Agenda and draft minutes

Prior to commencement of the meeting, Members were informed that the Chair, Councillor Ann Davies, would be unable to attend the meeting and, in her absence, the Vice-Chair, Councillor Win Mullen-James, would Chair the Full Council meeting (hereinafter referred to as “the Chair”).

No Declarations of Interest.

At this juncture, Councillor Huw Jones expressed his gratitude to everyone who had shown concern and sent him cards, gifts and good wishes throughout his recent illness.

The Chair, Councillor Win Mullen James offered congratulations to the Denbighshire Youth Brass Band who had recently won the North Wales Brass Band Youth Award.

A list of civic engagements undertaken by the Chair and Vice-Chair for the period 1 October 2016 to 25 November 2016 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

Councillor Ann Davies had requested that the Denbighshire Community Sport Awards be highlighted as there had been so much talent within Denbighshire.  The Guest Speaker had been Mark Colbourne MBE, the former Welsh Paralympic cyclist.

At this juncture, Councillor Brian Blakeley asked thanks to be extended to Sian Davies (Festival and Events Manager) for all her hard work arranging events, the most recent being the Christmas Pops in Rhyl which had taken place on Sunday 4 December.  Almost £1000 had been raised for children who otherwise would not have a party or any gifts at Christmas.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts stated that there were a large number of officers within the county who carried out good work and thanks should also be extended to them for their hard work.

RESOLVED that the list of civic engagements undertaken by the Chair and Vice-Chair be received.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of County Council held on 18 October 2016 (copy attached).

The minutes of Full Council held on 18 October 2016 were submitted.

Matters Arising:

Page 12 – The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services stated that Members had asked that North Wales Ambulance Service be invited to Scrutiny Committee.  It had recently been confirmed that a senior representative of the Ambulance Service would be attending a Scrutiny Committee in the New Year.  The date was yet to be confirmed.

RESOLVED that subject to the above the minutes of Full Council held on 18 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a report by the Public Protection Manager (copy attached) for Council to adopt a formal Welsh Language Steering Group within the Council’s Constitution.

The Lead Member for Community Development, Councillor Huw Jones, presented the Welsh Language Steering Group report (previously circulated) for Council to establish a formal Welsh Language Steering Committee within the Council’s Constitution.

The Welsh Language Standards had been issued to the Authority by the Welsh Language Commissioner.  The majority of the standards had come into force on 1 April 2016.  Further standards relating to policy development had come into force on 1 October 2016.

Denbighshire being a predominantly bilingual county with a rich culture and heritage encouraged this to be reflected in the day to day interaction with communities, residents and staff.

A Welsh Language Steering Group currently existed within the council, chaired by the Lead Member for Community Development.  The Steering Group membership contained officer representation through Corporate Director: Communities, Public Protection Manager and Team Leader Communications.

During indepth discussion the following points were raised:

·       Membership of the Committee would be 11 councillors to include, where possible, the Lead Cabinet Member with responsibility for Welsh language issues.  The Committee would be politically balanced with the Lead Cabinet Member’s seat counting towards the political balance calculations.  Membership of the Committee would be open to executive and non-executive councillors. 

·       It would be the responsibility of each political group to allocate councillors as representatives of the Committee.

·       There would be no restriction on councillors attending as observers, except during consideration of any matter where the member would have been required to declare a person and prejudicial interest in that matter.

·       As the Committee would be a public Committee, members of the public, schools and other bodies would be permitted to attend.  The Committee would be able to call on expert witnesses and service users to inform its work.

·       It had been confirmed that the Committee would be an advisory Committee and would not have delegated decision-making powers except in regards to certain areas of its own proceedings e.g. appointment of Chair, confirmation of minutes etc.

·       The existing Terms of Reference for the Welsh Language Steering Group had been adapted by officers within Democratic Services and it had been proposed that this would be the Terms of Reference for the new Welsh Language Steering Committee.

·       The Action Plan was to be developed out of the Strategy and would be presented to the Welsh Language Steering Group on Friday 9 December 2016. 

·       The Committee would monitor progress with the implementation of the Welsh Language Standards.

·       The aim of the Committee would be to champion the Welsh language within the county.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies and seconded by Councillor Cefyn Williams.

RESOLVED that Council:

(i)              Adopt the Welsh Language Steering Committee approving its addition to the Council’s principal Committee structure, and

(ii)             Confirm the scope/remit of the Welsh Language Steering Group.

Councillor Arwel Roberts put forward the following Notice of Motion for consideration by full Council.

“It has been brought to my notice that there is prevalence of flying drones around Rhuddlan and Rhyl at present. Technology is a marvellous thing but it seems that these flying machines hover over people’s houses and gardens. The law states that they cannot be flown over built up areas or within 50 metres of people you don’t have control over.

These drones can be bought quite cheaply with cameras fitted on them, they are affordable and therefore accessible to anyone.

I believe that they have been banned in London’s Royal Parks and there should be an exclusion zone over all parks and beaches in Denbighshire.

A trip to the local park or beach could result in some angry parents and if you send these remote control drones over people’s property it will not go down very well. 

These drones should be banned over all Denbighshire’s public places.”

Councillor Arwel Roberts put forward the following Notice of Motion for the consideration of Full Council.

“It has been brought to my notice that there is a prevalence of flying drones around Rhuddlan and Rhyl at present. Technology is a marvellous thing but it seems that these flying machines hover over people’s houses and gardens.  The law states that they cannot be flown over built up areas or within 50 metres of people you don’t have control over.

These drones can be bought quite cheaply with cameras fitted on them, they are affordable and therefore accessible to anyone.

I believe that they have been banned in London’s Royal Parks and there should be an exclusion zone over all parks and beaches in Denbighshire.  A trip to the local park or beach could result in some angry parents and if you send these remote control drones over people’s property it will not go down very well.

These drones should be banned over all Denbighshire’s public places.”

The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services (HLHR&DS) confirmed that the Air Navigation Order 2016 set out the law relating to the use and operation of aircraft.  The definition of aircraft, subject to this regulation included “small unmanned aircraft” which were defined as “any unmanned aircraft, other than a balloon or kite, having a mass of not more than 20kg without its fuel (drones or model aircraft).

It also included “small unmanned surveillance aircraft” which was defined as “a small unmanned aircraft that was equipped to undertake surveillance or data acquisition” (drones with cameras attached).

The HLHR&DS suggested presenting a report to Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs Group for further discussion.

There were rules requiring the operators of such aircraft to always maintain a line of sight with the aircraft and there were rules about flying over certain heights and in certain types of airspace.  There were also rules about flying surveillance aircraft within specified distances of congested areas or people or near vehicles etc.

The use of drones for commercial purposes required a licence or permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Following discussion it was:

RESOLVED that the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services/Monitoring Officer provide a report to Scrutiny on the regulatory framework relating to drones and the powers, if any, for the council to introduce further restrictions.

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

The Monitoring Officer/Head of Legal, HR & Democratic Services introduced the Council’s Forward Work Programme (previously circulated).

The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services informed Members that there would be a Council Briefing, regarding approval of Rhyl Aquatic Centre, prior to Full Council on 31 January 2017.  The date of the Council Briefing was yet to be confirmed but would take place between 25 – 27 January 2017.  Once the date had been agreed, invitations would be sent out to all councillors.

RESOLVED that subject to the above, the Council Forward Work Programme be approved and noted.

The meeting concluded at 11.05 a.m.