Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

A personal interest was recorded for all Committee Members present on agenda item 5 - IRPW Draft Annual Report 2024/25.

A personal interest was recorded for all Committee Members present on agenda item 5 - IRPW Draft Annual Report 2024/25.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2023.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2023 were approved, as moved and seconded by Councillors Ted Palmer and Steve Copple.

            In response to a question on the draft Development Plan from Councillor Andrew Parkhurst, the Democratic Services Manager confirmed the Plan would be ready within the next two weeks and would be circulated to members of the committee.

            The minutes were moved as a correct record by Councillor Ted Palmer and seconded by Councillor Steve Copple.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

(a)      That the Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme and approve/amend, as necessary.

(b)      That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arose.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the forward work programme for consideration. He then provided an overview of the regular items which were included together with those scheduled for the forthcoming meetings in January, March and June.

            The recommendations within the report were approved as moved by Councillor Arnold Woolley and seconded by Councillor Ted Palmer.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme and approve/amend, as necessary.

(b)      That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arose.

(a)      That the Committee considered and commented on the Determinations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales in their draft Annual Report for 2024/25.

(b)      That the Head of Democratic Services be authorised to make a response on behalf of the Council, reflecting the decision and comments made at the meeting, to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

(c)     That the Head of Democratic Services issued Question 4 of the consultation document to all elected Members and co-opted members for them to respond to individually.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) draft Annual Report and explained that it had been circulated to all Local Authorities and Town & Community Councils in Wales. The report provided a summary of the main points within the Annual Report, as the IRPW had responsibility for setting the proposed rates of payment for elected and co-opted members of Welsh Local Authorities for 2024/25. Information was provided on the basic increase to £18,666 for Members from the 1April 2024, and the table at point 1.03 in the report highlighting the other changes proposed. All salaries had been reviewed under the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings Scheme (ASHE) with affordability and co-optee payments their focus for this year. The suggested changes were highlighted at point 1.06 in the report with all other determinations such as travel and care costs remaining the same. An overview of the changes to the reporting mechanisms for Town & Community Councils was also given.

The Democratic Services Manager then referred to the resource implications and commented that any Member who did not wish to accept the increase was being asked to write to him directly. Point 1.10 of the report included information on the questions being asked by the IRPW with background information highlighted for members. In conclusion the Democratic Services Manager explained that views were sought from the Committee prior to the Council submitting a response to the IRPW by 8 December 2023. The IRPW were required to consider any representations made on the draft report before issuing the final report in February 2024.

Councillor Ted Palmer had concerns around the peer pressure for Members in accepting this increase and reported on his attendance at a North Wales Association of Local Councils meeting where IRPW representatives were in attendance. When asking them the same question it was confirmed that they were not legislated to impose this increase but local authorities could lobby Welsh Government to change the situation. He asked how the authority lobbied the government to change the process.

In response the Democratic Services Manager confirmed it was possible to contact the relevant Minister within Welsh Government but it was also suggested that this was included as part of the feedback to this report.  If this view was expressed across all Councils in Wales, then it would be included in the feedback report.  He also agreed to contact the WLGA to ascertain if they had received similar feedback.

Councillor Palmer referred to peer pressure and asked if it was known if there was any political point scoring pressure applied as some people may rely on and need the increased allowance.  The Democratic Services Manager confirmed that there was a theme and wording within the report which reflected that.  The IRPW were trying to encourage and increase diversity within Councils and the Councillor remuneration could be the only income for some Councillors.  This was a personal individual decision and should not be a pressured decision.

Councillor Antony Wren commented that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

(a)      To recommend to Council that all applications made with respect to the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 will be determined by Licensing Committee

(b)      For Members to support a consultation period of 21 days for Ward Members and the residents of those sites that are subject to the licencing decisions.

(c)     To note that Residential Mobile Home training will be available for all Members to access.

The Community and Business Protection Manager presented the report which followed the Notice of Motion passed at Full Council on the 20 June 2023 in relation to residential mobile home licensing, with the resolutions highlighted in point 1.01 of the report.   An overview of the purpose and scrutiny of licensing applications was given which allowed residents on the sites to make representations.  Currently delegation sat with the licensing committee but in practice these had been delegated to officers.  This was discussed at the last meeting of the Licensing Committee on the 4^th October and it was decided that any decisions with regard to future applications should be made by the full licensing committee.  This was a recommendation that the Licensing Committee wished to make rather that it be delegated to a sub-committee or officer delegation and it was agreed that all applications be considered under this process.  As this was a significant change a specialist mandatory training had been arranged for Licensing Committee Members which had now been opened up to all Members should they wish to attend and this provided the Licensing Committee with substitutions if they were required. 

The Community and Business Protection Manager then explained that a Policy on minimum standards of consultation would need to be prepared for ward members and residents and would require the approval of Full Council in due course.  Information was provided on the key decisions for applications which included the nature of determination and proposed 21-day consultation period given to residents on the sites and ward members.   The period of consultation was not referenced in the 2013 legislation but what was referenced was the period of determination which the authority was required to make a determination unless both parties agreed within a two-month timescale.  By putting forward the 21-day period of consultation it was felt that this was an achievable timeframe which would enable the necessary reports and supporting documentation to assist members to be prepared.  To conclude the Community and Business Protection Manager welcomed the Committee’s steer on this and encouraged any members who would like to attend the training to do so.  

Councillors Antony Wren, Ted Palmer and Ian Hodge confirmed that they would be interested in attending the training. 

            The Community and Business Protection Manager confirmed that the training was online on the morning of the 4December 2023.

 Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson reported that he was the seconder of the original Notice of Motion and he wished to move recommendations 1 and 3 within the report. He then wished to make a slight amendment to recommendation 2. 

“For Members to support a consultation period of 21 days for Ward Members and the residents of these sites and all that notifications would be sent by letter to all properties listed for Council Tax on the sites and that these were subject to the licencing decisions”.

Councillor Ibbotson explained that a disproportion of residents on these sites were digitally excluded compared with other residents in the county. Alternative methods  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

None.

None.