Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones.

None.

To consider a Notice of Motion (copy attached).

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts put forward the following Notice of Motion – Proposal for the removal from office of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet submitted by Councillors Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Pauline Edwards, Geraint Lloyd-Williams, Paul Keddie, Merfyn Parry, Andrea Tomlin, Hugh Evans, Bobby Feeley, Huw Williams, Karen Edwards and Chris Evans.

‘We, wish to propose the motion for the removal of Leader Councillor Jason McLellan and his Cabinet.  Recent events surrounding the leadership of the council have raised serious concerns about their effectiveness.  The disastrous and inefficient execution of the new waste recycling system, coupled with the lack of clarity and ownership highlighted in a recent briefing, has resulted in a complete loss of confidence among residents.

Moreover, the ripple effects of this new system have placed a significant strain on other departments within Denbighshire County Council, as staff resources have been diverted to address the failures of the recycling initiative.  This diversion has led to a noticeable increase in operational costs, which in turn has negatively impacted front-line services that are vital to the community.

The lack of strategy and effective leadership has caused considerable challenges for residents throughout the county, and the financial implications for the authority have been immense.  It is no longer sustainable to maintain this approach, and the priority must be the well-being of Denbighshire residents.  Therefore, as members of the independent group, we strongly call upon the Leader and his Cabinet to resign.’

Councillor Hilditch-Roberts clarified that the motion was not personal and bringing it had been one of the most difficult decisions the named members behind the motion had had to make. He advised that the intention was to raise the concerns of residents about issues that affected the whole of Denbighshire. Councillor Hilditch-Roberts reported that all councillors had received complaints and vulnerable people were struggling. Therefore, the motion had been brought to debate the performance of the council. 

Councillor Hilditch-Roberts stated that the concept of the new waste collection system had been brought in during the previous Cabinet but there was a difference between concept and implementation and the implementation of the new waste collections was not working. He voiced his concerns that Denbighshire was becoming an officer led authority and he thought this was evident from an officer-led response to questions at a recent briefing to members on the waste roll out.

Councillor Hilditch-Roberts highlighted:

·       Reduced or low levels of stakeholder confidence reported to Council in July 2024 in respect of Denbighshire’s economy, transport infrastructure and cultural heritage.

·       The current Cabinet’s approach to investment in new school buildings, a reduction in the number of Welsh language speakers in the county and in the council and the recent decision to dispose of the Caldefryn offices, which Councillor Hilditch-Roberts described as the Council’s most eco-friendly offices.

·       The number of new council houses built during this administration was a disappointing figure.

·       The Council’s budget had been passed despite £3million savings required to balance the budget not being confirmed at the time the budget was passed.

·       Problems relating to the Queens Market in Rhyl which was currently empty and without the management in place to run the building. Councillor Hilditch-Roberts stated that Cabinet should have engaged the Council’s leisure services provider, Denbighshire Leisure Limited, to manage the Queen’s Market.

·       Widespread concerns regarding the reduced library opening hours and he reported poor communication with members on proposals to close public toilets.

·       Planning permission delays which held back Denbighshire’s economic growth.

·     Increasing rises in council tax.

·     The increasing costs of the waste collection system, the reputational damage inflicted on the council from the roll-out problems, the impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To appoint the Vice-Chair of the Council for the remainder of the 2024/2025 municipal year.

The Chair, Councillor Peter Scott, requested nominations for the appointment of a new Vice-Chair of the Council for the remainder of the 2024-2025 municipal year.

Councillor Rhys Thomas proposed Councillor Arwel Roberts and the nomination was seconded by the former Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Diane King.

No further nominations were proposed.

All members present affirmed their assent to the appointment of Councillor Arwel Roberts who duly declared his acceptance of the office of Vice-Chair.

RESOLVED that Councillor Arwel Roberts be appointed as Vice-Chair of Denbighshire County Council for the remainder of the 2024-2025 municipal year.

No urgent matters were raised.

Question put forward by Councillor Terry Mendies –

“Why has an Enforcement Notice issued to a Property in Llandegla on 7^th September 2020 not been enforced despite the notice having its fourth Birthday 3 days ago.”

The Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, Councillor Alan James, responded as follows:

“This case has been a legally complex situation.  Officers served a Planning Enforcement Notice.  The Notice was not complied with and, therefore, the council decided to undertake works in default to seek compliance with the Notice.  All works were completed, and the site has reverted back to its previous condition.  Officers also successfully applied for a Court Injunction to ensure that no unauthorised changes take place again on the land.   In addition, officers also prosecuted the landowner securing a fine.

In my view, the main point here is that the site has been remediated, the adverse impact on public amenity has, therefore, been remedied in full”.

Councillor Terry Mendies indicated his satisfaction with the response to his question.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of County Council held on 9 July 2024 (copy attached).

The minutes of Full Council held on 9 July 2024 were submitted.

Matters Arising –

Page 19 – Appointment of Director of Denbighshire Leisure Limited - Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts raised his concerns about the heavy workload pressures on the Corporate Director: Environment and Economy and asked that this comment be minuted.

Page 14 – Item 4 Minutes – Councillor Julie Matthews stated she had not circulated the letter of response sent to Mr. Gonzalez to all councillors but would circulate it following the meeting.

RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the minutes of Full Council held on the 9 July 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Corporate Director: Governance and Business (copy attached) to appoint a Director to the Board of Directors of Denbighshire Leisure Limited.

The Corporate Director: Governance and Business, introduced the Appointment of Director of Denbighshire Leisure Limited report (previously circulated). He confirmed that a board director had been appointed at the last Council meeting for a Senior Leadership Team member vacancy. The Corporate Director advised that the Denbighshire Leisure Limited Board now had a further vacancy for a backbench councillor after the previous incumbent, Councillor Diane King, had been appointed to Cabinet and had taken a Cabinet member seat on the board.

Councillor Merfyn Parry nominated Councillor Paul Keddie, seconded by Councillor Karen Edwards.

Councillor Diane King nominated Councillor James May, seconded by Councillor Gareth Sandilands.

A vote took place by a show of hands and the result was as follows –

For Councillor Paul Keddie – 19

For Councillor James May - 17

RESOLVED that Council appoints Councillor Paul Keddie to the role of non-Cabinet elected member Director of Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL).

To consider a report by the Democratic Services Manager (copy attached) to report to full Council the recommendations of the Democratic Services Committee on a Council Policy for mandatory member training.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced the Council Policy on Member Training report (previously circulated) and guided members through the report.

A programme of member inductions, training and development commenced immediately after Council elections in May 2022.  The sessions initially delivered had been focussed on inducting new and returning members and included training on the Council’s Code of Conduct, Members ICT provision, familiarisation with services, equality and diversity, safeguarding and an introduction to Scrutiny. The Council continued to provide training and development opportunities for members on an ongoing basis.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that a survey had been conducted between February and March 2024, open to councillors, senior officers and lay members with the results shown in Appendix 2 of the report. He advised members of the contents of the proposed council policy on mandatory member training which was contained in appendix 1 of the report.

In response to a question from Councillor Bobby Feeley, it was confirmed that member training was mostly resourced from officer time, as officers usually provided training on their service areas to members. Where external facilitation was preferable or required, it was often delivered free of charge to the Council, particularly by the Welsh Local Government Association. Occasionally, the Council needed to buy-in external training provision using a small corporately funded member training budget, which was managed carefully and usually underspent. Members unanimously voted to adopt the policy.

RESOLVED that Council adopts the draft Council Policy on Member Training, as attached to appendix 1 to the report.

To consider a Notice of Motion by the Plaid Cymru Group (copy attached).

Councillor Delyth Jones put forward the following Notice of Motion:

‘With the demand for social services support for children and young people increasing on a scale not previously seen in our county, and the enormous pressure this places on our budget as a council.   The Plaid Cymru Group propose that we, as a council write to all the members of parliament who represent our county in Westminster on the matter.  We propose that we ask all relevant members to re-look at their position on the issue of the two-child benefit cap and support the need to abolish it.  In so doing, to show their support for Denbighshire's most vulnerable families as well as helping to reduce the demand on our social services locally.’

Councillor Jones spoke in favour of the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Julie Matthews. Councillor Matthews and Councillor Rhys Thomas supported the motion with statements, including references to the two-child benefit cap’s contribution to child and family poverty, which was a particular concern in the county because some areas of Denbighshire suffered amongst the highest levels of deprivation in Wales, the demands family poverty placed on the Council’s social services and the negative effects the benefit cap could have in terms of seeking or moving to higher paid employment. Members unanimously voted in favour of the motion.

RESOLVED that Council approves the motion and a letter be issued to the members of the UK Parliament who represent Denbighshire constituencies urging their support for the abolition of the two-child benefit cap.

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

The Corporate Director: Governance and Business, introduced and summarised the latest position of the Council and Council Workshop Forward Work Programmes.

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

THE MEETING CONCLUDED AT 1.35 P.M.