Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of meetings held on 30^th April and 9^th May 2019 as correct records.

The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 30^th April and 9^th May 2019 as correct records.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

County Councillor Gareth Pugh queried whether members of the Cabinet who had voted in February 2017 to support the development of a recycling facility in Abermule were predetermined and was advised by the Monitoring Officer that there was no question of predetermination.

To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets.

Cabinet considered proposals to continue with the development of the North Powys Bulking Facility at the Abermule Business Park on the basis that it is the most suitable site available for the development of the facility.  The report incorporated the paper considered at the extraordinary meeting of Council on 3^rd May and a note of the issues raised at that meeting together with responses. The Leader read out a letter she had received that morning from a resident of Abermule.

County Councillor Gareth Pugh spoke as the local member and he argued that the Cabinet had insufficient information on which to take a decision as they had not been given enough details about other potential sites. He questioned whether Cabinet members had received training to allow them to act as a tribunal established by law but was advised that the Cabinet was not a quasi-judicial body. Officers advised that other sites had been looked at and ruled out as set out in the report to Council on 3^rd May.

County Councillor Phil Pritchard argued that the Highways depot at Kirkhamsfield would make a better site, with the Highways function relocated to Abermule, but Cabinet was advised that this would more than double the cost of the current proposal.

Having considered the report and listened to the comments of members and the responses of officers, the Leader asked each of the Cabinet members to confirm whether or not they supported the recommendations in the report. County Councillors A Davies, M Alexander, P Davies, R Harris. S Hayes, R Powell and M Weale all confirmed that they did.

County Councillor Phyl Davies left the meeting.

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport.

Cabinet considered the performance report for the 4^th quarter which set out details of the top 20 Powys specific Performance Indicators, top priorities and milestones in the Corporate Improvement Plan 2018-23, Public Accountability Measures, progress against the Strategic Equality Plan and the Quality Assurance Framework. The report set out remedial actions for targets that had not been met.

The Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language pointed out that the red indicator on the CIP target to have effective systems in place by 2020 to improve the identification of vulnerable young people who are at risk of disengagement from education was outside the Council’s control as Welsh Government had not released data. The target to increase the percentage of Looked After pupils attaining Foundation Phase Indicator was also affected by children from other local authorities being placed in Powys.These factors needed to be made clear in the supporting narrative. Cabinet noted that Education and Children’s Services were working well together. 

To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Services and County Councillor James Evans, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing & Public Protection.

Cabinet considered a report setting out how the Council intended to work with partner housing associations to secure the development of extra care housing schemes across the county. County Councillor Gwilym Williams, the Chair of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee, advised that Scrutiny supported the principle of developing extra care housing.

To consider a report by County Councillor Martin Weale, Portfolio Holder for Economy and Planning.

Cabinet considered the Powys Local Toilet Strategy. The Strategy had been out to consultation for 3 months and had been amended in response to issues raised. The Strategy had also been considered by the Economy Residents, Communities and Governance Scrutiny Committee and responses to the points raised by Scrutiny were included in the report. Cabinet welcomed the recognition of the need for additional adult changing facilities and the provision of additional provision at Y Gaer in Brecon and Berriew Street Car Park in Welshpool.

To consider a report by County Councillor James Evans, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection.

Cabinet considered the delegation of powers under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 to officers.

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport.

Cabinet considered the Treasury Management report for the 4^th Quarter. Cabinet was concerned to note that despite training and advice offered by Finance, the amount of recoverable VAT being potentially lost by being incorrectly accounted for.

To consider the report of the Independent Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board.

Cabinet received the report of the Independent Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board. The Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture reported a very positive meeting with the Welsh Government’s Looked After Children Technical Group the previous week.

To receive for information the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board meeting held on 26^th March 2019.

Cabinet received the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board meeting held on 26^th March 2019.

To receive such correspondence as in the opinion of the Leader is of such urgency as to warrant consideration.

There were no items of correspondence reported.

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Cabinet noted the delegated decisions taken by portfolio holders since the last meeting.

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

          Cabinet noted the forward work programme.