Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells

Contact: Stephen Boyd  01597 826374

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors A Jenner, D R Jones, P E Lewis, S Lewis, S McNicholas, G Morgan, J Pugh, L Roberts and S L Williams.

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest reported.

3.

Development of Recycling Bulking Facility in North Powys

To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered a report setting out the case for siting the recycling bulking facility at the Abermule Business Park. Strategically located bulking facilities were required in the south, mid and north of the county and the existing arrangements in North Powys were not of sufficient capacity for existing and future requirements, necessitating the development of a new site. The report set out the timeline of decisions and meetings with the local community group and also detailed other sites that had been considered and ruled out.

 

The Corporate Director (Economy and Environment) gave a presentation on the proposal and together with the Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Recycling and officers answered questions from members. In response to members’ questions the Portfolio Holder for Highways Waste and Recycling advised that there was no intention of bringing residual waste to the site but that he could not give a commitment years into the future. He noted that as more waste was recycled the amount of residual waste would decrease and the only residual waste left would be items such as single use plastic that would not attract vermin. It was confirmed that capital had been allocated to develop business units on the site and officers were working on detailed planning consent for the business units.

 

The local member asked why the building was so big if it was just a bulking facility and if there were any plans to have a baler on site. The Portfolio Holder noted that the depot in Brecon was of a similar size and was fully utilised dealing with slightly lower tonnages. He confirmed that there was no intention to have a baler at Abermule at this time and that waste would continue to be bailed in Brecon, but he could not give a commitment for future years. The local member asked if there was a business case for the site and was advised there was a business plan for the service as a whole but not specifically for the site. Whilst there would be savings through economies of operating out of one facility in the north, the principal driver was to secure the sustainability of the service.   The Portfolio Holder confirmed that there were interested parties for each of the planned industrial units.

 

Officers undertook to provide responses to outstanding Freedom of Information requests. 

 

Members asked where the final decision would be taken and were advised that the final decision rested with the Cabinet. The Leader advised that this was why Cabinet members were not participating in the debate. The Chair of Council agreed to allow a vote so that Cabinet were informed of the view of Council. Cabinet members would not take part in the vote as they were decision makers and members of the Planning, Taxi Licensing and Rights of Way Committee were advised that they should abstain if they did not wish to be precluded from voting if applications relating to the site came to committee.

 

County Councillor Gary Price moved an amendment,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Review of the Electoral Arrangements for the County of Powys - Final Recommendations Report pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To consider a report by the Solicitor to the Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the Final Recommendations Report in electoral arrangements for the County of Powys. The report proposed a reduction in the overall membership of the Council from 73 Members to 68 Members with the creation of a number of new electoral divisions, including multiple member electoral divisions and the deletion of other divisions.

 

The members for Glantwymyn and Llanbrynmair criticised proposals for the new Llanbrynmair electoral division arguing that it made more sense to merge Llanbrynmair and Carno electoral divisions. Other members criticised the size of some of the proposed new electoral divisions and the names chosen. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised that the period for making representations to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales had ended on 2nd May and that members wishing to respond to the recommendations should do so urgently.

 

County Councillor J Gibson-Watt left the meeting at 13.15.

 

It was moved by County Councillor Jackie Charlton and seconded by County Councillor Karl Lewis and by 32 votes to 0 with 1 abstention

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

(i)      that the Council notes the recommendations of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales;

(ii)     that the Council considers any comments it may wish to make as a response to the proposals.

 

To consider the final proposals by the LDWC on the electoral arrangements for Powys

 

5.

Recommendations from Democratic Services Committee

5.1

Section 27 of the Constitution: Protocol Civic and Executive Matters pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To consider the recommendation of the Democratic Services Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the recommendation of the Democratic Services Committee to amend Section 27 of the Constitution: Protocol Civic and Executive Matters. It was moved by County Councillor Matthew Dorrance and seconded by County Councillor William Powell and by 49 votes to 1 it was

 

RESOLVED

Reason for decision

the revised Section 27: Protocol Civic and Executive Matters of the Constitution be agreed subject to the term “Chairman” being replaced with “Chair”.  

To ensure the Constitution is up to date.

 

 

 

5.2

Mentoring Scheme pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To consider the recommendation of the Democratic Services Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the recommendation of the Democratic Services Committee to agree a revised framework for Member mentoring. It was moved by County Councillor Matthew Dorrance and seconded by County Councillor Karen Laurie-Parry and by 52 votes to 0 it was

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision

1.    The revised “Framework for Member mentoring” be approved and

2.    the scheme be promoted with Members and training and support be provided as required and

3.    the Democratic Services Committee reviews the scheme one year after its implementation. 

To support Members in their current and future roles.

 

 

 

 

6.

Appointment of Independent (Lay) Member on the Standards Committee pdf icon PDF 74 KB

To consider a report by the Solicitor to the Council.

Minutes:

Council considered the recommendation of the Appointments Panel of the Standards Committee who had interviewed applicants for the post of Independent (Lay) member of the Standards Committee. It was moved by County Councillor Kath Roberts-Jones and seconded by County Councillor Michael Williams and by 46 votes to 1 with 2 abstentions it was 

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

To note the contents of this report and to consider the Panel’s recommendation and appoint Mrs Claire Moore as an Independent (Lay) Member for a period of 6 years from 14 May, 2019.

To comply with the requirements for Independent (Lay) members of the Standards Committee as required by the Standards Committees (Wales) Regulations 2001 (as amended).

 

 

Council thanked Helen Rhydderch-Roberts for her 10 years of service to the Standards Committee.

7.

Notice of Motion

This Council believes that LGBT+ rights are human rights.

We support the positive strides made by successive governments towards achieving real equality for members of the LGBT+ community including:

1.     Sexual Offences Act 1967 which decriminalised Homosexuality;

2.      Repealing Section 28 in 2003;

3.      The Civil Partnership Act 2004;

4.      Equalising the age of consent;

5.      The Gender Recognition Act 2004;

6.      The Equality Act 2010; and

7.      Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013.

This Council condemns:

1.     The rise in hate crime towards minority groups including the LGBT+ community; and

2.      The decision of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei to introduce harsh capital and corporal punishments that make sex between men punishable by stoning to death and sex between women punishable by 40 strokes of the cane or 10 years in prison.

This Council resolves to:

1.     Make clear its support for the LGBT+ community, call out hate in all forms and be a vocal ally for the LGBT+ community;

2.      Write to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs urging him to stand up for LGBT+ rights around the world and support calls to suspend Brunei from the Commonwealth because it has breached the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights; and

3.      Establish an LGBT+ Staff Network.

Proposer: Cllr Matthew Dorrance     

Seconder: Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe

 

Minutes:

Council considered a notice of motion moved by County Councillor Matthew Dorrance and seconded by County Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe.

 

This Council believes that LGBT+ rights are human rights.

We support the positive strides made by successive governments towards achieving real equality for members of the LGBT+ community including:

1.     Sexual Offences Act 1967 which decriminalised Homosexuality;

2.      Repealing Section 28 in 2003;

3.      The Civil Partnership Act 2004;

4.      Equalising the age of consent;

5.      The Gender Recognition Act 2004;

6.      The Equality Act 2010; and

7.      Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013.

This Council condemns:

1.     The rise in hate crime towards minority groups including the LGBT+ community; and

2.      The decision of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei to introduce harsh capital and corporal punishments that make sex between men punishable by stoning to death and sex between women punishable by 40 strokes of the cane or 10 years in prison.

This Council resolves to:

1.     Make clear its support for the LGBT+ community, call out hate in all forms and be a vocal ally for the LGBT+ community;

2.      Write to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs urging him to stand up for LGBT+ rights around the world and support calls to suspend Brunei from the Commonwealth because it has breached the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights; and

3.      Establish an LGBT+ Staff Network.

An amendment moved by County Councillor Van-Rees to part 2 of the motion calling for negotiations with Brunei with a view to reversing their laws rather than their suspension from the Commonwealth was not seconded.

 

By 50 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions it was

 

RESOLVED that this Council

 

1.     Makes clear its support for the LGBT+ community, calls out hate in all forms and will be a vocal ally for the LGBT+ community;

2.      Write to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs urging him to stand up for LGBT+ rights around the world and support calls to suspend Brunei from the Commonwealth because it has breached the Commonwealth Charter in respect of human rights; and

3.      Establishes an LGBT+ Staff Network.