Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone present to the first Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting of the new Administration and Officers and Members were introduced. The Chair thanked Councillor Aled M. Jones, his predecessor in the role for his and the Committee’s work over the course of the previous five years.

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

No declaration of interest was received.

To present the minutes of the previous meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on the following dates –

·         28 February, 2022

·         7 March, 2022

·         31 May, 2022

The minutes of the previous meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on the following dates were presented –

·                28 February, 2022

·                7 March, 2022

·                31 May, 2022

It was resolved –

·         To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 28 February and 7 March, 2022.

·         To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 31 May, 2022.

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

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 4 of the 2021/22 financial year was presented for the Committee’s consideration and comment. The report portrayed the position of the Council against its operational objectives as outlined and agreed earlier in the year.

Councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas who was Portfolio Member for Corporate Business during this reporting period presented the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 4 which was the fourth and final scorecard report for the 2021/22 financial year and the first of the new Administration. He was pleased to be able to report that 90% of Performance Indicators are at or close to target, and that looking back at the Scorecard over the past five years and how it reflects the Council’s performance he could confirm that performance has gradually improved during that time notwithstanding the challenges posed by austerity and dealing with the pandemic. Specific examples of good performance seen during the year have been provided in the report relating to Adults’ Services, homelessness prevention and the number of empty properties brought back into use.

In acknowledging the positive tenor of the report overall and the solid performance by the Council which it reflected, the Committee also identified the following areas of below target performance which it challenged recognising that these areas will likely influence the approach in the coming year –

·           Indicator 32 – Percentage of waste reused, recycled or composted which was Red with a performance of 62.39% against a local target of 70% and a national statutory target of 64% for the year. This performance is also slightly down on the 62.96% seen at the end of 2020/21.

The Highways, Waste and Property Services’ Business Manager confirmed that the performance for this indicator has fallen short of the 2021/22 statutory target of 64% due partly to the introduction of a paid for green waste collection service which has resulted in a 2,000 ton reduction in the green waste collected and also an increase in black bin waste over the past two years. Officers anticipated concerns around meeting interim and longer term (70% by 2024/25) targets over 12 months ago and for this reason WRAP Cymru (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) was invited to assist the Council with analysing operational performance and making recommendations to help meet required targets. WRAP Cymru is visiting the Island to undertake practical assessments during Q1 and Q2 2022/23 and the results of its analysis are expected to be available during Q3 2022/23. In response to further questions about penalties and/or sanctions for the non-achievement of statutory recycling targets and the part played by increased tourism over the past two years in declining recycling rates/rising rates of black bin waste, the Officer advised that although it is possible for Welsh Government to impose penalties for missing statutory recycling rates it does take into consideration the plans which a local authority has to improve performance and to meet recycling targets in future and in this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To present the report of the Head of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer and Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer and the Scrutiny Manager inviting the Committee to nominate representatives from among its members to serve on the Social Services Scrutiny Panel/Corporate Parenting Panel; Finance Scrutiny Panel and the Education Scrutiny Panel was presented for consideration. The report detailed the scope, function and remit of each panel and set out their reporting arrangements.

It was resolved to nominate the following members to serve on the Panels as noted below –

·                  Social Services Scrutiny Panel/Corporate Parenting Panel (4 members from the Corporate Scrutiny Committee)

Councillors Neville Evans, Jackie Lewis, Llio A. Owen and Alwen Watkin

·                  Finance Scrutiny Panel (3 members from the Corporate Scrutiny Committee)

Councillors Geraint Bebb, Dyfed Wyn Jones, Dafydd Roberts

·                  Education Scrutiny Panel (4 members from the Corporate Scrutiny Committee)

Councillors Dyfed Wyn Jones, Keith Roberts, Alwen Watkin and Arfon Wyn

To present the report of the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager setting out the Corporate Scrutiny Committee’s indicative Forward Work Programme for 2022/23 was presented for consideration.

The Scrutiny Manager referred to the Committee’s next meeting in September, 2022 and confirmed the items to be considered at that meeting. In response to questions about the process for scheduling items on the work programme she advised that this is done in line with a corporate process with the objective being to ensure strategic alignment and cross reference between the Executive’s and Scrutiny’s Forward Work Programmes to enable Scrutiny to consider items that are of strategic importance to the Council prior to their being determined by the Executive. The monthly meetings of the Scrutiny Chairs/Vice-Chairs Forum also provides an opportunity to discuss those matters.

It was resolved –

·         To agree the current version of the Forward Work Programme for 2022/23.

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