Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Gwilym Williams and Sarah Williams.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 355 KB

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2020 as a correct record.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2020 as a correct record.

 

The Chair advised Councillor Berriman to take his suggestion on progress reports on notices of motion passed by Council to the Democratic Services Committee.

3.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

Minutes:

County Councillors Liam Fitzpatrick, James Gibson-Watt, Heulwen Hulme, Arwel Jones, Joy Jones, Karen Laurie-Parry, David Price, Jeremy Pugh, Edwin Roderick, Ange Williams, Huw Williams, Jon Williams and Michael Williams declared personal and prejudicial interests in item 13, the notice of motion Stand up for Carers.

4.

Chair's Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Chair of Council.

Minutes:

The Chair expressed condolences to the families and friends of staff members who had passed away and to Councillors who had lost family and friends.

 

The Chair advised that he had awarded a Silver Kite to Andrew Finch of Newtown for delivering over 6,000 free meals during lockdown. He had attended a virtual meeting for the Lord Lieutenant’s awards ceremony for the Cadet Force and the Holocaust Memorial Day Service. On behalf of Council he had signed the Victim Support Hate Crime Charter arising out of the motion proposed by Councillor Jackie Charlton and passed by Council on 26 November 2020.

5.

Leader's Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

Minutes:

The Leader thanked the Council’s contact tracing team, the staff who had administered business grants, distributing over £70m to Powys businesses and to the staff who had taken on the telephony system for the vaccination programme. She noted that the Heads of Terms of the Mid Wales Growth Deal had been signed with the Welsh and UK Governments in December and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had announced in the Budget that £110m would be paid over 10 years. Another significant announcement in the Budget was the £30m being provided for the Global Centre for Rail Excellence at Nant Helen. A further £150k had been promised from the levelling up fund. In terms of construction, a new English medium school had been opened in Newtown and a 100 new Council dwellings were under construction, with further works due to start. The Leader expressed condolences to all those people who had lost friends and family to the virus.

6.

Chief Executive's Briefing

To receive a briefing from the Chief Executive.

Minutes:

The Chief Executive provided an update on the pandemic in Powys noting that instances were falling from a peak two weeks earlier. She also reminded the Council of its legal obligation to set a Council Tax rate by 11th March.

7.

Council Tax Resolution for 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 900 KB

To approve the Council Tax resolution and set the Council Tax for 2021/2022.

Minutes:

Council considered the Council Tax resolution for 2021/22.

 

The budget for 2021/22 was agreed at Council on 25February 2021 and an increase of 2.9% in Council Tax for the financial year 2021-22 was approved by Council as part of the budget.

 

At a meeting of the Cabinet on the 24 November 2020, the Council calculated the following Tax Base amounts for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Regulations made under Section 33 (5) of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.

 

(a)       Being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, as its Council Tax Base for the year 2021/2022.

 

            (b)       Part of the Council's area community of:

 

Community of:

 

Community

2021-22

 

Abbeycwmhir

127.68

 

Aberedw

141.72

 

Aberhafesp

228.94

 

Abermule with Llandyssil

735.75

 

Banwy

321.23

 

Bausley with Criggion

364.58

 

Beguildy

379.74

 

Berriew

759.16

 

Betws Cedewain

230.74

 

Brecon

3541.96

 

Bronllys

442.52

 

Builth Wells

1082.30

 

Cadfarch

451.49

 

Caersws

707.84

 

Carno

351.43

 

Carreghofa

320.13

 

Castle Caereinion

306.28

 

Churchstoke

875.28

 

Cilmery

236.70

 

Clyro

429.57

 

Cray

129.57

 

Crickhowell

1131.12

 

Cwmdu and District

563.12

 

Disserth & Trecoed

550.07

 

Duhonw

153.78

 

Dwyrhiw

285.24

 

Erwood

252.05

 

Felinfach

379.44

 

Forden

812.09

 

Gladestry

226.35

 

Glantwymyn

646.74

 

Glasbury

574.28

 

Glascwm

271.20

 

Glyn Tarrell

302.79

 

Guilsfield

865.91

 

Gwernyfed

483.19

 

Hay-on-Wye

896.62

 

Honddu Isaf

228.25

 

Kerry

978.33

 

Knighton

1326.18

 

Llanafanfawr

233.91

 

Llanbadarn Fawr

348.93

 

Llanbadarn Fynydd

140.62

 

Llanbister

192.56

 

Llanbrynmair

491.76

 

Llanddew

122.4

 

Llanddewi Ystradenny

145.72

 

Llandinam

447.90

 

Llandrindod Wells

2420.93

 

Llandrinio & Arddleen

735.65

 

Llandysilio

552.16

 

Llanelwedd

191.36

 

Llanerfyl

216.08

 

LLanfair Caereinion

792.06

 

Llanfechain

273.79

 

Llanfihangel

275.59

 

Llanfihangel Rhydithon

120.20

 

Llanfrynach

326.41

 

Llanfyllin

720.59

 

Llangammarch

267.11

 

Llangattock

569.01

 

Llangedwyn

199.93

 

Llangorse

570.00

 

Llangunllo

197.24

 

Llangurig

390.99

 

Llangynidr

592.92

 

Llangyniew

304.08

 

Llangynog

194.35

 

Llanidloes

1193.32

 

Llanidloes Without

316.44

 

Llanigon

278.47

 

Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant

599.40

 

Llansantffraid

718.9

 

Llansilin

357.71

 

Llanwddyn

127.18

 

Llanwrthwl

105.15

 

Llanwrtyd Wells

395.68

 

Llanyre

582.75

 

Llywel

259.03

 

Machynlleth

882.45

 

Maescar

474.47

 

Manafon

179.20

 

Meifod

708.03

 

Merthyr Cynog

139.43

 

Mochdre with Penstrowed

259.73

 

Montgomery

728.27

 

Nantmel

341.46

 

New Radnor

238.40

 

Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn

4364.04

 

Old Radnor

401.96

 

Painscastle

289.43

 

Pen Y Bont Fawr

263.03

 

Penybont & Llandegley

205.31

 

Presteigne & Norton

1287.30

 

Rhayader

909.16

 

St Harmon

316.14

 

Talgarth

737.44

 

Talybont-on-Usk

397.47

 

Tawe Uchaf

571.40

 

Trallong

200.73

 

Trefeglwys

491.85

 

Treflys

227.74

 

Tregynon

388.80

 

Trewern

657.31

 

Vale of Grwyney

497.40

 

Welshpool

2708.68

 

Whitton

213.30

 

Yscir

258.24

 

Ystradfelte

249.16

 

Ystradgynlais

2937.29

 

 

     62,584:26

 

 

 

           

being the amounts calculated by the Council in accordance with the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year 2021/2022 for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate. Appendix One of the report confirms the 2021/22 precept and band D charge for each Town and Community Council.

 

3.0   THE CALCULATION

 

3.1.   THAT the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2021/2022 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992:

      

a)      £494,202,899                  being the aggregate of the amounts                                                                 which the Council estimates for the items                                                   set out in Section 32 (2) (a)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

2021 Annual Review of Vision 2025 Our Corporate Improvement Plan, including our Strategic Equality Objectives 2020-2024 pdf icon PDF 577 KB

To consider the 2021 Annual Review of Vision 2025 Our Corporate Improvement Plan, including our Strategic Equality Objectives 2020-2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered an update of Vision 2025: Our Corporate Improvement Plan (CIP). The updated CIP detailed the revised activities that would be undertaken from April 2021 up to 2025 to deliver the council’s Well-being objectives, within the context of the current Covid-19 pandemic and the council’s Recovery Strategy. Reviewing and publishing our CIP for the start of the next financial year, would ensure the council met its statutory obligations in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 (Part 1) and the Equality Act 2010 (including the Specific Public Sector Equality Duties for Wales). The new Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act would also place similar duties on Local Authorities from 2021, as part of the performance provisions.

 

The objectives and improvement targets within the CIP Update 2021 would be included in relevant Service Integrated Business Plans for 2021-2024. These plans set out the detailed actions that would be taken to achieve each objective and the resources required.

 

The Leader, Portfolio Holders and Head of Transformation and Communications answered questions from Members. In response to points raised about the council’s response to the climate emergency, members were advised that it was a thread running throughout the CIP. There would be an update for members on 19th March on the response to the climate emergency. On the role of Scrutiny and the Improvement Boards, it was confirmed that these were not substitutes for Cabinet or Council where decision making remained. The Head of Transformation and Communications agreed to update the diagram to reflect the role of Scrutiny in delivering the CIP. She confirmed that comments made at the Scrutiny Committees had been incorporated into the CIP being considered by Council. She also confirmed that she would ensure that the Plan reflected motions passed by Council.

 

Members questioned whether the CIP went far enough with respect to preventing homelessness, child poverty and domestic abuse. Members also asked what was being done to tackle energy poverty, both through retrofitting council house stock to make them energy efficient and the Welsh Government’s warm homes Nest scheme. Members were advised that with regard to housing, many of the issues raised had been dealt with in the HRA business plan just approved by Cabinet and that there would be significant changes to how the council dealt with homelessness and the CIP would be amended accordingly. On the Nest scheme, members were advised that calls about the scheme had increased from 68 in quarter 3 to 140 in quarter 4 and installations from 17 to 47 in the same period.

 

On domestic abuse, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care provided an update on the different approach taken during lockdown and advised that the results of this were being assessed. On child poverty, the Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture said she would welcome any suggestions for improving the service and she highlighted the work of the Family Information Service.

 

In response to a point made about the vote  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 311 KB

To consider the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer advised that all officers had an interest but he sought a dispensation from Council for the Professional Lead – Employment Services, the Scrutiny Manager and Cabinet Manager to remain to assist with the running of the meeting. It was moved by County Councillor Michael Williams and seconded by County Councillor Kath Roberts-Jones and

 

RESOLVED to give dispensation for the Professional Lead –Employment Services, the Scrutiny Manager and the Cabinet Manager to remain to assist with the running of the meeting.

 

All other officers left the meeting.

County Councillors Jeremy Pugh and Arwel Jones left the meeting.

 

Council considered the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22. It was moved by County Councillor Aled Davies and seconded by County Councillor Jake Berriman and by 58 votes to 2 with 1 abstention it was

 

                        RESOLVED to approve the Pay Policy Statement.

 

County Councillors James Gibson-Watt, David Price, Tim Van-Rees, Ange Williams and Jon Williams left the meeting.

 

Officers returned to the meeting.  

 

 

 

10.

Notice of Motion - Stand Up For Carers

COVID has presented so many challenges for us since March 2020.  This motion focuses on an opportunity to STAND UP FOR CARERS. 

At the end of 2019 in Powys there were approximately 2627 carers entitled to Carers Allowance, 1563 in receipt of allowance and 1064 of our Powys residents who care for someone unpaid. 

 

1. Council notes for the motion:

a.    Carers – paid and unpaid, young, and old – do a remarkable and important job. They are an integral part of the Powys community. They deserve our support but are far too often forgotten and ignored.

b.    Carers in Powys and across the Wales face big challenges every single day; challenges that have been made even harder by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most are having to spend more time looking after loved ones during the pandemic; most have not been able to take a single break since it started; and most are simply exhausted.

c.    Unpaid carers save the Welsh Government at least £8 billion per year.  Carers are asked to work anything from 35 hours to 168 hrs per week for the total payment of £67.25, when Council recruited paid carers can earn up to £1,176 in that same time frame.

2. Council further notes that:

a.    At just £67.25 a week, Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind.

b.    In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government increased the Universal Credit standard allowance and the Working Tax Credit basic element by £20 a week above the planned uprating in April 2020, but it has not increased Carer’s Allowance.

c.    Many unpaid carers are facing extreme financial hardship. A recent survey by Carers UK found that more than a third of those on Carer’s Allowance are struggling to make ends meet. Many have been struggling for months, often relying on foodbanks to feed themselves and the people they care for. Powys has one of the highest rates of unpaid carers in Wales.  Unpaid carers amount to 41% of all carers and only Gwynedd can match that level (UK National Statistics 2019).

d.    The Carers UK survey found that “43% of carers felt that a rise in Carer’s Allowance would help them, given the financial pressures they are facing.”

3. Council resolves that:

a.    We must stand up for carers, do more to support them, and build a more caring society as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

4. Council directs the Leader of the Council to:

a.    Write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging them to raise Carer’s Allowance by £20 a week immediately, in line with the increase in Universal Credit.

b.    Council resolves to put out a general communication to unpaid carers, third sector organisations and community councils to encourage carers to claim Carers Allowance.

c.    Ensure that Powys County Council continues to do all it can to Stand up for Carers.

Proposed by County Councillor Jackie Charlton

 

Seconded by County Councillor Emily Durrant

 

Minutes:

Council debated the following motion moved by County Councillor Jackie Charlton and seconded by County Councillor William Powell:

 

COVID has presented so many challenges for us since March 2020.  This motion focuses on an opportunity to STAND UP FOR CARERS. 

At the end of 2019 in Powys there were approximately 2627 carers entitled to Carers Allowance, 1563 in receipt of allowance and 1064 of our Powys residents who care for someone unpaid. 

1. Council notes for the motion:

a.    Carers – paid and unpaid, young, and old – do a remarkable and important job. They are an integral part of the Powys community. They deserve our support but are far too often forgotten and ignored.

b.    Carers in Powys and across the Wales face big challenges every single day; challenges that have been made even harder by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most are having to spend more time looking after loved ones during the pandemic; most have not been able to take a single break since it started; and most are simply exhausted.

c.    Unpaid carers save the Welsh Government at least £8 billion per year.  Carers are asked to work anything from 35 hours to 168 hrs per week for the total payment of £67.25, when Council recruited paid carers can earn up to £1,176 in that same time frame.

2. Council further notes that:

a.    At just £67.25 a week, Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind.

b.    In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government increased the Universal Credit standard allowance and the Working Tax Credit basic element by £20 a week above the planned uprating in April 2020, but it has not increased Carer’s Allowance.

c.    Many unpaid carers are facing extreme financial hardship. A recent survey by Carers UK found that more than a third of those on Carer’s Allowance are struggling to make ends meet. Many have been struggling for months, often relying on foodbanks to feed themselves and the people they care for. Powys has one of the highest rates of unpaid carers in Wales.  Unpaid carers amount to 41% of all carers and only Gwynedd can match that level (UK National Statistics 2019).

d.    The Carers UK survey found that “43% of carers felt that a rise in Carer’s Allowance would help them, given the financial pressures they are facing.”

3. Council resolves that:

a.    We must stand up for carers, do more to support them, and build a more caring society as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

4. Council directs the Leader of the Council to:

a.    Write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging them to raise Carer’s Allowance by £20 a week immediately, in line with the increase in Universal Credit.

b.    Council resolves to put out a general communication to unpaid carers, third sector organisations and community councils to encourage carers to claim Carers Allowance.

c.    Ensure that Powys County Council continues to do all it can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Questions in Accordance with the Constitution pdf icon PDF 513 KB

11.1

Question from County Councillor Stephen Hayes to the Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture pdf icon PDF 197 KB

On 21st August the Home Office, Department of Education, ADCS and LGA wrote to councils in relation to Unaccompanied Child Migrants (sometimes referred to as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children) stating that a crisis of care was arising in Kent due to the numbers of vulnerable young people requiring care.

 

The letter stated that: ‘… further emergency support is needed for the following across all parts of the UK: 

• Offers of placements in your area

• Offers to take full responsibility under the Children Act 1989 for these young people

• Offers to supervise young people placed in your area

• Offers to accommodate young people directly from the Kent Intake Unit in Dover.’

(the full text can be found at https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/20200821%20joint%20letter%20re%20Kent%20crisis.pdf  

 

On 28th August it was announced in local media that Powys had rejected this appeal and would not be offering a welcome to Unaccompanied Child Migrants. Many people have contacted me to deplore this decision, emphasising the compassion they feel we, as a county and a nation, should feel and our duty to show that in action. 

 

Could you please clarify what response was given to the letter of 21st August; what action has been taken, as a Council and in collaboration with other councils, to offer a welcome to Unaccompanied Child Migrants; and the number of such children so far assisted or for whom Powys County Council has accepted responsibility under the Children Act?

Minutes:

Response

Housing advised Cllr Hayes last September that: “The Housing Service would not, I’m afraid, be in position on its own to welcome or accommodate Unaccompanied Child Migrants. I would suggest that our Children’s Services team would be best placed to advise whether or not the Council has a whole could either directly accommodate or enable others to do so.”

 

Housing Services is not able to provide accommodation for unaccompanied children, regardless of the child’s background. This is because people under the age of 18 cannot hold a legal interest in a property by means of a tenancy agreement. Any accommodation for a 16 or 17 old unaccompanied child, if considered a ‘child in need of care and support’, would usually be provided by Children’s Services which may ask Housing Services to help source a suitable property. For unaccompanied children aged 15 or less, Children’s Services are responsible for meeting a child’s care and support needs, including accommodation.

 

In order for Children’s Services to accept responsibility for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child from Kent we would need to identify a placement in which a child can live.

 

We are working hard to increase the placement capacity but given the increase in CLA numbers during the pandemic, we have needed to place more children out of County.

 

We do not have suitable supported/ semi-independent accommodation in County.

 

These issues together mean that identifying a suitable placement is a real challenge.

 

We had begun to look at the options for placements so that we could offer support but following discussion between the All Wales Heads of Children’s Services, there is a proposal for Powys to take part in a National (Wales) approach to respond to the National (UK) Transfer Scheme. This will provide a solution that will better suit the needs of young people.

 

Councillor Hayes expressed his disappointment at the response and asked the Portfolio Holder to address the points he had raised in his question. The Portfolio Holder explained that whilst the approach in Wales had been for a national transfer scheme with each county taking its share of unaccompanied children, the experience had been that most children wished to go to urban locations, particularly Cardiff and Newport. All Welsh local authorities would contribute so that Cardiff and Newport would not bear a disproportionate responsibility. This would be managed by the all Wales Heads of Children’s Services Group. She would be happy to bring further updates to Scrutiny.  She was working with Housing to ensure there were sufficient properties to accommodate Children Looked After. She further advised that Alison Bulman had agreed to lead on asylum seekers as the Home Office and Welsh Government looked to widen the dispersal of asylum seekers across Wales.