Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect a Chair for 2022/23.

To elect Councillor Elwyn Jones as Chair for 2022/23.

RESOLVED to elect Councillor Elwyn Jones as Chair for 2022/23.

Councillor Elwyn Jones read and signed the declaration accepting the post of Chair of Gwynedd Council for 2022/23, in the presence of the Chief Executive.

To elect a Vice-chair for 2022/23.

To elect Councillor R.Medwyn Hughes as Vice-chair for 2022/23.

          Two names were proposed and seconded for the post of vice-chair, namely Councillor R. Medwyn Jones and Councillor Beth Lawton.

          RESOLVED to elect Councillor R. Medwyn Hughes as Vice-chair for 2022/23.

Councillor R. Medwyn Hughes read out a statement accepting the post of Gwynedd Council Vice-chair for 2022/23. 

As the Vice-chair was attending remotely, it was noted that arrangements would be put in place for him to sign the statement accepting the post in the presence of the Chief Executive.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology was received from Councillor Elfed Williams.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 3^rd March, 2022 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 3 March, 2022 as a true record.

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To receive any Chair’s announcements.

Condolences were extended to the family of the former chair of this Council, Glyn Owen, and Councillor Ioan Thomas paid tribute to him.

Condolences were expressed to Councillor Nia Jeffreys on the recent loss of her father and aunt.

It was also noted that the Council wished to sympathise with everyone in the county’s communities who had recently lost loved ones.

The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect and remembrance.

The members were congratulated on their success in the recent election, and new members were welcomed to their first meeting of the Council.

Councillor Louise Hughes was congratulated on receiving the Lord Lieutenant's Certificate of Merit for her enthusiasm and commitment to the Army Cadets.

To note any items which are urgent business in the opinion of the Chair so they may be considered.

None to note.

To consider any questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.19 of the Constitution.

         The Chair explained that this item had been taken off the agenda as the Cabinet Members and committee chairs were not yet in place to respond to any questions.  Members would be able to submit a question to the next meeting of the Council on 23 June.

To appoint the Leader of the Council.

To appoint Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn as Council Leader. 

RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn as Council Leader.

The Leader gave a brief address, informing the Council that he would hold interviews for Cabinet members next week, and that he greatly hoped that there would be a good mix of experience and new blood, and women.

To submit the report of the Head of Democracy Services.

1.       To adopt the list of committees and sub-committees to be established for the 2022/23 municipal year, as noted in Appendix A to the report, and to adopt the allocation of seats as noted in the appendix.

2.       To delegate the authority to the Head of Democratic Services to make appointments to the committees on the basis of political balance, and in accordance with the wishes of the political groups

3.       To adopt the chairpersonships of scrutiny committees on the basis of political balance, as follows:

Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee - Independent Group

Communities Scrutiny Committee – Plaid Cymru Group

Care Scrutiny Committee - Independent Group

4.       To adopt the higher salaries for 2022/23, and to ask the Democratic Services Committee to review the list for 2023/24.

5.       To confirm the allocation of the political groups support officers' posts and hours for the duration of this Council term unless a substantial change takes place in the political balance of the Council or that a political group has fewer than 10% of members.

6.       To adopt the seat allocation for the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority for the term of this Council unless a review is required because of changes in the political balance or a lack of commitment from an individual member.

The Head of Democracy Services submitted a report on the annual review of the Council's political balance (published as an additional paper to accompany the original report included on the agenda).

The Head noted further, following discussions between both group leaders earlier in the week, that the chairpersonships of the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee and the Care Scrutiny Committee would be given to the Independent Group, and that the chairpersonship of the Communities Scrutiny Committee would be given to the Plaid Cymru Group.

Members were given an opportunity to make observations and ask questions.

The Leader of the Independent Group noted that she was satisfied that the group had been allocated the chairpersonship of two of the scrutiny committees, as well as the chairpersonship of the Council.  She also noted, when considering the report, that there was a need to bear in mind that there had been a reduction from 75 to 69 in the number of Council members.

RESOLVED

1.       To adopt the list of committees and sub-committees to be established for the 2022/23 municipal year, as noted in Appendix A to the report, and to adopt the allocation of seats as noted in the appendix.

2.       To delegate the authority to the Head of Democratic Services to make appointments to the committees on the basis of political balance, and in accordance with the wishes of the political groups.

3.       To adopt the chairpersonships of scrutiny committees on the basis of political balance, as follows:

Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee - Independent Group

Communities Scrutiny Committee – Plaid Cymru Group

Care Scrutiny Committee - Independent Group

4.       To adopt the higher salaries for 2022/23, and to ask the Democratic Services Committee to review the list for 2023/24.

5.       To confirm the allocation of the political groups support officers' posts and hours for the duration of this Council term unless a substantial change takes place in the political balance of the Council or that a political group has fewer than 10% of members.

6.       To adopt the seat allocation for the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority for the term of this Council unless a review is required because of changes in the political balance or a lack of commitment from an individual member.

To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer.

1.         Adopt the amendments to the Constitution (Appendix 1 of the report) to allow for the implementation of Section 57 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

2.         To accept for information the amendments made to the Constitution (Appendix 1) by the Monitoring Officer to incorporate the provisions of Section 58 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

3.         To authorise the Monitoring Officer to make the further amendments to the Constitution that derive directly as a result of this change.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report, recommending that the Council adopts amendments to the Constitution to allow for the appointment of assistants to the Cabinet Members and the Leader and make arrangements to enable job sharing in the posts of Cabinet Members and Cabinet Leader, in accordance with Sections 57 and 58 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

Members were given an opportunity to make observations and ask questions.

·                On a point of accuracy, it was noted that there was a need to amend the English version of Section 5.9.7 of the appendix to the report to read "For the avoidance of doubt presence shall presence will include presence through electronic means which allow the member to hear and speak at the meeting.”  It was suggested that the Democratic Services Committee had been given the opportunity to look at editorial matters like this before the matter was brought before the Full Council.

·                In response to a question, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that there would be no additional salary deriving from the establishment of a Cabinet Member and Cabinet Leader job-sharing arrangement.

1.         To adopt the amendments to the Constitution (Appendix 1 of the report) to allow for the implementation of Section 57 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

2.         To accept for information the amendments made to the Constitution (Appendix 1) by the Monitoring Officer to incorporate the provisions of Section 58 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

3.         To authorises the Monitoring Officer to make the further amendments to the Constitution that derive directly as a result of this change.

(a)  To submit, for information - Letters from S4C, Sport Wales and Welsh Government in response to former Councillor Judith Humphreys’ notice of motion to the 3rd March, 2022 Council meeting regarding women in sport.

(b)  To submit, for information – Letter from Welsh Government in response to Councillor Beca Brown’s notice of motion to the 3^rd March, 2022 Council meeting regarding FareShare.

Submitted for information:-

(a)     Letters from S4C, Sports Wales and Welsh Government, in response to former Councillor Judith Humphreys's notice of motion to the Council meeting held on 3 March, 2022 in relation to women in sport. 

(b)     A letter from Welsh Government in response to Councillor Beca Brown's notice of motion to the Council meeting held on 3 March, 2022, regarding FareShare.