Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions
Contact: Stephen Boyd 01597 826374
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To consider a report by County Councillor John Powell, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Leader advised that this report was being withdrawn and would be considered at a future meeting to give officers a chance to consider representations received over the last few days. |
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Exempt Items The Monitoring Officer has determined that category 3 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following item. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 14.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to:
(i) 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 item 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).
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Sale of Land off Domgay Lane
To consider a report by County Councillor John Powell, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability. Minutes: County Councillor EA Jones declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item and left the meeting whilst it was being considered.
Cabinet considered an offer to buy 16 acres of land from a holding on the County Farm Estate at Domgay Lane, Four Crosses. Members asked whether the capital receipt would be used to fund the health and safety works required on the estate but were advised that funding was already in place and that further consideration would be given to the use of the capital receipt.
The Cabinet went back into open session. Councillor Jones returned to the meeting. |
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor AG Thomas for the morning part of the meeting and from County Councillor WJT Powell for the afternoon part. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held as a correct record. Minutes: The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 28 February 2017 as a correct record.
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda. Minutes: County Councillor EA Jones had declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item C54 – 2017 Sale of Land at Domgay Lane. |
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Health and Care Strategy PDF 82 KB To consider the draft Health and Social Care Strategy for Powys. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered the Health and Care Strategy that had been developed jointly by the Council and Powys Teaching Health Board. The Portfolio Holder for Social Care put on record his thanks for the hard work of Health Board staff led by Hayley Thomas the Director of Planning and Performance who had organised and facilitated a large number of engagement events. The next phase of work would be a more detailed plan for consideration by the Joint Partnership Board and Programme Board.
In response to criticism by the Chair of the Place Scrutiny Committee that there was no acknowledgement in the document of the scrutiny undertaken by the Adult Social Care Working Group, the Director of Planning and Performance confirmed that the Scrutiny Group’s comments had been taken on board and incorporated into the document. |
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Integration Options To receive an update on integration. Minutes: The Strategic Director Resources gave a presentation on integration with Powys Teaching Health Board. There had been an appraisal event on 16 February attended by representatives of the Council and Health Board when the four options – the current model, PCC lead agency, PTHB lead agency and arms-length body - had been debated and ranked. The next step would be an economic appraisal of which option provided the best value for money assessing how the costs compared and their non-financial impacts.
The Joint Partnership Board had met on 10 March and agreed not to rule any options out at this stage but to meet on 10 April when the independent appraisal was available to consider which options to take forward and give a steer to officers to enable them to take the process forward with Welsh Government in the period around the local government elections.
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Increase in charges for Community Based Services PDF 122 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care.
Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet was asked to consider increasing the maximum charge for Community Based Social Care Services from £60 per week to £70 per week with effect from April 2017 in line with the Welsh Government decision to increase the maximum charge. It was explained that the increase in the maximum charge would generate £239k additional income.
Cabinet was also asked to consider an increase in the daily charge for attendance at Older People’s Day Centres and Day and Employment Daycentre from £10 to £15 per day and an increase the charge for meals provided at the Older Day centres from £5 to £7.50 per day. It was estimated that the increase in day care charges would generate an additional £30k income. In acknowledging the higher charges, the Portfolio Holder noted the clear message from the consultation on the future of day centres that people were prepared to pay more for services they valued. Cabinet members queried the average cost to prepare meals and the Head of Service confirmed that the service were looking at how they were provided with a view to reducing costs.
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Business Rates High Street Rates Relief Scheme in Wales 2017-18 PDF 102 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet received details of a Welsh Government Business Rates high street rates relief scheme to support businesses within the retail sector in Wales. Relief of up to £500 (Tier 1) and £1,500 (Tier 2) on the Business Rates bill for occupied retail properties with a rateable value of up to £50,000 in the financial year 2017-18, subject to criteria set out in the report.
The scheme in Powys would be administered by the County Council. The Council would be reimbursed in full by Welsh Government for any relief that is awarded through the audited annual National Non Domestic Rates Return so there would be no direct cost to the Council.
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To consider a report by the Leader County Councillor Barry Thomas, County Councillor Graham Brown Portfolio Holder for Commissioning and Procurement and County Councillor Wynne Jones Portfolio Holder for Finance. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet considered a draft partnership agreement with Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations for implementation from 1 April 2017. Cabinet’s attention was drawn to an amendment to the draft, with paragraph 6.5 being amended to read
“PAVO will provide services through the medium of Welsh according to the requirements of the Welsh Language Standards (under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011) when working with organisations subject to those Standards.”
The Chair of the Place Scrutiny Committee advised that the Committee had scrutinised the agreement when the Leader had attended. The Scrutiny Committee had noted that there was £1m of grants, service level agreements and contracts going to PAVO from the Council every year and Members wanted to see these monitored to ensure value for money and no duplication of effort. Place Scrutiny Committee would add the PAVO annual review to its work programme.
Neither a report nor the minutes of the meeting were available for Cabinet’s consideration and it was agreed that arrangements between Scrutiny and the Cabinet needed to be refined to take account of the changes to the Constitution agreed by Council the previous week. The Chief Executive confirmed that he would see that this was done.
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Corporate Asset Planning- Strategic Asset Management Plan ("StAMP") PDF 82 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Rosemarie Harris Portfolio Holder for Property, Buildings and Housing. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered the Strategic Asset Management Plan. The first round of workshops had been held and Cabinet noted that attendance by local members had been generally disappointing. The second round of meetings was underway and Members were encouraged to attend so they were aware of the Council assets in their area.
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Llanfyllin High School PDF 73 KB To consider a report by the Leader, County Councillor Barry Thomas and the Solicitor to the Council. Additional documents: Minutes: The Leader referred to an email received by County Councillor Darren Mayor regarding the Leader’s comments at the Council meeting. The Leader accepted that there had been no intention on Councillor Mayor’s part to conceal anything from him regarding the breach of Regulation 5.2 but he had been surprised that he didn’t tell him. The Leader advised that Councillor Mayor had asked to speak but was not present.
Cabinet was reminded that Jonathan Walters had been asked to undertake a further report into whether the PWC Report contained any evidence which would have caused him to alter any of the findings or recommendations contained within his original investigation report. He had concluded that the PWC report did not contain any new evidence that would have caused him to alter the conclusions in his first investigation report.
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Report on Regulation 5.2 Issues at Llanidloes and Bro Hyddgen High Schools Minutes: The Leader advised that this item had been withdrawn. |
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Well-Being assessment To consider the Well-Being Assessment. Minutes: The Leader advised that this item had been withdrawn.
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Correspondence To receive such correspondence as in the opinion of the Leader is of such urgency as to warrant consideration. Minutes: Email from the Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Panel
The Chair of the Audit Committee had emailed the Leader following the last meeting to challenge some of the data quoted by the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care in response to the Panel’s report on the overspend in the Adult Social Care Budget. He felt that there was little change to the situation expressed in the original report and that the position identified in the original report was still very valid and very serious.
The Portfolio Holder for Social Care confirmed that a formal response to the Finance Scrutiny Panel would be prepared for consideration by Cabinet.
Email from the Chief Executive of PAVO
The Leader had received an email from the Chief Executive of PAVO asking for two Cabinet members to be nominated to a grant allocation panel to distribute grants collected from the Powys Pennies payroll giving scheme.
RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holders for Adult Social Care and Regeneration & Planning be appointed.
Business Rates High Street Rates Relief Scheme in Wales 2017-18
County Councillor SM Hayes advised that having seconded the recommendation on the Business Rates High Street Rates Relief Scheme for Wales he had, on reflection, considered that he should have declared an interest in this item.
In view of this the Leader asked for the vote in respect of this item to be taken again. Councillor Hayes left the meeting whilst this was being considered.
Councillor Hayes returned to the meeting. |
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Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting PDF 35 KB To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting. Minutes: Cabinet received details of delegated decision taken since the last meeting. |
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Forward Work Programme PDF 61 KB To consider the Cabinet forward work programme. Minutes: Cabinet received the forward work programme.
Cabinet adjourned at 11.00 a.m. and reconvened at 2.00 p.m.
PRESENT
County Councillor WB Thomas (Leader)
County Councillors RG Brown, JH Brunt, MR Harris, SM Hayes, EA Jones, WT Jones, AG Thomas
In attendance
County Councillor MJ Dorrance, L Fitzpatrick, DR Jones, DW Meredith and DG Thomas.
Apologies for the afternoon session were received from County Councillor WJT Powell. |
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Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) PDF 84 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered the responses to the consultation on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP). The report contained the responses together with the Authority’s response. The Head of Schools was asked about the provision for Welsh speaking ALN and Special Needs pupils. He explained that there was local provision with a Welsh speaking advisor and support from ERW to support additional learning needs and a partnership agreement with another Welsh Council to provide statutory assessments in the medium of Welsh. There was also a training programme for mainstream teachers to identify and support special needs pupils up to school action plus. He had a good level of confidence to meet the needs of special needs pupils in the medium of Welsh. There were very few Welsh medium pupils in special schools, those that were in special schools were supported by the Welsh peripatetic service.
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Welsh-medium stream at Brecon High School PDF 107 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Council considered responses to the consultation to close the Welsh-medium stream at Brecon High School from the 31st August 2017, with Brecon High School becoming an English-medium school from the 1st September 2017. Attached to the report was the consultation document, the consultation report together with the Authority’s responses to the issues raised, the minutes of meetings with School Council, staff, governors, parents and the community, impact assessments and the draft minutes of the Council debate on 7 March together with the Authority’s responses to the issues raised. Cabinet had also received correspondence from members of the public and Chris Davies MP.
Having considered the responses received to the consultation on this proposal, the Portfolio Holder advised that his recommendation was to proceed with the proposal as outlined in the consultation document because of the low pupil numbers in the Welsh-medium stream at Brecon High School and the need to ensure robust linguistic progression and appropriate curriculum choice for Welsh-medium pupils throughout all key stages of education.
County Councillor David Meredith spoke as a local Member and as the Chair of Governors of Brecon High School. He noted that the issue of low numbers in the Welsh stream had noted been helped by the previous consultations or by the decision to grant free transport to Builth Wells High School. He argued that the proposal was not in line with the Council’s own school transport policy that pupils should not have to travel over 45 minutes. He noted that the timing of the consultation had been unfortunate coming as it did when the school was coming out of special measures and was now ranked higher than Builth Wells High School. He emphasised the financial implications of removing the Welsh stream arguing that no account had been taken of the additional transport costs which he said would be less than bringing the school up to 2B status. He called on the Cabinet to heed the results of the vote taken at Council the previous week.
County Councillor Matthew Dorrance said that there was very clear local support to keep Welsh-medium education in Brecon. He argued that the Portfolio Holder decision to grant a school transport appeal had undermined the Welsh-medium stream in Brecon. He noted that there were 173 pupils at Ysgol y Bannau and Sennybridge and said that the Council should be seeking to educate them as close to home as possible. He said that the decision should not be taken before the School Transport review had been completed.
County Councillor Gillian Thomas said that the Brecon, Sennybridge and Cray area was a stronghold of the Welsh language in South Powys and the proposal would not meet the requirements of the Welsh Language Measure and the Future Generations and Well-Being Act. She argued that the decision had been predetermined by the flawed wording of the three consultations, by the decision to provide free transport to Builth Wells, by the decision taken by Cabinet two weeks earlier to create a ... view the full minutes text for item C71- 2017 |
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To consider a report by County Councillor Tony Thomas, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning. Minutes: Cabinet received an update on the current status and activities of the Growing Mid Wales (GMW) partnership and details of proposed activities and potential resource implications for 2017. The Leader noted that the partnership was working well and had an important role in supporting economic development in the region.
County Councillor MR Harris did not vote having not been present at the start of the item. |
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Llanwddyn Community Centre To consider a report by County Councillor Tony Thomas, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning. Minutes: The Leader advised that this item had been withdrawn and would be dealt with as a delegated decision. .
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Exempt Items The Monitoring Officer has determined that category 3 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following items. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 14.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose 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 two 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).
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Review of Fees: Adult Social Care To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care. Minutes: Cabinet was asked to consider an interim inflationary increase for care homes pending development of a new fee setting model, and an inflationary percentage uplift to be given to domiciliary care and supported tenancy providers to help offset the increased costs incurred as a result of increases in National Living Wage from April 2017.
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Progress with the Establishment of a Property Services Joint Venture Company - Heart of Wales Property Services
Minutes: Cabinet received a progress report on the establishment of a Property Services Joint Venture Company, Heart of Wales Property Services and considered appointments to the Board of the new company.
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