Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Delyn Committee Room, County Hall, Mold CH7 6NA

Contact: Maureen Potter 01352 702322  Email: maureen.potter@flintshire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

14.

Declarations of Interest (Including Whipping Declarations)

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Minutes:

Councillor Veronica Gay declared a personal interest in agenda item number 4 ‘Community Asset Transfer – Review of Progress’ as she was a member of Sandy Lane Community Centre Community Asset Transfer (CAT).

 

Councillor Jones declared a personal interest in agenda item number 4 ‘Community Asset Transfer – Review of Progress’ as he was Chair of Holywell Leisure Centre and Landlord of Holywell Library and café.

15.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 17 July 2017.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting on 17th July 2017 were submitted.

 

Councillor Dunbar asked if there was an update on the plans for Phases 3 and 4 of County Hall.  The Chief Executive provided some background information and explained that Phases 3 and 4 of County Hall were, in the main, vacant and had consolidated into Phases 1 and 2.  Consideration was now being given to a part transition of the workforce based here to Unity House, Ewloe.  A business case for changed office accommodation provision was under development.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

16.

Community Asset Transfer - Review of Progress pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Decision:

(a)       That the Committee note the report and support the work undertaken in relation to the Community Asset Transfer programme of work; and

 

(b)       That the supporting role Community Asset Transfer can play in developing Community Resilience be noted.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) introduced the report which explained that this was the third year of implementation and support of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) plan.

 

There had been some key large scale asset transfers, notably Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool which was now being run and managed by Cambrian Aquatics, and more recently Holywell Leisure Centre, which had been the largest and most complex asset transferred to date.

 

The Council remained committed to supporting the CAT programme and had undertaken a number of year one reviews as part of its commitment to understand their ongoing commitment and contribution to Community Benefits.

 

Details of the other assets which had progressed through legal completion or were in the final stages of legal completion were detailed in the report.  The Chief Officer suggested that feedback from some of the groups in the CAT programme could form part of a future Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting where they could attend and speak about their own projects which was supported.

 

The groups were developing wider skill sets within their local communities which were both transferable and which created community resilience.  This was an important concept and added additional value to the CAT process by creating more resilient communities which were able to support each other through developing new skills, confidence and knowledge.

 

            Councillor Dunbar said he was pleased with the CAT of Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool and asked how it was funded.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) explained that a meeting had taken place the previous week with Cambrian Aquatics and he was pleased to report that there had been a substantial increase to the number of swimming lessons being given since the CAT had commenced.  He said the funding agreement from the Council had been for three years and it was now in the third year.  A Business Plan had been suggested for the next three years but the financial position of Cambrian Aquatics was sound.  In response to a question from Councillor Dunbar on the Mill Lane Allotments in Connah’s Quay, the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) said this had transferred to the Town Council so the legal entity resided with the Town Council.

 

            Councillor Shotton welcomed the report and praised Cambrian Aquatics for the work they had done since the CAT, commenting on the thriving swimming club.  He also said good progress was being made at Connah’s Quay Youth Club.  In response to a comment from Councillor Shotton, the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) said the Golftyn Park ‘Our Back Yards’ initiative was part of a lottery bid which the Council supported.

 

            The Chief Executive welcomed the remarkable progress that had been made with CATs.  He commented on the proposal from Welsh Government (WG) that a fundamental review should take place on the role of Town and Community Councils.  A suggested response from Flintshire could be that a key role of them was to now maintain CATs and request that they be able to draw on central funding for that support.

 

RESOLVED:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Council Plan 2017-23 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the committee supports the structure, format and content of the “public” version of the Council (Improvement) Plan for 2017-23; and

 

(b)       That the committee supports the targets and milestones in the Measure and Milestones document (appendix 2) to the Council (Improvement) Plan 2017-23 with the following observations to the Cabinet for their consideration:

 

·         Priority: Green Council

Section 3: Maximising the potential of Council assets for energy efficiency: Control/reduction of Council energy consumption and thereby cost. Addition to content.

·         Priority: Serving Council

Section 5: Digital Strategy and Customer Strategies: Improved digital infrastructure access for homes and business across the County. Add a national issue on infrastructure development, Government investment, and the performance of suppliers.  Addition to content.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) introduced the Council Plan 2017-23 report which had been reviewed and refreshed to reflect the key priorities of the Council for the five year term of the new administration.

 

            The structure of the plan remained the same as previous plans and now comprised six priorities and relevant sub priorities.  The six priorities took a long term view of projects and ambitions over the next five years.

 

            He commented on the priority ‘Connected Council’ and the links to Community Asset Transfers (CATs) and Alternative Delivery Models (ADMs).  This was the opportunity for the Organisational Change Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide any feedback on specific areas to Cabinet for consideration prior to submission to County Council.

 

            Councillor Shotton said the impact of welfare reform was a concern to him and access to digital services.  Universal Credit was an on line system so he welcomed the measure on ‘Supportive Council: Protecting people from poverty’ of Delivering Personal Budgeting and Digital Support Services’ which related to the local impact of the full service Universal Credit roll out.

 

            On ‘Supportive Council: Integrated Community Social & Health Services’, Councillor Jones felt the words ‘at home’ should be removed from Impact 1) Enabling more people to live independently and well at home, citing examples of where people did live independently and well, however not necessarily at home, but in places like Llys Jasmine.  The Chief Executive explained that the words ‘at home’ were not literal and it was recognised that where people chose to live was a personal choice.

 

            In response to a question from Councillor Jones, the Cabinet Member for Education explained that, in relation to Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), it was important that existing schools remained viable and aimed to improve, alongside the aim to increase the number of facilities where Welsh was delivered.

 

            On ‘Green Council: Sustainable Development & Environmental Management’, Section 3: Maximising the potential of Council assets for energy efficiency, Councillor Jones said there was no reference as to where energy consumption would be reduced.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) explained the process for managing systems on the campus, some of which were operated remotely and it was important that employees were aware of the ‘no cost / low cost’ message.  It was agreed that the words ‘Control/reduction of Council energy consumption and thereby cost’ would be recommended to Cabinet for consideration.

 

            On ‘Serving Council: Improving Resource Management, Section 5: Digital Strategy and Customer Strategies, Councillor Jones commented on the ongoing problems that the villages within his ward had on trying to access the internet.  There were a number of businesses that operated in those areas and relied on internet access which was not yet accessible.  The Chief Executive said similar views had been expressed at a recent meeting of Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that the Council should be more influential over the infrastructure and network providers.

 

            Councillor Gay concurred with the views of Councillor Jones and commented on the services being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Forward Work Programme (Organisational Change) pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be amended to reflect the items agreed; and

 

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

Minutes:

The Community and Education Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the Forward Work Programme report which had been updated following the last meeting of the Committee.

 

It was suggested that a special meeting be arranged for the Committee to receive Stage 1 of the budget which was agreed.

 

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) suggested that Newydd and Aura be invited to attend meetings twice a year.  One meeting would be to receive a mid-year review, providing examples of good practice, with the second being an opportunity for the Committee to receive their Business Plans for the forthcoming year.  This was supported.

 

The Chief Officer also suggested that two slots be allocated to the Social Care Alternative Delivery Model (ADM).  The first meeting would be to receive a mid-year check on how they were performing in-year with examples of good practice, and the second meeting being an opportunity for the Committee to receive their Business Plan for the forthcoming year.  In supporting that suggestion, it was also agreed that the Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members also be invited to attend the meeting for the Social Care ADM review, which was currently scheduled for 27th November, noting that the date might change.

 

It was suggested and agreed that a representative from Cambrian Aquatics be invited to the meeting on 29th January 2018 and that the meeting be held in one of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) venues.

 

The Committee agreed to invite the Chief Executive of BT to a future meeting to explain the wider Open Reach strategy to Members, following earlier concerns raised around digital access in rural parts of the County.  Councillor Jones suggested that this be arranged for after Welsh Government (WG) had published its findings following a recent consultation exercise on broadband needs, which would inform the next stage of the rollout to take place in early 2018.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be amended to reflect the items agreed; and

 

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

19.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985 - TO CONSIDER THE EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as the following item was considered to be exempt by virtue of paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

20.

Leisure and Libraries Alternative Delivery Model Review

Decision:

That the work taken place to establish the Alternative Delivery Model (ADM) in Leisure, Libraries and Heritage Services be noted and supported.

Minutes:

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) introduced the Leisure and Libraries Alternative Delivery Model Review report which reviewed the set up arrangements of Aura Leisure and Libraries Ltd. who had started operation of the Council’s Leisure, Libraries and Heritage Services from 1st September 2017.

 

            Appendices to the report included:

 

·         The final signed off delegated powers report to approve set up;

·         The Memorandum of Understanding between Flintshire County Council and Aura Leisure and Libraries Ltd.; and

·         The Funding Agreement between Flintshire County Council and Aura Leisure and Libraries Ltd.

 

The Managing Director of Aura was present to answer any questions and thanked the Committee for the invitation to the meeting.  He said that a lot of work had been undertaken and he commented on the supportive and positive relationship with the Council.

 

The Cabinet Member for Education welcomed the report and said it was a good example of a positive partnership.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Dunbar, the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) said that under this structure smaller libraries had more protection.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the work taken place to establish the Alternative Delivery Model (ADM) in Leisure, Libraries and Heritage Services be noted and supported.

21.

Members of the press and public in attendance

Minutes:

There were no members of the press and public in attendance.