Decisions

Vote taken: 6 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions.

Having considered the report on the North East Wales Archive Service and Ruthin Gaol the Committee:

Resolved:

(i)           to note the progress made to date and support the proposals for the future use of Ruthin Gaol;

(ii)          to register concerns that no contingency plans currently existed for the Archives Service or the heritage offer at Ruthin Gaol if the bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for funding to develop a Hub in Mold for the North East Wales Archives Service was unsuccessful; and

(iii)        that the results of the current North East Wales Archives Service Access Consultation be circulated to members for information.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anton Sampson and Glenn Swingler.

Vote taken: 10 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention.

The Committee:

Resolved: having considered the findings in the report and presented during the discussion –

(i)           to receive the information on the impact of the Ruthin Primary Area Review as assessed against the seven well-being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015;

(ii)          to confirm that, as part of its consideration, it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 1);

(iii)        that an information report be prepared for circulation to members on the economic impact on Rhewl following the closure of the school as part of the Ruthin primary area review;

(iv)        that information be provided to members detailing the statistics of the Welsh Language Survey undertaken across Denbighshire recently; and

(v)          that members’ gratitude be conveyed to all school based, Education Service, and other Council Services’ staff for their efforts and commitment in securing the delivery of education and support to the county’s pupils throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

No feedback received.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

Resolved:  having considered the information provided, and subject to the above observations and suggestions–

(i)           to approve the Committee’s forward work programme; and

(ii)          that an additional meeting be arranged for early February 2021 to consider matters relating to the Waste Service Remodelling Project

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

Resolved: - that the minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 3 September 2020 be received and approved as a true and correct record

Review of Cabinet Decision Relating to the Disposal of Land Adjacent to Ysgol Pendref, Denbigh:  the Chair invited the Vice-Chair to address the Committee in relation to Cabinet’s response to the Committee’s recommendations following its examination of the above decision.  Whilst Cabinet had debated the Committee’s recommendations in some detail and half the Cabinet members had supported the Committee’s recommendations the Executive had, on the Chair’s casting vote, confirmed its original decision.  The Committee’s Vice-Chair registered his disappointment with the outcome, and questioned whether Scrutiny could ever persuade Cabinet to review their decisions.

Executive members in attendance at the present meeting advised that in their view Scrutiny had effectively held decision-makers to account and generated constructive debate.  A number of matters had been aired which were likely to be considered when determining future planning policy.  The use of the casting vote had highlighted that the Council’s Cabinet was balanced, and comprised members of different viewpoints. 

Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies declared a personal interest in agenda item 4, ‘Minutes’ as a member of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority.

The following members declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, ‘Impact of Ruthin Primary Area Review’:  

Councillor Huw O Williams – parent of a pupil attending one of the schools

Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies – School Governor Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts – Parent and School Governor Ysgol Pen Barras

Councillor Merfyn Parry – School Governor Ysgol Bryn Clwyd and Ysgol Gellifor

Co-opted Member Neil Roberts – School Governor Ysgol Borthyn

Councillor Cheryl Williams – School Governor Christ the Word School

Councillor Emrys Wynne – School Governor Ysgol Brynhyfryd & Ysgol Borthyn

Councillor Martyn Holland – School Governor Ysgol Bro Fammau

Councillor Andrew Thomas – governor at one of the County’s schools

Councillor Tina Jones – governor at Ysgol Melyd

Councillor Graham Timms – governor at Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the budgets set for 2020/21 and progress against the agreed budget strategy.

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       grant approval to undertake the proposed tendering exercise, and

(b)       note that a further report will be brought back to Cabinet (via the Strategic Investment Group) for approval of the subsequent Contract Award following the tendering exercise, which will also confirm contract management arrangements, tendered costs and contract details.

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       agree to commence the procurement process for this works contract with a licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor to be advertised;

(b)       agree that the decision above be implemented immediately  in order to prevent any delay in awarding the contract, and

(c)        confirm that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 1 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the extension of the UK Leisure Framework until January 2022 on the same terms as let, and in any event such extension period shall be limited to 50% of the value of the original framework agreement in accordance with Regulation 72 Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Vote taken: 4 in favour, 4 against, 0 abstentions; Leader used his casting vote in favour to carry the resolution.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       acknowledges Communities Scrutiny Committee’s conclusions and recommendations following its review of the Cabinet decision of 22 September 2020, and

(b)       having reviewed their decision and taken into account the recommendations from Communities Scrutiny Committee, reaffirm the Cabinet decision made on 22 September 2020 to –

(i)    “approve the disposal of land adjacent to Ysgol Pendref, Denbigh outlined in red on the plan (Appendix A to the report) which is surplus to Council requirements on the open market for residential development and delegates authority to the Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets to approve the final sale, and

(ii)  confirms it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix B to the report) as part of its consideration”

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that, subject to a point of accuracy, the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2020 be received and confirmed as a correct record.

The Chief Executive provided an update following the Welsh Government announcement the previous day to introduce a circuit breaker across Wales to help regain control of coronavirus.

Councillors Bobby Feeley and Huw Hilditch-Roberts declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 – Extension of the Council’s UK Leisure Framework because they were Directors of Denbighshire Leisure Limited.

There were no apologies.

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that Cabinet’s forward work programme be noted.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.  All members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated they wanted to abstain.

The Committee:

Resolved: - having considered the policy –

(i)           to support its aims and objectives;

(ii)          to confirm that, as part of its consideration, it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2); and

(iii)        recommended that on page 4 of the policy, under the ‘Environmental Sustainability Initiatives’ section that the words “limiting pollution” be replaced by “limiting pollution where possible”.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus. No formal vote was taken. All Committee members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it and no one indicated that they wished to abstain. The Committee:

Resolved: - That the Democratic Services Committee recommend the draft Committee timetable for 2021 to Full Council for approval.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus. No formal vote was taken. All Committee members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it. It was;

RESOLVED :-  That the Democratic Service Committee not the Annual Report of the Scrutiny Committees for 2019/20.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus. No formal vote was taken. All committee members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation, no one indicated they were against it. It was:

RESOLVED:-

     I.        That the Democratic Service Committee notes the determinations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales for 2020/21 in respect of the payment of basic, senior and civic salaries and payments to co-opted members.

    II.        That the Democratic Service Committee notes the level of support provided to members to carry out their duties, with regard to ‘Determinations’ 9 and 10 of the Annual Report.

  III.        That the Democratic Service Committee requests the ‘New Ways of Working’ Group look into the allocation of senior salaries and report back to the Democratic Services Committee at a later date.

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus. No formal vote was taken. Committee members indicated they were in favour of the recommendation. The Committee:

RESOLVED:- Subject to the above observations, to support the recovery plan for democratic arrangements, as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED, that Democratic Service’s Committee forward work programme be noted.

No urgent matters had been raised.

The Monitoring Officer stated that all member would have to declare a personal interest in the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales' Draft Annual Report as it determined Councillor’s salaries.

All Councillor’s present declared a personal interest in the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales' Annual Report 2020/21.

Apologies were received from Councillor Joe Welch.