Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed all those present to this meeting of the Executive; she extended her and the Executive’s best wishes to Councillor Jeff Evans who was currently hospitalised.

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

No declaration of interest was received at the meeting.

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

None to report.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 27 September 2021.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 27 September, 2021 were presented for the Executive’s approval.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 27 September, 2021 be approved.

To submit for adoption, the draft minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 7 September 2021.

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 7 September, 2021 were presented for adoption by the Executive.

It was resolved that the draft minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 7 September, 2021 be adopted.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services incorporating the updated Executive’s Forward Work Programme for the period from November, 2021 to June, 2022 was presented for the Executive’s consideration and the following changes were highlighted –

·         New items on the Forward Work Programme

·         Item 3 – Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2021-26 for the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 4 - Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2022-32 for the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 10 – Transitional Plan: Anglesey (post pandemic) subject to confirmation for the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 12 – Statement of Gambling Policy 2022-25 for the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 14 – Service Asset Management Policy 2021-31:Smallholdings Estate for the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 15 – Corporate Asset Management Policy 2021-26 for the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 20 – Shared Equity Policy - for the Executive’s 13 December, 2021 meeting

·         Item 28 – Population Needs Assessment: Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014

·         Items 39 to 42 – Performance and Budget monitoring reports for the Executive’s June, 2022 meeting

1.     

·         Rescheduled items

·         Item 13 – Community Benefit Contributions Strategy rescheduled from October, 2021 to the Executive’s 29 November, 2021 meeting

·         Item 22 – Local Housing Strategy 2022-27 rescheduled from December, 2021 to the Executive’s 24 January, 2022 meeting

·         Item 29 – AONB Management Plan rescheduled from December, 2021 to the Executive’s 14 February, 2022 meeting

·         Items delegated for decision to a Portfolio Member

·         Item 30 – Annual Equality Report (Portfolio Member for Social Services) for publication in March, 2022

·         Item 37 – Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2021/22 (Portfolio Member with responsibility for the Welsh Language) for publication in June, 2022

It was resolved to approve the updated work programme for the period from November, 2021 to June, 2022 as presented noting that the Forward Work Programme is updated monthly and submitted as a standing monthly item to the Executive.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer.

The report of the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer setting out the results of a public consultation exercise on the intention to increase the council tax premium on properties periodically occupied (second homes) was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Director of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer reported that the power to charge the premium came into effect on 1 April, 2017 and the Council initially set the premium at 25%; following consultation in February, 2019 the Council resolved to increase the premium to its current level of 35% from 1 April, 2019. As at 1 September, 2021, 2,670 properties are subject to the 35% premium. At present 10 local authorities in Wales including Anglesey apply the premium, which ranges from 25% (2 authorities), 35% (Anglesey), 50% (5 authorities) and 100% (2 authorities). Although the use to which the revenue generated by the premium is to be put is not specified in the legislation, Welsh Government guidance states that it is intended to be used as a tool to bring long term empty homes back into use and to help local authorities in increasing the supply of affordable housing thereby enhancing the sustainability of local communities.

The Executive in December, 2020 resolved to undertake a full consultation on its intention to increase the premium of second homes to 50%; the consultation opened on 14 June, 2021 and closed on 6 August, 2021 and produced a total of 1,434 responses. Information about the location of the respondents and whether they were owners of a second home, a self-catering units or council tax payers only is provided in section 2 of the report (paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4) as is information about the views expressed with regard to the impact of second homes on local communities, the local economy and the Welsh language (paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6) as well as the level of the premium and whether or not it should be increased and if so by how much (paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8). The response as regards people’s views about how the income from the premium should be used is outlined in paragraph 2.9. A summary of all the general points raised in the consultation is provided in Table 3 of the report.

The majority of Anglesey residents who responded to the consultation were of the opinion that the current number of second homes on the Island is having a detrimental effect on local communities and the Welsh language and to a lesser extent, on the local economy. They were also of the opinion that the high number of second homes is pushing up house prices and making them unaffordable for local people. The majority of people who responded to the consultation supported an increase in the premium on second homes with 45% in favour of increasing the premium to 100%.The majority of respondents want to see the Council use any additional funds generated to help local people buy or rent their first home.

Section 3 of the report sets out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

The report of the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer incorporating the Public Service Ombudsman’s Annual Letter for 2020/21 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business reported that since 2006 the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) has published an annual report on the work undertaken by his office for the previous 12 months. The PSOW also publishes a separate annual summary of performance for each council in the form of an annual letter attached at Appendix 1 to the report. For the Isle of Anglesey County Council (IOACC) the headline messages for 2020/21 are that 18 complaints were lodged against the Council during the year, down from 26 in 2019/20; of those 18 complaints, 16 were deemed not to require an investigation by the PSOW’s Office. No Code of Conduct complaints against elected members were recorded during the year. IOACC’s performance comparative to the other Welsh councils under a number of headings can be seen in the tables provided with the letter. Additionally, as per the request of the PSOW training has been provided for staff who deal with complaints with six sessions in all having been held by the Complaints Standards Team between 23 October, 2020 and 27 November, 2020; these were well attended and the feedback received was positive. In accordance with the PSOW’s request, a letter will now be sent to his Office to inform him of the outcome of the Council’s consideration of the annual letter and the action it proposes to take in response to it.

The Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer confirmed that the main messages for IOACC from the PSOW’s review of the year are summarised in paragraph 3 of the report.

It was resolved to note and to accept the Public Services Ombudsman’s Annual Letter for 2020/21 and to delegate the Director of Function (Council Business) to write to the PSOW by 15 November, 2021 to confirm the same and to state that the Council will continue to monitor complaints and thereby provide Members with the required information in order to help scrutinise performance.

To submit a report by the Head of Profession, HR and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the Annual Performance Report for the Council for 2020/21 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business reported that the Annual Performance Report provides an evaluation of how well the Council delivered against its three key well-being objectives during 2020/21 as reflected in the performance indicators data and analysis contained therein in what was a very challenging year dominated by the global pandemic. Although the Council’s main aim had been to keep its workforce and the people of Anglesey safe and well during this difficult time and to ensure that statutory services were maintained and the specific actions taken to this end are elaborated upon in the report, the Council also succeeded in making progress in a number of areas across services taking planned initiatives and projects forward as described in the narrative sections of the report. That the Council has achieved as much as it did is due to the tireless efforts and hard work of its staff, partners and those contracted to undertake work for it, and whilst it is encouraging to note the progress of the vaccine booster programme it is expected that the Council will still face further challenges as it enters the traditionally difficult winter period.

The Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation confirmed that the Council is statutorily required to publish an Annual Performance Report by the end of October each year with 2020/21 being the final year in which this requirement applies with new performance reporting arrangements being introduced under the provisions of the Local Government and Elections Wales Act 2021. Whilst it had been a challenging task to try to capture the breadth of activity that has taken in place in an extraordinary year it is hoped the annual report provides a fair reflection of performance over the period.

Councillor Aled Morris Jones, Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee reported from the Committee’s 18 October, 2021 meeting to which the Annual Performance Report for 2020/21 was presented and where the contribution of staff both towards the pandemic effort and towards ensuring the continuation of essential services at a very difficult time was acknowledged with gratitude. In considering the report the Committee had expressed some concern regarding the increased Covid rate on Anglesey and more widely in Wales; the Committee had specifically wanted to know how the ongoing pandemic had affected the business sector and had requested information regarding the number of businesses on Anglesey that had come to an end as a result. The Committee had recommended the report for the Executive’s approval and subsequent publication by the 31 October deadline.

Councillor R. Meirion Jones, Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Youth and Culture drew attention to an amendment to the final paragraph of the Education and Skills section of the Annual Performance Report at page 14 where it refers to all school buildings as having been closed for the first part of the year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider adoption of 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 (Paragraphs 16) of the said Act”.

It was considered and was resolved Under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 16 of Schedule 12A of the said Act.

To submit a report by the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

The report of the Head of Service (Highways, Waste and Property) with regard to a highways damage prosecution was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor R.G.Parry, OBE, FRAgS, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property reported on the background to the issue which involved damage to a publicly maintained highway and referred to the latest position with regard to achieving a resolution in the matter.

The Head of Service (Highways, Waste and Property) outlined the options considered and the implications of each and he provided details of discussions, engagement and activity to date with regard to another party in the matter. The Officer referred to the proposed course of action for taking the matter forward and explained the reasoning for the recommendation.

It was resolved to approve the recommendations of the report and to proceed accordingly.

To consider adopting the following:-

“Under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the 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.”

It was considered and was resolved Under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the Public Interest Test as presented.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services seeking the Executive’s approval to move forward with the development of 10 housing units on land near Pentraeth Industrial Estate was presented for consideration.

The Executive was advised that the site is located near Pentraeth Industrial Estate and full planning permission was approved in September, 2021 for 23 new houses as part of a development led by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association. Clwyd Alyn is one of three operational housing associations building affordable housing on the Island. The Authority where possible  seeks to work in partnership with other housing providers and in this case it has been offered 10 out of the 23 properties on site thereby providing an opportunity to offer some of the new properties for sale to local first time buyers through shared ownership and/or rent at intermediate rent. The houses will be built on sustainable principles and will be highly energy efficient. As part of the planning process, information provided by the developer showed that 37 applicants for housing in Pentraeth are on the Council’s waiting list and a further 7 are on the Tai Teg affordable housing list. These properties, ten of which will be in the Council’s name will contribute towards meeting the housing demand in the area. The development will be funded partly through a Welsh Government grant and partly through the Housing Revenue Account. The financial model adopted by the Authority to assess the financial viability of housing development schemes shows the scheme and associated costs to be viable and compliant with the Authority’s guidance on developing new housing. 

It was resolved to approve proceeding to develop new council housing of 10 units on land near Pentraeth Industrial Estate.