Agenda and draft minutes

At this juncture, Councillor Diane King paid tribute to Councillor Win Mullen-James who sadly had recently passed away.

None.

To appoint the Chair of the Council for the 2024-25 municipal year.

Councillor Hugh Irving nominated Councillor Peter Scott to be Chair of the Council for the 2024-25 municipal year, seconded by Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts.

No further nominations were proposed, and the meeting indicated its affirmation to the appointment.

Councillor Scott declared his acceptance of the office of Chair and announced that his consorts would be his daughter and grand-daughter.  His Chaplin would be Nigel Williams and his charity would be St. Kentigerns.

RESOLVED that Councillor Peter Scott be appointed Chair of Denbighshire County Council for the 2024-25 municipal year.

At this juncture, tributes were made by the Chair and all Group Leaders to the late Councillor Win Mullen-James who had recently passed away. 

To appoint the Vice-Chair of the Council for the 2024-25 municipal year.

Councillor Gill German nominated Councillor Diane King to be Vice Chair of the Council for the 2024-25 municipal year, seconded by Councillor Joan Butterfield.

No further nominations were proposed, and the meeting indicated its affirmation to the appointment.

Councillor King declared her acceptance of the office of Vice Chair and announced that her consort would be her son Mark

RESOLVED that Councillor Diane King be appointed Vice Chair of Denbighshire County Council for the 2024-25 municipal year.

At this juncture, there was a one minute of silent reflection to pay respect to the late Councillor Win Mullen-James.

No urgent matters.

Question put forward to Annual Council by Mr Ataur-Raziq Gonzalez -

In Denbighshire County Council’s Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027, revised in 2024, there is a section on Equality, Diversity and Human Rights which states;

“We are committed to celebrating diversity and promoting equality in everything we do”

And that you will “engage, where appropriate, with groups that represent people with protected characteristics”.

And, in the Wellbeing assessment section you state your Well-being Impact Assessments are designed to assess the likely impact of proposals on the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Denbighshire, Wales and the world.

Can you therefore tell me what Denbighshire County Council are actively doing to engage with minority groups and ensure their wellbeing needs are addressed within Denbighshire ensuring their views are represented and they are able to feel respected and valued by Denbighshire County Council? 

The Leader, Councillor Jason McLellan, thanked Mr Gonzales for his question.  He explained that the protocol in this matter was that the question would be answered by the Lead Member on Cabinet whose portfolio included the topic of the question and in this instance, the Lead Member was Councillor Julie Matthews who had prepared a detailed response.

Councillor Julie Matthews responded as follows –

We are committed to celebrating diversity and promoting equality in everything we do to improve the quality of life for everyone living, working and visiting Denbighshire.  Our vision for the future of the Council was developed in partnership with local communities and partners.  Our strategic aim is to be a high performing Council closer to the community. 

As you state, Denbighshire County Council’s Corporate Plan makes a strong commitment to equality and diversity.  The Plan contains our equality and wellbeing objectives and these are reported throughout our quarterly reports.  The next report will be an annual report to Council in July.   The Plan is available on our website with our equality objectives clearly identified.  Engaging and listening to the voices of people with protected characteristics, people experiencing socio economic disadvantage and seldom heard groups is always important to us and something we are always trying to improve.  We also consider the impact on the aforementioned groups and consider opportunities to maximise equality through our wellbeing impact assessments or our integrated impact assessments. 

Listed bodies like the council, must prepare and publish equality objectives every four years and must involve people who represent the interests of people who share one or more of the protected characteristics and have an interest in the way that the authority carries out its functions. 

Our online engagement portal is used constantly to engage and consult on our proposals or what we call, our county conversations and we will soon be engaging to find out what people think of our updated engagement policy and public participation strategy.   We canvas the views of everyone in the community and we identify specific stakeholders that may be affected by a proposal who are wellbeing impact assessments for example for any more detailed engagements.

This portal policy and public participation strategy guides the engagement work which is progressed across the council be it with traditionally hard to reach groups by education and children’s services and adult social care and homelessness, within our housing and community service in terms of gypsy roma engagement.  Within our planning public protection and countryside services with our targeted engagement around our local development plan and within our finance and audit service in terms of revenues and benefits.  There is always a great deal of engagement activity going on. 

As an example in terms of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of County Council held on 27 February 2024 (copy attached).

The minutes of Full Council held on 14 May, 2024 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of Full council held on 14 May 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report by the Pay and Reward specialist (copy attached), to seek approval of the attached Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.

The Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, introduced the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 (previously circulated) to seek approval of Full Council of the Pay Policy Statement which had been drafted in accordance with the requirements of 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011.  The Policy incorporated all existing pay arrangements for the workforce groups within the Council, including chief Officers and the lowest paid employees.

The Pay Policy had been updated with the current situation with regards to the national pay awards which had been agreed for 2023/24, but no agreement had been reached for 2024/25.

The Pay Policy had been updated with the current position with regards to the national position of the pay awards for Chief Officers and Chief Executive, which were yet to be agreed 2024/25.

During discussions, the following questions were raised –

·         Over the past year, recruitment and retention had been a serious issue.  Officers responded that during the drawing up of the Pay Policy, they had compared the salaries with other organisations.  There were other policies in use and together with the Pay Policy assist with the recruitment and retention of staff.  Pay did not always compare with the external sector but that was beyond the control of officers as abide by national pay awards.   Officers confirmed they did not have concerns regarding recruitment and retention of staff. 

·         A number of staff leaving the local authority had been due to the voluntary exit scheme.  It was confirmed that when members of a team left, the remaining members of staff would not be expected to take on the additional work.  The safety and wellbeing of the remaining staff was paramount.

·         It was confirmed that the Pay Policy had been included within the budget process.

The Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 was proposed and seconded.   A vote took place by a show of hands and it was unanimously agreed to approve the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25.

RESOLVED that –

(i)            Full Council accept the recommendation from the Senior Leadership Remuneration Panel and approve the Pay Policy for 2024/25

(ii)          Council confirms it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment as part of its consideration.

To consider a report by the Democratic Services Manager (copy attached) on political balance and committee-related issues.

The Democratic Services Manager, Steve Price, introduced the Annual Review of Political Balance and Appointment of Scrutiny Chairs (previously circulated).

As the new municipal year commenced in May it was appropriate for Council to consider changes in political balance in accordance with statutory requirements.

Council was asked to appoint one county councillor to the vacant seat on Standards Committee following the standing down of Councillor Hugh Irving earlier in the year.   The Committee would meet at least four times per year and the appointment was not made under political balance rules.

Councillor Martyn Hogg nominated Councillor Jon Harland, seconded by Councillor Gwyneth Ellis.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts nominated Councillor Andrea Tomlin, seconded by Councillor Karen Edwards.

A roll call vote too place with the result being as follows -

Councillor Jon Harland – 26

Councillor Andrea Tomlin – 16

Therefore, Councillor Jon Harland was appointed on to the Standards Committee.

RESOLVED that –

(i)            Council notes the political balance arrangements for the allocation of committee seats, and

(ii)          Council appoint Councillor Jon Harland to sit on the Standards Committee as a Denbighshire County Councillor.

To consider a report by the Corporate Director: Governance and Business (copy attached) to seek approval of amended terms of reference.

The Corporate Director: Governance and Business, Gary Williams, introduced the Governance and Audit Committee Terms of Reference (previously circulated).

The terms of reference of the committee had been reviewed at the request of the committee and in order that they were updated in accordance with CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) guidance.

During the review of the terms of reference, regard had been given to suggested terms of reference published by CIPFA, the terms of reference of neighbouring local authorities and statutory guidance issued by Welsh Government.

The proposed terms of reference had been drafted in consultation with the s151 officer, Chief Internal Auditor and the Chair and Vice Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee.  Comments and observations had also been taken into account made by the Committee at the meeting held on 24 April 2024.

The Governance and Audit Committee Terms of Reference  report was proposed and seconded.  A vote took place by show of hands and it was unanimously agreed to approve the Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED that Council approves the adoption of the Governance and Audit Committee draft Terms of Reference attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

To consider the Council’s forward work programme (copy attached).

The Corporate Director: Governance and Business, Gary Williams, introduced the Council’s Forward Work Programme and the Council Workshop Forward Work Programme.

RESOLVED that the Council’s Forward Work Programme and the Council Workshop Forward Work Programme be noted.

The meeting concluded at 11.30 a.m.