Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys
Contact: Stephen Boyd 01597 826374
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from the Leader, County Councillor Rosemarie Harris who was on other Council business. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 31 July 2018 as a correct record. Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 31st July 2018 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 P Davies and M Weale declared prejudicial interests in item 4 Home to School Transport Policy. County Councillor A Davies declared a prejudicial interest in item 5 Llanfyllin All-Through School. |
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Home-to-School/College Transport Policy and Consultation Summary Report PDF 117 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language.
Additional documents:
Minutes: County Councillors P Davies and M Weale left the meeting for this item having declared prejudicial interests.
Cabinet considered responses to the consultation on the Home to School Transport Policy. The Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language thanked everyone who had taken part in the consultation. She noted that the proposal to potentially introduce charges for transport for 16 – 19 year olds attending schools or college in Powys had generated the most opposition with 86% of people responding to the consultation opposing this proposal. Given the contentiousness of this proposal it was recommended that further detailed work be carried out into post-16 transport provision as part of the authority’s improvement work around the post-16 sector, with the aim providing all learners with opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge, and to have access to a broad curriculum.
County Councillor Bryn Davies, who had chaired the scrutiny group looking at the proposals, welcomed the further work to be carried out on post-16 transport provision. He sought and received confirmation that scrutiny would have an opportunity to look at any Post-16 proposals before they came back to Cabinet. Councillor Davies also noted that accurate catchment maps needed to be attached to the policy. He questioned the fairness of the policy which offered a choice of schools to some pupils but not others depending on where they lived and whether or not they chose Welsh language or English language education. The Portfolio Holder explained that there was a legal requirement to transport pupils to a school teaching in the language of their choice.
The Portfolio Holder confirmed that there were no proposals to change the appeals system.
County Councillors P Davies and M Weale returned to the Chamber. |
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Llanfyllin All-Through School PDF 154 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language.
Additional documents:
Minutes: County Councillor A Davies left the meeting for this item having declared a prejudicial interest. County Councillor S Hayes took the Chair for this item.
The Cabinet considered proposals to amalgamate Llanfyllin C.P. School and Llanfyllin High School to create a new all-through school on the current sites of the two schools.
County Councillor P Lewis spoke as the local member and governor of both schools in support of the proposal which he said would secure the future of bilingual education in north Powys.
County Councillor B Davies spoke as a local member to argue that the new school should embrace the concept of Bilingual Outcome Education by having an entirely Welsh-medium education in the early years, with English medium education being introduced gradually later with Welsh medium education continuing for the majority of their education through KS5 and beyond.
The Portfolio Holder and Cabinet welcomed the vision shown by the governors of both schools and encouraged people to engage in the consultation.
County Councillor A Davies returned to the meeting and took the Chair. |
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Financial Overview and Forecast as at 31st July 2018 PDF 214 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport. Minutes: Cabinet considered the budget outturn report for the period ended 31st July. The projection was for an overspend of £4.917m against the approved budget. This position was not dissimilar to that reported at the same point last financial year when there had been an underspend at the year-end due to a number of factors. It was therefore proposed that a review of all budget lines be undertaken and where underspends were already being reported and unlikely to change, the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance be given delegated authority to freeze or realign these budgets for the remainder of the financial year.
The Director of Social Services confirmed that her services were working to reduce budget pressures.
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Capital Programme Update for the period to 31st July 2018 PDF 127 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport.
Minutes: Cabinet considered the capital programme update and requests for 2 virements:
£278k from the Property, Planning And Public Protection programme to the Highways, Transport and Recycling programme as a contribution from Property Services to Waste Services in respect of Abermule Business Park.
£1,790k from 2018/19 to 2019/20 relating to the Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS) review within HRA, and is no longer required in the current financial year.
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Performance Report Quarter 1 2018-19 PDF 94 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered the performance report for the first quarter of 2018/19. Of the top 23 measures, 6 had a green RAG status, 5 amber, 1 red and there was no status for 11. The report set out a series of remedial actions for those measures with a red or amber status. The report also set out actions to ensure consistency in reporting performance against the Corporate Improvement Plan.
Of the Public Accountability Measures, Powys was ranked 6th in Wales overall and the Cabinet also acknowledged the very good exam results achieved by Powys schools. Cabinet thanked the Programme and Performance team for their work.
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Corporate Regulatory Tracker PDF 132 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet was advised that as a result of a consolidation exercise a number of recommendations had been identified as not being relevant for the council to action or had become business as usual which should be approved for closure. It was further proposed to cease the Corporate Regulatory Tracker turning the tracker into a signposting document for regulators.
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Corporate Risk Register Quarter 1 2018/19 PDF 74 KB To consider a report by the Leader, County Councillor Rosemarie Harris. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet was advised that 4 risks had been removed from the Corporate Risk Register, one had been amended and one on risks to Children’s Services if the WCCIS system was unavailable due to network issues had been added. The Portfolio Holder for Youth and Culture advised that issues with WCCIS were being addressed.
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PCC Strategic Equality Plan 2016/20: October - March progress report PDF 133 KB To consider a report by County Councillor James Evans, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on progress made against the Strategic Equality Plan. 3 actions had been completed, 18 actions were on schedule, 8 were behind schedule, and 3 were off schedule. All leads whose actions had not progressed to plan had been asked to provide mitigations to address slippage. The Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language asked that the Council consider engaging with a broader range of young people and not just the youth forum.
Cabinet’s attention was drawn to the White Ribbon day campaign opposing violence against women in November which the Council would be marking with a mobile display in Council and Health Board buildings.
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Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) PDF 98 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets.
Minutes: The Cabinet was advised of the requirement on the Council to produce a Flood Risk Management Plan. A timetable for producing and consulting upon the plan was set out in the report.
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Sustainable Drainage Approval Body (SAB) PDF 123 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets.
Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet was advised that on 7th January 2019 Powys County Council would become the Sustainable Drainage Approval Body (SAB) for the region under Section 32 and Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It was proposed that these duties would be managed through an extended land drainage team within the Highways, Transport and Recycling Service. The Council’s statutory duties would be discharged through the Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way Committee, with sub delegation to the Director of Environment and/or the Head of Highways Transport and Recycling with the ability to further sub delegate.
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Adoption of Land Drainage Byelaws PDF 100 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet considered a proposal for Powys County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority to adopt proposed Land Drainage Byelaws. The byelaws had been drafted by key strategic partners in response to concerns about measures available to manage risk arising from potential flooding.
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Improvement and Assurance Board |
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Update report from the Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board PDF 77 KB Minutes: Cabinet received the report of the Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board setting out his views on where the Council was on delivering change and improvement. The Acting Chief Executive advised Cabinet that the report was a balanced and fair reflection of where the Council was, recognising progress to date and highlighting further challenges. He advised that there was a good working relationship between the Board and senior officers of the Council. He reminded members that the Board’s remit went beyond ensuring the Council delivered the improvements required following CIW inspections of Adults and Children’s Services to overseeing the transformational activity of the Council.
The Portfolio Holders for Adult Social Care and Youth and Culture acknowledged the supportive approach taken by the Improvement and Assurance Board and the Welsh Government. |
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Minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board held on 27 June 2018 PDF 109 KB Minutes: Cabinet received the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board held on 27th June 2018. |
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Minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board held on 1 August 2018 PDF 452 KB Minutes: Cabinet received the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board meeting held on 1st August 2018. |
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Joint Partnership Board Minutes PDF 68 KB To receive the minutes of the Joint Partnership Board meeting held on 19 July 2018. Minutes: Cabinet received the minutes of the Joint Partnership Board meeting held on 19th July 2018. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, who chaired the Board, drew Cabinet’s attention to work on integrating mental health services and the potential for a North Powys Regional Rural Centre for the joint delivery of services with Powys Teaching Health Board in the future.
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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: There were no items of correspondence. |
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Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting PDF 36 KB To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting. Minutes: Cabinet noted details of decisions taken by Portfolio Holders since the last meeting. |
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Forward Work Programme PDF 90 KB To consider the Cabinet forward work programme. Minutes: Portfolio Holders were reminded of the need to keep the Cabinet forward work programme populated. |