Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair in welcoming all those present to this meeting of the Executive took the opportunity to thank everyone who had gone the extra mile over the past year to ensure the continuation of the Council’s business and the safety and well-being of the Island and its residents; on behalf of the Executive she wished them, the Council’s elected members and its staff and their families the best over the coming Christmas and New Year period. Referring to the current Covid-19 situation both on Anglesey and beyond and the uncertainty it is creating, she urged everyone in receipt of an invitation for a booster vaccination to take up the offer, and also to continue observing the measures in place to manage the spread of the virus, namely by wearing a mask, ensuring indoor spaces are ventilated and by regular handwashing.

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

Councillors R. Meirion Jones and Ieuan Williams declared a personal and prejudicial interest with regard to items 6, 7 and 8 on the agenda and were not present when those matters were under consideration.

Mr Rhys H. Hughes, Director of Education, Skills and Young People declared a personal and prejudicial interest with regard to items 7 and 8 on the agenda and withdrew from the meeting when those matters were discussed.

The Chair in declaring an interest in items 6 and 8 on behalf of the following members of the Executive confirmed that those members had received dispensation to take part in the discussion and voting on items 6 and 8 by a panel of the Standards Committee sitting on 12 November, 2021 – Councillors Richard Dew, Llinos Medi Huws, Carwyn Jones, Alun Mummery, R.G.Parry, OBE, FRAgS, Dafydd Rhys Thomas and Robin Williams.

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

None to report.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

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

·         Item 4 – Lowering the Age of Admission at Ysgol Llandegfan – a new item for the Executive’s 24 January, 2022 meeting.

·         Item 7 – Local Housing Strategy – rescheduled from the Executive’s January meeting to its 14 February, 2022 meeting.

·         Item 11 – School Transport: Public Services Vehicles Accessibility Regulations – a new item for the Executive’s 14 February, 2022 meeting

·         Housing Development over 10 units: Land near Penrhos Stanley Hospital - a new item for the Executive’s 24 January, 2022 meeting not included on the published Forward Work Programme.

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated forward work programme for the period January, to August, 2022 with the additional change outlined at the meeting.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

Councillor Richard Dew, Portfolio Member for Planning and Public Protection presented the report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development which set out the requirements on the Council consequent upon the establishment of a Border Control Post to develop and establish a new dedicated Port Health Authority (PHA).

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU) has created a need to establish new border control arrangements and checks on imports. These new requirements have been placed on the Welsh Government as a consequence of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Two new facilities are currently being developed at Parc Cybi, Holyhead to carry out new customs and border control check on goods entering and leaving the UK through the international port of Holyhead. HM Revenue and Customs are developing an Inland Border Facility (BF) and the Welsh Government is currently establishing a Border Control Post (BCP).

Whilst responsibility for the BCP sits with the Welsh Government under devolved powers from the UK Government, its establishment will result in additional duties being placed on the County Council as the host authority in connection with the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 and retained EU legislation on the inspection of imports. A new dedicated Port Health Authority (PHA) with responsibility for enforcing health controls at the UK border must be established by July 2022 when checks on products of animal origin are due to be introduced in order to discharge the Council’s statutory duties which include a range of documentary, identity and physical checks.

Regulation and Economic Development officers have been engaging with the Welsh Government since August 2020 to better understand the anticipated changes to border checks. Despite the best endeavours of Officers, a lack of information and clarity has impacted on the Council’s ability to plan and prepare meaningfully for the changes to border controls. It should be noted also that the Council does not currently possess any port health expertise, capacity or capability. Whilst work on developing the PHA is being undertaken with one off grant funding from Welsh Government, there is no certainty as regards future funding beyond the potential generation of income from carrying out documentary checks. No additional financial support has been put in place for beyond March, 2022.

The Head of Regulation and Economic Development elaborated on what the Service believes are the two options available to the Council to discharge its new port health duties, namely - to establish a new arms-length PHA for Holyhead or to discharge the duties in-house within the Council without establishing a new PHA – and the pros and cons of each. He confirmed that further detailed work is required to review and assess the suitability, deliverability and affordability of the preferred option to ensure that that is the most appropriate way forward for the Council which will also cover issues such as corporate governance, risks, liabilities, costs and the requirements for support from other Council services. A PHA Operational Plan will also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

Councillor Llinos Medi, Leader and Portfolio Member for Social Services presented the report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer which sought the Executive’s agreement in principle to the transfer of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s functions to the newly established North Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) with the aim of achieving a streamlined governance model, avoiding duplication.

Regulations were made by the Welsh Government on 17 March, 2021 creating four Corporate Joint Committees in Wales and the North Wales CJC was established on 1 April, 2021. The four CJCs will exercise functions relating to strategic development, planning and regional transport planning. They will also be able to do things to promote economic well-being. Unlike other joint committee arrangements, the CJC is a separate corporate body which can employ staff and hold assets. There is a consensus among the North Wales local authorities that the CJC should continue in the direction established by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board. Further, the six Council Leaders and Chief Executives are agreed that the North Wales CJC should be built on the aims and principle set out in paragraph 8 of the report. There is also cross border agreement that the initial aim should be to establish a streamlined governance model avoiding duplication whilst having due regard to subsidiarity. The first priority therefore is to move the Economic Ambition Board to an empowered sub-committee of the CJC, noting that the region’s local authority Leaders will be in control of this corporate body.

Pinsent Masons, LLP who are advising several Welsh regions have considered operational structures available to the Economic Ambition Board going forward in light of the establishment of the CJC, Welsh Government policy direction and the regionally agreed principles noted under paragraph 8 of the report. Doing nothing or co-existence is insufficient, contrary to Welsh Government policy and doesn’t address how the Economic Ambition Board’s functions are to be discharged by the CJC. The most efficient and viable operational structure which satisfies the requirement to transition to a CJC is to transfer the Economic Ambition Board functions to an empowered sub-committee of the CJC. Consequently, transferring the functions of a sub-committee will retain core elements of the EAB, but provide a more robust and efficient delivery model directly via the CJC corporate vehicle. Pinsent Masons have advised officers in detail on the advantages and some key issues before the conclusion was reached that transferring the EAB function to a sub-committee provides the optimal structure for the CJC. The report set out the merits of the proposed transfer and addresses considerations from the perspective of decision-making, the added value of this approach, transition for Growth Deal arrangements and governance and finance. Approving the decision sought by the report regarding the governance model would not add any financial implication for the Council. However there will be an unavoidable and as yet not fully identified ongoing cost for local authorities to be able to administer and deliver the CJC. The direction set by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a report by the Deputy Chief Executive.

Councillor Llinos Medi, Leader and Portfolio Member for Social Services presented the report by the Deputy Chief Executive incorporating the first Digital Schools Strategy for Anglesey that sets the Authority’s vision underpinned by overarching principles and key priority areas for the provision of ICT services for schools.

Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this matter and in items 7 and 8  below, Councillors R. Meirion Jones and Ieuan Williams were not present for this item nor for the remainder of the meeting.

In light of the Curriculum for Wales, digital competence alongside literacy and numeracy will become a mandatory cross-curricular skill which must be embedded in any adopted curriculum. Digital competence focuses on ensuring that learners have the ability to learn, understand and use technology confidently, creatively and critically. As the cyber threat to educational establishments continues to evolve, it is imperative that a collaborative approach is in place to ensure the security of this critical data. Consequently, digital technology needs to be embedded securely in all areas of curriculum delivery.

The overall vision of the strategy is to support digitally enabled schools to ensure learners thrive and realise their long-term potential. The strategy also sets out the role of the local authority in delivering this vision and is intended for all school learners, teachers, support staff, governors and members of the whole Anglesey school community. As part of the process of developing the strategy there has been engagement with a member of the ICT Forum (a representative of the primary school head teachers) and with the Island’s secondary head teachers and the Head teacher of Canolfan Addysg y Bont and a summary of the responses is provided. Robust governance arrangements will be established to ensure the realisation of the strategy and progress will be reviewed quarterly through a summary report on actions, outcomes, impact, successes and issues. An annual progress report and review of the strategy will be undertaken.

The Deputy Chief Executive advised that the importance of the digital world and its technology is becoming more apparent with every week and this applies to Anglesey as much as anywhere else. The past two years, especially the pandemic period has shown how the Authority, its personnel and capabilities have adapted to deal with the crisis by making the maximum use of technology to ensure that life carries on not least in education. Digital competence is now an essential skill and the greater pupils’ digital attainment on leaving school then the grater their chances of meeting the needs of the future as those evolve and change. The strategy has been formulated to provide direction to everyone within the school and learning community and it will be delivered in partnership with all the key players within the education system. Whilst the successful delivery of the strategy is important for all the Authority’s partners in education it is especially important for young people in enabling them to make progress in education and/or in the work environment and also as citizens,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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 14 and 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 14 [information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)] of Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the Public Interest Test presented.

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

Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business presented the report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer which set out the issues arising with regard to the current provision consequent upon the adoption of a new Digital Strategy for Anglesey’s schools. The report proposed a way forward to address those issues and sought approval and delegation to enable the proposal to be realised.

Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this matter, Mr Rhys H.Hughes, Director of Education, Skills and Young People along with Councillors R.Meirion Jones and Ieuan Williams were not present when it was discussed.

It was resolved to approve the recommendations of the report as the way forward.