Agenda, decisions and minutes

Purpose: To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillors Chris Bithell, Robin Guest and Carolyn Thomas declared a personal interest in the following item:

            Item 4: Bailey Hill – Heritage Lottery Fund Developments

            Councillors Brian Dunn and Paul Shotton declared a personal interest in the following item:

            Item 7: Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool: Cambrian Aquatics Business Plan 2016/18

Purpose: To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 9 January 2017.

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

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2017 were submitted.

RESOLVED:

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

That the developments taking place at Bailey Hill be supported.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) introduced the report and provided background information.  He advised that Bailey Hill was a significant project to improve the heritage environment of the Motte and Bailey Castle at Bailey Hill in Mold, and was a joint initiative between the Council, Mold Town Council, and Friends of Bailey Hill Group.  He referred to the application for Heritage Lottery funding through the Parks for People programme, which was estimated at £1.2m,  and reported that a successful stage 1 development application for £0.44m was completed in July 2016.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) continued that the development stage would include employment of technical advisors to work on the capital development, access, interpretation and governance structure of the  site and its operation.  The work was due to be completed by the end of 2017 with an estimated stage 2 application to be submitted if the work was agreed by all partners at the beginning of 2018.  He invited the Principal Museums Officer, to report in more detail on the Bailey Hill Conservation Management Plan and the potential future project work.

The Principal Museums Officer referred to the Bailey Hill site plan which was appended to the report and gave an overview of the proposals in relation to the Motte, entrances and approaches, Outer Bailey, play area, Inner Bailey, the Gorsedd Stone Circle, and the custodian’s cottage.  She said the Bailey Hill project was an exciting and challenging scheme and that the Heritage Lottery Board were supportive and keen to see the development working.

Councillor Chris Bithell spoke in support of the project and commented on the historical importance and local significance of the Motte and Bailey Castle.  He said that in recent times the site had become neglected and that there were concerns of anti social behaviour; he explained that  local residents were keen to see the site restored to good use. 

Councillor Carolyn Thomas also spoke in support of the proposals and commented on the importance of the site as a natural and safe place for children to play and for families to enjoy leisure activities.

Councillor Brian Lloyd proposed that a site visit be arranged for the Committee to view Bailey Hill.  During discussion it was agreed that this would be suggested to the new Committee for consideration following the May 2017 elections. 

RESOLVED:

That the developments taking place at Bailey Hill be supported.

That the Welsh Government be asked to include standards on co-located libraries, and community managed libraries, in the assessment for the framework.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) introduced the report  and explained that following recent consideration by the Committee of current performance against the existing Welsh Public Library Standards, this provided an overview of the new framework which would come into operation during 2017. He invited Kate Leonard, Libraries Development Manager, to provide background information  and a summary of the framework.

                        The Libraries Development Manager reported that the WLPS 6 Framework had been updated to take account of the changed local authority environment within which library authorities must work.  It would provide opportunities for libraries to deliver services in innovative ways and the flexibility to make best use of the resources available to them.  She reported that it would come into operation on 1 April 2017 and libraries would make their first report against its requirements in Summer 2018.  The Libraries Development Manager explained that the framework comprised 12 core entitlements and 16 quality indicators to monitor how well the library services realised these benefits for the people of Wales.  She referred to the key outcomes and impacts which were detailed in the report.

                        The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) pointed out that for the purposes of the sixth framework of Public Library Standards, community managed libraries involving the transfer of the building and resources to the community and entirely run by volunteers with minimal (or no) ongoing assistance from the local library service were not eligible for inclusion.

                        Councillor Chris Bithell expressed concern that the WPLS 6 Framework did not take account of the difficult financial situation faced by local authorities  due to lack of funding which resulted in a decline in resources.

                        Councillor Dave Mackie said that community managed libraries should be included in the framework and the work of the volunteers who managed the service should be duly recognised.  He commented on the development of library services through co-location and expressed the view that standards for co-location should be defined in the framework.  Councillor Chris Bithell commented that there was no recognition of the support provided by the Council to community managed libraries in feedback to the Welsh Government (WG). 

                        Councillor Dave Mackie proposed that the Welsh Government be asked to include standards on co-located libraries, and community managed libraries,  in the assessment for the framework.

RESOLVED:

That the Welsh Government be asked to include standards on co-located libraries, and community managed libraries, in the assessment for the framework.

That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved with an

amendment.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced the report and drew attention to the items to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 13 March 2017.  It was agreed that a follow up report on Community Asset Transfers would also be included on the agenda for the next meeting. 

Referring to the suggestion by Councillor Brian Lloyd that a site visit be arranged to Bailey Hill the Democratic Services Manager confirmed that this was within the terms of reference of the Committee and would be put forward for consideration by the next Committee following the elections in May 2017.

RESOLVED:

That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved with an

amendment.

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 progress made by Cambrian Aquatics be noted; and

(b)       That the approach outlined by the Council to funding for 2017 including the level of grant and the conditions attached to the release of the grant, be supported.   

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change 1) introduced a report which  summarised the positive progress made since the Community Asset Transfer of Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool to Cambrian Aquatics in May 2016.  He explained that attached to the report was the first review of performance by Cambrian Aquatics up to October 2015 and an updated business plan covering the period 2016-2018.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the progress made by Cambrian Aquatics be noted; and

(b)       That the approach outlined by the Council to funding for 2017 including the level of grant and the conditions attached to the release of the grant, be supported.   

There was one member of the press in attendance.