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Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: The Chair welcomed the new members of the Committee who had been appointed at the Council's Annual Meeting and paid tribute to those who had left the Committee and wished them well in their new roles.
Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors J Charlton and P Davies (Portfolio Holder for Education and Property) (on other Council business) |
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Election of Vice-Chair Arising from the Annual Meeting of the Council, to elect a Vice-Chair for the ensuing year. Minutes: RESOLVED that County Councillor D Selby be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year. |
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Disclosures of Interest To receive any disclosures of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: There were no disclosures of interest by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting |
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Declaration of Party Whips To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.
(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.) Minutes: The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011. |
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Freedom Leisure Annual Report PDF 967 KB To scrutinise Freedom Leisure's Annual Report. Minutes: The Chair welcomed Gwyn Owen (Area Manager) and Jeremy Rowe (Regional Director), from Freedom Leisure to the meeting together with the Portfolio Holder and officers.
Documents Considered: · Freedom Leisure Annual Report
Issues Discussed: · There has been a growth in swim school lessons and an improvement in compliance rates. All sites were closed on March 20th in response to the pandemic. · In terms of the financial position the contract had been performing well until Quarter 4 when the pandemic occurred which resulted in a deficit of £59.2k at year end. · There are a number of challenges forthcoming including, the withdrawal of the furlough scheme, operating within Covid restrictions, customer and member confidence and a 50% reduction in the Free Swim Grant. A number of measures have been agreed between the Council and Freedom Leisure in response to these challenges. · Welsh Government's decision to revise the criteria for the Free Swimming Initiative has had an impact on attendance figures. The loss of 4 instructors during the year impacted on the take up for the National Exercise Referral Scheme at 4 sites. However, recruitment has been successful to fill these vacant posts. · Funding for the Fresh Programme (Family fitness) ended in quarter 4 and the programme had operated well. A decision was awaited on the renewed programme, but confirmation has been received from Powys Public health that funding has been made available for the current financial year. · Energy saving measures have been undertaken across the sites which has resulted in an overall fall in energy consumption (electricity -6.3% and gas -5%)
· Questions:
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Scrutiny Work Programme Future meetings of the Committee are scheduled as follows:
Potential items for consideration: · Regulatory Services · Recycling rates – what advantage is being taken of the increases in recycling rates and how can we maintain recycling rates. · Economic Impact Study / Town Centre Focus Group · County Farms · Review of removal of Pest Control Service (added by Co-ordinating Committee) · Growing Mid Wales
Minutes: The Committee noted that future meetings were scheduled as follows:
Potential items for consideration: · Regulatory Services · Recycling rates – what advantage is being taken of the increases in recycling rates and how can we maintain recycling rates. · Economic Impact Study / Town Centre Focus Group · County Farms · Review of removal of Pest Control Service (added by Co-ordinating Committee) · Growing Mid Wales
The Scrutiny Manager confirmed that the Council was currently dealing with business critical matters only once again which was why matters on the work programme were not able to progress. |
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Exempt Item To consider passing the following Resolution:
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 3 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).
The Monitoring Officer has determined that category 3 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following item. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 14.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
These factors in his view outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information. Members are asked to consider these factors when determining the public interest test, which they must decide when considering excluding the public from this part of the meeting.
Minutes: RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 3 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).
The Monitoring Officer has determined that category 3 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following item. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 14.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
These factors in his view outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information.
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Resolution of Contractual Issues with Heart of Wales Property Services (HOWPS) To scrutinise the confidential report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and the Head of Housing and Community Development. Minutes: Documents Considered: · Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and the Head of Housing and Community Development.
Issues Discussed: · The resolution of contractual issues with the Heart of Wales Property Services.
Outcomes:
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