Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH
Contact: Annes Siôn 01286 679729
No. | Item |
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APOLOGIES Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor W. Gareth Roberts and Dafydd
Edwards (Head of Finance Department). |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Gareth Thomas declared an interest in item 6 as a relative of
his worked for the Library Service. It was a prejudicial interest. |
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URGENT ITEMS Additional documents: Minutes: There were no urgent
items. |
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MATTERS ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY Additional documents: Minutes: There were no
matters arising from overview and scrutiny. |
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7 MARCH 2017 PDF 285 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair signed the minutes of the Cabinet meeting
held on 7 March 2017, as a true record. |
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LIBRARY SELF-SERVICE MACHINES PDF 126 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Ioan Thomas Additional documents: Decision: To approve
the application for £74,412 from the Transformational Fund for the purchase and
installation of nine self-service machines in the nine main libraries. Minutes: The item was
presented by Cllr Ioan Thomas RESOLVED To approve the application
for £74,412 from the Transformation Fund for the purchase and installation of nine self-service machines in the nine main libraries. DISCUSSION It was noted that
the Cabinet had adopted the “More than Books Strategy 2016-2020” for the
Library Service, which would lead to change in the library provision by moving
from maintaining 17 libraries to 9 main libraries. There had been a discussion with Libraries' service users, and they had
noted that they wished to make their visits easier. The machines would provide
staff with more time to help service users. It was emphasised that the aim of
the scheme was to raise the service’s standards rather than to make savings. It
was noted that there were currently two self-service machines in the county,
and that they had proven their value to the service. Matters
arising from the discussion -
A question was asked about whether the use of the
self-service machines would be mandatory, but it was noted that staff would
also be available to undertake the work if the need arose. - It was noted that
this would modernise the services and facilitate access to services. - It was noted that the old machines were
nearing the end of their lifespans, and they could not be used in other
locations, but that they would be recycled. Awdur: Catrin Thomas |
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COUNCIL PLAN 2017/18 - APPLICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING PDF 101 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Mandy Williams-Davies & Ioan Thomas Additional documents:
Decision: i.
To commit £155,138 of additional funding from the Transformation Fund, in order to extend the 'Working together against poverty'
scheme for 2017-18 to realise the commitments that are a part of the Council's
Plan for 2017-18. ii.
To commit £117,000 of additional funding from the Transformation Fund, in order to extend the 'High Value and Quality Jobs'
scheme for 2017-18 to realise the commitments that are a part of the Council's
Plan for 2017-18. iii.
To commit £23,000 of additional funding from the Transformation Fund, in order to extend the 'Rural Gwynedd Development
Project' for 2017-18 to realise the commitments that are a part of the
Council's Plan for 2017-18. iv.
To commit £42,000 of additional funding from the Transformation Fund, in order to extend the 'High profile and strategic
events' scheme for 2017-18 to realise the commitments that are a part of the
Council's Plan for 2017-18. Minutes: The item was
presented by Cllr Ioan Thomas and Cllr
Mandy Williams-Davies RESOLVED
I.
To commit
£121,255 of additional funding
from the Transformation Fund to extend the ‘Working together against poverty’ scheme for 2017-18 to realise commitments that are a part
of the Council Plan for
2017-18.
II.
To commit
£117,000 of additional funding
from the Transformation Fund, in order
to extend the 'High Value and Quality Jobs' scheme for 2017-18 to realise the commitments that are a part
of the Council's Plan for
2017-18.
III.
To commit
£23,000 of additional funding
from the Transformation Fund in order
to extend the 'Rural
Gwynedd Development Project' for
2017-18 to realise the commitments
that are a part of the Council's Plan for 2017-18. IV.
To commit
£42,000 of additional funding,
and continue with the remainder of the allocated funding, in order to extend
the 'High Profile and Strategic Events'
scheme for 2017-18 to realise the commitments that are a part
of the Council Plan 2017-18. DISCUSSION The relevant Cabinet Member provided a verbal report on
all the schemes, regarding how much resource
had been provided for these schemes
in the past, and how much remained
to be spent.
i.
It was noted that
the report emphasised the
main outcomes and activities in the Working Together Against Poverty Scheme for the forthcoming year. Following discussions with partners, it was noted that
the figures in the recommendation had changed to the
figure that was noted in the report. It was noted that the scheme included a programme of interventions that included the provision of skills to cope with income
management, skills to access information and services online
and to prevent economic inactivity. Observations from
the discussion - A discussion was held on the reason
for the slippage of nearly £74,000 which should have been
spent during the financial year. It was noted that
the reason for this was that the application for funding from the Lottery Fund had been sent by partners
and that they were awaiting
a response from the fund.
I.
The benefit of raising awareness about high-value jobs was emphasised, and the need to secure support within the county. It was noted that
the figures in the recommendation had changed compared to the figures noted in the report. Observations from
the discussion - It
was noted that there had been an increase in
the number of young people establishing businesses in the county, and the importance of supporting these businesses was emphasised.
II.
The Rural Development Scheme was mentioned as a scheme that
provided exciting opportunities in the area and that
was extremely important in this respect.
It was noted that the funding was required to continue with the scheme for an additional
year. Observations from
the discussion - It was noted that this was European funding, and that it emphasised the main risks of ... view the full minutes text for item 7. Awdur: Catrin Thomas & Dylan Griffiths |
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COUNCIL PLAN 2017/18 P9 YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIAL USE OF WELSH PDF 372 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Gareth Thomas & Dyfrig Siencyn Additional documents: Decision: To
commit £40,000 of additional funding from the Transformation Fund in order to implement the Secondary Language Strategy to
lead to a further increase in pupils' social and curricular use of Welsh. Minutes: The report was
presented by Cllr Gareth Thomas RESOLVED To commit £40,000 of additional funding from the Transformation Fund in order
to implement the Secondary Language Strategy to lead to a further increase in pupils’
social and curricular use of Welsh. DISCUSSION It was noted that the Primary Language Charter had been accepted nationally. It had been an innovative project in Gwynedd and had now been adopted nationally. The children in primary schools who had benefited from the Charter were moving to secondary schools. It was noted that the Trywydd company had prepared a report examining the use of the Welsh language in secondary schools. The recommendations from this report had been incorporated into the Secondary Language Strategy. Observations from
the discussion -
It was noted that a significant change occurred
between the Primary and Secondary, with pressure to use English rather than
Welsh. There would be a significant challenge to overturn this trend. -
It was emphasised that there was a need to ensure that
there was progression from Primary to Secondary, and that this was an important
step forward. - A question was
asked about whether consideration had been given to establishing a further step
after the Secondary Language Charter to an Employers Language Charter, as this
was where the Welsh language needed to be used (e.g. in local shops). The
language charter should be placed in its context of influencing the overall use
of the Welsh language, and not only amongst children. Awdur: Garem Jackson |
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THE COUNCIL'S ASSET PLAN 2009/10 TO 2018/19 PDF 166 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Peredur Jenkins Additional documents: Decision: i.
To note the likely final position with the 10 year Asset Plan; ii.
To confirm that we no longer require the £15m provision for Social Care
as part of the new Plan to be established by the new Council; iii.
To allocate £200,000 of the resource that is not now required for
unsupported borrowing to meet the deficit in our savings for 2016/17; iv.
To use £800,000 of this resource to supplement the repairs and
maintenance programme from 1 April 2017, leaving the remainder for the new
Council to decide upon when considering its savings and asset requirements for
the future. Minutes: The
report was presented by Cllr Peredur
Jenkins RESOLVED i.
To note the likely final position with the 10 year Asset Plan
ii.
To confirm that we no longer require
the £15m provision for Social Care as part of the new Plan to be established by the new Council;
iii.
To allocate £200,000 of the resource
that is not now required for unsupported
borrowing to meet the deficit in our
savings for 2016/17 iv.
To use £800,000 of this resource to supplement the repairs and maintenance
programme from 1 April 2017, leaving the remainder for the new Council to decide upon when
considering its savings and asset
requirements for the future. DISCUSSION In 2009, following an assessment of the Council's capital spending
requirements, and in recognising the fact that the Council's resources would
not allow for all capital expenditure requirements to be met, a series of
workshops were held with Council members to establish capital priorities for
the coming 10 years. Consequently, the
Council’s Corporate Assets Strategy was established, and adopted by the Full
Council. It was noted that it was an essential plan, and that the new council would
be expected to establish a new plan early in the next financial year for the
2018/19 - 2027/28 period. It was noted that the purpose of this report was to
report back and to conclude some aspects of the original plan. Over the Plan's
10-year period it was anticipated that there would be capital expenditure of
£143.8m. Observations from
the discussion: -
The plan had been effective, and had facilitated investments in schools. Important
work had been completed, and important work was still being delivered. Awdur: Dilwyn Williams |
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PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR CABINET MEMBER FOR EDUCATION PDF 191 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Gareth Thomas Additional documents:
Decision: i.
To accept and note the information in the report.
ii.
To approve the re-profiling in relation to the Free
Breakfast Club for Primary Schools, as slippage has been seen in the
realisation time. There will be a need
to slip £41,700 to realise in 2018/19. Minutes: The report was
presented by Cllr Gareth Thomas. RESOLVED
I.
To accept and note
the information in the report.
II.
To approve the re-profiling in relation to the Free Breakfast Club for Primary Schools,
as slippage had been seen in
the realisation time. There would be a need to slip £41,700
to be realised in 2018/19. DISCUSSION Following scrutiny and performance
analysis over the summer, raising the standards of the Foundation Phase had been identified as a priority. The County Quality Board was continuing and showing progress. It was noted that only
two schools were in any
follow-up categories at present and only
two schools were in the red category. It was noted that
no school was in a statutory category and only
two schools were in the Estyn Monitoring category. Both schools had made expected progress
at an appropriate pace. It was noted that the work on Ysgol Bro Idris and Ysgol Glancegin was ongoing. Discussions were ongoing with
the Governors about the status of the Bala catchment school. It was emphasised that two schools had been awarded by
Estyn for their excellence, namely Ysgol Cae Top and Ysgol Morfa Nefyn, and Cllr Gareth Thomas congratulated both schools. Observations
from the discussion - It was noted that considerable progress had been made in this area, and that there had been a shift in culture. There was improved transparency in relation to clarity and expectations. - The Head of the Education Department was wished well as he was leaving his post to work as the Managing Director of GwE, and he was thanked for his work. Awdur: Iwan Trefor Jones |
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PERFORMANCE REPORT OF THE DEPUTY LEADER PDF 343 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Dyfrig Siencyn Additional documents:
Decision:
ii.
To approve the re-profiling of the Savings Scheme in the Coroner's
budget (DaCH13) to 2018/19 rather than 2017/18 as originally intended as
highlighted in point 6.2 of the report. Minutes: The item was presented by Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn RESOLVED
i.
To
accept and note the information in the report
ii.
To
approve the re-profiling of the Savings Scheme in the Coroner's budget (DaCh13)
to 2018/19 rather than 2017/18 as originally intended as highlighted in point
6.2 of the report. DISCUSSION It was noted that the work of promoting the Welsh language in communities
was in progress in Bangor, Dolgellau and Porthmadog.
It was a work programme that had been jointly agreed by the Welsh Government
which funded the work via Hunaniaith. A discussion
had been held with the Minister to discuss the idea of being able to develop
our own schemes, as the area was different to others as the majority of the
population spoke Welsh. It was noted that the savings of the Corporate Support Department had been realised,
and that there was one slippage, which was Savings in the Coroner's budget
which equated to £13,795. Observations from
the discussion - In relation to the
performance measures, it was noted that the number of Gwynedd residents who
were satisfied with the information available to them about what the Council
was doing, and its future intentions, was 54% A view was expressed that this
was low when considering that the Gwynedd Challenge had been held during the
past year. This work needed to continue, and consideration was needed on how to
raise awareness among a range of people. Awdur: Dilwyn Williams |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC PDF 170 KB Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED Resolved - to exclude the press and public from
the meeting during the discussion on the following item due to the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph
14, Section 4, Schedule 12A, Local
Government Act 1972. A request
was made for the item to be exempt under the following section: 14.10.2 Exempt information – Discretion to Exclude Public The report includes information relating to contract details and sales
procedures |
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LAND IN LLANRUG Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng/Cllr. Dafydd Meurig Additional documents: Decision: To delegate powers to the Head of Regulatory Department, in consultation
with the Head of Education Department, to purchase a plot of land in Llanrug and following the purchase, to take appropriate
control of the site, in accordance with the report. Minutes: The report was presented by Cllr Dafydd Meurig RESOLVED To delegate powers to the Head of Regulatory Department, in
consultation with the Head of Education Department, to purchase a plot of land
in Llanrug and following the purchase, to take
appropriate control of the site, in accordance with the report. DISCUSSION An opportunity had arisen to purchase a site in
Llanrug for educational purposes that could
contribute towards extending options for future education planning. Observations from the discussion -
The Local Member, Cllr Charles Wyn Jones stated that
there was local support to purchase the land. -
It was emphasised that the Council was buying land for
the future, and that there are no current plans. -
It was noted that the land should be managed properly
following its purchase. Awdur: Arwyn Thomas & Diane Jones |