Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells
Contact: Stephen Boyd 01597 826374
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors R G Brown, L Fitzpatrick, D Mayor, K M Roberts-Jones, J G Shearer, K S Silk, S L Williams and E A York
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 19 October 2016 as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 19th October 2016 as a correct record.
The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the answers to supplementary questions provided after the meeting would be added to the minutes. |
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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 Francesca Jump declared a personal non pecuniary interest in item CC101 – 2016 Welshpool Town Primary Education as an LEA appointed governor of Gungrog Church in Wales Infant School.
County Councillor David Jones declared a personal non pecuniary interest in item CC101 – 2016 Welshpool Town Primary Education as an LEA appointed governor of Guilsfield CP School.
County Councillor Timothy Van-Rees declared a personal non pecuniary interest in item CC104 – 2016 Brecon Barracks as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Trustees of The Royal Welsh Regimental Museum. |
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Call In of Portfolio Holder Decision dated 13th October 2016 on Car Parking Charges PDF 79 KB To consider a report by the Solicitor to the Council. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Solicitor to the Council explained that the Portfolio Holder for Highway’s decision to make a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce car parking charges at a number of sites had been called in by 5 members of the Place Scrutiny Committee. The Solicitor and Section 151 Officer had agreed that there were procedural irregularities with the decision making process in that there was no impact assessment produced and had allowed the call-in to proceed. The call-in had been considered by the Place Scrutiny Committee who had decided to refer the matter to the full Council.
A number of Members spoke against the introduction of car parking charges in their towns and communities. Some raised specific concerns in respect of car parks in their communities and criticised the lack of an impact assessment. A number argued that car parks should either be handed over to Town and Community Councils to run or they should receive a proportion of the income. Other Members were concerned that any shortfall in income should not be made up by increasing charges in car parks where there were already charges.
The Portfolio Holder for Highways reminded Members that the proposals to increase income from car parking by £30,000 were part of the budget approved by Council in February 2015. If the charges were not raised they would have to be found elsewhere and he also reminded Council that the Highways, Transport and Recycling Service had to find £5m in savings. The Portfolio Holder advised that it was his intention that the issue should be referred back to Cabinet and in those circumstances the Solicitor to the Council advised the Cabinet to abstain from voting.
Councillor Curry left the meeting at 11.40. Councillor George joined the meeting at 11.50.
County Councillor Gary Price proposed
1. That full Council refer the decision back to Cabinet.
2. In a policy of fairness and equality that the Cabinet abandon its proposals on car parking charges of the 9th September 2015 and undertake a full review of all car parks and parking charges within the County in full consultation with Town and Community Councils.
This was seconded by County Councillor Garry Banks.
Council adjourned from 12.00 – 12.30 for the political groups to consider the proposal.
The first proposal was put the vote and passed by 32 votes to 0 with 3 abstentions.
RESOLVED that full Council refer the decision back to Cabinet.
The second proposal was put to the vote and was lost by 18 votes to 20 with 1 abstention.
Councillors John Brunt, Sue McNicholas, Huw Williams left the meeting at 12.45 p.m. Councillor Bob Mills left the meeting at 12.51 p.m. |
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Welshpool Town Primary Education PDF 119 KB To consider the Portfolio Holder for Education’s recommendations to Cabinet on 22nd November in respect of primary education in Welshpool. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Education outlined his recommendations to Cabinet in respect of primary school education in Welshpool.
· It is proposed that the new English-medium School will be located on land at Welshpool High School. The school will, however, operate from the current sites of Ysgol Maesydre, Gungrog and Oldford Schools on a temporary basis before subsequently transferring to the new building at the earliest opportunity; · The new build Welsh-medium School will be located on the Ysgol Maesydre site, but will operate from the current site of Ardwyn School on a temporary basis before subsequently transferring to the new building; · The anticipated timescale is for the new schools to be established from September 2017 before transferring into the two new school buildings upon their opening in 2018/19; · The current four schools in Welshpool – Ardwyn Nursery & Infant School; Gungrog CiW Nursery & Infant School; Oldford Nursery & Infant School and Ysgol Maesydre would close from the end of August 2017.
297 written responses had been received during the consultation period. 91% of staff (11) responding supported the proposals, 100% of governors (14), 84% of parents (63), and 55% (209) of other respondents. Of these a proportion came from the Wales Humanists Association who had encouraged their supporters to oppose the proposal for the English-medium primary school to be a Church in Wales school. As many of the responses were anonymous it was not clear how many were from Welshpool or Powys and how many came from out of the county.
County Councillor Francesca Jump spoke as a local member to say that she fully supported the proposals. She did ask for extra transport to be provided for pupils and for more information on improving the walkways to the schools. The Head of Schools agreed to discuss this with colleagues to ensure safe routes and integrated transport.
County Councillor Phil Pritchard spoke as a local member. He fully supported the establishment of new English medium and Welsh medium schools but was concerned with some aspects of the proposals, principally about the sites selected and he asked for the Cabinet to visit the sites. He would prefer to have seen a non-denominational school created rather than a Church in Wales school. The Head of Schools noted that any significant changes to the proposals would require a new consultation and submission of a new business case.
County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander also raised the question of the denomination of the school noting that many Roman Catholic Eastern European families lived in the area. She asked whether it would be possible for them to be provided with free transport to a Catholic school. The Head of Schools advised that the transport policy did not currently allow for this. The policy would be reviewed but he could not guarantee that it would change. He also noted that Church in Wales schools provided the same religious education syllabus as other non-denominational schools.
County Councillor Gary Price expressed disappointment that many of the Cabinet were not in attendance. The ... view the full minutes text for item CC101- 2016 |
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2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies PDF 62 KB To consider a response to the 2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies. Additional documents: Minutes: Council considered the text of a draft response to the Boundary Commission proposals for parliamentary constituencies agreed by the political group leaders.
County Councillor Linda Corfield advised that her community was strongly opposed to being included in a De Clwyd a Gogledd Sir Faldwynconstituency and would prefer to be included in the Brecon, Radnor and Montgomery constituency. She proposed that the response be amended to reflect this, seconded by County Councillor Gary Price.
County Councillor Gwilym Vaughan advised that he would prefer to see the historic constituency of Montgomeryshire retained but that if this was not an option for the communities of Cadfarch, Glantwymyn, Llanbrynmair and Machynlleth to transfer to Gwynedd rather than De Clwyd a Gogledd Sir Faldwyn. This was seconded by County Councillor Michael Williams.
County Councillor Gillian Thomas left the meeting at 1.58 p.m.
Council voted on Councillor Corfield’s proposal and by 27 votes for, 1 against and 3 abstentions
RESOLVED to delete the reference to Forden joining De Clwyd a Gogledd Sir Faldwyn in the Council’s response.
Council voted on Councillor Vaughan’s proposal and by 14 votes to 8 with 10 abstentions
RESOLVED that the Council’s response should state that if Montgomeryshire is not retained the communities of Cadfarch, Glantwymyn, Llanbrynmair and Machynlleth should transfer to Gwynedd rather than De Clwyd a Gogledd Sir Faldwyn.
Councillors Gemma Bowker and John Morris left the meeting at 2.05 p.m.
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Approval for draft County of Powys (Community Electoral Arrangements) Variation Order 2016 PDF 81 KB To consider a report by the Solicitor to the Council. Additional documents:
Minutes: Council considered a variation order to regularise the ward boundary changes approved by Council in 2006 and to correct a defect recently identified by the Boundary Commission. It was proposed by County Councillor Barry Thomas and seconded by County Councillor Sandra Davies and by 27 votes to 0 with 1 abstention it was
County Councillor Gwilym Vaughan left the meeting at 2.09 p.m. |
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Brecon Barracks To discuss the decision by the Ministry of Defence to close Brecon Barracks. Minutes: County Councillor Rosemarie Harris, the Council’s Armed Forces Champion and local members County Councillors Paul Ashton, Matthew Dorrance and Evan Morgan spoke of their shock at the announcement of the closure of Brecon Barracks and the loss of 85 civilian jobs and 100 army jobs and the impact that this would have on the area. It was noted that Chris Davies MP had invited the Defence Minister to visit and that there would be an opportunity to meet the Minister. Councillor Harris said that she would take up the opportunity of meeting the Minister with the local members and would be looking to involve the local AMs as well. |
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Request for Leave of Absence To consider a request for a leave of absence of up to 6 months from County Councillor Joy Shearer. Minutes: RESOLVED to approve a leave of absence of up to 6 months for County Councillor Joy Shearer. |