Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda - Council Offices
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
No. | Item |
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APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for
absence. Minutes: Councillor
Lesley Day |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive
any declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No declarations of
personal interest were received from any members present. |
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URGENT ITEMS To note any items that are
a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration. Minutes: None |
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The
Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this
committee held on 4th February, 2016 be signed as a true record. Minutes: The
Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 4 February
2016, as a true record. |
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THE COUNCIL'S COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE PDF 299 KB To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing, Customer Care and Libraries, Deprivation and Equality (attached). 2.30pm – 3.00pm Minutes: Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for
Housing, Customer Care and Libraries, Deprivation and Equality detailing the
Council's Complaints Procedure and responding to questions provided in advance
in relation to:- ·
How the new procedure
differed from what had happened in the past and how it was of benefit to the
residents of Gwynedd. ·
The outcomes for the
residents of Gwynedd and evidence to prove that. ·
The relationship with Galw Gwynedd and Siopau Gwynedd
as the first points of contact ·
The services' response to
the new procedure. ·
Staff training on the new
procedure and how to deal with complaints. ·
Lessons learnt over the
past year and how they had been communicated. The Cabinet Member
and officers expanded on the written responses in the report, and also
responded to further questions / observations from the members. The Chairman summarised the main message of the
discussion as follows:- ·
There was concern regarding
the capacity of Galw Gwynedd to answer calls. ·
It was recommended that
information regarding formal investigations should be shared with local members
if it was seen that a pattern of complaints had developed in a specific area. ·
The
fact that the support resource to co-ordinate the new procedure operated
independently and looked at the situation from the customer's perspective,
whilst responding to complaints in a timely manner, was appreciated. ·
There was a need to ensure
consistency and learn lessons from the Social Services' complaints procedure. The
Cabinet Member and the officers were thanked for the discussion and it was
noted that they may be requested to come back before the committee in a year's
time. |
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THE BENEFIT TO GWYNEDD FROM KEEPING THE BUSINESS RATE PDF 757 KB To consider
the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cabinet Member for the
Economy (attached). 3.00pm –
3.45pm Minutes: The Chairman explained that:- ·
During a discussion at the
Full Council in October 2015, a member drew the Council's attention to the fact
that the central Government in England had decided that English local councils
would get to keep all the business rates to be re-invested locally but that
this was not the situation in Wales. ·
In response to a motion by
the member to make contact with Welsh Government to ask for the same conditions
in Wales, the Chief Executive had suggested that detailed scrutiny work should
be undertaken prior to that, to discover whether the same regime in Wales would
likely lead to benefits, losses, opportunities or hazards for Gwynedd. Submitted
- the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cabinet Member for
Economy inviting the committee to scrutinise and consider the benefits and
risks of retaining business rates locally and responding to questions provided
in advance in relation to:- ·
The content of the Chancellor's statement. ·
The impact on local authorities in England. ·
The implications for Gwynedd should the same
conditions be available in Wales. ·
The likelihood for Gwynedd to see benefits, losses,
opportunities or hazards from retaining the business rates collected locally. The Head of Finance
Department and the Senior Manager - Revenue and Risk expanded on the written
responses in the report, and also responded to further questions / observations
from the members. The Chairman summarised the main message of the
discussion as follows:- ·
That the Cabinet Members
and the officers should be congratulated for writing a clear and coherent
report on a very complex matter. ·
Having looked at the
opportunities and the risks, the committee had not been convinced at present
that introducing the same conditions in Wales would bring any benefits to
Gwynedd; rather, it was of the opinion that it would create significant risks. ·
That it was premature to
lobby the Assembly at present. ·
Should more details emerge
regarding similar developments for Wales, to recommend that the Corporate
Scrutiny Committee carries out further scrutiny work on the matter at that
time. The Cabinet Members and the officers were thanked for
the discussion. |