Agenda item

To receive the minutes of the meeting of County Council held on:

 

(i)              29 January 2019 (copy attached);

(ii)             19 February 2019 (copy attached).

 

The minutes of Full Council held on 29 January 2019 and 19 February 2019 were submitted.

 

Accuracy:

 

Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies stated that on page 12 (Item 8) it should read “Fire Authority” and not “Fire Authority Board”.

 

Councillor Davies also stated that there was a discrepancy between the Welsh and English version of the minutes.  On page 11 of the English version the bullet point read “Schools to find 2% cuts was raised …..” .  The paragraph had not been translated in full on the Welsh version.

 

There was also a discrepancy on page 10 as in the English version the bullet point “Schools savings of 2% (£1.3 million)” was correct but within the Welsh version it had stated “(£13million)”, which was incorrect.

 

Matters Arising:

 

 

Page 9 (Item 6) – Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor enquired as to whether there would be any additional funding from the Welsh Government?  He also queried if certain departments had an underspend would that money be carried forward?

 

The Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill confirmed that the annual Revenue Outturn paper would be presented at Cabinet in June 2019 and would deal with any underspend in services during this financial year.  He also confirmed that no significant additional funding had been received.

 

At this point, the Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, Councillor Brian Jones stated that within his portfolio they had applied for additional funding but were unsuccessful in the bid.

 

Page 10 – Councillor Rhys Thomas – the addition of £100million into homeless prevention services – how much of that will be allocated to Denbighshire?  He stated a written response would suffice.

 

The Lead Member for Well-being and Independence confirmed the £100million was for the whole of Wales and would be a pro-rata allocation to Denbighshire via the Supporting People Group.

 

Councillor Glenn Swingler declared a personal interest as he is a school governor.

Page 11 (Item 6) – Councillor Glenn Swingler expressed concern regarding the 2% cut schools were expected to find.  He explained the difficulty schools would have to make this saving.  He also expressed concern for the standard of education to children if further cuts were continued to be made.

 

The Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People responded that during the past few years, education had been protected despite cuts from the Welsh Government.  Communication had taken place with Chairs of Governors and Headteachers who were committed to find the 2% savings.  Assurances were given that the cuts would not be at the detriment to the children’s education.

 

Page 12 (Item 7) – Councillor Rhys Thomas stated he had been provided with data regarding care leavers who were liable to pay council tax.  There were five care leavers, two of whom lived within Denbighshire.  Councillor Thomas asked if there had been any moves nationally to ensure care leavers were excluded from paying council tax.  He confirmed a written response would suffice.

 

Page 13 (Item 9) – Councillor Gwyneth Kensler raised the issue of the potential impact of Brexit on the local economy of Denbighshire due to the issues currently in Westminster.

 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts informed Council that regarding period dignity, funding would be provided by Welsh Government but did not know, at this time, what the allocation to Denbighshire would be.

 

Page 17 (Item 3) – Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor expressed his gratitude to the Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, Councillor Brian Jones, for sending a written response to Mrs Pauline Wheeler.  He expressed concern that the information should be made clearer to parents.  He went on to confirm that he had put it to Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs and the matter would be presented at Scrutiny Committee.

 

Page 19 (Item 3) – Councillor Emrys Wynne expressed his thanks to the Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People, Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts for his comprehensive response regarding period poverty.  Councillor Wynne went on to ask if any further responses had been received.

 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts confirmed that some schools were yet to respond but once all responses were received they would be collated and circulated.

 

RESOLVED that, subject to the above, the minutes of Full Council held on 29 January 2019 and 19 February 2019, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.