Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda - Council Offices, Caernarfon. View directions
Contact: Lowri Haf Evans 01286 679878
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES To receive
any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from
Councillors Elwyn Edwards, Berwyn Parry Jones, Linda Morgan, Gethin Glyn
Williams and Councillor Dafydd Meurig - Cabinet Member, Environment |
|
DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declaration of personal interest Additional documents: Minutes: None to note |
|
URGENT ITEMS To note any
items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for
consideration. Additional documents: Minutes: None to note |
|
The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 21.6.17 be signed as a true record. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting of this
committee, that took place on 21.6.2017, were accepted as a true record of the
meeting. |
|
ANNUAL COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP UPDATE PDF 307 KB Cabinet Member:
Councillor Mair Rowlands Consider the report submitted
by the Delivery Manager of the Gwynedd and Môn Community
Safety Partnership on the strategic development of the Partnership Additional documents:
Minutes: a)
A report was submitted by the Cabinet Member updating
the Committee on the Partnership's work.
It was explained that the Partnership was required to formally
report annually to the Committee giving an overview of the Partnership's main
strategic developments over the year, together with the commissioning work that
sets the framework for the priorities. It was
added that this ensured that the Partnership delivered its obligations in
accordance with sections of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2006, by
working with the Police, Health Service, Probation Service and the Fire and
Rescue Service. Attention
was drawn to the following main messages that stemmed from the 2016/17
activities together with the year's main achievements. Specific attention was given to the North
Wales e-newsletter for the substance misuse field that was developed by the
Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Team. The Team had received praise from
the Welsh Government and the newsletter was further developed to be an
interactive website with the Team leading regionally on this. The main milestones for
2017-2018 were highlighted and the Scrutiny Committee was asked to support the
priorities listed in the report together with the future direction of the
work. It was added that any schemes /
projects that appeared yellow was because they had not been completed, were
transferred to the plan for 2017-2018 or were included in regional
projects. b)
In
response to a question regarding how the Partnership was complying with the
plan, it was noted that the establishment of the Safe Communities Board had
ensured that a strategic assessment was developed via use of current data and
that the service responded locally. In response to a question regarding a
‘call block’, it was noted that it was possible to get equipment from the
Council's Trading Standards Unit and in response to cybercrime it was noted
that a project had not been identified within the Partnership, however, the
Police and the Trading Standards Unit were working together on this issue. In response to a question regarding the
lessons learnt in a situation of Domestic Homicide, it was noted that the
Partnership had a statutory duty to conduct a review of every domestic
homicide. It was highlighted that a
report of the lessons learnt together with the recommendations and the work
programme would be presented to the Home Office. Once the Home Office received the report it
would then be shared with other Partnerships. In response to a question regarding
seasonal crime, it was noted that the Police were aware of the situation and
planned for the busiest seasons. It was
highlighted that the Police used a special formula to find out where priority
is required. It was added that no more
resources were available and therefore it was necessary to make the best out of
every situation. RESOLVED
·
To accept the report and support the Partnership's
priorities and future work direction. |
|
PEST CONTROL SERVICES INCOME PDF 251 KB Cabinet Member:
Councillor Dafydd Meurig Consider the Head of Environment’s report Additional documents: Minutes: a)
A
report was presented by the Head of Environment giving Members an update on the
progress of the Council's Pest Control Service to generate more income. Members were reminded that as part of the Environment
Department's programme of efficiency savings that consideration had been given
to abolish the service. Following the
resolution of the Communities Scrutiny Committee in January 2016, to make the
service financially self-sufficient, a framework and plan was formulated to
generate additional income. The plan
was submitted to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee in June 2016, where the
recommendations were accepted. Further, the Cabinet resolved to increase the
Service's income target rather than abolishing it. Attention was drawn to the nature of the
service proposed and also to the detailed work made to consider the options
available to ensure a self-sufficient service.
New fees were presented for all aspects of the work in September 2016,
together with a marketing campaign with the support of the Communications Unit.
Work arrangements and the costs attached to them were reviewed. Although it was
not possible to fully report on the impact of the adaptations, it was reported
that an increase of approximately £10 had already been made over half the
2016/2017 financial year. It was added that the Department was confident of
reaching the target of £40k by the end of this financial year. It was highlighted that the Service would
keep an eye on demand that was dependent on several factors beyond their
control. It was reported that there was
a back-up plan to increase income if the work flow was insufficient. b)
During the discussion the following observations
were noted: ·
That it was necessary to improve the marketing
element and to consider a dynamic logo/brand/motto ·
That it was necessary to consider a service that
would add value for the future - one that would make a profit rather than
merely being self-sufficient. ·
It was necessary to challenge national companies
in the context of commercial contracts c)
In response to a question regarding any
observations by the public regarding their discontent about the service, it was
reported that the feedback collected thus far was very heartening and was the
best within the Property Department. In
response to a question regarding street pest control, it was reported that this
work did not attract income, however, if pests were a threat to public health
the matter would be prioritised and the Service would work jointly with the
Public Protection Service to deal with the problem. ch) The report was welcomed and the service
was praised. It was added that the
service was going in the right direction. RESOLVED
to accept the report. |
|
FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY PDF 242 KB Cabinet Member:
Councillor Dafydd Meurig Consider the Head of Environment’s Report Additional documents:
Minutes: a)
Submitted
– the report of the Head of Environment updating Members on the progress made
by the Public Protection Service in addressing the recommendations of the Food
Standards Agency’s audit that took place in February 2016. It was reported that the Service had provided a
detailed action plan to address the 34 recommendations. It was highlighted that 21 of the
recommendations had been addressed thus far with the work to meet the other 13
continuing. It was added that some of
the recommendations that had not been addressed were dependent on referring
more resources to the Service. It was
reported that the Service had seen a substantial reduction in staff as a result
of the cuts system, however, it continued to try and prioritise work. Despite this, it was noted that low risk
establishments did not receive inspections within the time-schedule recommended
by the Food Standards Agency. It was also reported that the qualifications of
the Food Standards Agency, which was an independent body inspecting an ideal
situation, was high, but the service now offered training to address this. It was noted that there were over 2000
food establishments within the rural area of Gwynedd and 1500 of these were
inspected annually. In terms of
performance, it was reported that 98% of the food establishments across the
County scored between 3 and 5 which was very good. It was added that the
service also looked to ensure that it was possible for officers to work more
effectively by being out in the field rather than to duplicate administrative/additional
work in the office. It was noted that food establishments appreciated the
Service and offered positive feedback on the work. It was added that the Service supported the
local economy by undertaking these inspections.
b)
During the discussion the following observations
were noted: ·
Concern that the Service did not have sufficient
resources to fully achieve the requirements of the Food Standards Agency. ·
There was a need to improve staff qualifications ·
It
was necessary to frequently monitor the situation ·
That priority should be given to high risk
establishments ·
Consideration should be given to charging a fee for
visits or a penalty for non-compliance a)
In
response to a comment regarding improving qualifications, it was noted that a
series of training sessions had been conducted and the service was likely to
attain the expected level. In response to a comment regarding charging a fee for visits, it was
noted that this had been discussed nationally, however, as the work was
statutory, it was not possible to generate income. It was added that there was not much scope to
charge a fee for work in this field but there was a right to provide advice and
it may be possible to consider this. RESOLVED · That the Committee was content that the majority of the recommendations had been achieved, however, there was concern regarding the lack of resources to achieve the statutory work within the time-schedule which created a risk to the Council and the ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
|
Cabinet Member:
Councillor Gareth Griffith Consider the Head of Highways and Municipal’s report Additional documents: Minutes: a)
Submitted
- the report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Municipal Services
requesting the Committee's support to establish a Task team of Committee
Members to investigate Waste Enforcement issues in order to advise the
Committee on the way forward. Attention was drawn to the background of
the proposal where a Member's proposal had been adopted by the Full Council in
March 2017, for the Cabinet Member to consider introducing effective sanctions
as a matter of priority for residents who dispose of their litter on the wrong
day or in the wrong way. It was suggested that four
members of the Panel were needed to join the relevant officers on the Task
Team. RESOLVED ·
To accept the
principle ·
To programme and
prioritise the Committee's workload in the Informal Meeting as three investigations
/ work groups now needed to be undertaken.
·
To nominate
Councillors Stephen Churchman, Keith Jones, Mike Stevens and Catrin Wager as
members for the Street Enforcement Task Team.
|