service as detailed in the report.

•  To authorise the Council’s Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer to make the necessary changes to the scheme of delegation to officers in the Constitution to reflect the adoption and delegations of the powers contained within the Act as provided for by the report.

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

The report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/ Monitoring Officer setting out changes to the Members’ Code of Conduct was presented for the Council’s approval.

It was resolved –

•  To note the changes in the Code.

•  To authorise the Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution to incorporate the amendments to the Code and to publish the changes in accordance with the requirements of Section 51 (b) of the Local Government Act 2000.

To submit a report by the Head of Transformation.

The report of the Head of Transformation incorporating the draft Annual Delivery Document for 2016/17 was presented for the Council’s approval.

It was reported that the Executive at its meeting held on 25th April, 2016 had resolved as follows:

•  To authorise Officers through the Portfolio Holder to undertake the task of completing the final draft and to recommend the 2016/17 Annual Delivery Document’s adoption by the full Council at its meeting to be held on 12th May, 2016.

•  To confirm the deliverability of the Annual Delivery Document as a plan which identifies the work of the Council aligned to the priorities of the Corporate Plan scheduled for delivery during 2016/17.

It was resolved to endorse the Executive’s recommendations and to approve the Annual Delivery Document (Improvement Plan) for 2016/17.

To submit a report by the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee.

The Annual Report of the Audit and Governance Committee for 2015/16 was presented by Councillor Robert Llewelyn Jones, Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee.

Councillor Robert Llewelyn Jones summarised the work of the Audit and Governance Committee during the year and made particular reference to the importance of Risk Management, Counter Fraud activity and monitoring Management’s implementation of Audit recommendations both in terms of the Committee’s work and in ensuring that the Council’s corporate governance arrangements are sound.

It was resolved to receive the report and to note its contents.

To submit a report by the Chairs of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Annual Report for 2015/16 was presented by Councillor R. Meirion Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and by Councillor Derlwyn Hughes, Chair of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Chairs referred to the evolving role of scrutiny and to the effectiveness of the increasing use during the year of scrutiny outcome panels to undertake detailed reviews of specific areas as well as pre-decision scrutiny to help shape and inform decision making.

It was resolved –

•  To note and approve the Scrutiny Committees’ Annual Report for 2015/16

•  To appoint the Chair of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee as the “Scrutiny Champion” from May, 2016 to May, 2017.

To submit a report by the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee.

The Annual Report of the Democratic Services Committee for 2015/16 was presented by Councillor Vaughan Hughes, Chair of the Democratic Services Committee.

It was resolved to accept the report and to note the matters considered by the Committee during 2015/16.

To submit a report by the Chair of the Standards Committee.

The Annual Report of the Standards Committee for 2015/16 was presented by Mr Mike Wilson, Chair of the Standards Committee.

Mr Mike Wilson summarised the work delivered by the Standards Committee against the objectives in its 2015/16 Work Programme as set out in Appendix A to the report and he referred in particular to an improving trend with regard to complaints and to the review of the Members’ Registers of Interests and the outcome thereof. The Committee’s focus for 2016/17 will be on preparing for the training that will follow the local elections in May, 2017.

It was resolved:

•  To note the activities of the Standards Committee in 2015/16.

•  To endorse the Standards Committee’s Programme for 2016/17 as outlined in Enclosure B of the report.