Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor David Roney has been appointed to this role.

That the Committee noted the appointment of Chair.      

The Member Engagement Manager advised the Committee that Councillor David Roney had been appointed to this role. 

            RESOLVED:

That the Committee noted the appointment of Chair.       

That Councillor Brian Dunn be appointed Vice-Chair for the Municipal year 2015/16. 

The Chair sought nominations for the appointment of Vice-Chair for the municipal year.  Councillor Nigel Steele-Mortimer nominated Councillor Brian Dunn and the proposal was duly seconded.

            RESOLVED:

That Councillor Brian Dunn be appointed Vice-Chair for the Municipal year 2015/16. 

There were no declarations of interest.

A decision of the Cabinet meeting on 19 May 2015 relating to Medium Term Plan for Libraries – proposal to develop a new hub library at Deeside Leisure Centre and re-locate Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry libraries, has been called in.  Attached is a copy of the procedure for dealing with a called in item. 

The Member Engagement Manager explained the procedure for the Call-in of a Cabinet decision.   

To assist Members, the following documents are attached:-

·         Copy of the report of the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) – Medium Term Plan for Libraries – proposal to develop a new hub library at Deeside Leisure Centre and relocate Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry libraries

·         Copy of the Record of Decision

·         Copy of the Call In Notice

That having considered the decision, the Overview & Scrutiny Committee was satisfied with the explanation that it had received and therefore the decision could be implemented. 

The Member Engagement Manager referred to the Call-in to the decision of the Cabinet from its meeting held on 19 May 2015 relating to Medium Term Plan for Libraries – proposal to develop a new hub library at Deeside Leisure Centre and re-locate Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry libraries.  The Call-In notice had been signed by five Members of the Council.  To assist Members, the following documents had been circulated with the agenda:-

                        (a)       A copy of the procedure for dealing with a called-in item.

(b)       A copy of the report considered by Cabinet on 19 May 2015

(c)        A copy of the Cabinet Record of Decision No. 3173

(d)       A copy of the Call-in notice signed by Councillors Clive Carver, Alison Halford, Adele Davies-Cooke, Dave Mackie, and Glenys Diskin.

The Member Engagement Manager explained the procedure for a Call-in meeting and detailed the four options available to the Committee.

The Chair invited the Call-in signatories to address the Committee.  Councillor Clive Carver, as the first of the signatories, detailed the reasons for the Call-in.  He explained that the decision had been called-in as the signatories felt that the Medium Term Plan for libraries did not take into account the impact of the Hawarden and Mancot library closures on the existing and prospective users.  The signatories also felt that it did not show the future plans for the Flintshire Record Office which is co-located with Hawarden Library, and did not take into account the closeness of the existing Connah’s Quay Hub with the proposed new Hub within the Deeside Leisure Centre.

Councillor Carver outlined his concerns, citing a number of legal precedents and interpretations and expressed the view that the consultation which had taken place regarding the closure of Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry libraries could not be described as “fair” or as required by law.  He said that the face-to-face consultation exercise had only involved a limited number of users at Hawarden library and there had not been a fact finding exercise as required.  The same process had been applied to the Mancot and existing Queensferry library.  He said that consultation must take place when the proposal was still at a formative stage. 

Councillor Carver referred to the decision taken by Cabinet at the meeting on 19 May 2015 which stated that the Council should work with  the three communities to address the concerns raised about the Deeside location, plan community library services for each of these areas and identify if a community asset transfer was feasible and could be supported. He commented that the decision was not helpful as it appeared to request consultation after agreement had been made to the development of a library at Deeside Leisure Centre and re-location of services from Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry libraries.

Councillor Carver reported that many residents at Hawarden and Mancot had stated that they would experience difficulty travelling to Deeside Leisure Centre.  He also referred to the suggestion that a  mobile library service be provided for Hawarden as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.