Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Councillor Aled Morris Jones declared an interest in respect of Item 10 and took no part during discussion and voting thereon.

No urgent matters at the time of dispatch of this agenda.

None received.

To submit for confirmation, the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3^rd November, 2014.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 4^th November, 2014 were presented and confirmed as correct.

To submit a report by the Interim Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Interim Head of Democratic Services incorporating the Executive’s Forward Work programme for the period January – August 2015 was presented for the Executive’s endorsement.

The Interim Head of Democratic Services reported that the following items scheduled to be discussed at the January 2015 meeting will be moved to the March 2015 meeting :-

•  Constitutional Changes – Terms of Reference of Appeals, Investigation and  

   Disciplinary Committee

•  Constitutional Changes – Audit Committee Terms of Reference

The following additional item will be presented to the January 2015 :-

Supporting People Commissioning Plan

It was resolved to confirm the updated Forward Work Programme for the period January - August, 2015.

To submit a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report of the Deputy Chief Executive was presented in relation to the current end of quarter 2. 

The Portfolio Holder (Executive Business, Performance Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources) whilst welcoming an improvement in the sickness levels he expressed that departments needs to improve further the sickness levels and data. 

Members of the Executive were concerned with the percentage of 53% of professional development reviews had been completed within the first 6 months compared to the previous year of 64%. 

It was RESOLVED to accept the report and to note its contents.

To submit a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.

The report of the Deputy Chief Executive in relation to the remedial action SLT feels is necessary to bring the Council into a balanced position for 2014/15.

RESOVLED to note the report and to note its contents.

To submit a report by the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer.

The report of the Interim Head of Function (Resources) & Section 151 Officer was presented in respect of the calculation which have been carried out according to the Welsh Government Council Tax Dwellings (CT1) 2015/16 Notes for Guidance based on the number of properties in various bands on the valuation list as at 31 October, 2014 and applying discounts and exemptions.  The calculations also take account of changes to the valuation list that appear likely to occur during 2015/16.

RESOLVED to approve:-

•  That the calculation by the Head of Function (Resources) for the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the whole and parts of the area for the year 2015/16.

•  That in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base)(Wales)  Regulations 1995 (Wales) (SI19956/2561) as amended by SI1999/2935, and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) and Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)(Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, the amounts calculated by Isle of Anglesey County Council as its tax base for the year 2015/16 shall be 30,188.51 and as listed within the report for those individual Town/ Community areas.

To submit a report by the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer.

The report of the Head of Function (Resources) & Section 151 Officer was presented in respect of the above.

RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council :-

•  That its current local Council Tax Reduction Scheme should not be revised or replaced with another scheme.

•  To formally adopt the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the financial year 2015/16.

•  That it provides authority to the Head of Function (Resources) to make administrative arrangements so that all annual charges for uprating of financial figures or technical revisions in any amending regulation or regulations are reflected in the Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme and for each subsequent year.

To submit a report by the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer.

The report of the Head of Function (Resources) & Section 151 Officer was presented in respect of the requirement by the County Council to adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme scheme by 31 January, 2015 with regard to 2015/16.

RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council that it notes the report and to note its contents.

To submit a report by the Interim Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer.

The report of the Head of Function (Resources) & Section 151 Officer was presented in relation to the above.

It was reported that 4 options were considered under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 for granting business rates relief in relation to the ELNS funding. 

RESOLVED:-

•  That Option 1, as noted within the report, be approved as the criteria for the granting of relief in relation to the ELNS funding under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. 

•  That delegated authority is given to the Head of Function (Resources) to make administrative arrangements to approve the granting of the relief to those businesses that meet the Executive’s approved qualifying criteria for ELNS.

•  That the Revenues and Benefits Service works with the Economic Development Service to promote the ELNS adopted by the Executive and the ‘Open for Business’, ‘New Business Relief’ and ‘Wales Retail Relief’.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Service (Housing) was presented in respect of exiting from the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy.  It was noted that agreement with HM Treasury which will allow authorities to exit from the HRAS system and becoming self-financing from April 2015 consists of two parts which were highlighted within the report. 

It was considered that a further Seminar for Elected Members needs to be arranged in the New Year in respect of this matter.

RESOLVED :-

•  To approve the exit from Housing Revenue Account Subsidy (HRAS) funding, on 31st March, 2015 thereby becoming self-financing.

•  To approve the taking out of a loan from the PWLB to fund the exit from HRAS.

•  To approve entering into the draft Voluntary Agreement with Welsh Government.

•  To delegate authority to the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to sign the final version of the Voluntary Agreement, to be returned to Welsh Government by 19th January, 2015.

•  That delegated authority be given jointly and severally to the Head of Housing Services and S1515 Officer on the critical dates when money is transferred, to make any last minute changes to figures, or any other amendments to the transfer documents, that may arise on the key dates (Conversion date 31st March, 2015 and Transaction date 2nd April, 2015.

•  A copy of the 30 year HRA Business Plan (2015/45) will be submitted to the Executive in February 2015 which provides assurance on its viability, sustainability and affordability.

•  A further report be submitted to the Executive for approval on whether the current significant changes that self-financing will bring.

•  That a further Seminar be arranged for Elected Members in respect of the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Voluntary Agreement.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Service (Housing) was presented in relation to the proposed changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal Strategy and Policy. 

RESOLVED that the Executive approves in principle :-

•  The amendments to the private sector housing renewal strategy and policy, subject to consultation with external partners and organisations and that authority be given to the Head of Housing in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to consider any observations.

•  The use of Street UK Services Limited, a third party provider, to administer and manage loan schemes on the Council’s behalf and to the transfer of the Council’s allocation for loans to Street UK Services Limited as ‘Facility Monies’ in order to service the loans, subject to the recommendations of the Section 151 Officer.

To submit a report by the Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Head of Service (Adult Services) was presented in respect of the above.

RESOLVED to approve the work programme for the Integrated Delivery Board and Social Care Service for Anglesey so that the Board can assist in the development of Community Health and Care Services on Anglesey.

To submit a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection.

The report of the Head of Service (Planning & Public Protection) was presented in respect of the Deposit Plan and the revised timetable for the Local Development Plan. 

It was reported that when the Councils consult on the Deposit Plan, it must advertise the consultation in accordance with the LDP Regulations and notify those parties identified in the Community Involvement Strategy (including statutory consultees), allowing six weeks for representation to be made.   

In response to a question regarding any minor amendments required to the Deposit Plan before publishing it for public consultation, the Planning Manager explained that it was considered that an additional policy dealing with purpose built accommodation for construction workers would be required. Members of the Executive supported this approach.

The revised Delivery Agreement approved by the Joint Planning Policy Committee in September 2014 shows that the public consultation will take place during February and March 2015. 

RESOLVED :-

•  To recommend to the Joint Planning Policy Committee that it approves the draft Deposit Plan, subject to minor amendments, for public consultation in order to conform to statutory requirements.

•  To recommend to the County Council that it approves the revised timetable to prepare the Joint Local Development Plan in order to reflect new circumstances and conform to stator requirements.

To submit a report by the Head of Economic and Community Regeneration.

The report of the Head of Service (Economic and Community Regeneration) was presented in respect Commercial Charter/Pleasure Boat Fees 2014/15 and 2015/16. 

RESOLVED:-

•  That the 2014/15 and 2015/16 (with the Council’s adopted fees and charges increase applied) charter boat fees should be a flat-rate payment of £400 (£480 with VAT) with no discount applied on subsequent boats owned by the same operator.  Visiting Licenced operators (from outside the area) to pay £30 (£36 with VAT) per trip.

•  The Executive also agreed to “write off” the debt of the uncollected 2013/14 commercial charter boat fees as a good-will gesture to the commercial operators in Amlwch Port.