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There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.
Councillors: Rose Seabourne (Chair) Stuart Ashley Alfie Best Catherine Bonera Nick Byrne Richard Clark (Deputy Leader) Lynda Clarkson Liam Cowles Fiona Cross David Daniels Steven Evans Joanne Gauden Karl Gauden Elizabeth Haynes Jon Horlor Nick Horler Anthony Hunt (Leader) Gaynor James Jon James Janet Jones Mark Jones Nick Jones Peter Jones Rosemary Matthews Susan Morgan Amanda Owen Norma Parrish Caroline Price Nicholas Simons Alan Slade Chris Tew Colette Thomas David Thomas Jayne Watkins David Williams Lucy Williams Nathan Yeowell Officers: Nigel Aurelius, Deputy Chief Executive Justine Cass, Deputy Monitoring Officer Julian Davenne, Play Service Manager Sharon Dixon, Group Finance Officer Rachel Jowitt, Strategic Director, Economy and Environment Dave Leech, Strategic Director, Digital and Communities Jason Lewis, Head of Strategic Human Resources Dave Lily, Director – Financial Services Dominique Redman, Team Leader Democratic and Member Services Tom Roberts, Business & Democratic Support Services Manager Jason O’Brien, Strategic Director, Social Care & Housing Lyndon Puddy, Head of Public Services Support Unit Nansi Salkeld, Democratic Services Project Officer Chris Slade, Senior Business Support Officer (Democratic Services) Deb Smith, Head of Shared Revenues and Benefits Stephen Vickers, Chief Executive In the gallery: x2 Members of the Press and Public
2.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ron Burnett, Giles Davies, Sue Malson
3.1 The Deputy Monitoring Officer advised that she wasn’t aware of any particular interests that members should declare. However, she reminded members that if they should enter into a debate or ask a specific question in relation to any other agenda items, they should consider whether they have an interest to declare at that particular time.
4.1 Council confirmed the minutes of the Council meeting held on 6 December 2022 as an accurate record.
5.1 Council noted the action sheet.
6.1 There were no petitions.
7.1 Public Questions with replies are set out in Appendix A to these minutes.
8.1 8.2 8.3 The Play Service Manager (PSM) delivered a presentation to Council on the work of the Play Service. Members praised the work of the Play Service, referring to the invaluable and inclusive service provided to all families and children, particularly those with additional needs and those who might require additional support. He also commented around the mutual benefits such as the skills that volunteers have gained by working with children in the Play Service Environment. Reference was also made to the positive comments of the Children’s Commissioner following her visit. In response to questions asked by members, the PSM explained that the early bird breakfast session was currently being held in Nant Celyn Primary School, Blenheim Road Primary School and Henllys CIW Primary School. He explained that the breakfast session was held in Llantarnam last year however, the requirement wasn’t as great in this area. With regards to the cost-of-living crisis and the impact on the Play Service, the PSM explained that there had been an increase in demand, half term provisions had already been allocated, and enquiries were already being received in relation to summer activities. He also explained that information was shared at camps throughout the Borough and moving forward, the Play Service would be interested in working with foodbanks in order to address increased demands. The Presiding Member thanked the PSM for his presentation and congratulated the team on receiving their national award.
9.1 The Leader congratulated the External Funding and Regeneration Team and thanked them for their work on the Levelling Up bids. He stated that whilst it was disappointing that the Blaenavon bid did not gain approval, the approved funding for Pontypool town was very welcome, and the approval of that bid was a testament to the work the teams contributed putting the bid together.
10.1 The DMO presented to Council the Annual Governance Statement for 2021/22 for approval. 10.2 In response to a question asked around the appropriateness of referencing a sub-committee in paragraph 10.8 of the Statement that hadn’t met since 2018, the DMO would speak to the relevant officers and provide an answer to Members after the meeting. 10.3 Council agreed, with the majority voting in favour, to approve the Annual Governance Statement referred to in the Appendix to the report.
11.1 The Director – Financial Services (D-FS) outlined the report seeking Council approval of the 2021/22 Statement of Accounts. He explained that the audit process has now been completed and the External Auditor intends to issue an unqualified audit opinion. He drew Members’ attention to an amendment required within statement and referred to the table at paragraph 13.1 of the report. He explained that the asset reclassifications were showing £892k against the Other Land and Buildings column, however, this should show £100k and £792k should be disclosed in the Asset Under Construction column. He stated that the totals for each column would change, however, this change had no impact on any other part of the accounts. 11.2 The Leader thanked the D-FS and his colleagues for their hard work on the unqualified audit report. 11.3 Council unanimously agreed: a) That the Authority's 2021/22 Statement of Accounts be approved, b) That the Presiding Member at Council be authorised to sign the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22, c) To approve the authorisation of the Letter of Representation by the Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee alongside the Chief Financial Officer.
12.1 The Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) outlined the report, recommending approval of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) for 2023/24. 12.2 The DCE recognised the work of the Head of Revenues and Benefits and her team. He referred in particular to their excellent work in relation to Covid and the cost of living, whereby the team had administered a myriad of schemes introduced by Welsh Government to assist residents and business. He also referred to the proactive work around utilising discretionary housing payments, which was a considerable amount of work on top of administering CTRS, Council Tax and other core business. Members commented around the excellent work undertaken and congratulated the team. 12.3 Council unanimously agreed to: · Continue to note the making of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations ("the Prescribed Requirements Regulations") 2013 by the Welsh Government on 26 November 2013 [see appropriate links above]. · Adopt the provisions within the Prescribed Requirements Regulations above together with the Amendment Regulations in 3.4 – 3.7 in respect of its Scheme for the financial year 2023/24. · Approve the discretionary elements in 5.2 as the Council’s local scheme from 1st April 2023. · Affirm that should there be any further uprating amendments during the year these will be carried out without a requirement to adopt the whole Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
13.1 The Interim Head of Children and Family Services (IHoC&FS) highlighted the main areas of the report which outlined the proposal to establish national collaborative governance arrangements for the National Adoption Service (NAS) and Foster Wales (FW), through the creation of a Joint Committee supported by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). 13.2 13.3 13.4 The IHoC&FS explained that scrutiny would receive annual reports, and there would be an annual regional report to Cabinet if required, however, these details would finalised when the Joint Committee was established. In response to questions asked by Members, officers confirmed that all 22 local authorities in Wales were expected to sign the Joint Agreement. The Presiding Member praised the work of the Adoption and Fostering Service. 13.5 Council unanimously agreed: · That a Joint Committee be created, comprising of Council Members, who will oversee the production of annual reports, work programmes and the budgets for the Central Support Team for both National Adoption Service and Foster Wales. · To approve the proposed governance arrangements for the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales through the establishment of the Joint Committee facilitated by WLGA. · To approve the signing of the Joint Agreement
14.1 The Business & Democratic Support Services Manager, informed the Council of the change agreed by the Chief Executive and the Leader, under delegated powers, to members nominated to serve on the Gwent Police Crime and Disorder Panel at the AGM in May this year. 14.2 Council unanimously agreed to note that Councillor Nick Horler had replaced Councillor Nick Jones on the Gwent Police and Crime Disorder Panel for the remainder of the 2022/23 municipal year.
15.1 There were no motions on notice.
16.1 Member questions with replies are set out in Appendix B to these minutes.
17.1 Council unanimously agreed to note the Cabinet Decisions.
18.1 The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 28 February 2023 at 10.00am.
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