Agenda and draft minutes

Dylai Aelodau ddatgan unrhyw gysylltiadau personol neu sy’n rhagfarnu yn unrhyw fusnes a nodwyd i'w ystyried yn y cyfarfod hwn.

No personal or prejudicial interests were declared.

Rhybudd o faterion, ym marn y Cadeirydd, y dylid eu hystyried yn y cyfarfod fel mater brys yn unol ag Adran 100B(4) Deddf Llywodraeth Leol 1972.

In accordance with the requirements of Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair declared that he intended to include for discussion the following matter requiring urgent attention under Part II:-

Erection of new signs on the Nant Y Garth Pass

In response to a question from Councillor T.R. Hughes regarding the excessive size of the traffic signs erected on the Nant Y Garth Pass, the Chair explained that details relating to the provision of the signs had been referred to in the Traffic Update circulated on the 4^th October, 2013.  Officers agreed to enquire on the reasons why such large signs had been erected.

Derbyn cofnodion cyfarfod y Pwyllgor Archwilio Cymunedau a gynhaliwyd ar 12 Medi 2013 (copi ynghlwm).

The Minutes of a meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 12^th September, 2013 were submitted.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

Ystyried adroddiad gan Reolwr Datblygiad Economaidd a Busnes (copi ynghlwm), sy’n gofyn am sylwadau’r Aelodau ynglŷn â’r cynnydd a wnaed hyd yn hyd i gyflawni Rhaglen Y Rhyl yn Symud Ymlaen.

                                                                                                           9.35 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Economic and Business Development Manager, which provided information regarding progress in terms implementing the Rhyl Going Forward (RGF) Regeneration Strategy, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting. 

Councillor H.H. Evans introduced and provided a detailed summary of the report.  The most recent Programme Update reports been attached as Appendices 1a to 1d.  These demonstrated that in terms of the four workstreams of the programme:-

·                     West Rhyl Regeneration Area had a current status of Yellow

·                     Town Centre had a current status of Red

·                     Seafront and Tourism had a current status of Yellow

·                     Live and Work in Rhyl had a current status of Orange

West Rhyl – Confirmation had now been received from the Welsh Government (WG) with respect to the Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) on the respective blocks.  The selection process for the appointment of the Design Team for the Green Space had been completed, but the final appointment would potentially be delayed until receipt of confirmation of the CPO to avoid any potential abortive costs.  Members were informed that the next phase of demolition in Gronant Street had now commenced

Town Centre – The Leader explained that the bid submitted by Denbighshire, to the WG’s Vibrant and Viable Places programme, for £12 million funding to support the regeneration of the Town Centre had been unsuccessful.  One possible reason for the bid’s failure was the change of WG Minister responsible for the programme and the subsequent change of emphasis towards housing.  He confirmed that work was continuing with partners, local Members and the Town Council to develop a strategy for the Town Centre and to seek alternative funding mechanisms as part of the wider process for developing the Town Plan for Rhyl.

In reply to concerns expressed by Councillor W. Mullen-James regarding the change of criteria during the Vibrant and Viable Places programme bidding process, the Leader confirmed he had made strong representations to the respective Minister and it had been implied that the bid to the Vibrant and Viable Places Scheme had not been appropriate for this aspect of the Rhyl Going Forward Programme.  Councillor Mullen-James agreed to pursue the matter through the appropriate political channels.

Options were currently being explored to replace the Town Centre Manager post.  These included having a more focused role looking at promoting and finding tenants for empty properties in the town centre.  The scope of similar posts in other towns were currently being studied.  The opening of the LEGO Innovation Centre at the former Bee and Station Hotel had taken place on the 20^th September.

Seafront and Tourism - Work was continuing on the development of the case for new leisure facilities along the coast.  The Honey Club had been demolished and the Development Agreement with Chesham Estates had been approved by Cabinet.  Designs for the new hotel were being developed and a planning application would be submitted by the end of the year.

The bridge was due to be opened the following week and works on the harbour building and square were scheduled to be completed in early 2014.

Rhyl Going Forward Group Programme Board - The Leader emphasised that the Rhyl Going Forward Group Programme Board was a strategic group and that its remit was not to focus on day to day issues.

Live and Work in Rhyl – The new mountain biking track at Glan Morfa was almost complete, and the design of the new school building at Rhyl High School was progressing.  The Coastal Team Leader (CTL) confirmed that smaller issues pertaining to Rhyl would be pursued through the  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 5.

Ystyried adroddiad gan Reolwr Gofal a Chefnogaeth Tai (copi ynghlwm), sy’n nodi manylion Asesiad o Anghenion Sipsiwn a Theithwyr Gogledd Cymru a gyflawnwyd gan Brifysgol Bangor ac yn gofyn am sylwadau’r Pwyllgor ynglŷn ag argymhellion yr Asesiad a sefydlu a llunio cylch gwaith ar gyfer grŵp llywio arfaethedig. 

                                                                                                         10.10 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Housing Care and Support Manager, which provided information regarding the North Wales Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (GTANA) undertaken by Bangor University had been distributed with the papers for the meeting.

The County Councils of Denbighshire, Flintshire, Conwy, Ynys Môn, and Gwynedd jointly commissioned Bangor University to undertake research and assess unmet accommodation need for Gypsies and Travellers.  The collaborative approach had been in line with WG guidance which urged “Local Authorities to work in a regional capacity and share the legal, moral, financial and political responsibility to address the accommodation inequality experienced by the Gypsy and Traveller community in Wales” (Travelling to a Better Future, WG).

The study had concluded that Denbighshire should be required to provide 2 residential pitches for Gypsies and Travellers, each to accommodate up to 4 caravans, and one transit pitch to accommodate up to 7 caravans on a short term basis to be developed on a sub-regional basis with Conwy County Borough Council.  It had been recommended that the Scrutiny Committee support the proposed composition of the Steering Group to drive the recommendations forward.  The HHCD outlined the legal implications of failing to take action which could also result in an increase in illegal encampments.  Details of problems recently experienced by a local business were outlined by Councillor H.C. Irving who highlighted the need to be proactive and address the issue.

The Executive Summary to the Bangor University North Wales GTANA contained key findings and recommendations and had been attached as Appendix 1.

Current site provision across the partaking LAs included a total of 78 pitches; 66 of being situated within Flintshire and 12 within Gywnedd.  The report indicated that site provision should be increased by a further 62 residential pitches and 28 transit caravan spaces by 2016.  The growth requirement for residential pitches had been identified per LA, with transit requirements being identified only as a regional figure.  It was being recommended that collaboratively the partaking LAs identify and develop three or four transit sites across the region each accommodating up to seven caravans.  With regard to static provision it had been identified that Denbighshire should make provision for two residential pitches.  In reply to Councillor R.M. Murray, it was explained that reference had been made to the minimum provision and any site recommended would be subject to the Planning process. 

Legal advice sought had indicated that the GTANA be adopted as it had identified an accommodation need within Denbighshire which the Council would be obliged to respond to.  This requirement would be strengthened by the WG in the forthcoming White Paper whereby LAs would be mandated to provide sites for the Gypsy and Traveller Community where there was evidence that a need existed.  It would be important for the Council to open up a dialogue with the Gypsy and Traveller Community to ensure their needs would be met by the proposed sites which may be offered.  Conwy County Borough Council was undergoing a similar process and it had been suggested that the Working Group should take the opportunity to collaborate where appropriate, particularly in relation to the provision of a sub-regional transit pitch.  The HHCD confirmed that where sites had been provided following dialogue with the Gypsy and Traveller Community the number of illegal encampments had subsequently decreased.  Councillor C.H. Williams explained that he understood the legal implications relating to the provision of sites, but would find it difficult to voluntary support the provision of sites for people who continually flouted the law.

Members were informed of the statutory obligation to provide sites  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 6.

Ystyried adroddiad gan Reolwr Tîm Cefnogi Pobl (copi ynghlwm), sy’n gofyn am sylwadau’r Pwyllgor am y Cynllun Comisiynu Lleol am ddwy flynedd ar gyfer Rhaglen Cefnogi Pobl yn Sir Ddinbych.   

                                                                                                         10.55 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Supporting People Team Manager, which detailed the two-year Local Commissioning Plan (LCP) for the Supporting People programme in Denbighshire, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

Councillor R.L. Feeley introduced the report and explained that Supporting People (SP) was a policy framework and funding stream to provide housing related support to vulnerable people, promoting independence and preventing homelessness.  The LCP for 2014/15 and 2015/16 would be submitted to Cabinet on the 29^th October, 2013 for agreement.

Supporting People provided housing related support services to a wide range of vulnerable people and details of the services supported by SP in Denbighshire had been outlined in the report.  Housing related support aimed to enable people to maintain their housing tenure and live as independently as possible.  The SP Programme had been evaluated at national level and shown to deliver very positive financial and other benefits. 

The report incorporated details of changes to the administration of the SP programme which included new guidance and governance, contractual arrangements and funding distribution formula.  The funding distribution formula had cut the Denbighshire SP budget by 5% each year from 2012-13 until 2016-17.   Plans had been introduced to manage the cuts without significantly impacting on service levels in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/5 and to develop and consult on a fair and transparent strategic prioritisation framework to inform the management of cuts in 2015/16 and 2016-17.  In July, 2013 the WG had detailed further cuts from April, 2014 and the Council had been consulted on options for managing the cuts.  It was understood that the total level of cuts in 2014-15 would be in the region of 12%, though this had not been confirmed by WG.

Members were informed that the Local Commissioning Plan (LCP) had focused on managing known reductions whilst also being in a position to respond to additional budget cuts while minimising the impact on service users.  Planning the 2014/15 budget had involved abandoning projects which had not been commissioned, decommissioning projects with the consent of providers and negotiating reduced contracts for projects which were not fully occupied or struggling to maintain service delivery.

Confirmation was provided that the challenges for 2015/16 would increase.   However, the impact on service users would be minimised wherever possible through negotiating efficiency savings and reconfiguration with individual service providers.  Concern had been expressed that not all the savings for 2014/15 could be achieved and that contracts may have to be reduced where savings had not been negotiated or identified by 10%.  However, the Council was seeking to achieve savings by consensus and had already negotiated 75% of the expected scale of savings for 2014/15.  While promoting a strategic approach to identifying efficiencies, WG had explicitly required constructive engagement from providers to deliver savings in 2014/15, and this had proved helpful.

It was explained that Denbighshire was committed to taking a strategic approach to the difficult choices ahead, which potentially included the decommissioning of some services, and the development of the Strategic Priority to Fund framework would continue.

Details of actions listed in the SP LCP for 2014/15 and 2015/16 had been incorporated in Appendix 1.  The main strategic priorities which had been identified included:-

·                     Women & Men experiencing Domestic Abuse

·                     People with Learning Disabilities

·                     Young People with Support Needs (16 - 24)

·                    Generic/Floating Support/Peripatetic (tenancy support services which cover a range of user needs)

The Supporting People Team Manager (SPTM) provided a summary of the SP Spend Plan included in the report.  The final SP Spend Plan would be concluded following confirmation of the funding level.  Summaries of the  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 7.

Ystyried adroddiad gan y Cydlynydd Archwilio (copi ynghlwm) sy’n adolygu rhaglen waith y pwyllgor a darparu’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i aelodau ar faterion perthnasol.

                                                                                                         11.30am

A copy of a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator, which requested the Committee to review and agree its forward work programme and which provided an update on relevant issues, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting. 

            The Cabinet Forward Work Programme had been included as Appendix 2 and a table summarising recent Committee resolutions, and advising on progress with their implementation, had been attached at Appendix 3 to the report. 

Draft Caravan Sites Strategy for Denbighshire – As a result of workload pressures relating to the Local Development Plan and the associated urgent Supplementary Planning Guidance, the Planning and Public Protection Department had been unable to progress the development of the draft strategy as originally intended.  Members agreed that the presentation of the draft strategy be deferred until the spring of 2014.

Draft Flood Management Strategy - Due to the need to dedicate officers’ time and efforts to the investigations into the major flooding incidents in the County it had not been possible to focus on the draft Flood Management Strategy.  As the Strategy should be available in the near future the Chair had agreed for its presentation to be rescheduled to November’s meeting.  As a result the report on the ‘Community Covenant with the Armed Forces’, scheduled for the meeting in November, had been rescheduled to the meeting in January, 2014.

Members were informed that the next Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group meeting had been scheduled for the 24^th October, 2013.  In response to a question from Councillor H.O. Williams, the Scrutiny Coordinator explained that the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs Group had been asked to consider a request that the Joint Board of the AONB be subject to scrutiny in the future..

Councillor J.S. Welsh informed the Committee that the rescheduling of the meeting of the Committee from the 28^th November, 2013 to the 25^th November, 2013 had not been noted in the Members diary.  The Scrutiny Coordinator agreed that a cancellation request for the meeting on the 28^th November, 2013 would be issued.

RESOLVED – that, subject to the above amendments, the Committee’s Work Programme be approved.

Meeting ended at 11.35 a.m.