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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 Notice of Motion be not adopted, but that Option 2, as outlined in the report, be progressed.
RESOLVED (a) That the Notice of Motion be noted and that the current position relating to Resident bay parking be highlighted to care companies. (b) That it be noted the wider review will also consider all care providers.
RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be supported through the implementation of the following options, to increase the user experience and aid the request to make the facilities more user friendly: (a) Improve booking availability through increasing the number of slots at all sites with booking levels above 70% of capacity on average. (b) Trial “out of hours” telephone booking option for those without internet access, up to 7pm on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8am to noon. (Subject to demand on the service – i.e. emergencies/ storms etc). (c) Review of the terms and conditions associated with the usage of the facilities.
RESOLVED That the refreshed Destination Management Plan be formally adopted.
RESOLVED That Scolton Manor’s Accreditation return be approved.
RESOLVED That authority be provided to invite and evaluate tenders using the Dynamic Purchasing System for Bus & Taxi Services for education transport requirements, and that authority be delegated to the Head of Infrastructure and Environment to award the subsequent contracts.
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as Appendix B involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The webcast was paused at this juncture. Having convened in private session in accordance with Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet considered Appendix B. The webcast was then resumed. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the award of the contract for construction services, as detailed in the report, be awarded to Kier Construction Western & Wales.
RESOLVED (a) That the revised and updated Compliments, Concerns and Complaints Policy be approved. (b) That the Managing Customer Contact Policy be approved.
RESOLVED That the updated Local Code of Governance be approved.
RESOLVED (a) That the authority to award individual grants in excess of the limits set out in the Constitution, up to £50,000 per annum, be delegated to the Director of Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Social Services and Safeguarding, provided that such awards are made in accordance with the Social Services & Housing Grants Allocation Policy, as appended to the report. (b) That an annual report be received by Cabinet detailing the grant funding awarded, the grant recipients and providing an overview of the use and impact of the funding.
RESOLVED (a) That the invitation for the evaluation of tenders for a position on the framework agreement, be approved. (b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Social Care & Housing for the subsequent award of a position on the framework agreement.
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as Appendix B involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The webcast was paused at this juncture. Having convened in private session in accordance with Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet considered Appendix A. Questions were answered by Councillor Harvey, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Housing and Public Protection. The webcast was then resumed. Councillor Jon Harvey Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Michelle Bateman. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [8] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the decision to acquire the development site be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive, noting that this decision is only to be made once the Director of Social Services and Housing, in conjunction with property, legal and finance colleagues, is satisfied as to the due diligence which has been conducted, and subject to the purchase price not exceeding the amount specified in Appendix A. (b) That the decision to enter into the works contract for construction of the social/affordable housing, be delegated to the Director for Social Services and Housing, subject to the contract price not exceeding the amount specified in Appendix A, ensuring sufficient budget provision within the HRA Business Plan, Social Housing Grant programme and demonstration of cost efficiency for the development of WDQR compliant properties.
RESOLVED (a) That the Choice Homes Allocations Policy be agreed. (b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, to make minor changes to the Policy as a result of changes to legislation.
The Leader announced that it would be his final Cabinet meeting as Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council. He explained that he would not be seeking re-election as Leader at next month’s Annual Meeting and was very much looking forward to spending more time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He was said to be incredibly proud to have been Leader since May 2017, but felt the time was right for a new Leader to continue to take the Council forward. The Leader planned to say more at the Annual Meeting, but wished to thank his fellow Cabinet Members for their commitment to their roles and their support over the last seven years. He stated that he could not have wished for a harder working or more dedicated Cabinet. He then wished to put on record his gratitude and thanks to all Council staff for their hard work across all departments, and mentioned how dedicated the staff were, striving to improve lives in Pembrokeshire. He also gave thanks to the people of Pembrokeshire. The Leader stated his enjoyment at the functions he had been invited to over the years, and that he always received a lovely welcome. He stated that it had been a pleasure to go out and represent the Authority. He concluded that it had been the honour of a lifetime to be the Leader of the Council and that the best part of the job had been meeting so many people who were committed to making this County a better place to live and work. During the meeting Members took the opportunity to thank the Leader for his support over the years.
The following declarations were made: Item 15 – Development of a Package Deal for the provision of affordable housing in Pembroke Dock Councillor Neil Prior declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item of business by virtue of being the Director of a Housing Association. Item 5 - Notice of Motion relating to Annual Permit Scheme for Community Nurses and Carers Councillor Paul Miller declared and personal and prejudicial interest in this item of business by virtue of being the Director of a Community Interest Care Facility, but stated that he had dispensation to speak but not vote.
Councillor Jon Harvey Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Alec Cormack. The vote was taken by way of a show of hands and carried. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 11 March 2024 and the Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting held on 4 April 2024, be approved as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be not adopted, but that Option 2, as outlined in the report, be progressed.
Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Resources which outlined the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Huw Murphy to Council on 7 March 2024, relating to Banking Services. The Notice of Motion was submitted as follows: Barclays Bank recently announced that they are closing their last remaining branch in Pembrokeshire in 2024 (Haverfordwest) in what they claim is an effort at “rightsizing” their headcount. Therefore, this Notice of Motion is a request that Pembrokeshire County Council review its banking arrangements with Barclays and look towards a new banking arrangement with a bank that still retains a physical footprint and therefore a commitment to the County of Pembrokeshire. The loss of many banking facilities within Pembrokeshire over recent years has had a detrimental impact on many town centres such as Tenby, St David's, Fishguard, Milford Haven, Narberth, Newport and Pembroke and Pembroke Dock and will soon impact Haverfordwest with the loss of Barclays bank to the town. The loss of these banks not only impacts upon town centres and businesses but also disproportionately impacts the elderly who are less likely to embrace on-line banking options & also results in the loss of well-paid and secure employment in a County that can ill afford to lose such jobs and career opportunities for our young who may wish to enter a career in the banking/finance industry without having to re-locate out of Pembrokeshire. Councillor Huw Murphy addressed the meeting in support of his Notice of Motion and stated that he believed the outcome, as outlined in the report, was successful and realistic, and thanked Councillor Alec Cormack and the Deputy Chief Finance Officer for their work. In response to the Notice of Motion, Councillor Alec Cormack, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Corporate Finance, introduced the report and outlined the background of the matter, and expressed his personal sympathy with the Notice of Motion. He then explained the reasoning behind the Recommendation, and stated that work with Barclays would be undertaken to ensure the delivery of a community location set up in Haverfordwest. He stated that a community space agreement had now been signed between Barclays and the Council, for the use of two ground floor rooms in County Hall from 25 April 2024 for 12 months. Councillor Cormack stated that Barclays would occupy this space for three days a week, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with access times between 9am and 5pm. Councillor Alec Cormack Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Michelle Bateman. Councillor Jon Harvey also expressed sympathy with the Notice of Motion, but stated that it was excellent news that a deal has been established with Barclays. He stated that this would hopefully mitigate the branch closing in Haverfordwest, and suggested that the effort to work with banks to ensure a community approach, should continue. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be not adopted, but that Option 2, as outlined in the report, be progressed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the Notice of Motion be noted and that the current position relating to Resident bay parking be highlighted to care companies. (b) That it be noted the wider review will also consider all care providers.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Infrastructure and Environment which outlined the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Rhys Jordan to Council on 7 March 2024, relating to an Annual Permit Scheme for Community Nurses and Carers. The Notice of Motion was submitted as follows: Introduction of Annual Permit Scheme for Community Nurses and Carers - To enable Community Nurses and Carers to deliver uninterrupted care to their patients without the fear of incurring "Fixed Penalty Notices" by allowing them to park in designated resident and loading areas for a period of up to one hour whilst on duty. Councillor Rhys Jordan addressed the meeting in support of his Notice of Motion and stated that he was happy with the outcome outlined in the report, and was pleased to be ahead of the issue. In response to the Notice of Motion, Councillor Rhys Sinnett introduced the report and stated that the Civil Enforcement Team already used considerable discretion to ensure that Carers delivered their services without any disruption. He agreed that more people were receiving care at home, and stated that the Authority would adapt and reinforce the schemes on offer appropriately. The Street Care and Parking Manager highlighted that he had been in conversation with colleagues from Cardiff who had a portal system in place for Carers, and that work was being done in the background to move this forward. He stated that a consultant would be called in for support to create a stronger resident permit scheme, and to ensure that carers would be included. Councillor Tessa Hodgson thanked Councillor Jordan for bringing forward this important issue, and the Street Care and Parking Manager for his work on the matter. She highlighted that anything within the Authority’s gift to help Carers was welcome, and stated that she was very supportive of the outlined approach. Councillor Rhys Sinnett Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Tessa Hodgson. The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. Abstention: Councillor Paul Miller [1] There were no votes against. RESOLVED (a) That the Notice of Motion be noted and that the current position relating to Resident bay parking be highlighted to care companies. (b) That it be noted the wider review will also consider all care providers.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be supported through the implementation of the following options, to increase the user experience and aid the request to make the facilities more user friendly: (a) Improve booking availability through increasing the number of slots at all sites with booking levels above 70% of capacity on average. (b) Trial “out of hours” telephone booking option for those without internet access, up to 7pm on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8am to noon. (Subject to demand on the service – i.e. emergencies/ storms etc). (c) Review of the terms and conditions associated with the usage of the facilities.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Infrastructure and Environment which outlined the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Viv Stoddart to Council on 7 March 2024, relating to the Recycling Centre Booking System. The Notice of Motion was submitted as follows: That Pembrokeshire County Council review the booking system for the county's Waste Recycling Centres to consider how to make access to the facilities more user friendly. Councillor Viv Stoddart addressed the meeting in support of her Notice of Motion and expressed that she was happy with the outlined Recommendation, and thanked Officers for the comprehensive report. She then commented on the booking system and believed that the review, as suggested within the report, should focus on the user’s experience. Councillor Stoddart then sought clarification as to where the personal data of each user was stored. In response, the Chief Officer for Environmental Services stated that all data was held on a secure platform designed by the Authority’s internal digital team, which was only accessible through a sign-in account. She assured Members that the data was held in line with data protection guidelines. Councillor Stoddart also referred to DIY disposal charges. She welcomed the Recommendations, but wished to receive information at some point, specifically in relation to Recommendation C, as to who would conduct the review, the timescale and fly tipping figures. She also asked whether the terms and conditions were reviewed in regards to being suitable for the reader. The Chief Officer for Environmental Services stated that the terms and conditions were reviewed by a member of the Environment Team, as well as by a member of the Digital Team before being placed online. In response to the Notice of Motion, Councillor Rhys Sinnett, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Residents’ Services, stated that the suggested review would allow the Authority to refine the system to ultimately improve the user experience as much as possible. He highlighted regular changes in legislation by Welsh Government, and stated that it was useful to review the terms and conditions on a regular basis. The Chief Officer for Environmental Services referred to DIY disposal and stated that charges had only been introduced for large quantities of waste, where it would be classed as construction waste, as opposed to household waste. She then explained the benefits of the booking system, which included ensuring the safety of people using the site, as well as staff, and creating a more stress-free and manageable experience at each site. She also referred to the suggested trial “out of hours” telephone booking option, as outlined within the Recommendation. Councillor Paul Miller referred to the language used within the guidelines and suggested that it be amended, if possible, to be more helpful for people who may not have booked a slot. The Chief Officer for Environmental Services stated that the site operatives try to be as helpful as possible, but stated that the specific use of language was important, in order to ensure the site was safe for everyone to use. Councillor Alec Cormack stated his support for the Recommendation, but suggested that the ‘My Account’ system needed to be made easier for residents to use, especially in relation to booking a slot. Councillor Rhys Sinnett Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Alec Cormack. Councillor Stoddart agreed with Councillor Miller’s point about the language used within the policies. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be supported through the implementation of the following options, to increase the user experience and aid the request to make the facilities more user friendly: (a) Improve booking availability through increasing the number of slots at all sites with booking levels above 70% of capacity on average. (b) Trial “out of hours” telephone booking option for those without internet access, up to 7pm on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8am to noon. (Subject to demand on the service – i.e. emergencies/ storms etc). (c) Review of the terms and conditions associated with the usage of the facilities.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the refreshed Destination Management Plan be formally adopted.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Cultural, Leisure and Registration Services which outlined the refreshed Destination Management Plan for 2024 to 2028. Councillor Paul Miller, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Place, the Region and Climate Change, introduced the report and stated that a review of the strategy had been undertaken and that the report outlined the next steps of the Plan, in partnership with Visit Pembrokeshire. Councillor Paul Miller Moved the Recommendation. The Head of Cultural, Leisure and Registration Services explained that the outlinedstrategy was well-rounded, and also considered the impact of tourism on local communities and the environment. He stated that it was a well-balanced and ambitious strategy. The Recommendation was Seconded by Councillor Neil Prior. Councillor Neil Prior stated his support for the strategy and suggested that the 182 day accommodation rule and the Central Business Levy issues be closely monitored. Councillor Miller agreed with Councillor Prior and stated that various regulations were ever changing in regards to the tourism industry, and suggested that such elements would be kept under constant review. He then referred to the present and future effects of the 182 day accommodation rule and the Central Business Levy issues. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the refreshed Destination Management Plan be formally adopted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That Scolton Manor’s Accreditation return be approved.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Cultural, Leisure and Registration Services which outlined the Scolton Manor Museum Accreditation return, which required formal approval by the Governing Body. Councillor Rhys Sinnett, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Residents’ Services, introduced the report and stated that the submission needed to be approved prior to the Accreditation being awarded by the Welsh Government, and explained that there were no financial implications in doing so. Councillor Rhys Sinnett Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Alec Cormack. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That Scolton Manor’s Accreditation return be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That authority be provided to invite and evaluate tenders using the Dynamic Purchasing System for Bus & Taxi Services for education transport requirements, and that authority be delegated to the Head of Infrastructure and Environment to award the subsequent contracts.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Infrastructure and Environment which outlined Education Transport Contracts. Councillor Rhys Sinnett, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Residents’ Services, introduced the report and stated that it sought permission to evaluate tenders for Education Transport. He stated that the report covered the renewal of 35 existing Education Transport routes, which were due to expire on 31 August 2024, eight new routes which were required to start in September 2024, and 27 routes which were currently operated in house. He explained that the estimated contract spend for the 70 routes, over the maximum contract term, was £16 million. Councillor Rhys Sinnett Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Guy Woodham. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That authority be provided to invite and evaluate tenders using the Dynamic Purchasing System for Bus & Taxi Services for education transport requirements, and that authority be delegated to the Head of Infrastructure and Environment to award the subsequent contracts.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as Appendix B involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The webcast was paused at this juncture. Having convened in private session in accordance with Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet considered Appendix B. The webcast was then resumed. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the award of the contract for construction services, as detailed in the report, be awarded to Kier Construction Western & Wales.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Infrastructure and Environment which outlined the Stage 2 construction contract for the Haverfordwest Transport Interchange. Councillor Paul Miller, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Place, the Region and Climate Change, introduced the report and wished to highlight that although Appendix B needed to be discussed in private session, it outlined the breakdown of the costs associated with the scheme, and stated that the total costs were included in the open report. Councillor Miller then outlined the purpose of the Haverfordwest Transport Interchange, and the work on the project to date. He highlighted that the Interchange would be an income producing asset for the Authority, and asked the Head of Infrastructure and Environment to outline the income estimates associated with the asset. The Head of Infrastructure and Environment referred to various elements outlined in the report which included the value for money, detail round the tender process, previous reports and decisions on the matter that had been to Cabinet for approval, full financial information, and the elements of value engineering that had been undertaken to bring the scheme within budget. In regards to the income estimates associated with the car park, the Street Care and Parking Manager stated that the figure from 2019 was said to be £100,000 per annum, but stated that the value was expected to increase further as Haverfordwest town centre continued to undergo its regeneration. Councillor Miller wished to confirm whether an updated estimate of £200,000, in relation to the car park income, would be correct. The Street Care and Parking Manager believed that to be a fair estimate, and explained that the charges had increased in line with the recent charges introduced at the County Hall car park, as well as the interchange car park having more electrical vehicle charging points and large capacity. Councillor Miller then sought clarification as to the impact of the Authority not proceeding with the project as proposed. In response, Deputy Chief Finance Officer stated that there was the potential to have to re-pay the grant received by the Welsh Government to date, which could be in the region of £3.3 million. The Head of Infrastructure and Environment agreed that it was a fair assumption that the grant could be claimed back if the project did not proceed. He also outlined for information, the parking transactions for the temporary car park over the last financial year, said to be £39,749.20 net and £40,895.30 gross. Councillor Paul Miller Moved the Recommendation. Councillor Alec Cormack believed that there was a great risk that if the project did not proceed, the grant money would need to be refunded. The Recommendation was Seconded by Councillor Alec Cormack. Councillor Tessa Hodgson stated that she was pleased to see the addition of a changing places toilet and disabled facilities and parking, and highlighted the importance of ensuring town centres were welcoming and accessible for all members of the community. Cabinet then considered excluding the public from the meeting to consider the exempt Appendix B. Councillor Paul Miller Moved the exclusion of the public; Seconded by Councillor Jon Harvey. The vote was taken by a roll call and was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as Appendix B involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The webcast was paused at this juncture. Having convened in private session in accordance with Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet considered Appendix B. The webcast was then resumed. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the award of the contract for construction services, as detailed in the report, be awarded to Kier Construction Western & Wales.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the revised and updated Compliments, Concerns and Complaints Policy be approved. (b) That the Managing Customer Contact Policy be approved.
Cabinet considered a report by the Audit, Risk and Counter Fraud Manager which outlined the Compliments, Concerns and Complaints Policy and the Managing Customer Contact Policy. Councillor Neil Prior, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Corporate Improvement and Communities, introduced the report and outlined the details of the two policies for approval. He highlighted that the policies had also been considered by the Policy and Pre-decision Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Neil Prior Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Michelle Bateman. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the revised and updated Compliments, Concerns and Complaints Policy be approved. (b) That the Managing Customer Contact Policy be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the updated Local Code of Governance be approved.
Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Resources which outlined the updated Local Code of Governance. Councillor Neil Prior, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Corporate Improvement and Communities, introduced the report and explained that the Local Code of Governance ensured that the Authority was directing resources in the right ways, in line with policies and priorities, and that there was proper and sound decision-making and clear accountability for the use of resources. He highlighted that the Code had been reviewed by the Senior Leadership Team, as well as the Governance and Audit Committee. Councillor Neil Prior Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Guy Woodham. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the updated Local Code of Governance be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the authority to award individual grants in excess of the limits set out in the Constitution, up to £50,000 per annum, be delegated to the Director of Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Social Services and Safeguarding, provided that such awards are made in accordance with the Social Services & Housing Grants Allocation Policy, as appended to the report. (b) That an annual report be received by Cabinet detailing the grant funding awarded, the grant recipients and providing an overview of the use and impact of the funding.
Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Social Care and Housing which outlined the process for the awarding of grant funding for voluntary and third sector organisations, up to a maximum of £50,000 per annum. Councillor Tessa Hodgson, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Social Services and Safeguarding, introduced the report and stated that the outlined delegation would allow for a more streamlined and flexible approach, and would better support the sector in the longer term. She highlighted that grants awarded would align with the Authority’s aims and priorities, to build resourceful and resilient communities through preventative services, and work to reduce the need for statutory interventions. Councillor Tessa Hodgson Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Jon Harvey. Councillor Rhys Sinnett stated that he was pleased to see the flexibility that would allow multi-year approval of grants, which would be incredibly helpful for third sector organisations. Councillor Neil Prior stated his support and was pleased to see reference to the Public Services Board and the Strengthening Communities Group. He believed that more work needed to be done to further raise the visibility and understanding of what the Public Services Board does, but was pleased to see alignment with the development of that statutory partnership. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the authority to award individual grants in excess of the limits set out in the Constitution, up to £50,000 per annum, be delegated to the Director of Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Social Services and Safeguarding, provided that such awards are made in accordance with the Social Services & Housing Grants Allocation Policy, as appended to the report. (b) That an annual report be received by Cabinet detailing the grant funding awarded, the grant recipients and providing an overview of the use and impact of the funding.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the invitation for the evaluation of tenders for a position on the framework agreement, be approved. (b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Social Care & Housing for the subsequent award of a position on the framework agreement.
Cabinet considered a report by Director of Social Care and Housing which outlined the Council Housing Stock Framework Agreement. Councillor Michelle Bateman, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, introduced the report and stated that the establishment and utilisation of the framework agreement would help enable the Building Maintenance service area to continue with its programme of installation, and servicing requirements for domestic boilers, to effectively manage and maintain the Authority’s Housing Stock to the Welsh Housing Quality Standards. Councillor Michelle Bateman Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Jon Harvey. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Neil Prior, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [9] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the invitation for the evaluation of tenders for a position on the framework agreement, be approved. (b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Social Care & Housing for the subsequent award of a position on the framework agreement.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as Appendix B involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The webcast was paused at this juncture. Having convened in private session in accordance with Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet considered Appendix A. Questions were answered by Councillor Harvey, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Housing and Public Protection. The webcast was then resumed. Councillor Jon Harvey Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Michelle Bateman. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [8] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the decision to acquire the development site be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive, noting that this decision is only to be made once the Director of Social Services and Housing, in conjunction with property, legal and finance colleagues, is satisfied as to the due diligence which has been conducted, and subject to the purchase price not exceeding the amount specified in Appendix A. (b) That the decision to enter into the works contract for construction of the social/affordable housing, be delegated to the Director for Social Services and Housing, subject to the contract price not exceeding the amount specified in Appendix A, ensuring sufficient budget provision within the HRA Business Plan, Social Housing Grant programme and demonstration of cost efficiency for the development of WDQR compliant properties.
[Having previously declared a personal and prejudicial interest, Councillor Neil Prior left the meeting at this juncture.] Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Social Care and Housing which outlined the development of a Package Deal for the provision of affordable housing in Pembroke Dock. Councillor Jon Harvey, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Housing Delivery, introduced the report and outlined the package deal contract for the delivery of circa 38 new homes, for social and affordable housing on a development site at the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel site, Pembroke Dock. He then went on to highlight the details of the deal, as outlined in the report, and explained that the developers envisaged an 18 month development programme, with works estimated to commence in March 2025 and estimated handover in Autumn 2026. Councillor Harvey concluded by highlighting that based on the figures contained in Appendix A, the Housing Service considered the scheme to be viable, and the contract presented good value for money for the Authority. Councillor Paul Miller stated his support for the proposal and for bringing the site back into meaningful use, where there was proven need for housing in the area. Cabinet then considered excluding the public from the meeting to consider the exempt Appendix A. Councillor Jon Harvey Moved the exclusion of the public; Seconded by Councillor Paul Miller. The vote was taken by a roll call and was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [8] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the public be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as Appendix B involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The webcast was paused at this juncture. Having convened in private session in accordance with Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, Cabinet considered Appendix A. Questions were answered by Councillor Harvey, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Housing and Public Protection. The webcast was then resumed. Councillor Jon Harvey Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Michelle Bateman. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [8] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the decision to acquire the development site be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive, noting that this decision is only to be made once the Director of Social Services and Housing, in conjunction with property, legal and finance colleagues, is satisfied as to the due diligence which has been conducted, and subject to the purchase price not exceeding the amount specified in Appendix A. (b) That the decision to enter into the works contract for construction of the social/affordable housing, be delegated to the Director for Social Services and Housing, subject to the contract price not exceeding the amount specified in Appendix A, ensuring sufficient budget provision within the HRA Business Plan, Social Housing Grant programme and demonstration of cost efficiency for the development of WDQR compliant properties.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the Choice Homes Allocations Policy be agreed. (b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, to make minor changes to the Policy as a result of changes to legislation.
Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Social Care and Housing which outlined the review of and changes proposed to the draft Choice Homes Pembrokeshire Allocations Policy. Councillor Michelle Bateman, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, introduced the report and stated that the new Allocations Policy was a significant change to how social housing in Pembrokeshire would be allocated. She then explained the detail with the report, and highlighted that engagement with Stakeholders and Members had been very useful. Councillor Bateman then referred to the major changes in the Policy as follows: • Moved into a closed register increase in the local connection from one year to five. • A more robust financial assessment to ensure that those who do have sufficient income savings or equity, use this where reasonable to source their own housing solutions. • Removing the priority card, which would result in a more even spread of allocations across the top band. • Changing from gold, silver and bronze to A, B and C, and changing the criteria within those bands, as detailed within the Policy. • Advertise Pembrokeshire's Accessible Housing Register. • Introduced a ‘one-up’ element to help reduce the demand on one-bed stock. • Creating an Affordable Housing Register for people who do not necessarily need social housing, but cannot afford the current high private rents or open market purchases. • Introducing auto bidding and consequences for refusing a reasonable offer. • Updating the rural and urban connections. Councillor Michelle Bateman Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Jon Harvey. Councillor Jon Harvey stated his support of the Policy, but sought clarification in regards to whether the Housing Associations had signed up to the urban connections remaining. In response, the Head of Housing and Public Protection stated that she had been in communication with the Housing Associations requesting that they feedback on it, but had not yet received a formal response, but assured Members that no significant issues were expected. Councillor Paul Miller sought clarification in regards to the closed list aspect of the Policy. In response, Councillor Bateman stated that part of the impact would be on homeless presentations, and explained that the closed list would help people who were already living and working in Pembrokeshire to get more of a priority for social housing, and as social housing was such a limited resource, it was right to prioritise those people currently within Pembrokeshire. She believed that this aspect brought the Authority more in line with a lot of other local authorities. Councillor Miller then sought confirmation as to whether new build developments continued to benefit from the current Local Lettings Policy, and questioned the difference between rural and urban areas, and what the rationale was for rural areas having benefited from a greater proportion of local lettings. In response, Councillor Bateman explained that it was the intention that for developments, a local lettings policy would be kept in place, but that the Policy could differ for each development, and would be done in conjunction with the local community and the Town or Community Council. In regards to the urban and rural distinction, she explained that the rural policy had been in place previously to reflect the needs of those communities in terms of community cohesion, people, the impact on the Welsh language and to reflect the turnover of stock in some of the smaller villages. Councillor Bateman believed that either of the policies would not have a significant impact. Councillor Miller also referred to the earnings threshold in relation to housing needs and people being unable to access the private rented sector, and stated that support from the Authority was available for people in that particular position. Councillor Bateman stated that wording on this matter had been amended within the Policy, and highlighted that financial assessment would remain a consideration, but would not exclude people from accessing housing. Councillor Miller sought clarification as to how the Policy had been improved to ensure that more offers of housing were accepted, as opposed to being declined, leaving properties empty for a certain period of time. Councillor Bateman explained that consequences had been introduced for refusing a reasonable offer. Councillor Bateman then thanked Councillor Miller for his questions and pointed out that it was beneficial to get the opportunity to be clear on the important points of the updated Policy. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors David Simpson, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alec Cormack, Jon Harvey, Tessa Hodgson, Rhys Sinnett and Guy Woodham [8] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED (a) That the Choice Homes Allocations Policy be agreed. (b) That authority be delegated to the Director of Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Operations and Regulatory Services, to make minor changes to the Policy as a result of changes to legislation.
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