Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Ian Roberts (Flintshire Council).

To receive any declaration of Personal Interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chair for consideration.

None to note.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 of June, 2022 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the meetings held on 17 June 2022, as a true record.

Dafydd Gibbard, the CJC’s Chief Executive, and Dafydd L Edwards, CJC Project Lead Officer to present a report that deals with the appointment of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee’s acting Chief Executive, and postpone any movement to employ staff yo carry out the Planning and Transport duties for now.

To submit a request to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to release part of their Portfolio Director's time to fulfil the role of the Corporate Joint Committee's Chief Executive until 31 March 2023.  

The report was presented by Dafydd Gibbard (CJC Chief Executive) and Dafydd L Edwards (Lead Officer Joint Committee Project).

DECISION

To submit a request to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to release part of their Portfolio Director's time to fulfil the role of the Corporate Joint Committee's Chief Executive until 31 March 2023. 

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting the decision to submit a request to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to release part of their Portfolio Director's time to fulfil the role of the Corporate Joint Committee's Chief Executive.  It was stated that three options had been considered, namely creating an independent post, but it was explained that this option was not advised. It was proposed to appoint one of the local authority Chief Executives formally as the Chief Executive of the CJC, but it was explained that this was proving difficult to commit the time needed to do the work.

It was noted that the preferred option for the North Wales Chief Executives was to submit a request to the Ambition Board, as it was likely that the Ambition Board would be incorporated into the CJC shortly. It was also noted that it may be better to wait for the time being and postpone establishing any regional Planning and Transport posts in order to give the new interim Chief Executive of the CJC an opportunity to influence the way forward.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     Members gave thanks for the report and noted their support of the report.

¾     The need to specify a period of time for the interim post was noted, and it was agreed to add until the end of the financial year. 

To agree on the dates for the North Wales corporate Joint Committee for 2022/23.

To agree on the following dates for the meetings of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee for 2022/23

·         16 September (pm)

·         18 November (pm)

·         13 January (am)

·         31 March (am)

The report was submitted by Annes Siôn (Democracy Team Leader)

DECISION

To agree on the following dates for the meetings of the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee for 2022/23

·         16 September (pm)

·         18 November (pm)

·         13 January (am)

·         31 March (am)

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting that the above dates were being presented, and it was explained that there may be additional meetings if necessary.

Dafydd Gibbard, Chief Executive, Gwynedd Council to present report on adopting the Welsh Language Standards.

·         To agree for the Joint Committee to adopt temporary Language Principles until specific standards are set on the Joint Committee by the Welsh Language Commissioner

·         To commission support to conduct impact assessments and provide translation services (meetings and written) as required from Cyngor Gwynedd as the authority which currently supports the Corporate Joint Committee

·         To commission the resource for the Standard setting process with the Commissioner, together with monitoring the implementation of the Standards and produce any progress reports as required from Cyngor Gwynedd as the authority which currently supports the Corporate Joint Committee

The report was presented by Dafydd Gibbard (CJC Chief Executive).

DECISION

·         To agree for the Joint Committee to adopt temporary Language Principles until specific standards are set on the Joint Committee by the Welsh Language Commissioner

·         To commission support to conduct impact assessments and provide translation services (meetings and written) as required from Cyngor Gwynedd as the authority which currently supports the Corporate Joint Committee

·         To commission the resource for the Standard setting process with the Commissioner, together with monitoring the implementation of the Standards and produce any progress reports as required from Cyngor Gwynedd as the authority which currently supports the Corporate Joint Committee

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted noting a correction to it, as it was not a matter of adopting language standards, rather, language principles. It was explained that the report sought the support of the Joint-Committee to continue with the support that Gwynedd Council currently provided in terms of translation services and to assess the linguistic impact and to start a conversation with the Commissioner in terms of setting out the Language Standards.

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     The change to the wording was supported and the report itself was also supported.