Venue: Virtual Meeting
Contact: Annes Siôn 01286 679490
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APOLOGIES Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Members and Officers were welcomed to the meeting. An apology was received from Councillor
Craig ab Iago and Dafydd Wyn Williams (Head of Regulatory Department). |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST Additional documents: Minutes: No
declarations of personal interest were received. |
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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 30 NOVEMBER 2021 PDF 63 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair accepted the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November
2021 as a true record. |
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SUPPORTING PEOPLE PROGRAMME PDF 150 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Dafydd Meurig Additional documents: Decision: To approve one-off resources for two
years, namely £193,217 in 2022/23 and £155,990 in 2023/24 from the COVID
Recovery Fund towards the Supporting People Programme Minutes: The item was
presented by Cllr. Dafydd Meurig RESOLVED To approve one-off resources for two years, namely £193,217 in 2022/23 and
£155,990 in 2023/24 from the COVID Recovery Fund towards the Supporting People
Programme. DISCUSSION The report was submitted, noting that this was a one-off bid for funding to support the Supporting People cross-departmental programme. It was noted that the past two years of the Covid-19 crisis had been difficult and had highlighted how vulnerable some residents of Gwynedd were. It was explained that over the past two years, the programme had dealt with matters involving fuel poverty and homelessness, but that the work being undertaken now needed to be formalised. It was noted that the programme was in place and attention was drawn to the schemes that would be prioritised such as food poverty, fuel poverty and digital inclusion. The Corporate Director added that the report outlined the work which had been done cross-departmentally and with partners. Gratitude was expressed about the joint-working which had led to creating a programme which would make a difference in the short-term to the residents of Gwynedd. It was noted that the programme would do everything within the Council's ability to support residents whilst working on long-term schemes. The Assistant Head - Supporting Families noted that the report summarised what had been possible to provide during the crisis. It was noted that, with the recovery period following the pandemic and an increase in the demand, there was a need for investment to ensure support for everyone. Gratitude was also expressed regarding the community efforts together with the work of the third sector over the past two years. Observations arising from the discussion ¾ The report was supported, and thanks were given to the partners and the departments for working together on this programme. It was noted that poverty led to a detrimental impact on children and the need to support families that would come into the benefits system for the first time was noted. ¾ It was expressed that the situation was unusual, on the one hand taking pride in the fact that the Council was able to support residents but on the other hand the shame of living in a country with a Government which pushed individuals to having to use food banks in order to sustain their families. ¾ The food poverty projects were referred to and it was asked whether there were opportunities in terms of tackling food waste together with growing food in the community. It was proposed that this aspect of the programme could be renamed from food poverty to food resilience or Ensuring Food for All. ¾ It was highlighted that poverty was not a recent problem in Gwynedd and that it had been a problem for many years. It was stated that this funding was for a two-year period and it was also stated that poverty would not have disappeared by the end of this period. It was stressed that there was a need to address ... view the full minutes text for item 6. Awdur: Morwena Edwards a Catrin Thomas |
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ESTABLISHING THE NORTH WALES REGION'S CORPORATE JOINT COMMITTEE PDF 162 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Dyfrig Siencyn Additional documents: Decision: Agreed in principle
to transfer the functions of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board via a
delegation agreement to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, subject to
the following; a)
that the statutory framework under development by
Welsh Government allows for the delegations of the relevant operational
functions to a Corporate Joint Committee, b)
that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee agrees
to establish a Sub-committee, with membership to be agreed with the Councils,
to achieve the functions of the Economic Ambition Board. This transfer was
proposed in order to deliver a simpler governance model, and avoid duplication.
A further detailed report on the framework for action would be submitted to a
subsequent meeting of the Cabinet. Minutes: The item was presented by Cllr. Dyfrig Siencyn RESOLVED Agreed in principle to transfer the functions of the North Wales
Economic Ambition Board via a delegation agreement to the North Wales Corporate
Joint Committee, subject to; a.
the
statutory framework under development by Welsh Government allows for the
delegations of the relevant operational functions to a Corporate Joint
Committee, b.
that
the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee agrees to establish a Sub-committee,
with membership to be agreed with the Councils, to achieve the functions of the
Economic Ambition Board. This transfer was proposed in order to deliver a simpler governance
model, and avoid duplication. A further detailed report on the framework for
action would be submitted to a subsequent meeting of the Cabinet. DISCUSSION The report was submitted noting that the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee
had now been established under Welsh Government legislation. It was noted that
the six counties of North Wales were now required to establish the Corporate
Joint-Committee to discuss planning and transportation matters, and that
discussing Economic well-being was optional. It was explained that this report
requests the transfer of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board functions to
the North Wales Corporate Joint-Committee. The Head of Finance, who had been commissioned to co-ordinate the work of
establishing the Joint-Committee, guided the members through the presentation
and highlighted the main points. He
emphasised that as the legislation was now in place, there was a need to make
the appropriate arrangements to hold the first meeting of the Joint-Committee
before the end of January in order adopt the budget for 2022/23. Nevertheless,
it was noted that the initial functions of the Joint-Committee would not
commence until the end of June 2022. It was explained that there was a legal duty to deal with planning
matters, together with transportation, and that there was an optional power to
deal with economic well-being which was currently being dealt with through the
Economic Ambition Board. It was noted that the legal requirement and duties were
immediate and there was an urgency to proceed. It was emphasised that much good
work had been done regionally and that the work of establishing principles had
already been done. The need to avoid duplicating discussions, keeping costs
down whilst seeking to ensure that decisions were made as close as
appropriately possible to the people was highlighted. It was noted that the initial functions of the Joint-Committee included
preparing and amending a Strategic Development Plan together with developing a
regional transportation scheme. It was stressed that the Economic Ambition
Board had been doing good work and that transferring it to the Joint-Committee
would avoid duplication and would simplify the arrangements. It was noted that
work would need to be done on specific field before making the full decision. In terms of governance, it was noted that the Sub-committees would do the heavy lifting in terms of the Corporate Joint-Committee and that an Audit Sub-committee and a Standards Committee would be needed. It was explained that the ... view the full minutes text for item 7. Awdur: Dafydd L Edwards |
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Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Catrin Wager Additional documents: Decision: To accept and note the information
in the report. Minutes: The report was submitted by Cllr. Catrin Wager. RESOLVED To accept and
note the information in the report. DISCUSSION The report was submitted noting that it considered two departments, starting with the Highways and Municipal Department. Attention was drawn
to the Clean and Tidy Communities project highlighting that this exciting project was one of the Council's priorities. It was stressed that there was a need to work with
communities to ensure that areas looked
clean and tidy. It was added that, during the previous Cabinet meeting, and investment was made in the teams
to lead on this work. It was noted that the work of de-carbonising the fleet continued and that
two electric bin collection vehicles would arrive before
the end of the year. It was
added that a grant of
£300,000 has been received in order
to invest in large vehicle charging
points within the Council's locations. The Playing Fields scheme was highlighted, emphasising that Playing Fields
had an important role within society.
It was explained that the department would re-commence the scheme of contacting Community Council or community groups in order
to give them an opportunity to look after and
run the children's playing fields. It was noted that the department would submit a bid to the transformation
fund to build on the work undertaken
until March 2020. In terms of the performance of the Highways Department, it was noted that there had been a reduction in the recycling rates across the county. The need to remind individuals to recycle was outlined, and that the service
would continue over the Christmas period. It was noted that there had been and overspend
in the Waste field and that
this was a result of grant uncertainty, and it was explained that the department had commissioned reviews by WRAP to look in detail at the service and it was hoped to be able to report to the Cabinet shortly. It was noted that the main priority of the
Gwynedd Consultancy department
was Managing Flood Risks in order
to keep the residents of
Gwynedd safe. Attention was
drawn to the Wnion scheme in
the Meirionnydd area where
the department was collaborating
with Snowdonia National
Park and neighbouring farms to see how
it could be possible to prevent flooding through natural control methods and promoting biodiversity
in doing so. A budgetary concern was highlighted within the Consultancy department as the income figure had reduced after Welsh Government had withdrawn from the Llanbedr By-pass scheme. Despite
this, it was stated that the staff were busy seeking to recover the income through alternative schemes. Observations arising from the discussion ¾
The report was welcomed and it was asked with the Wnion scheme in the Dolgellau area whether discussions would be held with
the Local Members. It was noted that local
discussions would be arranged in January.
Awdur: Steffan Jones and Huw Williams |
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PERFORMANCE REPORT OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PDF 229 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Gareth Griffith Additional documents: Decision: To accept and note the information
in the report. Minutes: The report was submitted by Cllr Gareth
Griffith DECISION To accept and
note the information in the report. DISCUSSION The report was submitted noting that this was the department's second report under the new regime. It was explained that, in September, the department's situation was quite bleak, specifically
the Public Protection
Service. It was noted that
the situation across the department had improved and that several
bids for funding had been made in order
to improve the department's
situation. It was noted that the problem of appointing
staff to the Public Protection
Service had been highlighted
nationally and that the department was looking at how to deal with this.
Observations arising from the discussion ¾ It was noted
that, having been a part of the Performance Challenging Meeting, the report was
a fair reflection of the department's performance. It was noted that the
department had been under considerable pressure as a result of the pandemic,
but that several services had improved in recent months. ¾ It was explained
that there was a lack of detail about the savings situation within the
department, but that it had been under increasing pressure. ¾ In terms of the
Test, Trace and Protect service, it was asked whether there had been a
recruitment problem as staff were appointed via another county. It was noted
that the staff had been working extremely hard over the past year, but that the
public's attitude towards them had changed in recent months. Nevertheless, with
changes in the way the team worked, it had been easier for them to receive the
information from individuals. Awdur: Dafydd Wyn Williams |
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FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME PDF 278 KB Cyflwynwyd gan: Cllr. Dyfrig Siencyn Additional documents: Decision: To approve
the Forward Work Programme included with the meeting papers. Minutes: The report was submitted by Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn
DECISION To approve the Forward Work Programme
included with the meeting papers. Before closing the meeting, the Chair noted his thanks and appreciation of Gareth
Williams, who had been a democracy correspondent in recent years
and who was leaving his post at the end of
the week. It was noted that Welsh Government had started to release information about the settlement and it was explained that the settlement was better that had been seen over
the past decade. It was noted
that this highlighted the appreciation of Central Government of the work undertaken by Local Government during the pandemic. |