Venue: Hybrid - Siambr Dafydd Orwig, Swyddfeydd y Cyngor, Caernarfon LL55 1SH. View directions
Contact: Annes Sion 01286 679490
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Members
and Officers were welcomed to the meeting. An apology was
received from Councillors Dyfrig Siencyn, Beca Brown and Menna Trenholme. |
|
DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST Additional documents: Minutes: There were
no declarations of personal interest. |
|
URGENT ITEMS Additional documents: Minutes: There were
no urgent items. |
|
MATTERS ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY Additional documents: Minutes: There were
no matters arising from overview and scrutiny. |
|
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 20 FEBRUARY 2024 PDF 202 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes
of the meeting held on 20 February 2024 were accepted as a true record. |
|
STRATEGIC EQUALITY PLAN 2024-28 PDF 140 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Menna Trenholme Additional documents:
Decision: The Strategic Equality Plan was accepted and adopted for it to be
implemented over the next four years. Minutes: The report was submitted by
Cllr. Nia Jeffreys DECISION The Strategic Equality Plan
was accepted and adopted for it to be implemented over the next four years. DISCUSSION The report was submitted, and
the Cabinet Member was thanked for her guidance in the field. It was explained that it was a statutory
requirement to create an Equality Plan through the Equality Act (Wales) 2010,
and it was added that updating objectives was a part of this requirement. It
was expressed that two public consultations had been held when creating an
Equality Plan and it had been discussed at a Scrutiny Committee. It was
explained that after receiving observations in the public consultations that
amendments had been made to the objectives and to the plan to make it much
easier to read. It was emphasised that
equality was vital to the Council as there was no way to maintain services
without ensuring fairness for all. The Equality Advisor added
that engagement had ensured that the plan was suitable for the people of
Gwynedd. It was expressed that the Plan reflected the needs of
the people of the County and attention was drawn to the 5 objectives, namely
employment, information - i.e., data about people with protected
characteristics, the Council's internal arrangements, Services - i.e. ensuring equality within everyday work, and improving
equality within the education field. It was explained that these 5 objectives
were at the root of the Equality Plan. Observations arising from the
discussion: ·
The plan was welcomed by
noting pride that further education had been included as one of the 5
objectives. It was added that
highlighting the true emotional and financial cost of attending school for the
children of Gwynedd was vital. It was noted that the support of teachers to
encourage children to the school was needed. ·
It was noted that there
was a tendency to think that plans of this kind were created and left on the
shelf but that the steps noted in the report highlighted that this was not true
about this report. It was noted that although the role of the service was to
lead on this work, it
was highlighted that equality was vital for everyone within the Council. It was
emphasised that the work plan was created cross-departmentally over the first
year before moving forward to implement the objectives following this. ·
It was noted that this
Plan set the right direction and set definitive guidance for the Council. Awdur: Delyth G Williams |
|
FUNDING FOR CLIMATE AND NATURE EMERGENCY PLAN PROJECTS PDF 184 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Dyfrig Siencyn Additional documents: Decision: 1)
It
was approved to prioritise £1,640,495 from the climate fund for the following
projects: a)
Green
Fleet Plan - £1,048,400 b)
Lighting
Upgrades Pilot Scheme - £416,617 c)
Heat
Pumps Scheme - £175,478 2) To delegate the right to prioritise
the remaining expenditure of the climate plan fund to the Chief Executive in
consultation with the Leader and Members of the Climate and Nature Board. Minutes: The report was submitted
by Cllr Nia Jeffreys DECISION 1) It was approved to prioritise £1,640,495 from
the climate fund for the following projects: a) Green Fleet Plan - £1,048,400 b) Lighting Upgrading Pilot Scheme - £416,617 c) Heat Pumps Scheme - £175,478 2) To delegate the right to prioritise the
remaining expenditure of the climate plan fund to the Chief Executive in
consultation with the Leader and Members of the Climate and Nature Board. DISCUSSION The report was submitted
by the Chief Executive by noting that this report requested to fund Climate and
Nature Emergency Plan projects. It had been noted back in November 2022 that
the Cabinet had agreed to use funding from the general fund to finance an
investment plan in solar panels with the revenue savings contributing towards
the Council's savings scheme. It was noted that this
bid would fund 3 substantial specific projects.
The first was the Green Fleet Plan. It was noted that in January 2023,
the Cabinet had adopted a Green Fleet plan with the aim of providing a safe,
effective, and zero-emission fleet for the Council's services. It was noted
that 67 diesel and petrol vehicles were reaching the end of their life during
2023/24 and 2024/25 therefore in accordance with the Green Fleet Plan they
would be replaced with electric vehicles. The second scheme was
the Lighting Upgrading Pilot Scheme. It was noted that changing lights in most
of the Council's buildings required a significant investment and would take
years to be completed. It was highlighted that street lighting upgrades had
been carried out over recent years and adapting it reduced carbon emissions. It
was explained that the aim was to carry out a pilot of six different buildings
before deciding whether to proceed to expand it across the Council. The third scheme was to
place heat pumps, by following the same principle of running a pilot scheme.
The Council had succeeded to receive a grant to install heat pumps at three
sites in Gwynedd. To claim the grant, there was a need to invest 10% in match
funding. It was noted that it was an opportunity to trial a low carbon heating
method and learn lessons prior to considering upgrading the rest of the
buildings. It was noted that other
opportunities were highlighted in the report, and it was noted that the
decision asked to delegate the right to prioritise the expenditure to the Chief
Executive in consultation with the Leader and Members of the Climate and Nature
Board. Observations arising
from the discussion: · Support was noted for the plan, but it was noted that following funding these plans, there would be slightly over £1m left, but it was asked what would happen after all the money would be spent. It was noted that £3m was put in the Climate Fund since 2022, but it was explained that because of additional grants that nearly £8m had been spent. Following spending the £3m from the fund, the Cabinet needed to make ... view the full minutes text for item 7. Awdur: Dafydd Gibbard |
|
ONE-OFF BIDS/TRANSFORMATION FUND 2024/25 PDF 227 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Dyfrig Siencyn Additional documents:
Decision: To approve the one-off bids of
£6,508,260 for 2024/25 to be financed from the Transformation fund and the
Financial Strategy Reserve. Minutes: The report was submitted by
Cllr Nia Jeffreys DECISION To approve the one-off bids of
£6,508,260 for 2024/25 to be financed from the Transformation fund and the
Financial Strategy fund. DISCUSSION The report was submitted
noting that the Council had set the budget last week. It was explained that the
bids for one-off resources were being submitted separately to the Budget report
as the allocation of a one-off resource did not impact on setting our annual
revenue budget and was not a consideration when setting the Council Tax
rate. It was noted annually that
departments submitted bids for one-off resources for matters such as coping
with temporary pressure, delivering the Council's Plan projects, transforming
services or experimenting. It was explained this year that most of the bids
were for coping with additional pressure on services, in the hope that the money would
reduce the overspending within departments. Nevertheless, it was
highlighted that there were new schemes as well, such as continuing with the
Apprenticeship Scheme and the Graduate Schemes , which
was a very successful scheme and assisted with staff recruitment. It was
highlighted that it would be possible to extend the Council's Tidying Teams
scheme as well as re-starting additional street cleaners’ jobs in urban areas. Observations arising from the
discussion: ·
Support was noted for
these one-off bids, but concern was highlighted about the financial situation
with many funds being emptied, and with the situation as it was. It was
highlighted that more use of funds was needed. ·
The work of the
apprenticeship scheme and the graduate scheme was highlighted by noting that
there was a bid to establish an adult and children care academy a part of the
scheme as well as to look specifically on the challenges that face appointing
in the health and care field. Awdur: Dafydd Gibbard |
|
PURCHASE OF CROWN OFFICES, PENRALLT, CAERNARFON PDF 174 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Craig ab Iago Additional documents: Decision: The Cabinet authorised the purchase of the Crown Offices in Penrallt, Caernarfon, with terms and conditions to be
determined by the Head of Housing and Property Department. Minutes: The report was submitted by
Cllr Craig ab Iago DECISION The Cabinet authorised the
purchase of the Crown Offices in Penrallt,
Caernarfon, in accordance with terms and conditions to be determined by the
Head of Housing and Property Department. DISCUSSION The report was submitted and it was noted that one of the main concerns of
the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property was high figures of homelessness.
It was emphasised that there was a significant increase since covid, as a result of the Westminster Government’s policies coupled
with the economic situation. It was noted that there was a need to respond to
these numbers and this application to change the use of an existing building. It was noted that the
department had visited a similar location in York, where they had responded to
the need. It was noted that the available space would be vital to deal with
homelessness, and it was confirmed that funding for this scheme would not take
away from other schemes seen across the county. The Head of Department added
that this was an application to buy offices and to re-purpose them for
individuals and families who needed emergency accommodation. It was explained
that 250 households were currently in unsuitable locations in Gwynedd and this
scheme would accommodate 100-120 people. It was noted that the purchase was
also an opportunity to have a supportive hub at the building. It was reiterated that the
building was in a very good condition with only minor defects. It was
emphasised that the purchase would enable the department to implement one of
the main fields in the housing action plan.
Observations arising from the
discussion: ·
The plan was welcomed by
emphasising the need to highlight that it would not happen overnight, and it
would not impair on any other schemes. The element in terms of a hub to ensure
support that would support the residents of Gwynedd was welcomed. The need to
develop units for various people by looking at the needs of residents in addition
was emphasised. ·
It was noted that
supporting this scheme would also give revenue savings to the Council in
addition as there would be no need to pay for temporary accommodation. It was
also noted that there would be a social value to the scheme not only financial.
·
It was expressed that
with an expenditure of £6m on homelessness, it was vital to move forward. ·
It was highlighted that
temporary accommodation was unsuitable with many accommodations without a
kitchen to cook and that could have a huge impact on people's diet, and it was
asked what support was available. It was explained that the Hub was an
opportunity to give multi-agency and cross-departmental support to ensure
support for individuals and families' needs. It was expressed that it would be
a central location for anyone to get housing support with the hope that it
would detract from departments and agencies to ensure that people would
maintain tenancies. Awdur: Carys Fôn Williams |