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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: That the capital budget of £2.636m within the 2024/2025 capital programme for the purchase of replacement vehicles be approved, and that the Strategic Director Finance and Resources be authorised to accept the offer of grant for £1.575m for the purchase of net zero emission vehicles.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 December 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Services Committee held on 11 January 2023 be noted.
RESOLVED: a) That the updated draft constitution be adopted, with the exception of the role descriptions for the Chair of the Standards Committee, Member of the Standards Committee and Group Leader, subject to a final internal consistency check and proof-read and cross reference with the ordinary language guide. b) That the ordinary language guide to the Constitution be amended and adopted following a document and cross reference comparison with the draft constitution to ensure accuracy and consistency between those documents. c) That Council considers a further report on the role descriptions and person specifications for the Chair of the Standards Committee, Member of the Standards Committee and Group Leader after consultation has taken place with all Members on their wording. d) That authority be delegated to the Head of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, to make any changes following and arising from the proof read and consistency checks.
RESOLVED: That Council adopts the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Regulations for 2024/2025 and makes no changes to the existing discretionary elements, which have been adopted annually by the Council since April 2013 as follows: (i) Apply a 100% disregard of War Pensions (including War Widows Pensions) and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme awards attributable to service, when calculating income in a Council Tax Reduction assessment. (ii) Not to increase the standard extended payment period of 4 weeks Council Tax Reduction to applicants after they return to work, when they have been in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit. (iii) Not to increase the Council Tax Reduction maximum backdate period beyond the standard 3 months.
The Health and Wellbeing Service Manager was welcomed to the meeting as the Education Catering Service had been awarded the Welsh Government Food in Schools Award in recognition of excellence. Members joined the Chair in congratulating them on their success.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Austin Roberts and Trevor Stott.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the capital budget of £2.636m within the 2024/2025 capital programme for the purchase of replacement vehicles be approved, and that the Strategic Director Finance and Resources be authorised to accept the offer of grant for £1.575m for the purchase of net zero emission vehicles.
The Leader as the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Finance Strategy presented a report which sought approval for the element of the proposed capital programme relating to vehicle replacements following receipt of a grant offer for the purchase of net zero emission vehicles. However, there was a requirement to accept the grant offer by 31 January 2024. Furthermore, the vehicles must be contractually committed by 31 March 2024 to meet the conditions of the grant. Members discussed the following: • The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources confirmed that there would be no revenue implications in respect of vehicle replacement as it would be funded from the general capital grant. In terms of running costs, there would be a long term reduction due to the new vehicles being more economical. • In respect of concerns raised regarding the short timescale for accepting the grant, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that vehicle replacement would have been considered as part of the Capital Programme in February 2024 but that a decision was now required by 31 January 2024 in order to receive the grant. • It was suggested that the Welsh Government (WG) be challenged in respect of the timescale of the grant, especially in light of financial difficulties facing Local Authorities. • Whilst the vehicle replacement programme had been considered by the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet as part of the proposed Capital Programme 2024/2025, the grant offer would allow for replacement vehicles to be ordered sooner. • The Head of Environment, Road and Facilities (ERF) confirmed that infrastructure was in place in respect of the new vehicles. • The positive impact of replacing an ageing fleet which would minimise cost and service disruption caused by breakdowns. • It was noted that savings would be realised in respect of road tax. • If the grant was not accepted then the Council would be required to find the money from elsewhere. • The Head of Neighbourhood Services advised that there were 20 frontline recycling vehicles, 4 of which were electric with a further 2 electric vehicles on order. The grant would allow for an additional 9 electric vehicles with the rest due to be replaced as part of an ongoing programme. The replacement of vehicles would allow the service to meet recycling targets. • It was confirmed that batteries were expected to last for the lifetime of the vehicle. A pilot vehicle had been tested for a period of 12 months in order to address any issues in respect of inclement weather. RESOLVED: That the capital budget of £2.636m within the 2024/2025 capital programme for the purchase of replacement vehicles be approved, and that the Strategic Director Finance and Resources be authorised to accept the offer of grant for £1.575m for the purchase of net zero emission vehicles.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 December 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 December 2023 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 December 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The Chair made the following announcements: • The Chair would be attending a holocaust memorial event at St George’s hotel on 28 January 2024. • Thanks were extended to Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) officers who had worked tirelessly during the recent storms. • The take pART event held at Venue Cymru on 13 and 14 January 2024 had attracted approximately 10,000 people who had the opportunity to sample a range of creative activities and workshops. Thanks were extended to staff who had delivered the successful event. The Leader made the following announcements: • Thanks extended to ERF staff in respect of work carried out during storms Isha and Jocelyn were echoed. • The outcome of the Estyn Inspection of the Council’s Education Services was exceptional and staff were thanked for their hard work. The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Safeguarding congratulated staff on the partnership working being undertaken with other public organisations. The Cabinet Member for Education made the following announcements: • Congratulations were extended to the Education Catering Service on their recent award and the excellent work in rolling out free school meals to all primary school pupils in Conwy in a timely manner. • The excellent outcome of the recent Education Service Estyn inspection was commended. It had been a thorough inspection and thanks were extended to all in Education Services. The Chief Executive made the following announcements: • Reference was made to the recent storms and the excellent work of ERF officers. The acknowledgement and thanks received from Councillors and members of the public were greatly appreciated. • Members were reminded that today was Dydd Santes Dwynwen (Welsh Valentine’s day).
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Services Committee held on 11 January 2023 be noted.
The minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Services Committee held on 11 January 2024 were submitted for information. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Democratic Services Committee held on 11 January 2023 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: a) That the updated draft constitution be adopted, with the exception of the role descriptions for the Chair of the Standards Committee, Member of the Standards Committee and Group Leader, subject to a final internal consistency check and proof-read and cross reference with the ordinary language guide. b) That the ordinary language guide to the Constitution be amended and adopted following a document and cross reference comparison with the draft constitution to ensure accuracy and consistency between those documents. c) That Council considers a further report on the role descriptions and person specifications for the Chair of the Standards Committee, Member of the Standards Committee and Group Leader after consultation has taken place with all Members on their wording. d) That authority be delegated to the Head of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, to make any changes following and arising from the proof read and consistency checks.
The Cabinet Member for Democracy and Governance presented a report, which sought approval for the adoption of the updated National Model Constitution. The Head of Law and Governance highlighted the process undertaken and the work carried out by the Working Group, which had been appointed to review Conwy County Borough Council’s constitution in order that it had the same structure and format as the Model Constitution. It was noted that the draft did not fundamentally change any of the Council’s current processes or procedures, apart from where changes were statutorily required. Any substantive new processes and procedures that were referenced in the draft, were those that the Council was required to include as a result of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act or due to other recent legislative updates. RESOLVED: a) That the updated draft constitution be adopted, with the exception of the role descriptions for the Chair of the Standards Committee, Member of the Standards Committee and Group Leader, subject to a final internal consistency check and proof-read and cross reference with the ordinary language guide. b) That the ordinary language guide to the Constitution be amended and adopted following a document and cross reference comparison with the draft constitution to ensure accuracy and consistency between those documents. c) That Council considers a further report on the role descriptions and person specifications for the Chair of the Standards Committee, Member of the Standards Committee and Group Leader after consultation has taken place with all Members on their wording. d) That authority be delegated to the Head of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, to make any changes following and arising from the proof read and consistency checks.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That Council adopts the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Regulations for 2024/2025 and makes no changes to the existing discretionary elements, which have been adopted annually by the Council since April 2013 as follows: (i) Apply a 100% disregard of War Pensions (including War Widows Pensions) and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme awards attributable to service, when calculating income in a Council Tax Reduction assessment. (ii) Not to increase the standard extended payment period of 4 weeks Council Tax Reduction to applicants after they return to work, when they have been in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit. (iii) Not to increase the Council Tax Reduction maximum backdate period beyond the standard 3 months.
The Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Economy presented a report, which sought approval to adopt the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Regulations for 2024/2025. The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Safeguarding, in her capacity as the Armed Forced Champion, thanked Members for supporting the reductions in relation to War Pensions and War Widows. RESOLVED: That Council adopts the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Regulations for 2024/2025 and makes no changes to the existing discretionary elements, which have been adopted annually by the Council since April 2013 as follows: (i) Apply a 100% disregard of War Pensions (including War Widows Pensions) and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme awards attributable to service, when calculating income in a Council Tax Reduction assessment. (ii) Not to increase the standard extended payment period of 4 weeks Council Tax Reduction to applicants after they return to work, when they have been in receipt of a relevant qualifying benefit. (iii) Not to increase the Council Tax Reduction maximum backdate period beyond the standard 3 months.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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