· To receive the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Jeff Evans on behalf
of the Independent Group Councillors, requesting that Anglesey County
Council adopts similar proposals as now accepted and in place in
Manchester City Council: -
“A recent Marie Curie report "dying in poverty" found that 28% of working people and 16% of pension age people are in poverty, in their last year of life; these rates significantly higher than people not in the final/ last year of life.
End of life Charity, Marie Curie, worked with Manchester City Council as to 'pioneering 'Council Tax Plans, and said the Council was the first in England to offer full exemption for people with a terminal illness.
Manchester's proposals set out plans for the Council to change its Discretionary Council Tax Policy, to explicitly include a commitment to support people who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition.
Manchester's initiative is intended to ease the burden on family carers and goes a long way to help/ assist with unseen costs, where there is a palliative diagnosis, including powering home medical devices and allowing/ having heating on longer and higher, to help manage symptoms.
Marie Curie is 'urgently' seeking more Councils to adopt a similar approach to Manchester, to help people live out their last months, weeks, days without worrying about Council Tax Bills.
A number of other Councils have now adopted similar proposals to support people with a terminal illness and in the final year of life.”
· To receive the following Notice of Motion by Councillor Jackie Lewis: -
“As an elected member for Talybolion Ward, I very much welcome the
UK Government’s announcement that Small Modular Reactors will be
located at Wylfa.
Anglesey has a proud tradition of energy production at Wylfa Nuclear
Power Station, providing quality employment for the residents of Anglesey
for decades.
However, we are aware of the possible impacts on communities and
residents living nearby and therefore I ask the County Council to ensure the
project delivers maximum local benefits, and to reduce and mitigate any
negative impacts.
We must listen to the views, needs and concerns of residents as the Wylfa
project progresses.
I therefore ask Anglesey Couty Council to work diligently to ensure that the
economic benefits and employment opportunities are predominantly for the
residents of Anglesey by:
· Ensuing employment and supply chain opportunities for local people and businesses
· Working with the Learning Department and partners at Coleg Llandrillo Menai and Bangor University to ensure that our young people have the necessary skills
· Creating circumstances that will allow young people and their families who have already left the island to return
· Ensuring that our language and culture is a golden thread throughout the process.”
Minutes:
· Submitted – a Notice of Motion by Councillor Jeff Evans:-
“A recent Marie Curie report " dying in poverty" found that 28% of working people and 16% of pension age people are in poverty, in their last year of life; these rates significantly higher than people not in the final/ last year of life.
End of life Charity, Marie Curie, worked with Manchester City Council as to 'pioneering 'Council Tax Plans, and said the Council was the first in England to offer full exemption for people with a terminal illness.
Manchester's proposals set out plans for the Council to change its Discretionary Council Tax Policy, to explicitly include a commitment to support people who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition.
Manchester's initiative is intended to ease the burden on family carers and goes a long way to help/ assist with unseen costs, where there is a palliative diagnosis, including powering home medical devices and allowing/ having heating on longer and higher, to help manage symptoms.
Marie Curie is 'urgently' seeking more Councils to adopt a similar approach to Manchester, to help people live out their last months, weeks, days without worrying about Council Tax Bills.
A number of other Councils have now adopted similar proposals to support people with a terminal illness and in the final year of life.
I am submitting this ' Notice of Motion' on behalf of the Independent Group Councillors, requesting that Anglesey County Council, adopts similar proposals as now accepted and in place in Manchester City Council.”
Councillor Paul Ellis seconded the motion.
The Leader of the Council said that he was supportive of Marie Curie’s initiative for support of people with a terminal illness and in the final year of life, and it will be considered as part of budget setting process.
Councillor Nicola Roberts said that she supported the Motion and reminded that Citizens Advice is available to support people in poverty and illness and there is support for people through the Council Tax Discretionary Relief Scheme.
Councillor Robert Ll Jones said that there is a need to consider the implications of the discretionary relief as noted within the Motion and he questioned as to whether the Council Tax exemption would cease on the death of a person and what effect it would have if the person was already in receipt of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. He further questioned whether the discount would be for the person or on the property with other people living in the dwelling and liable for Council Tax.
Councillor Aled Morris Jones said that there is an adequate period to consider the implications of the proposal to next years budget. The Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which is supported by Welsh Government, is available and it would not burden the taxpayers of Anglesey. He noted that the Motion before the Council is to show dignity to persons that have a terminal illness and in the final year of their life.
The Leader responded that scheme is available to support people, but the Motion is the request by Marie Curie to treat people with dignity in the final months of their lives. He noted that any proposals will be considered as part of the budget setting process.
It was AGREED, in principle, to support the Marie Curie initiative to seek full exemption from paying Council Tax to people with a terminal illness in the last year of their lives.
Councillor Robert Ll Jones did not vote in favour of the Motion.
· Submitted, a Notice of Motion by Councillor Jackie Lewis:-
‘As an elected member for Talybolion Ward, I very much welcome the UK Government’s announcement that Small Modular Reactors will be located at Wylfa.
Anglesey has a proud tradition of energy production at Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, providing quality employment for the residents of Anglesey for decades.
However, we are aware of the possible impacts on communities and residents living nearby and therefore I ask the County Council to ensure the project delivers maximum local benefits, and to reduce and mitigate any negative impacts.
We must listen to the views, needs and concerns of residents as the Wylfa project progresses.
I therefore ask Anglesey Couty Council to work diligently to ensure that the economic benefits and employment opportunities are predominantly for the residents of Anglesey by:
· Ensuing employment and supply chain opportunities for local people and businesses;
· Working with the Learning Department and partners at Coleg Llandrillo Menai and Bangor University to ensure that our young people have the necessary skills;
· Creating circumstances that will allow young people and their families who have already left the island to return;
Councillor Robin Williams seconded the motion.
Councillor Aled Morris Jones proposed an addition to the Motion to recognise and appreciate the work and initiative by Ms Gwen Parry Jones the former CEO of Great British Nuclear who has been instrumental in securing the location of Small Modular Reactors in the Wylfa Site and to invite her to a future meeting of the Council. He said that Ms Gwen Parry Jones has been involved in the nuclear sector for many years and it is a duty on the Council to show recognision for a person from Anglesey to ensure the future of the nuclear industry on the Wylfa site.
Councillor Derek Owen seconded the addition to the Motion.
The addition on the Motion was approved.
The Leader of the Council also wished to recognise the work by Ms Gwen Parry Jones as the former CEO of Great British Nuclear. He noted that listening the comments of the residents of the Island was important when Horizon was considering a new development on the Wylfa Site and the lessons learnt by the Economic Department as part of the Ynys Ynni project, need to be considered and the benefits from such a new development on the site is undertaken. The Authority will work closly with Great British Nuclear to reflect the ambitions of the local community and the Island.
Councillor Aled Morris Jones said that it is important that Great British Nuclear affords the Council specific dates, especially when the Development Consent Order is submitted by the company. He noted that whilst lessons need to be learnt from the Horizon project, it must be realised that the Great British Nuclear project is completely different as these will be medium sized reactors. The employment opportunities will result in 3,000 jobs during construction 1,000 jobs available thereafter. The final Investment Decision is important as well as when the costruction will commence. He further said that there needs to be community consent and to ensure employment for future generations for the young people of Anglesey.
Councillor Kenneth P Hughes referred to the delegation from the UK Government and Welsh Government who attended Coleg Menai when the announcement was made that the SMRs were to be built on the Wylfa site and noted that it was disappointing that representation from the Authority were not invited to attend. He further said that it is hoped that the development will materialise on the Wylfa Site as there is a dire need for employment on the Island.
Councillor Gwilym O Jones said that it is hoped that there will be opportunities for local young people and for those who have had to move to work away to be able to return to their local communities.
Councillor Derek Owen said that the Community Councils, and especially those in the North of the Island, needs to be informed and supported during the development on the Wylfa Site.
Councillor Robert Ll Jones said that it must be considered that there are people on the Island who have their doubt as regards to nuclear developments and if there was a need for evacuation due to an incident on the Wylfa site, the infrastructure as regards to the bridges is a problem. He considered that people should be invited to the Council to explain their concerns as regards to the development on the Wylfa site. The Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer advised that, while a decision for the Chair, she did not consider that the proposal was relevant to the Notice of Motion, as amended.
Councillor Ken Taylor said that there are significant issues that needs to be addressed as regards to what will be done with the waste from the site, if there is community and Island benefits from the new development and whether the Island’s residents will have reduction in their electricity bills. He noted that following the closure of the former Wylfa site, the town of Amlwch is suffering from lack of financial gain from the closure of the site.
Councillor Pip O’Neill agreed that safety is paramount as regards to nuclear development on the site and caution is required as regards to pressure for timetable for dates as regards to the project at Wylfa.
The Leader of the Council said that there is respect to the people who have concerns as to the development on the Wylfa site and there is a need to listen and discuss such concerns. He considered strongly that there is also support for the development at Wylfa and people from the Island have had good employment on the former Wylfa site for several years; economic and employment benefits from the new development on the site should be welcomed to ensure that the future generation of young people will have the opportunity to gain employment and for some to be able to return to work on the Island.
It was RESOLVED to approve the Motion with the following addition to acknowledge the work undertaken by Ms Gwen Parry Jones, the former CEO of Great British Nuclear in her efforts to secure the location of Small Modular Reactors in the Wylfa Site and to invite Ms Gwen Parry Jones to a future meeting of the Council.