Venue: Committee Room A - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. View directions
Contact: Stephen Boyd 01597 826374
No. | Item | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor J H Brunt and from County Councillor MR Harris for the start of the meeting.
|
|||||||||||
To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held as a correct record. Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 5th July 2016 as a correct record.
|
|||||||||||
Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest reported.
|
|||||||||||
Update from the Anti-Poverty Champion To receive an update from the Anti-Poverty Champion County Councillor Joy Jones. Minutes: County Councillor Joy Jones, the Council’s Anti-Poverty Champion, gave an update to the Cabinet of the work being undertaken by the Anti-Poverty Working Group and related some of the instances of poverty endured by individuals she had met in the course of her work. She had found that very often people did not know where to turn to for help. The Working Group were looking to develop a directory giving details of various agencies people could go to for help. The Cabinet agreed that this was a good idea and thanked Councillor Jones and the Working Group for their work.
|
|||||||||||
Brecon High School Financial Management PDF 203 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education and County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: Cabinet considered the budget position of Brecon High School. The budget deficit was projected to rise as pupil numbers fell and the Governing Body had been asked to submit a recovery plan. The Schools Service had commissioned a former Headteacher to review the budget and curriculum and he had found that that in 2014/15 its funding placed it 18th of 22 secondary schools in Wales in the 601 to 700 pupil number bracket. His conclusions were set out in the report but in summary he had judged that the savings proposed would not be sufficient to cover the deficit. A further independent review had been commissioned with a view to identifying realistic efficiencies that could be made without adversely impact on standards and progress being made to being removed out of the category of special measures.
County Councillor David Meredith spoke as the Chair of Governors and asked for the school to be given more time to produce a recovery plan as the second review would not take place until the first week in September. The Portfolio Holder for Education indicated that he was content for the recovery plan to be submitted by 23rd September with a view to it being considered by Cabinet on 4th October.
The Chair of the People Scrutiny Committee argued that the Schools Service and Cabinet should be intervening sooner when schools failed to produce balanced budgets as recovery became more difficult as debts mounted.
Members agreed that there needed to be more information about the underlying causes of the deficit and for progress on school modernisation as the projections were for more schools to go into deficit as pupil numbers fell. There was some criticism of the schools fair funding formula although it was pointed out that this was revised regularly in consultation with head teachers.
|
|||||||||||
Ysgol Cedewain Financial Management PDF 125 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education and County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
Minutes: Cabinet considered the budget position of Ysgol Cedewain which had failed to set a balanced budget. In order to assist the school, the schools service had commissioned the support of a Headteacher who had many years’ experience as a Special Schools Headteacher to assist the school in reviewing their budget plan.
County Councillors Gemma Bowker and Michael Williams, who were Governors at the school, welcomed the support being offered but also noted that 91% of costs were staff related and the need to maintain safe staffing levels. They also noted the difficulties of the school site with 10 different buildings separated by a road.
The Portfolio Holder for Education explained that there would be a further report to Cabinet once the review had been carried out and Members requested that this provide more in depth analysis of the underlying causes of the budget deficit. Members acknowledged the excellent work being undertaken by the school and the difference that it made to families.
|
|||||||||||
Contaminated Land Strategy PDF 88 KB To consider a report by County Councillor John Powell, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet considered the third edition of the Contaminated Land Strategy which had been revised in light of revised legislation and guidance. The Senior Manager Regulatory Services agreed to let the Chair of the Place Scrutiny Committee have details of the potential sites identified on the Council’s database, although he did confirm that there was only one site in the county designated as contaminated.
Subject to references in the document to the Countryside Council for Wales being replaced by Natural Resources Wales it was
County Councillor MR Harris arrived at 2.55 pm.
|
|||||||||||
Tenancy Management Policy PDF 77 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Portfolio Holder for Property, Buildings and Housing. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered a Tenancy Management Policy for Powys which was intended to ensure consistency across the county. The Head of Housing was asked whether there were common tenancy arrangements with other registered social landlords and he advised that these would be introduced at a later date with Housing Associations.
|
|||||||||||
Trading Standards Investigation Costs - Operation Gleam PDF 78 KB To consider a report by County Councillor John Powell, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability. Minutes: Cabinet was asked to consider making a virement in respect of legal costs incurred in bringing a successful prosecution by Trading Standards against rogue traders found operating at the Royal Welsh Show in 2013. A virement was necessary to cover legal fees pending an order from the Crown Court to recover costs from the defendants. Members congratulated Trading Standards for securing the conviction and protecting consumers. Members asked whether the WLGA should be approached with a view to setting up a fund that would support any local authority should they face a similar prosecution case and the associated costs.
|
|||||||||||
Pension Fund Issues for TUPE Transfers PDF 75 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet considered a policy for pension arrangements for staff transferred under TUPE so that prospective tenderers for services were clear on the Council’s policy.
|
|||||||||||
Elected Members Trent Self Service Utilisation PDF 114 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance explained that additional expense was incurred when members submitted written claim forms rather than using the Trent self service system as officers had to input the information. He also advised that Members did not have to submit receipts with claims but were required to keep them for audit purposes. He was therefore proposing that all members be required to use Trent, with allowances made for two members who did not use computers. Training would be provided for Members at the Shire meetings in September. County Councillor Sandra Davies, the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee, advised that the Committee had supported this approach. The Portfolio Holder for Finance agreed to look into whether Members could opt to have a paper pay slip.
|
|||||||||||
Response to Schools Scrutiny Review Group Report PDF 94 KB To consider a response to the Schools Scrutiny Review Group report. Minutes: Cabinet received the Portfolio Holder for Education’s response to the report of the School’s Scrutiny Review Group.
|
|||||||||||
Powys Safeguarding Children and Adults Quarterly Update PDF 255 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Graham Brown, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services and County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care. Minutes: Cabinet received the quarterly safeguarding report for Children and Adult Services and was introduced to Karen Arthur the newly appointed Adult Safeguarding Lead Manager. Cabinet was briefed on the regional and local operational arrangements. Cabinet was advised that all agencies have a legal duty to share information where there are any concerns in relation to a child or an adult at risk. In addition as part of preparations for the new Community Care Information System information sharing protocols were being revised with Powys Teaching Health Board in order that both organisations can ‘go live’ with the new system at the end of November 2016.
|
|||||||||||
Review of Day Time Activities for Older People including Day Centres PDF 221 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care explained that he was seeking approval to go out to consultation on the options for Day Time Activities for Older People including day centres. Whilst acknowledging the high regard in which communities held their day centres, he pointed out that currently there was not an equitable service in the county as not every community had access to a day centre.
The service would consult on three options:
The option favoured by the service was a phasing out of day centres and a move towards a locality based early intervention and prevention service. The Portfolio Holder explained that the Social Services and Wellbeing Act had placed an obligation on local authorities to focus on prevention and delaying the need for care. This model would help the authority meet the challenges of demographic change as well as the savings target set in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The Portfolio Holder pointed to examples of good practice such as the Powys Befriending Scheme in Crickhowell and Rhayader Home Support and explained that the service was looking to work in co-operation with the third sector.
County Councillor E Michael Jones, who declared a personal non pecuniary interest as a non-remunerated director of the East Radnor Day Centre, and County Councillor Joy Jones spoke in favour in retaining their respective day centres in East Radnor and Newtown. Councillor Joy Jones questioned the funding given to Welshpool Town Council in respect of the Westwood Day Centre.
The Chair of the People Scrutiny Committee said that Scrutiny would play its part by considering the proposals. He said that the Council was not in a position to do everything and that it needed to work with volunteers and the third sector. He asked for information on the funding available in each area to be provided.
In answer to Members’ questions, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that respite care would be built into any new model.
|
|||||||||||
Joint Partnership Board PDF 73 KB To receive for information the minutes of the meetings of the Joint Partnership Board held on 14th March and 20th June 2016. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet received the minutes of the meetings of the Joint Partnership Board held on 14th March and 20th June 2016.
|
|||||||||||
Correspondence To receive such correspondence as in the opinion of the Leader is of such urgency as to warrant consideration. Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care reported his concern that the position of lead member for Scrutiny of Adult Social Care had been vacant for some time and that this was reducing the amount of scrutiny of Social Care. The Chair of the People Scrutiny Committee shared his concern and would look to have the place filled.
|
|||||||||||
Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting PDF 35 KB To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting. Minutes: Cabinet received detailed of delegated decisions taken by Portfolio Holders since the last meeting.
|
|||||||||||
Forward Work Programme PDF 69 KB To consider the Cabinet forward work programme. Minutes: Cabinet received the forward work programme.
|
|||||||||||
Response to finance scrutiny panel report on the medium term financial strategy PDF 32 KB To consider a response to the Finance Scrutiny Panel report on the Medium Term Financial Strategy. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet received the response to the Finance Scrutiny Panel report on the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Panel was concerned that the savings set out in the MTFS would not be delivered and that some of the responses did not tie in with the quarterly budget outturn reports. He also reported the Panel’s view that standards in education were not improving.
|
|||||||||||
Response to Finance Scrutiny Panel report on the budget assumptions PDF 120 KB To consider a response to the Finance Scrutiny Panel report on the Budget assumptions. Minutes: Cabinet received the response to the Finance Scrutiny Panel report on the budget assumptions. The Portfolio Holder for Finance explained that he could not recommend that the Council work on a 5 year budget. The Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Panel highlighted the importance of impact assessments and the risks of overspending by the services.
|
|||||||||||
Community Delivery Funding Arrangements For Welshpool Town Council PDF 108 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Graham Brown, Portfolio Holder for Procurement and Commissioning. Minutes: Cabinet received details of a proposed funding arrangement with Welshpool Town Council for the delivery of the grounds maintenance and street cleaning service by the Town Council. Cabinet had recently agreed to fund 45% of direct delivery costs, which equated to a sum of £17,774 per annum in respect of grounds maintenance and street cleaning in Welshpool. Welshpool Town Council had asked for the funding to be linked to income from the three car parks in Welshpool. £17,774 equated to 11% of the car parking revenue in 2015/16. It was confirmed that this arrangement was open to other Town and Community Councils to apply for.
County Councillor WT Jones left the meeting at 5.40 p.m.
|
|||||||||||
Exempt Items The Monitoring Officer has determined that categories 3 & 4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following three items. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 11.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to:
(i) contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relations matters arising between the authority and its employees and thus inhibit the delivery of effective government by prejudicing the Council's position in relation to its labour relations with staff;
(ii) information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
These factors in his view outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information. Members are asked to consider these factors when determining the public interest test, which they must decide when considering excluding the public from this part of the meeting Minutes: RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 3 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).
|
|||||||||||
Outline Business Case for a Central Fleet Workshop To consider a report by County Councillor John Brunt, Portfolio Holder for Highways. Minutes:
Cabinet considered a report on proposals to establish a central fleet workshop.
The Leader advised that he had received an email from County Councillor Gary Price in respect of this report advising that he had not been consulted as a local member. The Leader asked for an assurance that all relevant local members would be consulted. In order that local members would have an opportunity to make representations, it was proposed that instead of the detailed business case being approved by Portfolio Holder delegated decision it would come back to the Cabinet for approval.
The Cabinet discussed the potential for collaboration with other public bodies, particularly Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service including capital and revenue contributions.
|