Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Joan Lowe.

To sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 September 2019

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 September 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 – Capital Programme 2019/20 – 2023/24

Councillors Dana Davies, D J Griffiths and Phil Wynn – Personal and Prejudicial – School Governor.  The Councillors remained in the meeting and claimed an exemption under Paragraph 12(2) of the Members’ Code of Conduct taking part in the discussion and in the case of the Executive Board Members, the voting thereon.

Councillors David A Bithell and Paul Pemberton – Personal - Members of Rhos Community Council.  The Councillors remained in the Meeting taking part in the discussion, and in the case of the Executive Board Member, the voting thereon.

Agenda Item 9 – Appointment of Member to Outside Bodies

Councillor David Kelly – Personal and Prejudicial – Appointed to the Wrexham (Parochial) Education Foundation.  The Councillor remained in the meeting and claimed an exemption under Paragraph 12(2) of the Members’ Code of Conduct taking part in the discussion thereon.

The Leader vacated the Chair, and the Vice-Chair, Councillor David A Bithell, presided over the next items on the Agenda to enable the Leader to present Agenda items 5 and 6 in his capacity as Lead Member for Organisation – Finance, Performance, Health and Safety and Governance.

(Councillor David A Bithell in the Chair)

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

RESOLVED - That the ‘Focused on our Performance 2018/19’ report as outlined in Appendix 3 of report CE/15/19 be approved for publication.

Reason for decision

(i)         To enable the Council to comply with its statutory reporting requirements and to provide a public assessment of progress made against the Council Plan.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (CE/15/19) to provide Members with an assessment of performance against the Council Plan 2018/19.  It was noted that the information would be published as ‘Focused on Our Performance 2018-19’.

A debate ensued, and the following points were raised during the discussions:

·         Clarification sought regarding data for tackling poverty.  The Lead Member advised that Wrexham were currently performing well and objectives were being met.  The all Wales indicators were provided to give a wider comparison, but some of the information was historic and didn’t always represent a true indicator of what was happening locally.

·         Confirmation that there had been an error in the data relating to the number of people known not to be in employment, education and training (NEET), which had resulted in an artificial rise in the figures.

·         Clarification sought in relation to a pilot project for demand responsive transport.

RESOLVED - That the ‘Focused on our Performance 2018/19’ report as outlined in Appendix 3 of report CE/15/19 be approved for publication.

Reason for decision

(i)         To enable the Council to comply with its statutory reporting requirements and to provide a public assessment of progress made against the Council Plan.

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

RESOLVED -

(i)         That the allocation of Welsh Government General Capital Funding in 2023/24, recommended by the Corporate Land and Buildings Strategy Group as shown in paragraph 4.18 of report COFI/69/19, be approved.

(ii)        That the allocation of the Heritage and Community Well Being Annual Capital Provision shown in paragraph 4.20 be approved.

(iii)       That the rolling programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24 as detailed in appendices 2 and 3 be approved.

(iv)      That the capital programme be next reviewed and reported to the Executive Board in February 2020.

Reasons for decisions

(i)         This report follows an earlier monitoring report in July in compliance with Financial Regulation 3.13 that requires that the Chief Officer Finance & ICT monitors and reports to Members on the Capital Programme.

(ii)        Local Authorities are required under the Local Government Act 2003 to comply with the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance.

(Members declarations of interest in relation to this application are set out in Minute 45 above)

The Lead Member for Organisation – Finance, Performance, Health and Safety and Governance submitted a report (COFI/69/19) asking Members to review the 2019/20 – 2023/24 Capital Programme.

RESOLVED -

(i)         That the allocation of Welsh Government General Capital Funding in 2023/24, recommended by the Corporate Land and Buildings Strategy Group as shown in paragraph 4.18 of report COFI/69/19, be approved.

(ii)        That the allocation of the Heritage and Community Well Being Annual Capital Provision shown in paragraph 4.20 be approved.

(iii)       That the rolling programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24 as detailed in appendices 2 and 3 be approved.

(iv)      That the capital programme be next reviewed and reported to the Executive Board in February 2020.

Reasons for decisions

(i)         This report follows an earlier monitoring report in July in compliance with Financial Regulation 3.13 that requires that the Chief Officer Finance & ICT monitors and reports to Members on the Capital Programme.

(ii)        Local Authorities are required under the Local Government Act 2003 to comply with the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance.

(Councillor Mark Pritchard in the Chair)

To consider the report of the Lead Member for Organisation – Planning and Corporate Services

RESOLVED -

(i)         That the report be noted along with the Annual Letter.

(ii)        That the Customers, Performance, Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee continue to monitor the performance of complaints and customer services on a six monthly basis.

Reasons for decisions

(i)         To enable the Executive Board to review the Council’s performance in responding to customer complaints.

The Lead Member for Organisation – Planning and Corporate Services submitted a report (COGC/46/19) to inform Members of the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales (“the Ombudsman”) Annual letter 2018/19 as required by the Ombudsman.

RESOLVED -

(i)         That the report be noted along with the Annual Letter.

(ii)        That the Customers, Performance, Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee continue to monitor the performance of complaints and customer services on a six monthly basis.

Reasons for decisions

(i)         To enable the Executive Board to review the Council’s performance in responding to customer complaints.

To consider the report of the Lead Member for Place – Environment and Transport

RESOLVED - That the discretionary charging regime, be approved for implementation from 1 November 2019.

Reason for decision

(i)         To enable the sustainable delivery of an added value discretionary service.

The Lead Member for Place – Environment and Transport submitted a report (COET/13/19) to seek approval for the principle of charging for pre-application advice and agreement to the proposed charges for the provision of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

RESOLVED - That the discretionary charging regime, be approved for implementation from 1 November 2019.

Reason for decision

(i)         To enable the sustainable delivery of an added value discretionary service.

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

RESOLVED -

(i)         That Councillor David Kelly and Helen Hughes be appointed to represent the Council on the Wrexham (Parochial) Education Foundation for the period up to the date of the next local government elections.

(ii)        That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10) of the Council’s Constitution.

Reason for decision

To ensure that the Council is appropriately represented on the outside bodies identified in the report and to enable the Member to attend meetings with immediate effect.

(Members declarations of interest in relation to this application are set out in Minute 45 above)

The Lead Member for People – Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety submitted a report (COGC/51/19) asking Members to consider the appointment of Members to represent the Council on the Wrexham (Parochial) Education Foundation.

RESOLVED -

(i)         That Councillor David Kelly and Helen Hughes be appointed to represent the Council on the Wrexham (Parochial) Education Foundation for the period up to the date of the next local government elections.

(ii)        That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10) of the Council’s Constitution.

Reason for decision

To ensure that the Council is appropriately represented on the outside bodies identified in the report and to enable the Member to attend meetings with immediate effect.