Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin
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APOLOGIES |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts
and Co-opted Member, Gareth Williams, declared a personal interest in Agenda
Item 3 – Call in of proposed closure of Ysgol Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd. |
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URGENT MATTERS AS AGREED BY THE CHAIR PDF 68 KB 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. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair advised that a decision taken by Cabinet at its
meeting on 14 January 2014 to approve the publication of a statutory notice to
close Ysgol Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd had had been called in for review. Consequently, in order to comply with the
Council’s Call-In Procedure Rules which stipulated that a scrutiny committee
had to consider a called-in decision within five working days, he had agreed to
consider the matter as an urgent item of business on the current meeting’s
agenda. All Committee members including
co-opted members had been furnished with copies of the report and appendices
considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 14 January. Call-in of Proposed Closure of Ysgol Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd. Denbighshire’s Cabinet at its meeting on 14 January 2014
approved the following recommendation: “… [to] approve the
publication of a statutory notice on the proposal to close Ysgol
Llanbedr as of the 31 August 2014, with existing
pupils transferring to Ysgol Borthyn,
Ruthin, subject to parental preference.” The above decision was published on the Council’s website on
17 January 2014 and in accordance with the Council’s Call-In Procedure, the
decision was not implemented immediately enabling non-Cabinet members to
call-in the decision for examination, if they felt it merited scrutiny. A “Notice of Call-In” form, signed by the required number of
non-Cabinet Councillors, was received on 20 January 2014. The grounds for the calling-in of the decision were: (i)
Failure to consult; and (ii)
Prejudgement of decision to close Ysgol Llanbedr D C Communities Scrutiny Committee Members were requested to
determine, based on the information presented to them, whether the Committee
believed that Cabinet should review its original decision, and if so, on what
grounds. As Cabinet’s decision of 14 January related to the Council’s
education provision, the Authority’s statutory education co-opted Members on
Scrutiny were permitted to participate fully in the consideration of the
Call-In as voting Members of the Committee. Councillor Huw Williams introduced
the call-in request. He also introduced
the Governing Body and Diocesan representatives who would be presenting their
case, seeking a review of the decision to publish a statutory notice of the
intention to close the school.
Councillor Williams gave a brief history of Ysgol
Llanbedr D C. Reverend Chew attended the meeting to present evidence as
Rector of Llanbedr D C and in his capacity as the
Chair of the Governing Body of Ysgol Llanbedr D C. Anthony Smith attended the meeting as Vice-Chair of the
Governing Body of Ysgol Llanbedr
D C. Rosalind Williams attended the meeting as a Diocese
representative. Reverend Chew began the debate in favour of Ysgol Llanbedr D C remaining open
as follows: (i)
He was of the understanding that the main aim
was to reduce surplus places. The school
was on target to be at full capacity over the next two years. Parental choice would be severely compromised
if the closure of the school was to go ahead. (ii)
Key stakeholders had not been considered, such
as Munchkins nursery (iii)
The decision to close Ysgol
Llanbedr D C was pre-determined which was against the
Welsh Government’s Code of Practice. Anthony Smith raised the following points: (i)
Omissions within the report and document which
had been presented to Cabinet Members. (ii)
Failure to have adequate consultation. The formal consultation which had been
carried out had failed to consider birth forecasts, projected increases in
house builds as per those proposed in the Local Development Plan (LDP) for Llanbedr D C etc. (iii)
Failure to consult with Munchkins
Day Nursery. (iv) Consultation was further flawed as the Governors were informed the Diocese did not ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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To receive the minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 25 November 2013 (copy enclosed). Minutes: The Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 25 November, 2013 were submitted. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 November 2013 be received and
approved as a correct record. |
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At this juncture
there was a 10 minute break (11.45 a.m.) The meeting
reconvened at 11.55 a.m. and with the Committee’s consent the Chair varied the
order of business |
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TOWN AND AREA PLANS (QUARTERLY REPORT) PDF 86 KB To consider a report by the Corporate Director: Economic & Community Ambition and the Economic & Business Development Manager (copy attached) which monitors the Council’s performance in delivering its town plans and their benefit to the towns themselves and outlying communities. 10.55 a.m. – 11.35 a.m. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Economic and Business Development Manager introduced the
Town & Area Plans report (previously circulated) to monitor the Council’s
performance in delivering its Town Plans and their benefit to the towns
themselves and outlying communities. All Town & Area Plans (apart from Bodelwyddan)
would be adopted by the end of the financial year. The Chief Executive had requested a full review of the town
plans to review the impact how it measured against cost resource. The review would take place early in the
financial year. All allocations had been agreed by Cabinet. There had currently been an additional funding
allocation of £356,000 towards town & area plans in 2014/15 for which a bid
could be submitted. The approach had been consistent across each rural
area. Funding which had been allocated
from the town & area budget was a year 1 priority. The plans were a multi-year scheme, not just
a one year plan. Another source of funding was external grant funding. Town and Community Councils were putting a
lot of effort into exploring alternative funding streams for projects. There was also a possibility of match
funding. Councillor Bobby Feeley requested
it be recorded that the “Open Doors” weekend in Ruthin
should be continued as it attracted a large amount of visitors into the town. RESOLVED that the Communities Scrutiny Committee note the progress made with
the delivery of Town and Area Plans. |
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RHYL GOING FORWARD PROGRAMME (QUARTERLY REPORT) PDF 73 KB To consider a report by the Economic and Business Development Manager (Coastal Team Leader) (copy attached) to enable the Committee to evaluate and monitor the Programme’s progress and achievements in delivering its anticipated outcomes, and to identify any slippages with the Programme’s delivery. 10.10 a.m. –
10.40 a.m. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Coastal Team Leader introduced the Rhyl
Going Forward Quarterly Report (previously circulated) to enable Communities
Scrutiny Committee to evaluate and monitor the Programme’s progress and
achievements in delivering its anticipated outcomes, and to identify any
slippage with the programme’s delivery. It was confirmed that the Harbour Master Office on
completion would also house a café and other business within the building. The state of disrepair of the boarding around the old
funfair site was raised. The Economic
and Business Development Manager (E&BDM) had been in contact with the
owners of the land, Scarborough Developments.
They had assured the E&BDM that a representative of the Company
would visit the site on Monday 27 January.
E&BDM had contacted the Head of Planning and Public Protection who
confirmed enforcement action could be taken.
If there were no improvement of the state of the boarding by the end of
the following week, notice would be served upon Scarborough Developments and a
timescale given. If the work were not
carried out by the specific date then Denbighshire would carry out the work and
a charge would be placed upon the land. Officers confirmed that Welsh Government funding for events
in the Events Arena had come to an end, but work was underway under the Town
Plan to explore possible alternative funding streams. It was agreed by all Committee Members present that their
thanks be recorded and passed on to the E&BDM and the Coastal Team Leader
for the tremendous work they were carrying out. RESOLVED that Members of the Communities Scrutiny Committee noted the progress
made. |
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COMMUNITY COVENANT WITH THE ARMED FORCES (NOV/ DEC 2013) PDF 62 KB To consider a report by the Community Engagement Manager (copy attached), to give an annual update on how the measures introduced under the covenant have supported the armed forces community in Denbighshire, and for the Committee to consider if any changes to the provision are required with a view to strengthening the covenant. 9.35 a.m. – 10.10 a.m. Additional documents: Minutes: The Lead Member for Communities introduced the Community
Covenant with the Armed Forces Report (previously circulated) for Members to
consider an annual update on how the measures introduced under the covenant
have supported the armed forces community in Denbighshire and for the Committee
to consider if any changes to the provision are required with a view to
strengthening the covenant. A Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual
support between a civilian community and its local armed forces community. It was intended to complement the National
Armed Forces Covenant which outlined the moral obligation between the Nation,
the Government and the Armed Forces, at a local level. Full Council formally adopted the Covenant on the 11
September 2012 and requested Scrutiny to satisfy itself on the measures
Denbighshire wished to adopt. The Council agreed to nominate an “Armed Services Champion”
(Lead Member for Communities, Councillor Hugh Irving) and a named “Armed
Services Lead Officer” (Community Engagement Manager). A workshop had taken place with representatives from key
armed services charities and public sector organisations to advance
understanding of the issues facing armed service personnel and veterans. The role of the working group was to
co-ordinate actions, identify gaps in provision and exchange
information and good practice. A key action identified by the Covenant had been the need to
establish a dedicated information page on the Denbighshire County Council
website with links to organisations who could give advice and support on issues
ranging from welfare concerns to career advice. The Army had approached Denbighshire County Council with a
project in conjunction with Bodelwyddan Castle Trust
to develop a visitor/educational experience at the Castle comprising of a new
comprehensive WW1 trench system as part of the WW1 Centenary. An application to seek funding from the Ministry of Defence
Community Fund was successful and a grant of £225,000 was approved. The work was anticipated to be completed by
the spring and the project will be for five years. At the end of the five years, the trenches
would become the responsibility of the Castle Trust. Schoolchildren would be encouraged to visit
the trenches and an educational programme was being developed for this purpose
across North Wales and Cheshire. The role of the Council would be to monitor the financial
aspect of the project and release funds accordingly. There was evidence that a number of armed forces personnel
who leave the armed forces suffered financial and psychological problems. Denbighshire was working with partner groups
to assist these people to be integrated into the community. Councillor Cefyn Williams felt
that, from an equalities perspective, armed services personnel should not get
priority over local people for housing unless they had a local connection. In response to members’ questions the Community Engagement
Manager advised:
RESOLVED that the Communities Scrutiny Committee endorse the actions taken. |
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SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME PDF 58 KB To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy enclosed) seeking a review of the committee’s forward work programme and updating members on relevant issues. 11.35 a.m. – 11.55 a.m. Additional documents:
Minutes: A report by the Scrutiny Co-ordinator was submitted
(previously circulated) seeking Members’ review of the Committee’s Forward Work
Programme and providing an update on relevant issues. Members agreed to the request a report on the Highway Grass
Verge Cutting Policy and Programme for 2014/15 in April RESOLVED that subject to
the above: (a) the Committee’s
Forward Work Programme be approved; and (b) that
Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts
serve as the Committee’s representative on the Economic and Community Ambition
Programme Board |
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FEEDBACK FROM COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES To receive any
updates from Committee representatives on various Council Boards and Groups 11.55 a.m. – 12.10 p.m. Minutes: Councillors Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Joe Welch and Cefyn
Williams gave brief feedback from meetings of the Economic and Community
Ambition Board; HR, Leisure, Communications and Marketing & Highways and
Environmental Services Challenge Groups. |
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The meeting concluded
at 1.20 p.m. |