Agenda, decisions and minutes

At the Annual Meeting, Council resolved that the Independent Alliance group should nominate the Chair of the Committee. The Committee is requested to formally appoint the duly nominated Chair.

That Councillor Dave Mackie be confirmed as Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year.

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator  gave a reminder that at the Annual General Meeting, Council had resolved that the Independent Alliance group should nominate the Chair of the Committee. The nomination from the Group had been for Councillor Dave Mackie. On being put to the vote, the nomination was confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Dave Mackie be confirmed as Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the Committee.

That Councillor Dave Mackie be confirmed as Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year.

The Chairman sought nominations for the appointment of Vice-Chair. Councillor Geoff Collett was nominated by Councillor Paul Shotton and this was seconded by Councillor David Wisinger.  On being put to the vote, the nomination was carried. No further nominations were received.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Dave Mackie be confirmed as Chairman of the Committee for the municipal year.

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillor Tudor Jones declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following items:

Item 7: Aura Leisure and Libraries Progress Review 

Item 8: NEWydd Catering and Cleaning Progress Review

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2019.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2018 were submitted.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor David Wisinger and seconded by Councillor Mike Reece.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved; and

(b)       That the Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings as the need arises.

The Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator  presented the current Forward Work Programme for consideration.  She drew attention to the items scheduled for the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 1 July 2019, and reminded Members that following a suggestion at the previous meeting it had been agreed that the meeting would be held at Holywell  Leisure Centre.

 The Facilitator referred to the item to be scheduled on Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool – Cambrian Aquatics Mid-Year Progress Report 2018/19. She  explained that  it had been agreed that a core group of Members would meet  with representatives of Cambrian Aquatics at the end of May and would provide feedback to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Chief Executive suggested the following items be considered at future meetings of the Committee as potential new Alternative Delivery Models (ADMs)/collaborations:

·         Theatr Clwyd

·         Social Care

·         Streetscene and Housing Trading Service

·         CCTV Joint working with Wrexham Council

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved; and

(b)       That the Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings as the need arises.

RESOLVED:

            That the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting for the following items by virtue of exempt information under paragraph(s) 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:

            That the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting for the following items by virtue of exempt information under paragraph(s) 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

(a)       That the Committee recognises the progress made by Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited since its establishment in September 2017 and commends the performance achieved; and

(b)       That the challenges sustaining business performance be noted. 

(c)       That the Council and Aura have discussions regarding the future of the

Connah’s Quay Leisure Centre with local Members. 

(d)      That support is made available to all Alternative Delivery Models within the County to ensure their continued success. 

The Chief Executive introduced a report to enable the Committee to review the progress of Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited since establishment in September 2017.  The Chief Executive provided background information and context  and invited Mike Welch, Managing Director,  and Neil Williams, Company Secretary, to report on the performance of Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited over the past year (2018/19), and the Business Plan and financial projections for 2019/20. 

The Managing Director and Company Secretary gave a presentation which covered the following main points:

·         Aura Executive update

·         Mold Leisure Centre

·         Jade Jones Pavilion

·         Libraries

·         Financial Performance 2018/19

·         Annual General Meeting

·         Aura Business Plan 2019/23

Councillor Tudor Jones spoke of the value and excellent service provided by the mobile library service to local communities and congratulated the Managing Director and his team on the improvements to services.

Members asked a number of questions around funding, pay policy,  National Living Wage, pensions, recruitment and retention of staff, marketing,  governance, and car parking .  Councillors Paul Shotton and Ian Dunbar asked for an update on Connah’s Quay Sports Hall. 

During discussion the Chief Executive advised that the Council continued to have a close and productive working relationship with the Aura Board and Management Team and Aura was proactive in   involving the Council in its business decisions.  He said the Council would continue to play a full role in supporting the organisation to sustain performance over the coming years.

Members congratulated the Managing Director and his team on  the progress and achievements gained and commented on the ongoing successful performance of the Company. 

The Chairman thanked Mike Welch and Neil Williams for their presentation and for answering the questions from Members.

Councillor Tudor Jones requested that a support mechanism should be made available to other Alternative Delivery Model Services within the County to ensure their continued success.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor David Wisinger and duly seconded. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee recognises the progress made by Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited since its establishment in September 2017 and commends the performance achieved; and

(b)       That the challenges sustaining business performance be noted. 

(c)       That the Council and Aura have discussions regarding the future of the

Connah’s Quay Leisure Centre with local Members. 

(d)      That support is made available to all Alternative Delivery Models within the County to ensure their continued success. 

(a)       That the Committee recognises the progress made by NEWydd Catering an Cleaning Ltd since its establishment in May 2017 and commends the performance achieved; and

(b)       That the challenges sustaining business performance be noted.

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) introduced a report to enable the Committee to review the progress of NEWydd since establishment in 2017.  The Chief Officer provided background information and invited Rob Lawton, Operations Manager, and Steve Wyn Jones – Managing Director, to report on how the transition had  developed and on the NEWydd Business Plan for the financial year 2019/20 – 2021/22.

The Managing Director gave a presentation which covered the following main points:

·         overview

·         financial performance

·         Year 2

·         Business Plan 2019/20

·         risks and mitigation

                        Members raised a number of questions around school meals, healthy eating  and wellbeing initiatives, cleaning services, recruitment and retention of staff, pay policy, pensions, and governance.  Members also raised questions on the opportunities available to provide services in the private sector. 

During discussion the Chief Officer advised that the Council continued to have a close and productive working relationship with NEWydd Catering and Cleaning Limited and the Company  was proactive in   involving the Council in its business decisions.  The Council would continue to play a full role in supporting NEWydd Catering and Cleaning Limited to sustain performance over the coming years.

The Chairman thanked Steve Jones and Rob Lawtonfor their presentation and for answering Members questions.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor David Wisinger and duly seconded. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee recognises the progress made by NEWydd Catering an Cleaning Ltd since its establishment in May 2017 and commends the performance achieved; and

(b)       That the challenges sustaining business performance be noted.

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