Agenda, decisions and draft minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin
Media
Webcast: View the webcast
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES Additional documents: Decision: Councillor Peter
Scott had submitted apologies as he had intended to attend. Minutes: Councillor Peter
Scott had submitted apologies as he had intended to attend. |
|
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS PDF 116 KB Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at this meeting. Additional documents: Decision: No declarations of interest had been raised. Minutes: No declarations of interest had been raised. |
|
URGENT MATTERS 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: Decision: No urgent matters had been raised. Minutes: No urgent matters had been raised. |
|
To receive the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 March 2019 (copy enclosed). Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED that the minutes
of the meeting held on 26 March 2019 be received and confirmed as a correct
record. Minutes: The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 March 2019
were submitted. RESOLVED that the minutes
of the meeting held on 26 March 2019 be received and confirmed as a correct
record. |
|
DENBIGHSHIRE'S REPLACEMENT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - DRAFT PREFERRED STRATEGY PDF 223 KB To consider a report by Councillor Brian Jones, Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel (copy enclosed) presenting the recommendations from the Strategic Investment Group regarding the Replacement LDP Draft Preferred Strategy. Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED that Cabinet
recommend to Council the Strategic Planning Group recommendations regarding the
Draft Replacement LDP Preferred Strategy as follows – (a) Draft
Proposed Levels of Growth: 68ha of employment
land to accommodate a forecasted land requirement of 47.6ha Land for 3,775 new
homes to meet a housing requirement of 3,275 homes (b) Draft
Proposed Spatial Approach: Based on Option 3
– focus development in Bodelwyddan Strategic Site and serviced settlements: the
top three tiers in the settlement hierarchy (main centres, local centres and
villages) with more limited growth in other unserviced settlements (infill
& small sites within development boundaries), primarily focused on meeting
local needs (c) to recommend the Draft Preferred
Strategy (Appendix 2 to the report) in its entirety to Council, and (d) confirms that it has read, understood and
taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessments (Appendix 3 to the report)
as part of its consideration. Minutes: Councillor
Brian Jones presented the report detailing the work undertaken to date on
Denbighshire’s Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) and recommendations
from the Strategic Planning Group regarding the Draft Preferred Strategy for
the LDP. The Replacement LDP would
provide up to date planning policies and site allocations for development to
address issues and needs in the county for the period 2018 – 2033. In brief, the Draft Preferred Strategy set out
– Draft
Proposed Levels of Growth – ·
68ha of employment land to accommodate a
forecasted land requirement of 47.6ha ·
Land for 3,775 new homes to meet a housing
requirement of 3,275 homes Draft
Proposed Spatial Approach – ·
Focus development in Bodelwyddan
Strategic Site and serviced settlements: the top three tiers in the settlement
hierarchy (main centres, local centres and villages) with more limited growth
in other unserviced settlements (infill & small
sites within development boundaries), primarily focused on meeting local needs. The
report provided some background regarding the establishment and membership of
the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) together with the development of the Draft
Preferred Strategy in terms of developing growth and spatial options and
setting out the context for identifying how much development land was required
for housing and employment and where that development should be located. The majority of the SPG had agreed to
recommend preferred growth levels, the proposed spatial approach and the
complete Draft Preferred Strategy document to Cabinet and Council. The Chair and Elwy MAG representative
supported the housing growth figure but not the employment land figure so by
implication also did not support the spatial approach. Cabinet
considered the report and recommendations put forward by the SPG and debated
focused on the following areas – ·
officers acknowledged the need to make
provision for a Gypsy and Traveller transit site through the LDP process which
involved a number of steps and would be included in the Deposit LDP stage along
with all other site allocations ·
Councillor Tony Thomas referred to issues
raised by some Member Area Groups (MAGs) and felt it would be prudent to defer
consideration of the item to allow those issues to be addressed and also to
better reflect the needs of small businesses which were vital to Denbighshire’s
economy. At the Chair’s invitation
Councillor Emrys Wynne, Ruthin MAG representative on the SPG summarised Ruthin
MAG’s concerns regarding the potential reduction in the amount of employment
land available in Ruthin and subsequent detrimental impact on the locality
which was further elaborated upon by Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts. Officers clarified that the employment land
figures in the Draft Preferred Strategy provided a broad indication of proposed
growth levels which had been based on the BE Group report who had considered
the sites in some detail and the reasoning behind the recommendations was
explained in terms of the Ruthin sites at Glasdir and
Lon Parcwr.
Assurances were provided that no site allocations were being proposed at
this stage and if the Draft Preferred Strategy was approved for consultation
there would be an opportunity to feedback and inform that work going forward
and requests from MAGs to revisit the allocation of employment sites would be
accommodated. Prestatyn
MAG had recently put forward a potential employment site for inclusion in the
LDP and Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill took assurance that there was no bar to
bringing additional sites forward at a later date for consideration as part of
the site allocation process and therefore supported the SPG recommendations · Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts challenged the proposed employment growth figure and basis of the calculations made by the BE Group, particularly with regard to the use of past completion rates ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
|
To consider a joint report (which includes a confidential appendix) by Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Well-being and Independence and Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s recommendation to Council to support the business case and establishment of a Local Authority Trading Company for a range of previously agreed “in scope” leisure related activities/functions together with associated authorisations. Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED that Cabinet
recommend that Council – (a) support the final
Business Case for the Project (this will include refinements to the draft
business case attached at Appendix A to the report); (b) support the establishment
of a not for profit Local Authority Trading Company limited by Guarantee
(LATC); (c) support the
appointment of the Corporate Director: Economy and Public Realm to the Board of
the LATC; (d) support the
retention of the current name ‘Denbighshire Leisure’ for the LATC, and (e) that Cabinet
confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being
Impact Assessments (Appendix B, Ref no 564 to the report) as part of its
consideration. Minutes: Councillors
Bobby Feeley and Julian Thompson-Hill presented the joint report seeking
Cabinet’s consideration of the draft Business Case (confidential appendix
attached to the report) for establishing a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC)
for a range of previously agreed “in scope” leisure related
activities/functions together with associated authorisations prior to formally
reporting to Council so that the anticipated savings could be achieved from
financial year 2020/21. Councillor
Feeley reiterated the value and importance of the Council’s leisure service
provision in terms of people’s health and wellbeing and highlighted the
significant investment in those facilities in recent times. The reasoning behind the establishment of an Alternative
Delivery Model (ADM) was explained in order to provide significant savings for
the Council in the current financial climate whilst also enabling the service
to trade more commercially to help sustain facilities for the future. The model would allow a more flexible,
innovative and entrepreneurial approach to commercial leisure whilst also
allowing the Council to retain complete control with robust governance
arrangements proposed. Reference was
made to other Councils who were already using similar ADMs to deliver a range
of functions together with lessons learnt and an overview was provided as to
how the proposed LATC would operate in practice. Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill reported upon
the financial considerations which had been comprehensively detailed within the
report highlighting both the significant savings and operational costs incurred
for the new company together with financial management responsibilities going
forward. In brief the savings were
estimated at £1,107k with the net annual saving in the first year estimated at
£800k. Councillor Mark Young asked for
confirmation of staff terms and conditions for those who would be transferred
over to the new company as after meetings with unions it had been raised as a
question. It was confirmed that staff
affected would be transferred to the new LATC under TUPE regulations and be
subject to the same terms and conditions.
Cabinet was also advised that, whilst the current model related to
particular leisure related activities/functions there were potential
opportunities to add other activities/functions in the future as appropriate. Cabinet
noted the significant financial savings arising from the proposal together with
longer term benefits to help secure the financial viability and quality of
leisure services going forward together with future opportunities for
growth. Questions were raised regarding
various financial aspects arising from the report together with governance
arrangements which were considered a key element in contributing to the future
success of the LATC. Assurances were
also sought in terms of managing identified risk and safeguarding staff terms
and conditions both upon transfer and in the future. The
Lead Members and officers responded to questions as follows – ·
Councillor
Mark Young asked how the new business would be cash flowed. The Head of Finance confirmed in terms of
ensuring sufficient cash flow in the initial stages and going forward the
intention was for the Council subsidy to be paid in advance which would allow
the LATC working capital to manage its affairs and also to transfer a cash
reserve to enable the company some freedom around minor investment – it was not
anticipated that the company would go over budget but in that event the net
savings figure would be reduced accordingly in line with that amount · assurance could be taken regarding the robust governance arrangements proposed with two separate boards (1) Operational Board to manage the day to day running of the company, and (2) Strategic Governance Board to provide strategic oversight. A 10 year contract would be agreed, along with a new leisure strategy. Both boards would be in addition to ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
|
To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) detailing the latest financial position and progress against the agreed budget strategy. Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED that Cabinet – (a) note the budgets set for 2018/19 and progress
against the agreed budget strategy, and (b) note the proposed use of service carry
forwards. Minutes: Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the
report detailing the latest financial position and progress against the agreed
budget strategy. He provided a summary
of the Council’s financial position as follows – ·
the net
revenue budget for 2018/19 was £194.418m (£189.252m in 2017/18) ·
an
underspend of £0.287m was forecast for service and corporate budgets ·
highlighted
current risks and variances relating to individual service areas, and ·
provided a general
update on the Housing Revenue Account, Housing Capital Plan and the Capital
Plan (including the Corporate Plan element). Cabinet was also asked to note the proposed use
of service carry forwards as detailed within the report. Cabinet was advised that most of the major
capital projects remained on budget and on target. With regard to Ysgol
Llanfair the building works on site were on target to be completed within the
contract period. However the Council was
in the process of agreeing an easement for the access to the foul drain within
third party land to provide the foul connection to the new school site. The easement had been signed by the Council
and was currently with the trustees of the land owner for review. Until the easement was completed, works
remaining to be carried out could not be planned into the construction
programme or submitted to Welsh Water.
Consequently there was a potential delay with the project due to those
external circumstances which were largely outside the Council’s control. Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts hoped for a
quick resolution to the third party negotiations to avoid any potential delay
with the project. The Leader referred to the Rhyl Queens Market
Redevelopment and thanked Welsh Government for the financial support provided
to enable purchase of the site for future development and regeneration in Rhyl. RESOLVED that Cabinet – (a) note the budgets
set for 2018/19 and progress against the agreed budget strategy, and (b) note the
proposed use of service carry forwards. |
|
CABINET FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME PDF 287 KB To receive the enclosed Cabinet Forward Work Programme and note the contents.
Additional documents: Decision: RESOLVED that Cabinet’s
Forward Work Programme be noted. Minutes: The Cabinet Forward Work Programme was
presented for consideration and members noted the following amendments – ·
North
Wales Growth Bid Governance Agreement 2 – to be moved from May ·
Denbighshire
County Council Framework for Housing Voids Works – to be added for May RESOLVED that Cabinet’s Forward Work Programme be noted. |
|
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act
1972, the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting for the following item
of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of
exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the
Act. Additional documents: |
|
CHANGES TO THE APPOINTMENT OF CONTRACTORS TO THE NORTH WALES CONSTRUCTION FRAMEWORK 2 (NWCF2) To consider a confidential report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) detailing changes to the outcome process of the NWCF2 and recommended appointment of contractors. Additional documents:
Decision: RESOLVED that the change
to Lot 3 be approved and the named contractor as detailed in paragraph 3 of the
report be appointed to the North Wales Construction Framework 2. Minutes: Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the
confidential report detailing changes to the outcome process of the North Wales
Construction Framework 2 (NWCF2) and recommended appointment of contractors to
be used for major construction works over £250k. Cabinet had approved the appointment of named
contractors to the North Wales Construction Framework 2 on 26 February
2019. Since then one of the contractors
had been excluded from the procurement process and consequently approval was
sought to appoint the next ranked contractor to the place that had become
vacant in Lot 3 as detailed within the report.
Cabinet considered the changes to the outcome of the procurement process
and noted that whilst there was a different contractor proposed the same
conditions would apply and the impact on the Council was the same. Consequently it was – RESOLVED that the change
to Lot 3 be approved and the named contractor as detailed in paragraph 3 of the
report be appointed to the North Wales Construction Framework 2. The meeting concluded at 12.55 hrs. |