Agenda, decisions and minutes

Purpose: To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None were received.

None were received.

Purpose: To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th December 2016.

That subject to the typographical errors being amended, the minutes be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5^th December 2016 were submitted. 

On minute number 26 on dispensations being referred to other Councils for determination by agreement, the Monitoring Officer explained that he had spoken to other councils with the outcome being that there was some reluctance to work in such a way.  He added that Wrexham County Borough Council Standards Committee only met four times a year so using the dispensation for consideration today as an example, there would not have been a convenient meeting to submit it to for a timely decision.  Also, other councils did not receive as many requests for dispensation as did Flintshire.

Mr Ken Molyneux identified two typographical errors on minute number 24.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the typographical errors being amended, the minutes be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Purpose: To receive any requests for dispensations.

That Councillor Marion Bateman be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to correspond with officers on planning application number 054548 – the full application for the erection of 43. No. dwellings and associated works at Ffordd Eldon.  Also to speak to officers provided that there was a witness which would ensure that at least three people would be present, and that the conversation be minuted.  To speak for five minutes prior to the matter being debated at Committee and to leave the room whilst the matter was debated and voted on.  The duration of the dispensation was granted for 12 months ceasing on 5^th March 2018 or 8^th May 2017 if Councillor Bateman was not re-elected.  The dispensation would apply to any other application, which, in the Monitoring Officer’s view, were substantially the same.

Following despatch of the agenda, a dispensation request had been received from County Councillor Marion Bateman.  The request was to speak at meetings of the Planning and Development Control Committee for five minutes, as local Member, instead of three in relation to planning application number 054548 – the full application for the erection of 43 No. dwellings and associated works at Ffordd Eldon.

She was the local Member for the area in which the proposed development was situated and a member of the Planning and Development Control Committee. She was also a Governor of Sychdyn Primary School and the proposed development would have an impact on that school.  As such, there was a recommendation that an education contribution was paid by the developer for the benefit of that school in order to seek to mitigate the impact of the proposed development upon it.

Following a discussion it was agreed that permission be granted as follows: Councillor Marion Bateman be granted dispensation to correspond with officers on planning application number 054548 – the full application for the erection of 43. No. dwellings and associated works at Ffordd Eldon.  Also to speak to officers provided that there was a witness which would ensure that at least three people would be present, and that the conversation be minuted.  To speak for five minutes prior to the matter being debated at Committee and to leave the room whilst the matter was debated and voted on.  The duration of the dispensation was granted for 12 months ceasing on 5^th March 2018 or 8^th May 2017 if Councillor Bateman was not re-elected.  The dispensation would apply to any other application, which, in the Monitoring Officer’s view, were substantially the same.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Marion Bateman be granted dispensation under paragraphs (d) and (f) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations 2001 to correspond with officers on planning application number 054548 – the full application for the erection of 43. No. dwellings and associated works at Ffordd Eldon.  Also to speak to officers provided that there was a witness which would ensure that at least three people would be present, and that the conversation be minuted.  To speak for five minutes prior to the matter being debated at Committee and to leave the room whilst the matter was debated and voted on.  The duration of the dispensation was granted for 12 months ceasing on 5^th March 2018 or 8^th May 2017 if Councillor Bateman was not re-elected.  The dispensation would apply to any other application, which, in the Monitoring Officer’s view, were substantially the same.

Purpose: For the Committee to consider topics to be included on the attached Forward Work Programme.

            (a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted; and

(b)       That an item be submitted to the next meeting on the Welsh Government White Paper: Reforming Local Government: Resilient and Renewed.

The Monitoring Officer introduced the Forward Work Programme.  He suggested that an item for the next meeting of the Committee could be presented on the recently published Welsh Government White Paper: Reforming Local Government: Resilient and Renewed.  The White Paper was a statement of intent for the future of local government in Wales, which was agreed.

                        He explained that the White Paper re-included some of the provision of the earlier Local Government (Wales Bill) and added new provisions for local government governance, the powers and functions of local authorities, performance and improvement, the roles of Councillors, local democracy, workforce, community councils and electoral reform.

                        It was agreed that the Team Leader – Democratic Services, would send a link to the White Paper to the Committee in advance of the next meeting.

            RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted; and

(b)       That an item be submitted to the next meeting on the Welsh Government White Paper: Reforming Local Government: Resilient and Renewed.

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

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