Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor D J Griffiths.

To sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Meetings held on:

(i)            9 July 2019

(ii)           23 July 2019

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meetings held on 9 July 2019 and 23 July 2019 be signed as a correct record.

Members are reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare the existence and nature of any personal interest in respect of any of the business to be transacted at this meeting

Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Member Code of Conduct, to declare any interests in relation to any of the business to be transacted at this meeting.  The following declarations were made:

Agenda Item 6 – Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019

Councillors William Baldwin, Hugh Jones and Mark Pritchard – Personal and Prejudicial – Family members are landlords.  The Councillors withdrew from the meeting taking no part in the discussion or voting thereon.

Councillor Terry Evans – Personal and Prejudicial – Local landlord.  The Councillor withdrew from the meeting taking no part in the discussion or voting thereon.

The Leader vacated the Chair, and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Hugh Jones, presided over the next item on the Agenda to enable the Leader to present Agenda item 5 in his capacity as Lead Member for Organisation – Finance, Performance, Health and Safety and Governance.

(Councillor Hugh Jones in the Chair)

To consider the report of the Lead Member for Organisation – Finance, Performance, Health and Safety and Governance

RESOLVED - That the updated Health and Safety Policy be approved.

Reason for decision

To meet the requirements of health and safety legislation.

The Lead Member for Organisation - Finance, Performance, Health and Safety and Governance submitted a report (COFI/47/19) asking Members to consider an updated Health and Safety Policy.

During consideration of the report, a discussion ensued and the following points were raised:

·         Importance of ensuring that Scrutiny continue to receive regular reports relating to Health and Safety.

·         Confirmation that minor changes to the Health and Safety Policy would be communicated via the Friday Bulletin.

·         Acknowledgement that progress was being made on implementing an electronic system for reporting any concerns in relation to Health and Safety. 

·         Confirmation that staff workshops would be held during the Autumn to highlight the importance of health and safety.

RESOLVED - That the updated Health and Safety Policy be approved.

Reason for decision

To meet the requirements of health and safety legislation.

The Chair and Vice-Chair both declared a personal and prejudicial interest and withdrew from the Meeting.  Councillor David A Bithell presided over the next items on the Agenda.

(Councillor David A Bithell in the Chair)

To consider the report of the Lead Member for Place – Housing and Lead Member for People – Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety

RESOLVED -

(i)         That the Chief Officer Planning & Regulatory be given delegated authority for enforcing the provisions of the Renting of Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019 and that the Council’s constitution be updated accordingly.

(ii)        That Cardiff City Council, as the Single Licensing Authority for Wales (Rent Smart Wales), be authorised to exercise any function of an enforcement authority, in relation to Wrexham County Borough Council’s area, for the purposes of the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019, including (but without limitation) taking enforcement activity and bringing criminal proceedings pursuant to section 19 of that Act.

Reasons for decisions

(i)         To enable the new legislation to be implemented quickly and efficiently. The Public Protection service, located within the Planning & Regulatory department, has responsibility for the enforcement of Housing and Trading Standards legislation

(ii)        To ensure that enforcement powers are also delegated to Rent Smart Wales, with whom the department work in partnership, for the enforcement of this legislation.

The Lead Member for Place – Environment and Transport submitted a report (COPR/38/19) on behalf of the Lead Member for People – Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, to seek approval for

delegated authority to be issued to the Chief Officer Planning & Regulatory and to approve the single licensing authority in Wales (Rent Smart Wales) in respect of this new legislation.

RESOLVED -

(i)         That the Chief Officer Planning & Regulatory be given delegated authority for enforcing the provisions of the Renting of Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019 and that the Council’s constitution be updated accordingly.

(ii)        That Cardiff City Council, as the Single Licensing Authority for Wales (Rent Smart Wales), be authorised to exercise any function of an enforcement authority, in relation to Wrexham County Borough Council’s area, for the purposes of the Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019, including (but without limitation) taking enforcement activity and bringing criminal proceedings pursuant to section 19 of that Act.

Reasons for decisions

(i)         To enable the new legislation to be implemented quickly and efficiently. The Public Protection service, located within the Planning & Regulatory department, has responsibility for the enforcement of Housing and Trading Standards legislation

(ii)        To ensure that enforcement powers are also delegated to Rent Smart Wales, with whom the department work in partnership, for the enforcement of this legislation.