Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor Jeff Evans declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Items 6 & 8 as he is a Governor at Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi and family members working at the school.  Following the granting of a dispensation by the Standards Committee – Dispensation Panel held on 9 October, 2025 he was allowed to take part and vote in respect of these items.

Councillor Keith Roberts declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Items 6 & 8 as he is a Governor and Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi. Following the granting of a dispensation by the Standards Committee – Dispensation Panel held on 9 October, 2025 he was allowed to take part and vote in respect of these items.

Councillor Robert Ll Jones declared a personal interest in Items 6 & 8 as he has a family member working at the school.

Councillor Ieuan Williams declared a personal interest in Items 6 & 8 as he has been co-opted on the Governors of Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi.

To present the minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 17 September 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 17 September 2025 were confirmed as correct, subject to the name of Councillor Llio Angharad Owen in the members present. 

Actions from the last meeting

·         That updated data regarding population trends be presented to a future members’ briefing session.  – Programmed as an item for a future members’ briefing session.

·         The Portfolio Member for Leisure, Tourism and Maritime to discuss activity scheduling with the MônActif Manager including the feasibility of weekend and early/late sessions – Action completed as the Portfolio Member for Leisure, Tourism and Maritime has discussed the timetables in full with the MônActif Team.

·         That a quarterly report on the Council’s climate related activities and progress towards achieving net zero status be included as a standing item on the committee’s agenda, subject to the matter being first considered by the Political Group Leaders meeting.  – Action completed – Matter discussed at the Political Group Leaders meeting held on 2 October, 2025 and it was considered that clear and suitable arrangements are in place as regards to climate change issues and that regular updates be afforded when it is timely and appropriate.

To present the report of the Director of Social Services.

The North Wales Regional Partnership Board Annual Report (Part 9 : Health and Social Services) 2024/2025 was presented for consideration by the committee.

The Portfolio Member for Adults’ Services and Community Safety said that the aim of the North Wales Partnership Board is to work collaboratively across health and social care services to help support resilient communities and to ensure a seamless service for individuals that require care and support.  He referred that the Board includes members from the 6 local authorities in North Wales, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Fire & Rescue Service, North Wales Police, North Wales Ambulance Service and the third sector organisations.  He expressed that the Board has developed considerably since its establishment to be an effective equal partnership across the region. Workshops have been established to discuss different elements of the work of the Board which has added value.  The 6 Portfolio Members with responsibility for Social Services across the North Wales local authorities also meet on a monthly basis.

The Director of Social Services reported that the Authority benefits from the work undertaken regionally as the Authority is an equal partner within the Regional Partnership Board.  He referred to the local projects to Anglesey as is noted within the report.  As a partner in the Partnership Board the Authority is able to secure  additional grants funding towards projects for the benefits of the residents of Anglesey.  This aligns with the priorities set out in the Council Plan 2023-2028.  He further noted that the partner organisations can learn lessons as regards to different projects from each other, with every county having now established a similar project as the Cartrefi Clyd project, established by this Authority.  £4 million investments have been undertaken in these projects across North Wales.  

Mr Jospeh Griffiths from the North Wales Regional Partnership Board said that a number of projects have been established on Anglesey.  Canolfan Glanhwfa in Llangefni is an example which has a Dementia support facility.  An Extra Care facility has also been supported in Menai Bridge.   He referred to the Regional Integrated Fund which is shared between the 6 local authorities and the Health Board and examples of the projects that have benefited from the funding was highlighted within the report.  

The following were points of discussion by the Committee:-

·             Reference was made that it is noted in the report that the Regional Partnership Board questions its own governance structure.  It was noted that there is a lack of regional scrutiny process within the Board. It was suggested that each local authority should scrutinise one of the 6 models of care provision highlighted within the report or a Regional Scrutiny Committee needs to be established. 

·             Reference was made that it was considered that the report is unclear as to the value the support given from the Board to people requiring additional support within the health and social care provision.

·             Reference was made to the Action Plan included within the report.  It was noted that there is a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To present the NWC-REPS annual report for 2024/25.

The North Wales Councils’ Regional Emergency Planning Service Annual Report for 2024/2025 was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Member for Economic Development said that the Annual Report provides an overview of the service’s activity during 2023/24. The Council has emergency planning and response duties under the relevant legislation and regulations and is a principal responder. The Council meets its obligations by collaborating with the North Wales Local Authorities through the North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service.  The report summarises both regional activity during the year regarding incident management and emergency response as well as activity within the six North Wales Local Authorities individually. He noted that this Annual Report includes considerable details of the work undertaken and the purpose of the Regional Emergency Planning Service.

The Regional Manager for the North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service said that considerable work has been undertaken by the Service due to increase in storms and weather warnings that have occurred and especially Storm Darragh and recently Storm Amy.  She noted that significant work has also been undertaken by the Service with the Charter for the Bereaved.  The Regional Emergency Planning Service have been an integral part of the Menai Task and Finish Group focusing on the simultaneous closure of the bridges.  She expressed that the Service is primarily established to reduced duplication across North Wales and ensured the availability of increased resources for the local authorities.

In scrutinising the Annual Report, the following matters were discussed by the committee:-

·         Reference was made to the concerns as regards to the sudden closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge recently.  It was expressed that it is evident that Welsh Government is not listening to the concerns of the local community as the bridge closed without warning recently which cause considerable delays; concerns were also expressed that if the Britannia Bridge was also needed to be closed this could cause considerable distribution on the Island to the Emergency Services taking patients to Ysbyty Gwynedd and children and young people in schools and colleges.  Concerns were also expressed that the businesses in Menai Bridge are extremely affected by closure of the Suspension Bridge with people avoiding the area.   Questions were raised as to whether there is an update as to the timeframe for finishing the work on the Menai Suspension Bridge. 

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Member for Economic Development responded that the Regional Emergency Planning Service is not responsible for the closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge nor the lack of maintenance of the bridge.  He reminded the Committee that the Regional Emergency Planning Service responsibility is to plan and manage the situation when both bridges are closed due to storms and weather warnings.  He referred to a recent storm when the situation arose for the potential need to close Britannia Bridge and the restrictions on the Menai Suspension Bridge.  The responsibility of the Regional Emergency Service is to put in place an Action Plan to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To present the report of the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager incorporating the Committee’s Forward Work Programme to April 2026 was presented for consideration.  

The Committee requested that the IT based business continuity needed to be included in the Forward Work Programme.

It was RESOLVED:-

·         To agree the current version of the Forward Work Programme for 2025/2026, subject to the inclusion of an item to be discussed regarding IT based business continuity.

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

To present the report of the Director of Education, Skills, and Young People.

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the report focuses on the outcome of the consultation process on the proposal to relocated Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to a new school building.  The Council has a duty under the School Organisation Code to consult with stakeholders when considering school reorganisation proposals.  A consultation process was undertaken between 5 June, 2025 to 17 July, 2025 to relocate Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to a new site.  Consultation was undertaken with children and young people regarding the proposal to relocate the school to a new site.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People reported that 79% of responders agreed with the proposal to relocate Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to a new school building for 11 to 18 year olds.  He noted that 20% of the comments received by stakeholders considered that the proposed site to relocate the school is too far from the middle of the town, that the current building should be updated or rebuilding on the current site.

In considering the report the following comments were made:-

·       Questions were raised as to whether there will be a provision for ALN learners as part of the proposal as the ALN guidance for schools in Wales supports learners from birth to 25-year-old.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the is to relocate Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to a new school building for 11–18-year-old learners.

The Chief Executive said that collaboration occurs between the Social Services and Education Departments when a young person with ALN needs reaches 18-year-old to support their educational needs.

It was RESOLVED:-

·         To approve the proposal, following the outcome of the statutory consultation to relocate Ysgol Uwchardd Caergybi to a new school building for 11–18-year-olds.

·         To authorise Officers to publish a statutory notice of the proposal.

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 RESLVED to adopt 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.”

To present the report of the Director of Education, Skills, and Young People.

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People was presented to the Committee for consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) contains a case for a new school building for Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi to replace the current building by September 2030.  The new school building would accommodate pupils currently at Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi and any additional pupils from the catchment area.  Details of the funding proposals to build a new school were outlined to the Committee.

The Local Members, invited to the Committee were unanimously supportive of the recommendations put forward as outlined within the report.

Having discussed the Strategic Outline Case and funding proposal to build a new school it was RESOLVED to recommend to the Executive as follows:-  

·                 To approve the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for the new school building for Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi;

·                 To approve the submission of the SOC to Welsh Government by 8 January, 2026 for the Business Case Scrutiny Group meeting a fortnight later;

·                 To approve ring fencing capital receipts from the sale of the present Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi site to repay part of the Council’s investment towards the construction of the new school building for Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi;

·                 To delegate authority to the Director of Education, Skills and Young People in consultation with the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer and the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer to amend the SOC if necessary – if the changes do not result in material changes (in terms of policy, principles, financial contribution, risks and harm to third parties);

·                 To ring fence developer funds from housing developments within the Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi catchment area to contribute towards the cost of the project.