Agenda and minutes

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

No declaration of interest was received.

To present the minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 19 February 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 19 February 2025 were presented and were confirmed as correct and progress against the actions agreed at the meeting was outlined and was noted.

To present the report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 3 2024/25 was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The scorecard report portrays the current end of Quarter 3 position against the strategic objectives outlined in the Council Plan.

Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience presented the report which showed that 87% of the indicators with targets monitored during the quarter had performed well against those targets and had a Green or Yellow RAG status which is a positive result reflective of a strong performance overall across the Council. Councillor Carwyn Jones referred to the areas where the Council’s performance had improved and/or is excelling which were in relation to Social Services, schools with no school in the Estyn follow up/statutory categories, responsive maintenance repairs, letting of council business units, condition of A, B and C roads and Welsh language skills requirements in recruitment. He also highlighted areas identified in the report as needing improvement to bring them to target which were being monitored by the Leadership Team. Those areas related to the number of children undertaking swimming lessons throughout the year (Môn Actif), the delivery of major disabled facilities grants and re-letting of lettable units in Housing, number of mooring contracts, waste recycling percentages and responses to FOIs within timescale. The report set out the context to those issues and outlined the mitigating actions both planned and implemented.

The following were matters of discussion by the committee in reviewing the Q3 corporate scorecard report –

·      Whether the Leadership Team is able to provide assurances that its input and intervention as regards underperforming areas are successful and whether consideration has been given to applying different methodologies to improve performance such as Vanguard, Total Quality management and continuous improvement.

The Chief Executive confirmed that he was satisfied that the approaches taken to areas of underperformance are appropriate and thorough and involve the Leadership Team regularly reviewing the draft quarterly scorecard reports with a focus on areas where the outcomes do not meet the set targets and/or where the trend is downward, holding discussions with heads of service and managers to identify any underlying issues and/or mitigating circumstances and agree on remedial actions. Some PIs require resource allocation or further changes to be made which link into actions in the Council Plan and occur in tandem with performance management and monitoring. The Chief Executive said that he did not think the Council is in a position financially to be introducing new systems across the board and that there is a risk in the short term that transitioning to a new system could cause disruption thereby affecting service delivery and performance especially in service areas where the pressures are already high. Notwithstanding, alternative methodologies could be trialled in a more limited way to see whether they make a difference. He further clarified that PIs and targets will be reviewed at the end of Quarter 4 to ensure they are relevant and appropriate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To present the report of the Head of Housing Services.

The report of the Head of Housing Services incorporating the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan for 2025 to 2055 was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The HRA Business Plan sets out how resources will be spent to maintain, improve, and develop the Council’s housing stock.

The report was presented by Councillor Robin Williams, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Member for Finance and Housing who explained that councils in Wales with a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) are required to prepare a HRA Business Plan for submission to Welsh Government in order to qualify for a Major Repairs Allowance. The Plan sets out the Council’s strategies for maintaining and improving its housing stock as well as demonstrating its commitment to the Welsh Housing Quality Standards 2 2023. The Portfolio Member said that formulating a viable Plan this year had been more challenging due to the fact that rental income has not kept pace with costs and is now insufficient to meet all the Council’s housing expenditure arising from the requirements of WHQS 2 2023 and other expenses.

The Head of Housing Services in confirming that the Plan to be submitted for Executive approval at the end of the month will incorporate all the relevant financial details, referred to highlights within the Plan in terms of housing development and investment in existing housing saying that over the 30 year period the Council is aiming to develop 1,400 additional units with £252m of expenditure on the current housing stock. Over five years, £38m will be spent on responsive repairs, 225 additional units will be developed including the planned extra care provision in Menai Bridge and £49m will be spent on upgrading the stock to comply with WHQS 2 2023. This level of expenditure will entail borrowing of £70m.

The main points of the ensuing discussion were as follows –

·      Suggestions were made about linking the Council’s social housing policy to the Welsh language and specifically integrating the language within the definition of “local” in order to preserve and promote the language and Welsh speaking communities on the island.

The Head of Housing Service advised that among the qualifying criteria for social housing specified in the current housing allocations policy is a connection with Anglesey which includes but is not limited to having been resident or employed in the area for five years. Applicants with a community connection would have priority over those with no connection in line with the policy thereby helping to preserve communities. The Portfolio Member for Finance and Housing said that he would be willing to look at any evidence of communities having been affected from a language perspective by the application of the current allocation policy.

·      The ways in which the HRA Business Plan enables the Council to realise the priorities of the Council Plan 2023-2028

The Portfolio Member for Finance and Housing explained that the HRA Business Plan in setting ambitious targets for housing development, bringing empty homes back into use and buying back former council houses seeks to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To present the report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property.

The report of the Head of Highways, Waste and Property incorporating the Flood Risk Strategic Plan was presented for the Committee’s consideration and scrutiny.

The report was presented by Councillor Nicola Roberts, Portfolio Member for Planning, Public Protection and Climate Change on behalf of Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas, Portfolio Member for Highways, Waste and Property who had tendered an apology for absence. She reported that under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 the Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, has a duty to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management. The Flood Risk Management Strategic Plan sets out the Council’s ambitions for managing flood risk in Anglesey for a six year period, consistent with the objectives, measures and related policies and legislation set out in the National Strategy.

In the subsequent discussion, the committee raised the following matters –

·      Whether the Council has considered ways in which it can improve public engagement with the consultation process.

The Portfolio Member for Planning, Public Protection and Climate Change explained that the public consultation took place over six weeks and made use of multiple channels to ensure that it was accessible including drop in events, e-mail, social media, online questionnaire and radio interview. The Head of Highways, Waste and Property confirmed that the consultation process was conducted in accordance with Council guidelines which are regularly reviewed for effectiveness. It may be the case that people who are not directly impacted by the subject matter are less inclined to participate.

·      The ways in which the Strategic Plan aligns with the Council Plan and its relation to Planning Technical Advice Note 15 (Development, Flooding and Coastal Erosion)

The Head of Highways Waste and Property referred to the legislation which requires the Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management which then aligns with the Council Plan in terms of the Council’s objectives for climate change. The Head of Highways Waste and Property highlighted the reference in the strategy to the SAB (Sustainable Drainage Approval Board) which is separate from the planning process and ensure that proposed development sites are suitable from the perspective of managing flooding both on site and within the wider community.

·      Reference was made to the situation in Dwyran and in Menai Bridge and to the progress and status of plans and works in those areas, the responsibilities of the agencies involved and whether there should be enhanced efforts to expedite matters.

The Head of Highways, Waste and Property updated members on the position in the two specific areas and confirmed that the Council and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have different responsibilities with regard to managing flood risk and that they work collaboratively to protect communities against flooding. He confirmed that both the Council and NRW can apply for Welsh Government funding for flood alleviation works and he referred to the factors involved and explained that that there can be greater challenge in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To present the report of the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager incorporating the Committee’s Forward Work Programme to April, 2025 was presented for consideration.

It was resolved –

·      To agree the current version of the Forward Work Programme for 2024/25.

·      To note the progress thus far in implementing the Forward Work Programme.