Agenda, decisions and minutes

Pwrpas:        To advise the Committee of the nominated Chair for the remainder of the municipal year, following the County Council meeting on 4 December 2024.

That the appointment of Councillor David Evans as Chair of the Committee be noted.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that it had been confirmed at the County Council meeting held on 4 December, 2024 that the Chair of the Committee should come from the Labour Group. The Committee was advised that Councillor David Evans had been appointed to this role for the remainder of the municipal year.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of Councillor David Evans as Chair of the Committee be noted.

Pwrpas:        To appoint a Vice-Chair for the Committee.

That Councillor Ray Hughes be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Councillor Bibby moved Councillor Ray Hughes as Vice-Chair of the Committee which was seconded by Councillor Lloyd.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Ray Hughes be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th November 2024.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Councillor Bithell asked that his attendance be recorded in the minutes.

Councillor Peers referred to his request for the cost of implementation of moving to the 3 weekly kerbside collection model and said that he had not been provided with this information.  The Chief Officer explained that information had been provided to Members as part of the Agenda from the call in meeting and said that she would ensure this was circulated following the meeting. 

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

A decision of the Cabinet meeting on 19 November 2024 relating to Residual Waste Collection Change Implementation and Policy Review has been called in.  Attached is a copy of the procedure for dealing with a called in item.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that Cabinet had considered a report on ‘Residual Waste Collection Change Implementation and Policy Review’ at a meeting held on 19 November 2024.  The decision (Record of Decision 4307) had been called in.

Copies of the Cabinet report, record of decision and Endorsement of Call in (agenda item number 7) were included in the agenda pack.

The Democratic Services Manager explained the procedure for the call in of a Cabinet decision as detailed in the supporting document (agenda item number 6) which was included in the agenda.

The Chair invited the signatories to present the reasons for the call-in to the Committee. 

Report of Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) - Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportation.

To assist Members, the following documents are attached:-

·         Copy of the report - Residual Waste Collection Change Implementation and Policy Review

·         Copy of the Record of Decision

·         Copy of the Call In Notice

That, having considered the decision, the Committee refers the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration, setting out in writing the nature of its concerns.

Representations from Call In Signatories

Councillor Swash, on behalf of the signatories, outlined the reasons for the Call In, expanding on the reasons outlined within the Agenda.

Responses from the Decision Makers

The Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportation responded that the Policy would be amended in light of the concerns raised by Councillor Swash.

The Chair invited Members of the Committee to ask questions of the Decision Makers and Call In signatories.

The Chair invited the initiators of the call in to sum up.

Councillors Swash summed up on behalf of the call in signatories.  The Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportation thanked the signatories for bringing the issue to his attention.

The Chair invited the Democratic Services Manager to remind Members of the options for decision making as detailed in item 6 of the Agenda.

Councillor Bibby proposed Option 3 and this was seconded by Councillor Peers.

On being put to the vote, the proposal for Option 3 was carried.

RESOLVED:

That, having considered the decision, the Committee refers the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration, setting out in writing the nature of its concerns.

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

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

(c)        That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented a report (agenda item number 8) to consider the current Forward Work Programme (FWP) and Action Tracking progress.

Following a request from Councillor Peers, it was agreed that a review of the 3 weekly kerbside collection model following its implementation be added to the FWP for January, 2026. 

In response to a query from Councillor Peers, it was agreed that an item on Bus Services be added to the FWP to include the national and local position, an update on the Fflecsi bus service and the reliability of services.  

In response to a question from Councillor Wakelam it was agreed that the Access Barrier Review report be kept on the FWP.   

The recommendations of the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

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

(c)        That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.

That the Committee note the measures within the 2024/25 action plan being considered for inclusion towards improving the financial position by the end of the financial year.

The Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) presented a report (agenda item number 9) to update Members with the in-year action plan, which aimed to address the projected revenue budget monitoring 2024/25 overspend position (month 6) for the Streetscene & Transportation portfolio.

In response to a suggestion from Councillor Peers, the Highway Network Manager suggested that a report on illuminated signs be presented to the Committee in 2025.

In response to a query around the proposed savings relating to the local bus re-procurement/service changes to Service 5, the Chief Officer agreed to address this with Councillor Peers following the meeting.  

In response to a question from Councillor Ibbotson around legal authorisation given by Cabinet for spending in excess of the budget, Councillor Ibbotson was requested to provide a written request to the Section 151 Officer following the meeting. 

The recommendation of the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the measures within the 2024/25 action plan being considered for inclusion towards improving the financial position by the end of the financial year.

That in order to achieve the savings target set within the budget for 2024/2025 by Council, the Committee notes:

                      i.        the introduction of a formalised policy; and

                    ii.        the methodology for achieving full cost recovery for public events impacting or on the highway.

The Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) and Highway Network Manager presented a report (agenda item number 10) which set out the methodology for achieving full cost recovery to achieve the approved budget.

It was agreed that the proposals outlined within the report that there is no charge for national commemoration events, such as Remembrance Sunday, be included within the Policy document.  

The recommendations of the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

That in order to achieve the savings target set within the budget for 2024/2025 by Council, the Committee notes:

                      i.        the introduction of a formalised policy; and

                    ii.        the methodology for achieving full cost recovery for public events impacting or on the highway.

(a)       That the Committee note the proposed changes to burial and cremation law that were being consulted upon by the Law Commission; and

(b)       That subject to the comments made by the Committee, it endorses the submission of the proposed response to the public consultation on behalf of Flintshire County Council. 

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) and Bereavement Services Manager presented a report (agenda item number 11) to outline the Law Commission’s consultation paper and detail the Council’s proposed response to the consultation, whilst also providing an overview of the legislative reform proposals and the potential risks and impacts on the local authority in terms of additional duties, costs, and resources.

It was agreed that the comments made by the Committee would be included within the consultation response. 

The recommendations of the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee note the proposed changes to burial and cremation law that were being consulted upon by the Law Commission; and

(b)       That subject to the comments made by the Committee, it endorses the submission of the proposed response to the public consultation on behalf of Flintshire County Council. 

That the Committee note the update and support the work to increase accessibility to the Wales Coastal Path.

The Chief Officer (Planning, Environment & Economy) and Service Manager - Countryside Access and Natural Environment presented a report (agenda item number 12) to summarises the ongoing phased approach to the removal of all the ‘A Frame’ access barriers.

In response to comments made by Councillor Bibby, the Committee were advised that local members, along with other stakeholders would be made aware of proposals within their ward areas. 

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the update and support the work to increase accessibility to the Wales Coastal Path

None.