Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room A - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. View directions

Contact: Carol Johnson  01597 826206

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors J Jones, G Price and K Silk.

2.

Election of Vice-Chair

To elect a Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

Minutes:

                    RESOLVED that County Councillor Linda Corfield be elected for the ensuing municipal year.

3.

Minutes of Previous Meeting(s) pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting(s) of the Committee as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2018 as a correct record.

 

Matters Arising

 

Recommendations from Joint Chairs regarding Scrutiny

Members noted that the Committee’s recommendations on a new structure for Scrutiny had been amended by full Council.

 

Members asked how locality forums were working since the Shire Committees had been abolished; there was a feeling that in some areas they met infrequently and dealt only with highways issues. The Head of Democratic Services advised that he had raised this with Management Team and Heads of Service. The Chair noted that it was up to members to take control of the process and he cited the example of the forum in Ystradgynlais where members regularly met managers from a range of services.

 

Members also raised delays in the process for getting new speed limits considered, but it was felt that this was due to the limited budget rather than the change in the process for considering applications.

 

 

 

 

4.

Declarations of Interest

To receive and consider declarations of interests from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

5.

`Draft Member Development Strategy 2018-2020 pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To consider the draft Member Development Strategy and action plan developed by the Member Development Working Group.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Member Development Strategy. The Strategy had been reviewed by the Member Development Working Group.  

 

 

RECOMMENDED to Council 

Reason for Recommendation:

That the Draft Member Development Strategy and Action Plan 2018-22 be approved for consideration as set out in the Appendix to the report.

To update the Council’s Member Development Strategy for the period 2018 - 2022.

 

6.

Developing the promotion of involvement in public life project

To receive a verbal update on the work on the Project.

Minutes:

The Principal Elections Officer updated the Committee on activities undertaken in support of National Democracy Week. The theme had been the Suffrage Centenary, to mark 100 years since women won the right to vote and the 90th anniversary of the 1928 Equal Franchise Act which gave women the same voting rights as men. Women members of the Council along with youth representatives from Newtown Town Council and Talgarth Town Council had recorded video messages that had been posted on the Council’s YouTube channel and these had been well received. The Principal Elections Officer agreed to let the Committee know how many times the clips had been viewed. In addition, nominations had been received for inspirational women from the county, and the Chair of Council had recognised the efforts of a charity worker from Llandrindod and a businesswoman from Llyswen with Silver Kite Awards. It was hoped that further events would be arranged in September for Town and Community Councils and the Youth Assembly. The Principal Elections Officer and Sara Davies from Communications were thanked by the Chair for their work in support of National Democracy Week. 

 

 

7.

Consultation on diversity in local government pdf icon PDF 168 KB

To receive the letter from the National Assembly for Wales’ Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee and consider developing a response.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee discussed a response to the National Assembly consultation on diversity in local government. The comments raised were:

·       The role of political parties in encouraging diversity, for example, through all women shortlists was often overlooked;

·       Working class people were underrepresented;

·       It tended to be the same people involved in local activities;

·       There was a lack of support for town and community councils;

·       The size of Powys which meant that meetings took place in the day, putting off people in full time employment other than the self-employed.

·       The level of support given to Councillors.

 

The Head of Democratic Services would collate these comments and any others received by email and forward to members of the Committee to share with their groups.

 

8.

Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To receive and consider the report of the Solicitor to the Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A number of members had visited Monmouthshire Council’s Scrutiny Committee and been impressed with their arrangements. Monmouthshire had produced a scrutiny handbook and allowed members of the public to attend meetings and put questions. The Head of Democratic Services confirmed that allowing public participation at Scrutiny Committees would not require a change to the Constitution.

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

That the Solicitor to the Council be asked to prepare draft guidance for consideration by the Committee.

to progress the decision of the Committee on 16th April, 2018

 

 

County Councillor DR Price left the meeting at 11.07.

9.

Member Development Working Group pdf icon PDF 64 KB

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 12th March, 2018

Minutes:

The Committee received the notes of the Member Development Working Group held on 12th March 2018.

10.

Amendments to the Constitution pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To receive and consider the report of the Solicitor to the Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered amendments to Sections 4 and 7 of the Constitution.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council  

Reason for Recommendation

That Sections 4 and 7 of the Constitution as set out in the Appendix to the report be approved.

To update Sections of the Constitution arising from the decision of Council in May 2018.

 

11.

Committee Chair's Aide-Memoir pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To consider an aide-memoir for use by Committee Chairs.

Minutes:

The Head of Democratic Services had produced an aide memoir for Committee Chairs when introducing meetings. Members agreed that it was a useful document and suggested that it should also include an instruction to turn off mobile phones. Members also asked the Head of Democratic Services to consider guidance on what were pertinent questions to ask in meetings.