Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillors Anwen Davies, Linda Wyn Jones, Christopher O’Neal and Peter Read.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 10th December, 2015 be signed as a true record  (attached).

The Chairman signed the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 10 December 2015 as a true record subject to the addition of 'Implementation of the

Social Services and Well-being Act' under item 5:

"A member noted that she was uncomfortable with the monolingual English film and that the Council's staff spoke Welsh."

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

Members had received a briefing note from the Monitoring Officer in advance regarding item 10 on the agenda, 'Budgetary Matters'. Further guidance was provided to members that they should declare an interest if particular attention was given to a matter in a proposal or amendment during the discussion.

The following members declared a personal interest in item 10 on the agenda - Budgetary Matters, for the reasons noted:-

·         Councillor W. Roy Owen - because he was a Canolfan Noddfa trustee. 

·         Councillor W. Tudor Owen - because he was vice-chair of the Canolfan Noddfa board.

·         Councillor Gruffydd Williams - because he was a member of the Nefyn Playing Field Committee which had made an application for a grant from Mantell Gwynedd and Cist Gwynedd.

The members were of the opinion that they were prejudicial interests, and they withdrew from the meeting during the discussion on the amendment.

The Monitoring Officer noted that the senior officers present, with the exception of the Chief Executive, would declare an interest and would withdraw from the chamber during the entire discussion on item 9 'Annual Review - Council's Pay Policy'. It was added that the Chief Executive would declare a personal interest and withdraw from the chamber if a discussion relating to the Chief Executive's post arose. 

The Corporate Directors, the Head of Finance Department, the Head of Corporate Support Department and the Head of the Legal Service / Monitoring Officer declared a personal interest in this item as the report involved their salaries. They were of the opinion that it was a prejudicial interest, and they withdrew from the meeting during the discussion on the item.

To receive any Chairman’s announcements.

(1)     Speedy Recovery

          Councillor Peter Read, who was currently in hospital, was wished a speedy recovery.

(2)     Condolences

Councillor John Wynn Jones paid tribute to the late former Councillor Eddie Dogan, who had represented Dewi Ward for many years, and condolences were extended to his family in their bereavement.

          Condolences were expressed to the family of former Councillor Mair E. Williams (Mair Vanwil) who had been an active member of this council for many years and a former Mayor of Caernarfon.

It was noted that the Council wished to express condolences to everyone within the county’s communities who had lost loved ones recently.

(3)     Extraordinary Meeting

          It was reported that an application to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Full Council to discuss the Joint Development Plan's language assessment had been accepted. The meeting would be held on the morning of Friday 18 March.

(4)     Access to Council offices

          It was noted that following multiple cases where members of the public had gained unauthorised access to staff offices, work had commenced on installing a new access system for the main entrances and some other key doors. New ID cards had been distributed to members before the meeting to allow them to gain access to Council buildings with meeting rooms.

To receive any correspondence, communications or other business brought forward at the request of the Chairman.

It was reported, for information, that a response had been received from the Culture, Media and Sport Department regarding the Council's call at its previous meeting opposing the cut to S4C's budget. The response received at the end of January emphasised that the Government had to make difficult decisions and that the proposed cut to S4C's budget was less than other organisations. It was noted that at the beginning of February, the Government announced that S4C would receive the £400,000 sponsorship that it had expected to lose, the Culture Secretary, John Wittingdale stated that a review would also be held next year.

To note any items which are urgent business in the opinion of the Chairman so they may be considered.

To consider any questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.19 of the Constitution.

(1)       Question from Councillor Sion Jones

“What is the Leader doing to ensure that zero hours contracts are stopped in Gwynedd Council?"

Response from Councillor Dyfed Edwards, Council Leader

(The Leader’s written response had been circulated to members in advance.)

"Over the past few years the Council has aimed to eradicate zero hours contracts and is extremely close to doing so. That is the right thing to do and I am very pleased that the Council has been able to work towards that aim." 

A supplementary question from Councillor Sion Jones

"Can the Leader promise that within six months all of the zero hours contracts will have been eradicated and that the Council will re-examine the situation involving seasonal workers with problems arising for some individuals in terms of obtaining a mortgage?"

Response from Councillor Dyfed Edwards, Council Leader

"I don't think setting a timetable on any action is wise, that would be a mistake because it limits any possibilities. Let us examine the situation, and if there is problem then there is a duty on us as an employer to consider what those problems are. I am not aware of those problems, a little bit of work needs to be done.

The Councillor is right to acknowledge that there is a difference between zero hours contracts and other contracts, I am pleased that he recognises that, something he has not always done in the past, so this is a step forward. 

Let us get to work and I make this promise to the Council, we will investigate any difficulties and any problems that arise from the type of contracts the Councillor has referred to and we will report back to the appropriate place with any developments in the field. I think that that is the appropriate way forward."

(2)       A question by Councillor Aeron M. Jones

"With a substantial number in Gwynedd running businesses or small businesses in Gwynedd, how successful has the Council been in implementing its Keeping the Benefits Local Project in terms of keeping Council expenditure with local contractors?"

Response from Councillor Mandy Williams-Davies, Cabinet Member for Economy

(The Cabinet Member's written response was distributed to the members in advance).

"It is a very important field, as you will see from the 40% statistic. It is a complex field, and there are some companies with headquarters outside the County but have branches within the County that employ people here and spend money here and if you take them into consideration the percentage increases to 54%.

We are collaborating internally in terms of how we buy into category management rather than departments. Having said that, I am aware that it is an internal structure, there are two parts for me, there are internal matters, but also external matters and working with small businesses specifically is important to me and for me that's where the prosperity lies. We have undertaken some work through the Delivery Panel to see how we can utilise the Economy and Community Department to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To submit the report of the Council Leader (attached).

Submitted – the Leader’s report, which recommended that the Council should adopt a specific Strategic Plan for the year to come, drawing attention to the projects which had been completed and added since the previous year.

During the discussion, the following matters were raised:-

·         The plan was welcomed but its delivery was dependent on the decision regarding the cuts. 

·         The work in terms of community regeneration was extremely important and it was a good thing that the Cabinet had not recommended including the Community Regeneration Unit as part of the cuts.

·         Referring to Ysgol Bro Llifon, the Cabinet Member for Education noted that an invitation was extended to members to visit this extraordinary resource. The officers of the Education Department and the Property Unit were thanked for their work in relation to the project. 

·         The Vice-Chair noted that the ill-feeling that had been caused by establishing the new school had dissolved and that members should take advantage of the invitation to visit the school.

·         Referring to the G7 'Capacity and sustainability of the care and health arrangements' project, a member noted that he welcomed including the project in the Strategic Plan as dementia would affect all of Gwynedd's wards in the years to come. He noted that Mark Drakeford MP, the Minister for Health and Social Services, had announced £30 million for dementia prevention, he was of the opinion that some of the funding should be allocated to individuals who had already received a diagnosis as there was a shortage of dementia beds in some parts of the County.

·         Referring to the T7 'High profile and strategic events' project, an appreciation of bringing attention to Festival No. 6 was expressed and it was welcomed that reference in the plan to the Licensing Unit's good work was welcomed.

·         The plan set an ambition for the Council to deliver for the people of Gwynedd.

·         The Council collaborated across sectors and with third sector organisations in relation to preventative services to ensure the best opportunities for the County's children and young people.

·         The outcomes deriving from the plan would not happen quickly in the Economy field but an investment had been made for the future.

·         Workshops would be held regarding big events in the County which would also look at opportunities to grow businesses and the enthusiasm of the county's business people was appreciated.

RESOLVED to adopt the Strategic Plan.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources  (attached)

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources recommending that the Council should adopt the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17. It was noted that the Chief Officers Appointment Committee had considered the Pay Policy at its meeting on 25 February 2016 and recommended that the Council should adopt it.

RESOLVED - to adopt the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 (Appendix 1 of the report).

The Chair noted that it was with a heavy heart that the difficult decisions regarding the cuts were made, but during a period of national cuts the Council had to make these difficult decisions. Thanks were expressed for the councillors' thorough work and he referred to the enthusiasm of Gwynedd's residents during the Gwynedd Challenge consultation and their lobbying work during the past weeks and months that had been essential to come to a conclusion on the cuts.

He referred to a petition that had been submitted before the meeting. The Cabinet Member for Economy expanded that she had received a petition regarding the arts, 'Don't cut the arts in Gwynedd,' with 1,225 names.

In response to a question regarding the costs of upgrading the Council offices’ secure access doors, the Head of Finance noted that a bid for £60,000 had been submitted by the Regulatory Department to improve the security of the offices access arrangements as a result of incidents. It was noted that the work was funded equally by the Regulatory Department and the bid funding.

The Cabinet Member for Resources proposed the Cabinet's recommendations on the 2016/17 budget and the Council Tax. He emphasised that the Council had to set a balanced and viable budget. He guided the members through the report, noting that the strategy aimed to safeguard the services provided by the Council for the people of Gwynedd and to keep the increase in Council Tax to the minimum. The proposal was seconded.

          The Chair reminded the members of the note that he had distributed detailing the procedure for dealing with this matter. Members were invited to propose amendments to the Cabinet's recommendation by referencing the number of the plan in question and bearing in mind that any amendment had to note how it would ensure a balanced budget.  

          In response to a member’s question regarding the procedure of establishing a budget and setting the Council Tax, the Monitoring Officer noted, in accordance with the statutory procedure, that the Cabinet recommended a budget and Council Tax to the Full Council.

          A member noted that the Cabinet Members had received more information than the other members in order to come to a decision. In response, the Chief Executive noted that the Cabinet had received comprehensive information so that they could draw up a list of possible cuts before releasing the list to consult with the public. He accepted that only a summary had been given to the members when they were consulted the previous summer in order to avoid overloading the members and striking a balance in terms of the information that was required.  He noted that the additional information was available to other members if they so wished.

During the subsequent discussion, the following main points were noted:-

·         An appreciation of the work of officers and the public as part of the Gwynedd Challenge consultation.

·         Given that the Strategic Plan had noted that approximately 6.9 million tourists had visited Gwynedd in 2014, creating £975 million  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.