Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2017.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held 27 September 2017 had been circulated with the agenda

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

The Monitoring Officer advised that a personal interest would be recorded on behalf of all Members present for item 11 – Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report for 2018/19.

To receive the communications as circulated.

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

The Chairman commented on the successful Flintshire Business Awards Gala evening which was held on 20 October, and thanked all involved for their hard work.  He also drew attention to the ceremony to celebrate 25 years of engine manufacturing in Wales which had been held at Toyota Manufacturing (UK) Limited, and the Japanese Youth Exchange presentation evening which had taken place in County Hall the previous evening. He commented that both events had been excellent.   The Chairman concluded by thanking all who had made a contribution to his Charity event. 

To receive any Petitions.

Councillors Dennis Hutchinson and Mike Peers presented a petition on behalf of local residents for Mount Pleasant Road, Drury, Buckley, to become a one-way system.  Councillors Hutchinson and Peers commented on the concerns raised by residents in the area for the safety of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, due to the high risk of a traffic collision and the actions requested to address the  risk. 

To receive any Public Questions.

None were received.

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

None were received.

To consider any Notices of Motion.

None were received.

(a)       That the positive progress made in meeting the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the commitments for further improvement be endorsed; and

            (b)       That the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report be approved

The Chief Executive presented the report which was the first Annual Report of Flintshire County Council’s Armed Forces Covenant.  He advised that the report outlined the progress and commitment of the Authority and its partners who had signed the Covenant to support the Armed Forces Community.   He explained that the  North Wales Fire and Rescue Service had also joined the Flintshire Covenant and had formally signed the Covenant in a short ceremony prior to today’s meeting of the Council.  The Chief Executive asked that Members considered endorsing the positive progress made in meeting the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the commitments for further improvement and approved the Annual Report prior to its publication on the Council’s website.  The Chief Executive invited Councillor Andrew Dunbobbin to speak on the item as the Council’s Armed Forces Champion.

                        In moving the report Councillor Dunbobbin referred to the positive comments made by the Welsh Government (WG) concerning the work undertaken in Flintshire and specifically the work for schools to capture data on whether any pupils or students were children of serving members of the Armed Forces, and the offer of guaranteed interviews for veterans who meet the essential criteria of the job role.  

                        Councillor Clive Carver congratulated the Authority on producing the Armed Forces Covenant, however, referring to the areas for improvement detailed in paragraph 1.05 the report, he felt that there was an omission in the objective “for schools to start capturing whether any pupils/students are children of serving members of the Armed Forces” and suggested the wording in Flintshire’s Covenant should be amended to include “children of both serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces”.  The Chief Executive acknowledged the point made by Councillor Carver and gave an assurance that the work was applied to both serving and veteran members and it was agreed that the wording would be amended to provide clarification.   

Councillor Tudor Jones referred to the promotion of the WG free swimming initiative for veterans and armed forces personnel which was available at four swimming pools in the County and asked whether this facility could be made  available at all the swimming pools in the County.  Councillor Jones also commented on the work being undertaken to restore a war memorial in Ysceifiog and asked Councillor Dunbobbin if he could provide information on any funding which the local community may be able to apply for to assist with the project. 

Councillor Dunbobbin advised that funding was available from the WG until 2018 for the  free swimming initiative and was applicable to all leisure services.  He said he would encourage organisations to apply for the funding which was held centrally by the WG.   Referring to the community project to restore a war memorial, Councillor Dunbobbin advised that local communities could apply for funding though the Armed Forces Community Covenant.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) explained how the WG funding for the free swimming initiative for veterans and armed forces personnel was dispersed across swimming pools in Flintshire and advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

That the Annual Performance Report 2016/17 be adopted. 

                        The Chief Executive introduced the report to endorse the 2016/17 Annual Performance Report for the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 prior to publication.  He advised that the Annual Performance Report was a statutory report which provided an overview of the Authority’s performance in achieving its improvement priorities as set out in the 2016/17 Improvement Plan.  The Chief Executive provided background information and context and advised that the Report had to be adopted by Council prior to 31 October 2017.

The Chief Executive and Corporate Business and Communications Manager gave a joint presentation which covered the following areas:

·         the Annual Performance Report

·         Council Plan 2017-2023

·         format and content

·         performance overview 2016/17

·         progress overview

·         highlights

·         areas for improvement

·         performance overview

·         Wales Audit Office – 2016/17 view

·         overview

·         next steps

·         Council Plan

Councillor Aaron  Shotton moved the recommendation to adopt the Annual Performance Report and expressed his thanks to the Chief Executive and the Corporate Business and Communications Manager for a detailed and informative presentation.  He spoke of the opportunity to celebrate the Authority’s achievements and interventions which had made a “real” difference to the residents and local communities in Flintshire.   However, he acknowledged that there were also areas where there was further work to be done to achieve the outcomes set out in the Council Plan. 

Commenting on the Authority’s achievements, Councillor Shotton drew attention to the progress and improvements as detailed in the report and presentation around housing, social care, skills and learning.  He also spoke of the work and success of the Authority in terms of developing the social enterprise sector and referred to the recent Flintshire Business Awards event and the number of socially responsible businesses which were supported by the Authority and had been put forward for awards in that event.  Councillor Shotton commented  that  it was particularly pleasing and well deserved that Café  Isa, Mynydd Isa, had won the award on the evening. 

Councillor Shotton concluded by commenting on the achievement that Flintshire was ranked top out of 22 authorities across Wales as the most improved Authority between 2015/16 and 2016/17, and said it was important that the contribution and hard work of the Authority’s workforce in making that achievement possible was recognised. 

Councillor Dennis Hutchinson expressed his appreciation for the much improved Household Recycling facilities at Buckley and Mold.  He referred to the number of new council houses being built in Flintshire and commented that there was a shortage of supply in some areas, citing Buckley as an example.  He  urged  the Authority  to  address the situation to ensure that there was adequate provision of council houses in the County, and reiterated his concerns around the need for new council houses in Buckley.  Councillor Hutchinson also expressed his appreciation to Councillor Attridge and to the Chief Officer (Organisational Change 2 ) for their work and support to address the issue of unlawful encampment on Buckley Common. 

Councillor Bernie Attridge responded to the concerns expressed by Councillor Hutchinson around demand and supply of new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

(a)       That the application to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a specific additional senior salary. which does not fall within the current remuneration framework, to recognise the currently unpaid role of the Chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund Committee, be endorsed; and

(b)       That the Chief Officer (Governance) be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council, reflecting the decision made at the meeting, to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report to enable the Council to consider and comment on the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report for 2018/19.  He provided background information and explained that it was  the IRPW which sets out and decides what should be the rates of payment to Members and co-optees of Local Authorities in Wales. 

The Monitoring Officer advised that the IRPW was required to take into account the representations it received on the draft before issuing the final version of the report  in February 2018.  He informed that the Panel’s determinations for 2018 were appended to the report.  The Monitoring Officer summarised that the IRPW was not recommending any increases in any allowances for 2018/19 apart from a change to  the basic salary for elected Members which equated to an increase of £200 (1.49%).

The Monitoring Officer also advised that no increase was proposed for senior salaries but the postholders would receive the £200 increase in the basic salary being paid to all Members.  The IRPW had removed the “two tier” approach for payment of Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs as no local authorities had adopted the approach.

The Monitoring Officer referred to the number of senior salaried posts which Flintshire was able to pay.  He gave background information and explained that the Council was asked to consider whether an application should be made to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a specific or additional senior salary, which does not fall within the current remuneration framework, to recognise the role of the Chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund Committee which was currently unpaid.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the application to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a specific additional senior salary. which does not fall within the current remuneration framework, to recognise the currently unpaid role of the Chair of the Clwyd Pension Fund Committee, be endorsed; and

(b)       That the Chief Officer (Governance) be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council, reflecting the decision made at the meeting, to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

(a)       That the Council notes that no Town or Community Council has objected to the reappointment of Councillor Duggan-Keen; and

(b)       That Councillor Duggan-Keen be reappointed for the remainder of the council term.

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report on the reappointment of the Town and Community Council representative for a further term on the Standards Committee.

                        The Monitoring Officer provided background information and advised that the term of office for the Town and Community Representative came to an end with the local elections in May 2017.  A report was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2017 and the Standards Committee in July 2017 recommending that Councillor Duggan-Keen, the current representative, be reappointed for a further term.  Before making the reappointment Council needed to consult the Town and Community Councils on the proposal.  The Monitoring Officer advised that consultation had been undertaken  and as there was no disagreement with the proposal it could go ahead. 

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Council notes that no Town or Community Council has objected to the reappointment of Councillor Duggan-Keen; and

(b)       That Councillor Duggan-Keen be reappointed for the remainder of the council term.

(a)       That the current list of Outside Bodies which is attached as Appendix A, be noted; and

(b)       That where any vacancies remain unfilled these should be removed from the Outside Bodies list.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced the report to inform the Council of progress which had been made on the appointment of members to national and regional Outside Bodies.  He advised that the Appointments to Outside Bodies list was reported to the Annual Meeting in May 2017 and following on from the Annual Meeting the Chief Executive, in consultation with Group Leaders, made appointments to all but one of the bodies on the list which was appended to the report.  The Democratic Services Manager advised that the one vacancy where  it had not been possible to make a nomination was to the North Wales Association for the deaf  and therefore it remained as a vacancy for the time being.  The Democratic Services Manager explained that some of the current vacancies on the list related to the late Councillor Ron Hampson and these were Ward related and would be filled following  the Buckley Bistre West by-election.    

                        Councillor Mike Peers referred to the vacancy on the Theatr Clwyd Board of Governors and asked for confirmation that the vacancy existed.  He proposed that if the vacancy did not exist then Councillor Veronica Gay be replaced by Councillor Kevin Hughes.  In response the Chief Executive explained that the Board of Governors was currently being reviewed both  internally by the Theatr and by the Cabinet and he commented on some of the proposals for discussion around membership of the Board going forward and said that the external positions were to be advertised as a form of public appointment to open up access to being a Theatre Board member..  The Chief Executive concluded that for the time being the existing membership of the Board of Governors, both internal and external, would remain unchanged.  However, in   acknowledging the proposal put forward by Councillor Peers he advised that it did not change the number or proportion of representation. 

                        Councillor Chis Bithell referred to the two vacancies on the list for SACRE and reported that Councillor Paul Cunningham had volunteered to join the membership of the Committee so only one vacancy remained on that body 

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the current list of Outside Bodies which is attached as Appendix A, be noted; and

(b)       That where any vacancies remain unfilled these should be removed from the Outside Bodies list.

There was one member of the press and no members of the public present.