Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Mold CH7 6NA

Contact: Nicola Gittins on 01352 702345  Email: nicola.gittins@flintshire.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

67.

Presentations

Celebrating our successes:

 

Theatr Clwyd – winner of the ‘Best Musical Production’ category in the 2018 UK Theatre Awards for ‘The Assassination of Katie Hopkins’; and

 

Planning Team – winner of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Wales ‘Wales Planning Award for Excellence’ for The Walks Flint.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Theatr Clwyd

            Winner of the ‘Best Musical Production’ category in the 2018 UK Theatre Awards for ‘The Assassination of Katie Hopkins’

 

                        The Chief Executive congratulated Tamara Harvey and Liam Evans-Ford on the award which was presented at the ceremony on 14th October.  The ground-breaking production of The Assassination of Katie Hopkins was named Best Musical Production in the annual UK Theatre Awards which celebrated outstanding achievements in regional theatre throughout the UK.  It was against strong competition from other nominees such as Miss Littlewood, Pieces of String and Summer Holiday.

 

                        Councillor Butler also congratulated the team on winning the prestigious award and thanked them for the revitalisation of Theatr Clwyd which was now home to engaging performances and was one of Flintshire’s great employers.

 

                        Councillor Sharps also congratulated Tamara Harvey and Liam Ford-Evans for the outstanding achievements since their arrival at the Theatr, which was an asset to the Council and the community.  Theatr Clwyd was a place to be proud of and he paid credit to all of the staff.

 

                        The Chief Executive suggested that a presentation be delivered at a future meeting of County Council by Tamara Harvey and Liam Ford-Evans on the work of the Theatr.

 

            Planning Team

            Winner of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Wales for The Walks, Flint.

 

                        The Chief Executive congratulated the team on winning the award and said The Walks in Flint was the first site to be developed as part of the Council’s Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP), which comprised 92 new council and affordable, energy-efficient homes which had been built by the programme partner, Wates Residential North.

 

                        Councillor Bithell thanked the team for their work and congratulated them on their success in winning the respected award.  He said the work demonstrated how initiatives could be delivered with important outcomes, such as preventing homelessness, reducing fuel poverty and improving living conditions.

 

                        Councillor Aaron Shotton concurred and said it showed value, expertise and professionalism in a service that was often criticised.  The team had created a sense of place and community and the RTPI was for the benefit of the residents of Flintshire.

68.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 108 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 20th November 2018.

Additional documents:

Decision:

That, subject to the above, the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 20th November 2018 were submitted.

 

On minute number 56, Minutes, Councillor Ellis asked that her comments be included in the minutes of 23rd October 2018 in relation to the Notice of Motion on Brexit as follows: “We don’t have the mandate of the residents of Flintshire to support calls for a second referendum”.  Councillor Heesom asked that his comments also be included about Brexit in the same minutes.  Reference to the amendments would be made to the minutes of 20th November 2018.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That, subject to the above, the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

69.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Additional documents:

Decision:

None were received.

 

Minutes:

            None were received.

 

70.

Chairman's Communications

To receive the communications as circulated.

Additional documents:

Decision:

A copy of the Chairman’s Communications had been circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.

 

Minutes:

A copy of the Chairman’s Communications had been circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.

 

            The Chair commented in particular on meeting Anastasia Blease, a 14 year old from Carmel who attended St Richard Gwyn High School.  She was the only Welsh member of Great Britain’s Under 24 Wheelchair Basketball Team, and he expressed his congratulations to her.

 

71.

Petitions

To receive any Petitions.

Additional documents:

Decision:

None were received.

Minutes:

            None were received.

72.

Public Question Time

To receive any Public Questions.

Additional documents:

Decision:

None were received.

 

Minutes:

            None were received.

 

73.

Questions

To note the answers to any questions submitted in accordance with County Council Standing Order No. 9.4(A).

Additional documents:

Decision:

None were received.

 

Minutes:

            None were received.

 

74.

Notices of Motion

To consider any Notices of Motion.

Additional documents:

Decision:

None were received.

 

Minutes:

            None were received.

 

75.

Council Fund Budget 2019/20 – Updated Forecast and Process for Stage 3 of Budget Setting

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the verbal update on the updated budget forecast for 2019/20 be noted; and

 

(b)       That Members of Parliament and local and regional Assembly Members be invited to a meeting with all County Councillors, as soon as possible and preferably before 19th December 2018.

 

Minutes:

The Chief Executive introduced the verbal report on the Council Fund Budget 2019/20 – Updated Forecast and Process for Stage 3 of Budget Setting. 

 

A presentation was delivered by the Chief Executive and the Corporate Finance Manager which focussed on the following areas:

 

·         #BacktheAsk – Campaigning Position;

·         #BacktheAsk – Council Tax;

·         #BacktheAsk – Public Debate;

·         Update on Recent National Funding Announcements;

·         Provisional Settlement Announcements;

·         First Minister Announcements;

·         Updated Budget Forecast for 2019/20;

·         Council Tax – Current Estimates;

·         School Budgets – Teachers Pay;

·         Additional Information ;

·         #BacktheAsk – Refresh;

·         Letter to Cabinet Secretary; and

·         Next Steps and Timelines.

 

The Chief Executive commented on the circular letter of the outgoing First Minister to all local authorities in Wales received later on the afternoon of the County Council meeting on 20th November.  Following a number of specific Flintshire ‘asks’ that had been covered in that letter and granted, an updated letter from himself and the Leader of the Council to the Cabinet Secretaries for Finance and for Local Government and Public Services (on 28th November) as the Council’s formal response to the consultation on the Provisional Settlement.  The letter represented the debate at Council on 20th November.  Copies of both letters had been provided to all Members. 

 

The letter to the Cabinet Secretaries said that the Council believed that Welsh Government (WG) had enough financial flexibility to further improve the Settlement and called for an improved Final Settlement which was to be announced on 19th December.  The letter also explained that if no further improvements were made to the Settlement, Flintshire may have to adopt a Council Tax rise of 9% upwards to balance the budget for 2019/20.  A formal request was made to improve the Settlement whereby Flintshire would benefit from a further minimum £2m of revenue funding.

 

On the Provisional Settlement announcements and additional grants, the Corporate Finance Manager explained the benefit of each to the Council.  He also provided details on how the First Minister’s announcements would benefit Flintshire in 2018/19, and 2019/20.

 

The Chief Executive reiterated that without any further announcements the remaining budget gap of £3.148m, following the updated forecast for 2019/20, would still require an overall Council Tax rise of in the region of 9.3%.  The final increase in the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Levy was still to be confirmed and would have to be added to this Council requirement.  Based on a provisional Levy increase of £0.420m, this would require a further increase of around 0.5% on Council Tax.

 

He explained the situation on teachers’ pay and said the recent announcement allowed the Council to meet the minimum position of providing an uplift to meet the pay award.  Additional funding through a specific grant was expected for 2018/19 which would be passported to schools to contribute to the additional costs incurred in-year.

 

A further report would be made to Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13th December and to Cabinet on 18th December.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

76.

Update Article 7 of the Constitution - Audit Committee Terms of Reference and Charter pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the changes to Article 7 as set out in appendices A and C be approved.

Minutes:

            The Chief Officer (Governance) presented the Update Article 7 of the Constitution – Audit Committee Terms of Reference and Charter report which complied with best practice.

 

            The Audit Committee Charter had been developed to document the role of the Audit Committee within the Council’s Governance Framework.  The Audit Committee Terms of Reference and Charter, and the proposed changes, were agreed at the Audit Committee meeting on 21st November and by the Constitution and Democratic Services Committee on 29th November, subject to a review of the composition of the Committee by Audit Committee members at their next meeting.

 

            As Chair of the Audit Committee, Councillor Helen Brown moved the recommendation.

 

            Councillor Heesom asked if the number of members on the Audit Committee could be increased to 11 for a fairer representation.  The Chief Officer (Governance) explained that was a matter for the Annual Meeting in May.  Councillor Brown suggested that it could be discussed at the Working Group for Chairs of the Audit Committee and each Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the changes to Article 7 as set out in appendices A and C be approved.

77.

Flintshire Electoral Review pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the work undertaken on the review of electoral arrangements for Flintshire be noted.

Minutes:

            The Democratic Services Manager introduced the Flintshire Electoral Review report.  He thanked Members who had attended the recent internal workshop and provided details of the drop in sessions that had been arranged, which would start the following day.

 

            Councillor Attridge moved the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Bithell.

 

            On the point raised by Councillor Dave Healey at the workshop, the Democratic Services Manager confirmed the option presented would be withdrawn as the Caergwrle ward boundary was wrongly shown on the map provided by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission Wales.

 

            Councillor Peers said the second paragraph in the executive summary should read “this means having the same ratio in each electoral ward”, not number of electors.  He said at the workshop there only appeared to be officer suggestions of any wards with 26% or above, and that there was no information made available on variance.  He also asked if Members could have access to registers of adjoining wards.  The Chief Executive said those could be made available at the drop in sessions.  The Democratic Services Manager explained that two tables were available at the workshop, one with comments from Members and the second was officer suggestions based on red and amber areas. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the work undertaken on the review of electoral arrangements for Flintshire be noted.

78.

Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2017/18 be received.

Minutes:

            The Democratic Services Manager introduced the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2017/18 which provided the Council with assurance that the Overview and Scrutiny function was fulfilling its constitutional role.

 

            As Chair and Vice Chair of the Constitution and Democratic Services Committee, Councillors Rita Johnson and Marion Bateman moved and seconded the recommendation respectively.

           

RESOLVED:

 

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2017/18 be received.

79.

Members of the Press and Public in Attendance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was one member of the press and 8 members of the public in attendance.