Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25^th September 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25^th September 2018 were approved as a correct record. 

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

            Prior to consideration of the items of business, Councillor Shotton welcomed the Waste and Ancillary Services Manager, Harvey Mitchell, to the meeting.  He thanked him for his work during his lengthy service at Flintshire prior to him commencing his new career.  All Members wished him well, commenting in particular on the difficult areas of work that Mr Mitchell had been involved in, such as the introduction of kerbside waste collection.  The Chief Executive added to the comments, on behalf of himself and the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) who was unable to be present at the meeting, and wished him well.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Mullin introduced the Annual Performance Report 2017/18 report which provided a review of the Council’s progress against the Council Priorities as outlined in the Council Plan 2017/18.

            The report reflected the overall progress that had been made against the priorities and the level of confidence the Council had in achieving the desired outcomes.  It also showed the position against the 46 risks, with four risks increased in significance during the year and 10 risks reducing in significance by year end.

            The Chief Executive explained that the report would be considered at County Council later that day, with the statutory requirement to publish the report by 31^st October 2018.  A small  number of performance areas had been agreed  by Cabinet and Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee as requiring further scrutiny and reassurance for improved performance in 2018/19:

·         Leisure participation;

·         Disabled Facilities Grants (timeliness); and

·         Planning Applications (timeliness).

The service areas had all considered the annual turnout figures and provided an explanation and/or changes in processes and procedures to improve performance in-year.

The Corporate Business and Communications Executive Officer said the report was positive and demonstrated that the Council strived for continuous improvement.  The Council’s quartile profile over previous years was outlined in the report, showing the levels of improvement.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the 2017/18 Annual Performance Report be endorsed;

(b)       That the improvement actions for the areas of service under-performance during 2017/18 be endorsed; and

(c)        That a mid-year progress report against the improvement actions be presented in November.

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Chief Executive introduced the Growth Deal Bid for the Economy of North Wales: Proposition Document report which followed the Vision that was adopted by Cabinet in September 2016.

                        The target date for entering into a Heads of Terms Agreement for a Growth Deal with both governments was set as autumn/winter 2018.  A Proposition Document, which set out the priority programmes of activity for the region and for which national funding was being sought through the Growth Deal, had been approved by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board.  The Growth Deal would fund selected programmes and projects from within the Proposition Document.  The document constituted the regional bid which would lead to a deal.

                        During October the regional partners were being invited to endorse the Proposition Document to give a mandate to their respective Leader to enter into a Heads of Terms Agreement with both Governments.  Post Heads of Terms, the region would then enter the final stage of Bid development and negotiation with Governments.

                        Councillor Shotton welcomed the report and provided details of all of the regional work that had been undertaken.  He added that in endorsing the recommendations for submission to Council for approval later that day, the Council would not be making any commitment to financial investment of its own, and would only be authorising the submission of a formal Bid for consideration by Governments.  The final risks and benefits of a final Growth Deal would be reported at the second and final approval stage, along with the model for sharing any borrowing costs amongst regional partners.

                        He emphasised the importance of the priority programmes, such as strategic transport and digital connectivity.  Councillor Butler concurred and commented on the benefits for businesses of all sizes in the region. 

                        Councillor Attridge also welcomed the report which saw exciting times ahead for Flintshire and the region, and he expressed particular thanks to Councillor Shotton and the Chief Executive for the amount of work they had both contributed to the programme to date.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Proposition Document be endorsed for recommendation to Council for adoption as (1) the basis of a longer-term regional strategy for economic growth and (2) the regional bid for the priority programmes and projects from which the content of a Growth Deal will be drawn at the Heads of Terms Agreement stage with Governments.  Adoption does not commit the Council to any financial investment of its own at this stage and is subject to the financial risks and benefits of the final Growth Deal being set out in detail, for full consideration, when the final Deal is presented for approval at a later date; and

(b)       That the Leader be authorised to commit the Council to entering Heads of Terms with Governments alongside the political and professional leaders from the nine other statutory partners represented on the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, and the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council with the Proposition Document setting out the parameters for the Heads of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 242.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Jones introduced the Progress for Providers – Creating a Place Called Home Delivering What Matters report which provided an update of the project and served as an opportunity to achieve greater recognition of the project and its outcomes. 

            In order to recognise the milestones achieved by the 26 Nursing and Residential Care Homes in Flintshire, ‘Progress for Providers’ had been developed with a toolkit.  The toolkit set out Flintshire’s expectation around the delivery of individualised care and it supported Responsible Individuals and Managers and leaders within homes by providing a range of person centred tools which helped staff teams change the way they supported people and how they engaged with family and friends.  The toolkit also helped providers promote greater choice and control for those who received care which allowed providers to focus on what mattered most to each person.

            To show the progression, Flintshire introduced three levels of accreditation, Bronze, Silver and Gold which helped managers check their own progress and publically demonstrated that they were making continued progress towards person centred care.

            In September 2018 the project was publicly recognised, winning the Social Care Wales Accolades Awards for ‘Excellent outcomes for people of all ages by investing in the learning and development of staff’.  The project was also a finalist in the Association for Public Services Excellence (APSE) Awards – ‘Celebrating outstanding achievement and innovation within UK local government service delivery’.  Councillor Jones paid tribute to all of the staff involved in this excellent project, and their work on it.

            Councillor Shotton welcomed the report and congratulated the team on winning the Social Care Wales Accolades Award which was a fantastic achievement.

RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the impact of ‘Progress for Providers – Creating a Place Called

Home Delivering What Matters’ be recognised; and

(b)       That the initiatives underway to further develop the programme be noted.

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Jones introduced the North Wales Learning Disability Strategy report which set out the vision for health and social services for people with learning disabilities in North Wales.  It included information on the needs of the population and what mattered to them, what change the Council wanted to see and how the strategy would be put into action.  The strategy was due to go to the Regional Partnership Board for approval in November.

            The Chief Officer (Social Services) explained that the vision for North Wales was based around what people had told the Council what mattered to them, which was that people with learning disabilities would have a better quality of life, live locally where they felt ‘safe and well’, where they were valued and included in their communities and had access to effective personal support that promoted independence, choice and control. 

Five work packages would set out how things would be changed in order to achieve good lives for people with learning disabilities.

Putting the strategy into action had staff and financial resource implications for the six local authorities and BCUHB.  The resource implications would be prepared in detail as part of the development of the five work packages.  A bid had been submitted to the Welsh Government Transformation Fund to request support with the additional costs and a positive response was expected.

RESOLVED:

That the North Wales Learning Disability Strategy be endorsed.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Attridge introduced the Withdrawal of Managed Lettings and Over 55’s Schemes by North East Wales (NEW) Homes report. 

The report sought approval for NEW Homes to commence the planned withdrawal of ‘managed lettings’ and ‘over 55’s’ properties and to remove the corporate objective “To provide a competitive offer to landlords to encourage growth of the private rented sector” from the NEW Homes Business Plan.

Also detailed in the report was how the Council aimed to develop the offer through an alternative delivery mechanism. 

The Council was undertaking early discussions with Registered Social landlords (RSL’s) to see if they would take on the NEW Homes managed lettings on the same terms and where the landlord approved.  On the 2 ‘over 55’ properties, due to the vulnerability of the tenants, it was proposed that they would be retained within the Council and managed through the Housing Options team as part of the temporary accommodation service.

Councillor Attridge said he was disappointed with the recent journalism on this.  The Chief Executive explained that a correction was due to be published by the author and a statement from the Council would be issued alongside.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That it be approved for NEW Homes to withdraw from these schemes and approve removing the following corporate objective “To provide a competitive offer to landlords to encourage growth of the private rented sector” from the business plan; and

(b)       That the exploration of alternative delivery mechanism for the managed lettings as part of the wider development of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) provision be approved.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Mullin introduced the Registration Service Fees and Income Generation report which identified opportunities for the local authority to extend the range of services delivered by the Registration Service and outlined non-statutory fees for 2020/21.

            The Chief Officer (Governance) explained that the service was located at Llwynegrin Hall and had two ceremony rooms. There was now an opportunity for the service to offer an additional licensed room for ceremonies or to increase the range of complementary services which were outlined in the report, including the possibility of working in partnership with Theatr Clwyd or NEWydd.

            The Chief Executive welcomed the report which was a good example of raising additional income whilst providing an improved range of services.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Registration Services be supported in its review to identify opportunities to extend the range of services to customers thus generating new income streams for the Local Authority;

(b)       That the revised schedule of fees for 2019/20 be approved; and

(c)        That a new schedule of fees for 2020/21 be approved.

As detailed in the recommendations, with recommendation (d) being:

That 1% of additional funding from Welsh Government to help meet the costs of the pay award in-year for the period 1^st September 2018 to 31^st March 2019 be distributed in full to our local schools network once the funds have been received.  Schools will be required to find the remaining 1% of the award from within their own budgets for this period.  In planning the budget for 2019/20 it is the Council’s intention that it will make provision for an uplift in the base funding for schools to meet 1% of the pay award, as a minimum.  It is the Council’s aspiration to be in a position to provide an uplift for the full amount.  However, the Council is not in a position to confirm either the minimum or the aspirational provision at this point in the national budget setting process as the Council faces a potentially unmanageable gap in its budget-setting forecast for 2019/20, with such a poor provisional Local Government Settlement as outlined by Welsh Government.

The Corporate Finance Manager introduced the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2018/19 (month 5) report which provided the latest revenue budget monitoring position for 2018/19 for the Council Fund and the Housing Revenue Account.  The report presented the position, based on actual income and expenditure, as at Month 5 of the financial year.  It projected how the budget would stand at the close of the financial year if all things remained unchanged.

            The projected year end position, without new actions to reduce cost pressures and/or improve the financial return on efficiency planning and cost control, was:

Council Fund

·         An operating deficit of £0.303m (£0.60m at Month 4); and

·         A projected contingency reserve balance as at 31^st March 2019 of £7.318m.

Housing Revenue Account

·         Net in-year revenue expenditure forecast to be £0.067m lower than budget; and

·         A projected closing balance as at 31^st March 2019 of £1.165m.

The report covered the Council Fund projected position; projected position by portfolio; out of county placements; central and corporate finance; tracking of in-year risks and emerging issues; achievement of planned in-year efficiencies; other tracked risks; independent inquiry into child sexual abuse; income; recycling income; schools – risks and impacts; other in-year issues; reserves and balances; and earmarked reserves.

On schools risks and impacts, a statement was provided, which is appended to the minutes, which set out the Council’s intention on dealing with the Teachers’ Pay Award.

In response to a question from Councillor Shotton, the Chief Officer (Governance) explained the processes relating to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the overall report and the projected Council Fund contingency sum as at 31^st March 2019 be noted;

(b)       That the projected final level of balances on the Housing Revenue Account be noted;

(c)        That an allocation from the Contingency Reserve for the resourcing of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) be approved in principle; and

(d)       That 1% of additional funding from Welsh Government to help meet the costs of the pay award in-year for the period 1^st September 2018 to 31^st March 2019 be distributed in full to our local schools network once the funds have been received.  Schools will be required to find the remaining 1% of the award from within their own budgets for this period.  In planning the budget for 2019/20 it is the Council’s intention that it will make provision for an uplift in the base funding for schools to meet 1% of the pay award, as a minimum.  It is the Council’s aspiration to be in a position to provide an uplift for the full amount.  However, the Council is not in a position to confirm either the minimum or the aspirational provision at this point in the national budget setting process as the Council faces a potentially unmanageable gap in its budget-setting forecast for 2019/20, with such a poor provisional Local Government Settlement as outlined by Welsh Government.

As detailed in the recommendation.

The Chief Executive introduced the Theatr Clwyd – Constitutional Arrangements report which sought approval of the constitutional and governance arrangements for the Theatr.

            The draft updated Terms of Reference was appended to the report.

            The Chief Executive welcomed Liam Evans-Ford to the meeting.  Mr Evans-Ford explained that this was the second step in the review of the governance arrangements of the Theatr, with this stage offering clarity and assurance.  It also outlined how the Theatr worked with the Production companies and the work of the two sub-committees.

            Councillor Attridge moved an amendment to the report, in that the Chair of the Theatr Clwyd Board should be a County Councillor.  Following responses given by Councillors Butler and Bithell, Councillor Attridge withdrew his amendment.

            The Chief Executive commented on the recent successful production of “The Assassination of Katie Hopkins” which had won the UK Theatre Award for the Best New Musical.  This would be recognised at a future meeting of County Council.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations of the Theatr Clwyd Board for its constitutional and governance arrangements be approved.

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Bithell introduced the Draft Interim Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Developer Advice Note report which sought approval of the Advice Note.

            Concerns had been raised previously by Members on the lack of specific policy controls when dealing with an increasing pattern of applications for HMO development being considered at Planning Committee.

            It was acknowledged that there was no specific policy in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) that related to the considerations required to assess the suitability of an application for a HMO. 

            The Chief Officer (Planning, Environment and Economy) explained that the guidance provided in the Advice Note comprised three key parts:

1.    Standards relating to room space, general amenity, provision of facilities, and parking relating to the development of a HMO and the living conditions relating to future occupants;

2.    Additional standards and requirements to those in Part 1, relating to the development of stand-alone flats or mixed flat and bedsit accommodation; and

3.    Specific requirements relating to the consideration of the living conditions of neighbouring non-HMO properties, including impacts on the character of an area.

The next steps would be to make the Advice Note available for consultation in order to then consider any responses, amend as appropriate/if required and formally adopt as a material planning consideration alongside the UDP.

Councillors Butler and Mullin welcomed the report which would assist with future planning applications.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the Draft Interim HMO Developer Advice Note be approved, and for it to be published for public consultation at the earliest possible opportunity.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Jones introduced the Double Click Social Enterprise – Progress Report which provided information on the Double Click as a Social Enterprise.

Double Click had progressed greatly as a fully independent Social Enterprise, offering increased employment and training opportunities for all staff including people with mental health issues.

            Significant external lottery funding had been secured and as a result Double Click had purchased state of the art equipment that supported the development of the business.

            The Chief Officer (Social Services) explained that Flintshire County Council contributed £110,000 to Double Click.  As that amount had not increased over the past two years, it was effectively a cost reduction, taking inflation and other factors into account.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the progress achieved after 2 years be recognised; and

(b)       That Cabinet continue to support and promote Double Click as a social enterprise.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Mullin introduced the Welfare Reform Update report which provided an update on the impacts of Universal Credit ‘Full Service’ and other welfare reforms were having on Flintshire residents and the work that was being undertaken to mitigate and support households.

            The report also explored longer term impacts and some of the considerations required in order to prepare and plan a response to those impacts both now and in the future.

            Full details of the services offered by the Council were outlined in the report, including the support for customers on universal support, and personal budgeting support.

            On 1^st October 2018 the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) published an announcement on their website of their decision that from 1^st April 2019 they would no longer fund Local Authorities to provide Universal Support (Personal Budgeting and Assisted Digital support) but would instead fund Citizens Advice to deliver the service.  That announcement came without any prior consultation.  The implications for Flintshire were being worked through and further details would be brought to a Cabinet meeting at the earliest opportunity. 

            Councillor Thomas expressed her concern on Universal Credit, providing an example of a case in her ward.   She hoped there would continue to be sufficient support once the service moved to Citizens Advice.  Councillors Bithell and Jones concurred with the comments.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be supported including the ongoing work to manage the impacts that Welfare Reforms has and will continue to have upon Flintshire’s most vulnerable households; and

(b)       That the changes to grant funding arrangements for Universal Support as announced by Central Government on 1^st October 2018 and noted and the future risks to the Council that may come as a result of those changes be considered.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Mullin introduced the Centenary Fields report which sought approval for a number of sites to be submitted to Fields in Trust as Centenary Fields.

            Centenary Fields was an initiative from Fields in Trust, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, to protect and preserve valued open spaces that had some significance to World War One, in honour of those who had lost their lives.  The programme was one of a range of initiatives to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War One.

            A legal deed of dedication between the Council and Fields in Trust would mean those sites designated as Centenary Fields would be protected in perpetuity, providing a legacy for future generations.  Designating sites as Centenary Fields would reinforce the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and safeguard green spaces for the benefit of the local community.  The final list of sites were appended to the report.

            Councillor Shotton welcomed the report which would see fitting memorials at the sites listed.  He paid particular thanks to Councillors David and Gladys Healey for their passion for wanting to protect Willows Park in Hope, which would be protected following the legal deed of dedication.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That approval be given for an application to be submitted to Fields in Trust to dedicate the following sites as Centenary Fields:

·         Green opposite Croes Atti School, Flint;

·         Memorial Gardens, Holywell;

·         Leeswood Memorial Garden; and

·         Willows Park, Hope.

(b)       That the Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust be signed on behalf of the Council, if the applications are successful; and

(c)        That a series of events being held to make the occasion of the sites being designated as Centenary Fields be agreed.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

Purpose: To provide details of actions taken under delegated powers.

An information item on the actions taken under delegated powers was submitted.  The actions were as set out below:-

Housing and Assets

• Warren Drive Garaging Site, Broughton

The land is to be sold to the adjoining owner of 40 Warren Drive for Garden Use only, to be secured by way of a Restrictive Covenant.

• Land Adjoining Unit 2, Spencer Industrial Estate, Buckley

This small surplus parcel of land extending to approximately 0.15 acres is to be acquired by the adjoining owner.

• Community Asset Transfer of Leeswood Community Centre

The transfer of Leeswood Community Centre.

RESOLVED:

That the actions taken under delegated powers be noted.

There was 1 member of the press and no members of the public in attendance.