Issue - meetings

(a)               That the reports be received;

(b)               That a report on the financial impact of Welfare Reform be considered by the Committee at a future date; and

(c)        That the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development provide further details on the policy on subsistence claims. 

Legal and Democratic Services

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services introduced a report to request that the Committee consider the 2012/13 Quarter 1 service performance reports, note the position of the Strategic Assessment of Risks and Challenges (SARC) contained within the performance reports and note progress made against the Improvement Targets contained within the performance reports.  He gave a short presentation on the performance within Legal and Democratic Services, outlining work which had been undertaken to improve performance and areas where improvement was needed, as outlined within the report. 

The Chairman asked if an estimate could be provided of when the risk for data protection could be reported as green in the SARC document.  The Chief Executive explained that it was a specific risk but should be amber or green next year. 

Councillor C.S. Carver commented on the small number of Members who attended the Code of Conduct training sessions.  He also asked if letters which did not specifically refer to being a Freedom of Information request were included in the figures reported as being received and determined.  The Chief Executive and Head of Legal and Democratic Services confirmed that the figures were indicative of the number of questions which specifically mentioned being a Freedom of Information request. 

In response to a question from Councillor P. Curtis, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that the 51 new parking prosecutions were those which had been taken to Court and not just the number of people who had been given parking tickets.  He added that the figures did not include prosecutions undertaken by North Wales Police. 

Councillor R. Lloyd asked if the turnout for voting could be increased.  The Chief Executive said that the Authority did all it could to encourage voters and the Chairman said that candidates could also remind the public about voting when they were visiting areas in the run up to the elections. 

            Finance

The Head of Finance introduced a report to request that the Committee consider the 2012/13 Quarter 1 service performance reports, note the position of the Strategic Assessment of Risks and Challenges (SARC) contained within the performance reports and note progress made against the Improvement Targets contained within the performance reports.  She gave a short presentation on the performance within Finance, outlining work which had been undertaken to improve performance and areas where improvement was needed, as outlined within the report. 

The Leader of the Council explained that a substantial risk to the Council was the introduction of the Welfare Reform and that an early estimate for the new Council Tax Support Scheme was that it could cost £2m in 2013/14.  An announcement was awaited on the amount of funding which would be available from Welsh Government.  The Welfare Reform Board, which was open to all Cabinet Members and Group Leaders and other partner organisations, had recently been established with the risk of costs being identified as a key priority for those on the Board.  The Head of Finance said that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24