Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Dafydd Gibbard (Chief Executive), Councillor Craig ab Iago and Aled Davies (Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department).

Cabinet Members and Officers were welcomed to the meeting.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

YSGOL FELINWNDA

Councillor Beca Brown explained that the report on Ysgol Felinwnda which was included as Item 8 on the Agenda would not be submitted. She noted that there were further matters to consider and that there was a feeling in the community of a lack of discussion and engagement between the Council and the local communities. It was therefore resolved to defer the item to allow further engagement before the item was returned to the Cabinet in future. It was confirmed that there would be no discussion on the item today.

There were no matters arising from overview and scrutiny.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2023 were accepted as a true record.

Appendix B and C are separate for Cabinet Members only.

Both appendices are exempt under Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The contents of the item includes commercially sensitive information regarding financial aspects of the project. This is relevant to a number of independent sector residential and nursing homes, particularly Appendix B and C.

To approve the Strategic Business Case in Annex A.

To authorise the Head of Adults, Health and Wellbeing to submit the Strategic Outline Business Case to Welsh Government to seek £14.6million of Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF) funding to create a public sector partnership development at the Penyberth, Penrhos site, in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and move forward to develop an Outline Business Case.

The report was submitted by Cllr Dilwyn Morgan.      

DECISION

To approve the Strategic Business Case in Appendix A.

To authorise the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department to submit the Strategic Outline Business Case to the Welsh Government to seek £14.6million of funding from the Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF) to create a public sector partnership development at the Penyberth site, Penrhos, in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and move forward to develop an Outline Business Case.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented, adding that appendices B and C were exempt appendices for the attention of the Cabinet Members only. The member provided the background and context to the report, noting that Cyngor Gwynedd was already a residential care provider for the county's residents, and currently provided 50% of the residential provision for older people, with the independent sector providing the rest. It was added that this was an important part of the Council's responsibility towards the most vulnerable residents of the County.

It was added that the county's entire nursing homes provision was provided by the independent sector at present. It was noted that the Government's views on the need to externalise provisions nationally had shifted recently, as was stated in the White Paper on Rebalancing Care and Support. The paper set out the benefits of having a more balanced market.

The member explained that there was a shortage of residential beds in the Llŷn and Eifionydd Area since the closure of Penrhos Home at the beginning of December 2020, and added that there was no nursing beds provision in the Llŷn area. He noted that this Partnership would aim to offer a care home with nursing, to be built on the Penyberth site, Penrhos in order to provide 32 residential dementia beds, together with 25 nursing beds of which 15 would be prioritised for nursing dementia care.

The member talked about the enormous challenges with recruiting and retaining staff in the care field. He noted that this project would examine different practices to secure high-quality staff in the Llŷn area.

The Senior Projects Practitioner noted that the report was an executive summary of the business case which included the need for the change, and that the Plan adhered to several Strategies by the Government. It was noted that the vision was contained in the report for the site, as well as the Council's investment objectives.

The Corporate Director of Social Services added that the entire Penrhos scheme was special and exciting. He noted that the nursing provision addressed the need locally, particularly the dementia provision as there was a shortage of such a provision both in the area and county-wide. He added that it was a pioneering scheme – no other County Council in Wales ran a nursing home, and it was an initiative being carried out jointly with the Health Board.

 They took the opportunity to give thanks for the joint-working with Betsi Cadwaladr Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To approve the one-off bids of £2,119,300 for 2023/24, to be financed from the Transformation Fund.

To approve a capital bid to the value of £447,000 to be financed from capital funds.

The report was submitted by the Corporate Director, Geraint Owen.

DECISION

To approve the one-off bids of £2,119,300 for 2023/24, to be financed from the Transformation Fund.

To approve a capital bid to the value of £447,000 to be financed from capital funds.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented, explaining that the one-off bids were available to deliver one-off or fixed-term work, and they were in addition to the permanent revenue and capital bids. It was proposed that the bids stated in the report be funded from the transformation fund, except for the bid relating to the Crematorium. It was noted that the upgrading and refurbishing of the cremator at Bangor Crematorium would be funded from a capital budget.

The members’ attention was drawn to the appendices which listed and detailed the bids, and the decision sought was reiterated.

No further observations were received.

To approve the decision to hold a public consultation on the draft Language Strategy.

To delegate responsibility to the Head of Corporate Support Department, in consultation with the Corporate Support Cabinet Member, to prepare and undertake the consultation process.

The report was submitted by Cllr Menna Jones

DECISION

To approve the decision to hold a public consultation on the draft Language Strategy.

To delegate responsibility to the Head of Corporate Support Department, in consultation with the Corporate Support Cabinet Member, to prepare and undertake the consultation process.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented, noting that this draft Strategy was a follow-on to the current strategy which reflected the Council's commitment to promote the language across the county and met the statutory requirements within the Welsh Language Standards. It was noted that the vision was to create an inclusive Strategy for the next 10 years which would increase use of the Welsh language in various contexts in Gwynedd.

It was reported that the Council was implementing schemes in several fields that affected the community and the Welsh language or which sought to preserve and promote the Welsh language. These schemes were listed which included the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, the Gwynedd Housing Action Plan, the Local Development Plan, the Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan, and the Our Area Regeneration Plans. It was added that the main emphasis of the consultation document was on identifying new opportunists that were available.

Reference was made to the contents of the Strategy which referred to the areas of action noted in the report, such as increasing the number of speakers and increasing use of the Welsh language in various organisations.

It was added that the Strategy would be reviewed regularly, and details were provided on the next steps of entering a period of public consultation at the beginning of April, subject to the Cabinet's approval. It was added that it was imperative that we received the opinions of Gwynedd residents on the new opportunities available to promote the Welsh language. It was noted that an analysis of the consultation results would be presented to the Language Committee in June, in order to receive its comments and input on the final strategy which would be returned to the Cabinet in the autumn.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾   The Language team were thanked for their work and wished well with the consultation.

¾   It was added that the Welsh language and promotion of the language was one of the Council's main priorities.

¾   Members expressed pride that Gwynedd was once again leading with the Welsh language, and that the ideas presented here were progressive.

¾   It was believed that the draft Strategy set a clear vision for increasing the number of speakers and use of the Language, which was something to be proud of.

¾   The Officers present were thanked for their work and expertise in the field.

·        To agree that Cyngor Gwynedd leads on a grant application and programme to develop innovative plans in the circular economy field of work.

·        To authorise the Head of Economy and Community Department and the Head of Finance Department to accept a Circular Economy grant offer from Welsh Government and establish appropriate arrangements to deliver the programme in Gwynedd.

·        To agree that partnership agreements can be put in place with all partners to outline operational details for the individual projects.

The report was submitted by Cllr Nia Jeffreys

DECISION

·       To agree that Cyngor Gwynedd leads on a grant application and programme to develop innovative plans in the circular economy field of work.

·       To authorise the Head of Economy and Community Department and the Head of Finance Department to accept a Circular Economy grant offer from the Welsh Government and to establish appropriate arrangements for delivering the programme in Gwynedd.

·       To agree that partnership agreements be put in place for all partners, outlining procedures for the individual projects.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented, stating that the Cabinet's approval was required to receive a Welsh Government grant from their Circular Economy fund, which was a commitment of almost £6 million. It was noted that this was the result of over three years of work by the Economy and Community Department to develop the Circular Economy in Gwynedd and prepare an application to be submitted to the Welsh Government to fund a package of schemes. The Officers of the Department were thanked for their work.

Details were provided of some of the schemes which included developing Llyfrgell y Pethau in partnership with the Council's Libraries Service and developing a Green Shed for Antur Waunfawr to increase recycling and recreating. It was noted that Antur Waunfawr now collected 11 tonnes of clothing every week across the County which meant less waste and more support for residents with costs of living. This would also give rise to employment opportunities and would expand the re-use and re-purposing of materials such as furniture. 

It was noted that this Plan was innovative and contributed to the priorities in the Council Plan such as supporting the Supporting People programme, the Climate and Nature Emergency Plan as well as collaboration with the Economy and Community Department and the Environment Department.

The ARFOR Regional Manager expressed that they had worked very closely with the Welsh Government over the past few years. It was added that the Plan built on smaller work and schemes that had been implemented in the past and was an opportunity to develop them on a larger scale. It was noted that the Welsh Government was looking to create 80 re-use and re-purposing hubs in Wales, and the Council could now contribute to 27 of those in Gwynedd. It was noted that it was an opportunity to put Gwynedd at the forefront of this field, and an opportunity to work with third-sector partners enabling them to develop further.

It was noted that there were many new projects covering the areas and communities of the County. It was believed that this was an opportunity to make a difference and to work closely with the Welsh Government on these priorities over the next two years.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾   An investment of this size was welcomed, and members expressed their full support to the Plan.

¾   The importance of the Circular Economy principles was emphasised, such as repairing, borrowing and re-using as a normal part of life.

¾  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To support Cyngor Gwynedd's response to the Visit Wales consultation on establishing a statutory licensing scheme in Wales for holiday accommodation.

The report was submitted by Cllr Nia Jeffreys

DECISION

·       To agree that Cyngor Gwynedd leads on a grant application and programme to develop innovative plans in the circular economy field of work.

·       To authorise the Head of Economy and Community Department and the Head of Finance Department to accept a Circular Economy grant offer from the Welsh Government and to establish appropriate arrangements for delivering the programme in Gwynedd.

·       To agree that partnership agreements be put in place for all partners, outlining procedures for the individual projects.

DISCUSSION

The report was presented, stating that the Cabinet's approval was required to receive a Welsh Government grant from their Circular Economy fund, which was a commitment of almost £6 million. It was noted that this was the result of over three years of work by the Economy and Community Department to develop the Circular Economy in Gwynedd and prepare an application to be submitted to the Welsh Government to fund a package of schemes. The Officers of the Department were thanked for their work.

Details were provided of some of the schemes which included developing Llyfrgell y Pethau in partnership with the Council's Libraries Service and developing a Green Shed for Antur Waunfawr to increase recycling and recreating. It was noted that Antur Waunfawr now collected 11 tonnes of clothing every week across the County which meant less waste and more support for residents with costs of living. This would also give rise to employment opportunities and would expand the re-use and re-purposing of materials such as furniture. 

It was noted that this Plan was innovative and contributed to the priorities in the Council Plan such as supporting the Supporting People programme, the Climate and Nature Emergency Plan as well as collaboration with the Economy and Community Department and the Environment Department.

The ARFOR Regional Manager expressed that they had worked very closely with the Welsh Government over the past few years. It was added that the Plan built on smaller work and schemes that had been implemented in the past and was an opportunity to develop them on a larger scale. It was noted that the Welsh Government was looking to create 80 re-use and re-purposing hubs in Wales, and the Council could now contribute to 27 of those in Gwynedd. It was noted that it was an opportunity to put Gwynedd at the forefront of this field, and an opportunity to work with third-sector partners enabling them to develop further.

It was noted that there were many new projects covering the areas and communities of the County. It was believed that this was an opportunity to make a difference and to work closely with the Welsh Government on these priorities over the next two years.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾   An investment of this size was welcomed, and members expressed their full support to the Plan.

¾   The importance of the Circular Economy principles was emphasised, such as repairing, borrowing and re-using as a normal part of life.

¾  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.