Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at this meeting.

Councillors Raymond Bartley, Brian Blakeley, Jeanette Chamberlain Jones, Janet Ann Davies and  Geraint Lloyd-Williams all declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 – NHS Reviews.

Councillor Win Mullen-James declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item 10 – Standards Committee – Independent Members Terms of Office.

Notice of items which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There were no urgent matters.

To note the civic engagements undertaken by the Chairman of the Council (copy enclosed).

The Chair referred to the civic engagements both she and the Vice-Chair had undertaken for the Council for the period 10/07/2012 – 10/09/2012 (diary previously circulated).

The Pimms and Pictures evening held on 27/07/2012 had raised £1500 for St. Kentigerns Hospice.

To receive minutes of the meeting of County Council held on 10^th July 2012 (copy enclosed).

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 10^th July 2012 were submitted.

Accuracy:-

Item No. 6, Page 9 – Councillor Alice Jones requested an amendment be made to the section “Update of Denbighshire Local Development Plan”.  Councillor Jones had stated that Councillor Joan Butterfield had referred to a letter circulated to Councillors by Bodelwyddan Town Council in which Councillor Butterfield felt it suggested that “”some wrong doing” was being done by Denbighshire County Council.  Councillor Butterfield did not refer to “incorrect processes” as was recorded in the minutes.  Councillor Jones clarified that in response to Councillor Butterfield, she had stated she had no input into the letter and had not therefore stated that Council had done anything wrong.  This was in the context of commenting on the letter.  Councillor Jones stated she was not putting forward her personal views or opinion and the interpretation of “wrong doing” as “incorrect processes” in the minutes did not accord with the statement she made.   Councillor Jones also stated if Councillor Butterfield had mentioned “incorrect processes” it would have prompted her to give an alternative response.

Councillor Jones requested that due to her statement being misinterpreted, the Council accept her version and explanation and correct the inaccuracy by amending the minutes accordingly.

RESOLVED that subject to the above, the minutes of Council meeting held on 10^th July 2012 were confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Lead Member for Social Care and Children’s Services (copy enclosed) for Council to consider proposals for the reconfiguration of the delivery of NHS services in North Wales and to enable Council to formally respond to BCUHB consultation process.

The Corporate Director: Demographics, Wellbeing and Planning (CD:DWP) presented a report (previously circulated) that sought Council’s input to the draft response to Betsi Cadwaladr UHB Service Reviews consultation process.

CD:DWP gave a brief introduction to the representatives from Betsi Cadwaldr UHB  (BCUHB) and welcomed them to the meeting.  The consultation period was to run for 10 weeks from 20^th August, 2012 until 28^th October, 2012. 

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Social Care and Children’s Services, referred to the fact that changes to the Health Service were inevitable but the reasoning behind some measures were difficult to understand.  Councillor Feeley informed the BCUHB representatives of the Partnership Scrutiny Committee Working Group which had been set up and together with officers had been working through the measures. The working group were to meet at the end of September to finalise the response which would be brought to the next Council meeting on 9 October, 2012.

Geoff Lang, BCUHB, presented “Healthcare in North Wales is changing”.  Copies of the presentation were made available to all attending the meeting together with the consultation document for information.

Following the presentation, pre-planned questions were asked of the BCUHB representatives.  All members had received a copy of the question sheet and the CD:DWP had also previously sent a copy of the question sheet to the representatives from BCUHB.

Question 1 – submitted by Councillor Brian Blakeley.  Issues with Ambulance queues outside Glan Clwyd, beds blocked, operations cancelled, staff being sent home and waiting time targets missed.  How will the changes proposed, solve these problems?

Geoff Lang responded that work was taking place around A & E regarding recruitment  of staff.  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd was to have a new A & E Unit.  BCUHB were working with the ambulance service to ease the problem of ambulance queues.  Home enhanced care would contribute to easing the pressure of beds as the need to admit some patients would be avoided and therefore easing the pressure on ambulances.

Work was taking place with the Welsh Ambulance Trust to avoid use of ambulances for non emergency cases.  Currently there are no options other than to take people to the emergency unit.  Following the review of services, in the future, non emergency cases would be taken to a minor injuries unit.

Question 2 – submitted by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill. How does BCUHB propose to manage and deliver the huge investment required to bring these plans into fruition considering the large budget deficit it already has (circa £65m)?.

Geoff Lang responded that generally there was a pressure upon budgets.   BCUHB had been assessing areas to save resources and resources deployed in front line services, and procurement etc.  This plan was to change the way services were delivered.  Important to recognise if BCUHB do not make these changes the financial situation would get worse and not better.  This was not the answer to all health care financial issues.

Question 3 – submitted by Councillor Win Mullen-James.  How confident is BCU of securing the required capital and revenue investment to open the new community based facility to serve Rhyl and Prestatyn and the new facility in Llangollen?  Have assurances been received that the business cases are sound?  How likely are they to be completed and opened by 2015.  What assurances will be given that existing services will remain functioning until the new facilities and services are open?

Geoff Lang responded that funding would not be released until final consultation had been carried out.  BCUHB were confident funds would be made available.  Some changes would be able to happen rapidly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

PRESENTATIONS

The Chair presented a certificate to the Chief Executive for attaining the WJEC Entry Certificate in Welsh Second Language.  He had been attending weekly Llanllawen Welsh classes in Denbigh since February 2010 and attained the qualification in June this year.  He would now be advancing to the next stage.

Councillor Raymond Bartley displayed a trophy to Members which had been originally presented to the Eisteddfod by Italian Prisoners of War to thank the people of Wales for the kindness shown to them during their captivity.

The Chair welcomed the new Corporate Director: Economic and Community Ambition to her first County Council meeting.

To consider a report by the Lead Member for Modernising and Performance (copy enclosed) to approve the Pay Policy Statement drafted in accordance with the requirements of 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011.

The Lead Member for Modernising and Performance (LM:M&P) introduced a report (previously circulated) to obtain Council’s approval to the Pay Policy Statement to ensure the Council complies with its legal obligations under the Localism Act 2011.

Resolved that the Council approve the Pay Policy Statement.

To consider a report by the Lead Member for Customers and Communities (copy enclosed) to formally adopt a covenant defining Denbighshire’s relationship with the armed forces community.

The Lead Member for Customers & Communities (LM:C&C) introduced a report (previously circulated) to obtain the Council’s endorsement to the covenant and agree for arrangements to be made to formally launch the covenant at a future Council meeting with representatives of the Armed Forces and interested representatives of the community present.

The Community Engagement Manager (CEM) explained the covenant to the Committee.  The council did not wish to discriminate against the armed services and were not giving them any priority regarding services.  The suggestion of discount membership fees for the use of leisure services would be considered.

The question was raised how men and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were dealt with by social services.

The Corporate Director for Demographics, Wellbeing and Planning clarified that social services work together with BCU but there was no specific provision for people suffering from the disorder.  Referrals were made from GP’s.

The Chief Executive stressed this was an important and serious matter.  Members could receive arguments from other groups if thought to be actively discriminating in favour of ex armed services personnel.  If not careful a message would be sent out that some people were more important than others.  Denbighshire might have to make decisions so ex-servicemen and women did not suffer any disadvantage but could not actively discriminate in their favour.   The Chief Executive recommended no decision be made at Council today about specific policy issues.

It was requested that a report go to the Communities Scrutiny Committee as the nature of the debate around specific policy issues required further discussion.

Resolved that the Council endorse the Covenant and agree for arrangements to be made to formally launch the Covenant at a future Council meeting with representatives of the Armed Forces and interested representatives of the community present.

To consider a report by the Leader (copy enclosed) seeking Council’s approval of the West Rhyl Housing Improvement Project (WRHIP) in line with Denbighshire County Council’s Financial Regulations and Project Methodology.

Councillor Hugh Evans (Leader) introduced a report (previously circulated) to obtain Council’s approval to the West Rhyl Housing Improvement Project and delegation of powers to the Project Board. 

Councillor Hugh Evans emphasised the project was a working partnership including Pennaf/Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government were leading on the project and providing the funding.

The project had been divided into blocks:-

Block 1 – properties to be demolished to create the green space.

Block 2 – the council had acquired all but one or two of the properties which would be refurbished by Pennaf/Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and marketed as “Homebuy”  properties, whereby residents would own a majority of equity in the home.

Block 3 – 6 as in report.

Further discussion took place and the officers responded as follows:-

Ø      Previous public sector programmes and grant schemes had failed to regenerate the area, and west Rhyl still have two of the most deprived areas.  The project would achieve a balance of housing as there were too many one bedroom residents in one area.   The project was working to create an improved balance by creation of a green space, remodelling of houses and making them attractive to families.  Addressing the longstanding issues would also assist to create a more positive impression of the town overall and thereby have more far-reaching regeneration benefits.

Ø      Many properties had been acquired as part of the North Wales Coast Regeneration Area and work was ongoing to continue this acquisition.  Denbighshire would seek to acquire properties by agreement but anticipate the use of compulsory purchase powers to obtain a minority of the properties required for the project.

Ø      A Resettlement Officer would be appointed whose role would be to assist residents identify and relocate to new accommodation, whether it be within Denbighshire or even to another county.  Of the residents who had been relocated, a majority wished to continue residing in Rhyl.  There had been 23 relocations to date – 20 within Rhyl and 3 within Prestatyn.

Ø      No designs have been approved for green space to date.  Looking to minimise the cost of maintaining the green space by the possibility of creating a social enterprise who could maintain the space.

Ø      New builds and refurbished properties would be at a very high standard of energy efficiencies.

Ø      Possible financial risk to the council in the third year of this project.  This is a Welsh Government project, funded by the Welsh Government, so responsibilities of financial risk lies with the Welsh Government and not Denbighshire County Council. 

Ø      The West Rhyl Housing Improvement Project is being run as a Prince 2 Methodology Project.  A senior officer had been appointed to act as Project Manager who was a Prince 2 Practitioner.

Ø      Suggested by Members that Internal Audit become involved at an early stage.  The Rhyl Going Forward Manager would look into this. The Head of Housing and Community Development stated he would be meeting with Internal Audit in a couple of weeks whereby he would discuss this project with them.

Ø      The Rhyl Going Forward Manager stated that a report had recently been presented at Cabinet and the map attached to the documents had changed slightly.  The CPO was to now include Gronant Street and other property but would not change the scope of the project in any way.

Ø      A Project Board had been established but due to the Leader being named twice on the Board it was agreed by the WG and County Council that Councillor Hugh Irving become a member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider a report by the Monitoring Officer (copy enclosed) for Council to agree arrangements for the recruitment of independent members of the Standards Committee.

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report (previously circulated) for Council to agree arrangements for the recruitment of independent members of the Standards Committee.  He advised that Rhyl Town Council had nominated a member since the publication of the report as a Town & Community Council member.

Councillor Win Mullen James declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item as it was her husband who had been nominated by Rhyl Town Council.  Councillor Mullen James left the Chamber for this item.

Councillor Martyn Holland proposed that the existing Town & Community Council representative, David Jones, be re-elected and this was seconded by Councillor Raymond Bartley.

Councillor Colin Hughes proposed a motion that rather than re-elect David Jones, it went to a selection process.  Councillor Gareth Sandilands seconded the motion.  On being put to the vote, this motion fell.

Nominations were requested for three County Councillors to sit on the Standards Committee Special Appointments Panel.  The Standards Committee Regulations establish a Special Appointments Panel whose function is to consider applications for any vacancies for the independent (ie: non council) members and to make recommendations to full Council.  The Panel shall consist of not more than 5 Panel members.  One Panel member must be a lay person, one member a Community Council member and up to 3 must be County Councillors.  The Panel meets only very occasionally when such a vacancy arises.  Councillors Colin Hughes and Bill Cowie were currently members of the Standards Committee. It was proposed by Councillor David Simmons and seconded by Councillor David Smith that both Councillors Colin Hughes and Bill Cowie be appointed on the Panel. 

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill proposed Councillor Martyn Holland as the third County Councillor and this was seconded by Councillor Huw Jones.

Resolved that:-

(a)               David Jones be re-appointed for a further term of office

(b)               Paula White be re-appointed for a final term of four years.

(c)               Councillors Colin Hughes, Bill Cowie and Martyn Holland be appointed to sit on the Standards Committee Special Appointment Panel.

To consider the Council’s Forward Work Programme (copy enclosed).

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services introduced the Council’s Forward Work Programme (previously circulated) and reported NHS Service Reviews be included in October, 2012.

The meeting concluded at 1.25 p.m.