· To submit the following question on notice by Councillor Peter S Rogers to the Leader of the Council :-
“Like all of us you will be fully aware of the resentment and concern that is being shown by Anglesey ratepayers following your decision to increase the Executive Membership of this Authority to 9 members.
In these exceptional austere times how on earth can you justify this extravagance?”
· To submit the following question on notice by Councillors A M Jones and Bryan Owen to the Leader of the Council :-
“Following the decision to stop the tendering process for home care, what and how much were the costs to the Council?”
Minutes:
· Submitted - the following question on notice by Councillor Peter S Rogers to the Leader of the Council :-
“Like all of us you will be fully aware of the resentment and concern that is being shown by Anglesey ratepayers following your decision to increase the Executive membership of this Authority to 9 members.
In these exceptional austere times how on earth can you justify this
extravagance?”
The Leader of the Council responded that Welsh Government has
acknowledged the need for the increase in the membership of this Authority’s Executive. She wished to reiterate that the increase to the membership of the Executive will have no financial burden to the authority only the increase in capacity of the Executive.
Councillor Rogers said that the Deputy Leader does not claim his allowance but he questioned if this situation was to change it could have a financial burden on the Authority. The Leader of the Council said that she would respond to the issue if the matter was to arise. Councillor Rogers further asked that since the Energy Island and other energy development are important to the Authority why was the County Council not represented at the ‘Energy Targets for Wales Stakeholders Workshop’hosted by Welsh Government held in Cardiff in July.
The Leader of the Council responded by noting that capacity was one of the reasons for not attending the Stakeholders Workshop in Cardiff which is an example why the increase in membership of the Executive was required.
· Submitted – the following question on notice by Councillors A M Jones and Bryan Owen to the Leader of the Council :-
“Following the decision to stop the tendering process for home care, what and how much were the costs to the Council?”
The Leader of the Council responded that the decision to go out to tender as regard to the home care service was taken by the previous administration of the Council. She wished to thank the members of the Opposition Groups for attending the sessions to assess the respective tenders. A decision was undertaken to stop the tendering process and to revisit the matter with the Health Authority. The costs associated to both the Authority and the Health Authority as regard to this process has been staff time only.
Councillor Bryan Owen questioned as to why it had taken to the last minute to stop the tendering process when it had taken three days to interview the companies who had tendered for the home care services. He questioned as to the costs incurred by these companies to prepare a tender and attending the interview at the Council and that the Authority could face compensation from the companies involved. He said that the Leader had separated the Portfolio of Housing and Social Service to provide better support for both services and questioned whether she will go back to the Independent Remuneration Panel to
ask for another Portfolio Member on the Executive?
The Leader of the Council responded that as Portfolio Holder for Social
Services she has always given significant time to her role as Portfolio Lead. She said that her duty is to ensure that this Authority provides the best possible service to the people of Anglesey. She confirmed that the Authority and the Health Service were of the joint opinion that the tendering process should be stopped to ensure that the correct procedure was followed.