Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet Members and Officers were welcomed to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr W Gareth Roberts.

Councillor Dafydd Meurig declared an interest in item 7, as his sister worked on the Ysgol y Faenol site, Bangor. It was a prejudicial interest and he withdrew from the meeting during the discussion on this item.

There were no urgent items.

There were no matters arising from overview and scrutiny.

The Chair signed the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 19 February 2019, as a true record.

To approve Gwynedd Council's commitment to implementing the Learning Disabilities Strategy locally.

The report was submitted by Cllr Dilwyn Morgan

RESOLVED

To approve Gwynedd Council's commitment to implementing the Learning Disabilities Strategy.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that the Strategy was exciting for people of all ages with Learning Disabilities. It was expressed that the Strategy noted how the Local Authorities would work in integration with the Health Service across the North.  It was added that the strategy had been developed in collaboration between the six north Wales Councils, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and contributions from people with learning disabilities and their carers.

It was noted that the strategy vision coincided with the department's vision and added that it acknowledged what mattered to people with learning disabilities. It was expressed that the region had succeeded in obtaining funding from the Government's Transformation Fund to deliver five work packages that had been planned within the strategy.

The Senior Learning Disabilities Manager added that the strategy set a firm direction for the Council to work with the Health Service, and that it blended in with the department's work. It was added that over the last three years, the Department had been working with children and people with learning disabilities, their families and their community to create plans and that these plans had now been developed to create preventative teams within hubs in the community.

Members were reminded that a stronger engagement procedure had been created in the last three years between staff, providers, carers and service users. It was added that by creating a service that engaged with people often, a service had been developed and created that everyone felt part of. It was added that exciting changes were afoot and that the strategy provided a firm foundation that would drive the programme forward to raise the status of people with learning disabilities in communities.

Observations arising from the discussion

-        It was asked how this strategy could be implemented, and it was noted that much of the engagement work carried out to create the strategy had been held with Gwynedd people and therefore the voices of the people of Gwynedd were to be heard there. It was expressed that when looking at the strategy's work programme that Gwynedd was leading the way in some fields and still needed to develop in other fields. It was added that Gwynedd's principal focus would be to blend the work of the service and the strategy.

-        It was noted that the hope was that the strategy vision encouraged integrated working locally and there would be consistent integrated work across the council departments also, especially the Education Department and the Children and Supporting Families Department.

-        Attention was drawn to the work being done in the Education department in the field of Learning Disabilities noted that the strategy coincides with the department's Additional Learning Needs plans.

It was noted that the Strategy was a five-year strategy but that the money from the Government's Transformation Fund was for a two-year action plan. It was added that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To conclusively confirm the contribution from the Council toward the full financial package of £12.7 million for the reorganisation of the Primary Education provision in the Bangor Catchment Area.

The item was submitted by Cllr Gareth Thomas

RESOLVED

To conclusively confirm the contribution from the Council toward the full financial package of £12.7 million for the reorganisation of the Primary Education provision in the Bangor Catchment Area.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted and it was noted that the decision sought was a matter of formality.  It was noted that the Cabinet had agreed in March 2018 to "extend y Faenol to increase capacity from 186 to 215 and a new school for Ysgol y Garnedd, and increase the capacity from 210 to 420."

It was expressed that Ysgol y Faenol was a Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled (VC) school, the School Organisation Code noted that the Governing Body had the authority to make a decision on increasing the School's capacity, with the Local Authority facilitating the process. It was expressed that the Governing Body had decided to increase the school's capacity and therefore it was noted that confirmation was required that there was money in place for the scheme. It was noted that a total of £12.7 million had been identified as the cost of fulfilling elements of reorganising the Schools in the Bangor Catchment Area.

1.    To delegate the power to the Head of Legal Services:

a)    in consultation with the Senior Coroner to prepare a job and personal specification as well as an appointment process for the posts of Assistant Coroner and arrange for advertising

b)    to establish a panel in order to draw up a short list and interview applicants and appoint an Assistant Coroner as necessary

The item was submitted by Cllr Nia Jeffreys

DECISION

1.    To delegate the power to the Head of Legal Services:

a)    In consultation with the Senior Coroner to prepare a job and personal specification as well as an appointment process for the posts of Assistant Coroner and arrange for advertising

b)    To establish a panel in order to draw up a short list and interview applicants and appoint an Assistant Coroner as necessary

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted, noting that it was a technical report. It was expressed that that the Assistant Coroner had now been appointed a Judge.  The Assistant Coroner was congratulated and thanked for her work. It was expressed that the report noted the procedure for appointing an Assistant Coroner to ensure that the delegated arrangements for the process were established clearly.

Observations arising from the discussion

- It was noted that the procedure was a new procedure and that it was not entirely clear who would make the appointment.  It was expressed that the procedure followed the procedure currently seen in Denbighshire and highlighted a clear procedure that was competitively open.

It was enquired whether Isle of Anglesey County Council would be part of the appointment, it was noted that it was not a requirement for them to be part of the appointment panel but they could be included