THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL
MINUTES of a meeting held on 9th
January, 2007.
Present: Councillor N.P. Hodges (Mayor);
Councillors Ms. M.E. Alexander, R.J. Bertin, Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, Ms.
R.M. Birch, Ms. L. Burnett, P. Church, Mrs. C.V.L. Clay, J.
Clifford, Miss J. Cole, G.A. Cox, R.F. Curtis, A.D. Dobbinson, S.C.
Egan, A.M. Ernest, C.P. Franks, N.J. Gibbs, E. Hacker, A.D.
Hampton, Mrs. V.M. Hartrey, M.R. Harvey, H.J.W. James, T.H. Jarvie,
G. John, F.T. Johnson, Mrs. M. Kelly Owen, G.C. Kemp, Mrs. A.J.
Moore, N. Moore, C.L. Osborne, A.G. Powell, Mrs. A.J. Preston, Mrs.
M. Randall, A.J. Readman, Mrs. S.I. Sharpe, B.I. Shaw, K.R.
Stockdale, J.W. Thomas, W.C. Vaughan, S.T. Wiliam, Mrs. M.R.
Wilkinson, A.C. Williams, A.J. Williams, C.J. Williams, E.T.
Williams and M.R. Wilson.
648 APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE
-
This was received from Councillor Mrs. J.E.
Charles.
649 DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST -
No declarations were received.
650 SILENCE -
Members stood in silence as a mark of respect
to former Councillor Haydn Holmes who had, regrettably, recently
passed away.
651 ANNOUNCEMENTS -
(i) The Mayor and
other Members referred to the following recipients of Honours
in
the New Year’s Honours List the Mayor and indicated he would
be writing to
each recipient congratulating them on their award:
Dr. David Wynford Williams, Welsh St. Donats, who had received a
CB.
Professor Stephen Tomlinson, Dinas Powys, who had received a
CBE.
Mr. Paul Sergeant, Llantwit Major, and Professor Jonathan Richard
Sibert, Penarth,
both of whom had received an OBE.
Dr. Ivor Davies, Penarth, and Mrs. Hilary Joan Farley, Penarth,
both of whom had
received an MBE.
(ii)
The Mayor referred to the recent formal opening of the new library
within the
Town Hall and to the fact that enrolments were running at
approximately 100 a
day.
(iii) The Mayor indicated
that his final fundraising event of the municipal year would
be taking place on 26th January, 2007 in the form
of a dinner in aid of Ty Hafan.
652 APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY
MAYOR -
In the light of the former Deputy Mayor’s
appointment as a Cabinet Member, it was necessary to appoint a
Deputy Mayor for the remainder of the current municipal year in
accordance with the provisions of Section 24 of the Local
Government Act 1972. Prior to dealing with the matter, the
Mayor thanked Councillor C.J. Williams for his assistance in the
role of Deputy Mayor to date.
It was moved by Councillor H.J.W. James, and
duly seconded, that Councillor A.C. Williams be elected Deputy
Mayor. It was further moved by Councillor R.J. Bertin, and
duly seconded, that Councillor F.T. Johnson be elected Deputy
Mayor. Upon being put to the vote it was
RESOLVED - T H A T Councillor A.C. Williams be
appointed Deputy Mayor of the Council for the remainder of the
current municipal year.
The newly-appointed Deputy Mayor signed the
Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was invested with
the Chain of Office.
653 LEADER AND CABINET
-
Article 7 of the Constitution - “The
Executive” provided as follows:
“7.03 Leader
In accordance with Standing Orders, the Leader
of the Council will be a councillor elected to the position of
Leader of the Council. The Leader will hold office until:
(a)
he/she resigns from the office; or
(b)
he/she is suspended from being a councillor under Part III of the
Local Government Act 2000 (although he/she may resume office at the
end of the period of suspension); or
(c)
he/she is no longer a councillor;
(d)
the next local government election save that the Council may remove
the Leader from office at an earlier date, but only in the event of
a vote of no confidence in the Leader or a change in political
control of the Council.”
Part 4(A) of the Constitution - “Council
Procedure Rules” - provides that the annual meeting will be told by
the Leader of the names of councillors he/she has chosen to be
Deputy Leader and members of the Cabinet.
Article 7 of the Constitution - “The
Executive” - provides that “The Executive will consist of the
Executive Leader together with at least two, but not more than
nine, councillors appointed to The Executive by the Executive
Leader”.
RESOLVED - T H A T, as advised by the Leader,
it be noted that Councillor N. Moore would be the Deputy Leader and
the undermentioned Members would comprise the Cabinet with the
portfolios indicated:
Executive Leader – Councillor Margaret
Alexander
· Chief Executive’s Office
· Strategic Policy and
Corporate Plan
· Community Strategy
· Community
Consultation
· Corporate Image and
Communications
· Town Twinning
· Organisational
Development and Motivation
· Members Services
Champion
· Performance
Monitoring
· Complaints Monitoring
· Customer Care
· Improvement Action Plans
and Monitoring
· Inward Investment
· Barry Regeneration
· Business Support
· Town Centre Management and Development
· Economic Regeneration
Projects
· Community
Regeneration
NB Portfolios for the Executive should ideally cover every
executive function as set out in the Constitution. The
Government was unable, however, to define every executive function
and I am adding the following additional item to each Executive
Members Portfolio.
“Such other executive functions as are set out
in the Constitution, as the Leader may allocate to each portfolio
from time to time.”
Deputy Leader – Councillor Neil Moore
And Cabinet Member for Finance ICT and
Property
· Financial Services and
Budget
· Land and Property
Management
· Information and
Communication Technology
· OneVale and
E-Government
· Consultancy Services
· Risk Assessment
· Employment Land and
Buildings
· Sustainable
Development
Legal and Public Protection – Councillor Chris
Franks
· Legal Services
· Environmental Health and
Pollution Control
· Pest Control
· Trading Standards
· Licensing
· Emergency
Planning
· Democratic
Services
· Births, Deaths and
Marriages (including Coroner)
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader may
allocate to each
portfolio from time to time.”
Tourism and Leisure – Councillor Gwyn John
· Countryside
Strategy
· Country Parks
· Commons
· Heritage Coast
· Arts and
Entertainment
· Community
Centres
· Heritage
Services
· Dyffryn House and
Garden
· Landscape Design
· Tourist Information
Centres
· Woodland
Management/Coed Cymru
· Leisure Management
(including Sports and Leisure Centres)
· Tourism
Development
· Events
· Marketing
· Sports
Development
· "Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader may
allocate
to each portfolio from time to time.”
Planning and Transportation – Councillor Chris
Williams
· Development and
Planning Policy
· Unitary Development
Plan
· Mineral Policy
· Conservation
Issues
· Building
Preservation
· Transport Plans
(Local and Regional)
· Public and School
Transportation
· School Crossing
Patrols
· Road Safety
· Safer Routes to
School
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader may
allocate
to each portfolio from time to time.”
Education and Training –
Councillor Nigel Gibbs
· Schools, Funding and
Support
· School
Improvement
· Special Educational
Needs
· Inclusion and
Access
· Education
Welfare
· Admissions
· Early Years
Education Provision
· Governor Support and
Training
· Lifelong
Learning
· Community
Education
· Youth Service
· Adult Training
· Education Strategic
Planning
· Library and
Information Service
· Pupil Referral Unit
(EBD unit and Amelia Trust unit)
· Vale Consortium for
Education and Training (VLN)
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader may
allocate
to each portfolio from time to time.”
Social and Care Services – Councillor Stuart
Egan
· Children Services
· Adult Services
· Family Support
· Advice and
Assessment
· Services for People
with Disabilities/Impairment
· Early Years
· Special Needs
· Mental Health
· Elderly Persons
Homes and Champion
· Home Care
· Community Care
· Voluntary Sector
Inclusion
· Health Liaison
· YOT
· Catering
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader may
allocate
to each portfolio from time to time.”
Housing and Community Safety – Councillor Margaret
Wilkinson
· Housing Investment
· Allocations
· Specialist
Services
· Housing
Benefits and Rent Rebates
· Homelessness
and Travellers (including sites)
· Private Sector
Housing
· Tenant
Services
· Identification
of Housing Need and Accommodation
· Social Housing
Responsibilities
· Housing
Strategy
· Community
Safety (including Section 17 responsibilities)
· Home Office
related issues
· Liaison with
Probation Service
· Crime and
Disorder Audit Strategy
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader
may allocate to each portfolio from time to time.”
Human Resources – Councillor Margaret
Randall
· Human Resources Strategy
· Recruitment and Retention
· Equalities
· Employee
Relations
· Sickness and
Absenteeism
· Health and
Safety
· Flexitime
· Member
Development Champion
· Training
· Improvement
Plan
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader
may
allocate to each portfolio from time to time.”
Visible and Building Services – Councillor Rob
Curtis
· Waste
Collection
· Waste Transfer
and Disposal
· Recycling
· Civic Amenity
Sites
· Fly
Tipping
· Graffiti
Strategy
· Parks and
Grounds Maintenance
· Play Areas
· Grass Verge
and roundabout maintenance
· Dyffryn
Gardens (grounds maintenance)
· Tree
Services
· Engineering
Design
· Traffic
Management
· Highway
Maintenance
· Highway
Development
· Highway
Structures including Bridges
· Street
Lighting
· Cleansing
· Public
Toilets
· Car Parks
· Coastal
protection
· Beach Management
· Street Care
· Building
Maintenance
· Fleet
Management
· Fleet
maintenance
· Building
Cleaning
· Security
· Water
Safety
· “Such other
executive functions as are set out in the Constitution, as the
Leader
may
allocate to each portfolio from time to time.”
654 MEMBERSHIP OF SCRUTINY
COMMITTEES -
The existing membership of Scrutiny Committees
had been agreed by Council at the Annual Meeting on 17th
May, 2006. Given the recent change in administration, it was
necessary to consider consequential issues arising regarding
membership of Scrutiny Committees as a result of the changes in
Cabinet membership.
RESOLVED - T H A T the following revised
membership of Scrutiny Committees, incorporating the changes
notified by the respective political groups, be noted:
(a) Scrutiny
Committee (Community Wellbeing and Safety)
Councillors R.J. Bertin, Mrs. M.E.J. Birch,
Ms. R.M. Birch, Ms. L. Burnett, Mrs. J.E. Charles, P. Church, Mrs.
V.M. Hartrey, H.J.W. James, G.C. Kemp, Mrs. A.J. Moore, A.G.
Powell, Mrs. A.J. Preston, A.J. Readman, B.I. Shaw, K.R. Stockdale,
J.W. Thomas and W.C. Vaughan.
(b) Scrutiny
Committee (Corporate Resources)
Councillors Ms. L. Burnett, Mrs. J.E. Charles,
Mrs. C.V.L. Clay, Miss. J. Cole, A.D. Dobbinson, M.R. Harvey, N.P.
Hodges, H.J.W. James, T.H. Jarvie, F.T. Johnson, Mrs. M. Kelly
Owen, C.L. Osborne, A.G. Powell, A.J. Readman, B.I. Shaw, K.R.
Stockdale and M.R. Wilson.
(c) Scrutiny
Committee (Economy and Environment)
Councillors R.J. Bertin, Ms. L. Burnett, J.
Clifford, Miss J. Cole, G.A. Cox, A.D. Dobbinson, E. Hacker, Mrs.
V.M. Hartrey, N.P. Hodges, Mrs. M. Kelly Owen, Mrs. A.J. Moore,
Mrs. A.J. Preston, Mrs. S.I. Sharpe, W.C. Vaughan, S.T. Wiliam,
A.J. Williams and M.R. Wilson.
(d) Scrutiny
Committee (Lifelong Learning)
Councillors Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, Ms. R.M. Birch,
J. Clifford, Miss J. Cole, A.M. Ernest, E. Hacker, A.D. Hampton,
Mrs. V.M. Hartrey, F.T. Johnson, G.C. Kemp, Mrs. A.J. Moore, A.G.
Powell, Mrs. S.I. Sharpe, B.I. Shaw, S.T. Wiliam, A.C. Williams and
E.T. Williams.
655 QUASI-JUDICIAL
COMMITTEES AND OTHER BODES -
The current membership of quasi-judicial
committees and other bodies was determined at the Annual Meeting on
17th May, 2006, albeit a small number of changes had
since occurred. Given the recent change in the administration
and/or the need to allocate seats to different Members, the various
political groups had submitted details of their respective changes
to membership.
RESOLVED - T H A T
(1) Appeals
Committee - Councillor C.J. Williams to replace Councillor Mrs. M.
Randall.
(2)
Audit Committee - Councillors Ms. L. Burnett and A.J. Readman to
replace Councillors N. Moore and G. John respectively.
(3) Community
Liaison Committee - Labour Group to nominate replacement for
Councillor Ms. M.E. Alexander.
(4) Appointment of
LEA Governors Advisory Panel - Councillor A.D. Hampton fill the
vacancy.
(5) Equalities
Consultative Forum - Councillor A.C. Williams fill the vacancy.
656
VICE-CHAIRMAN OF AUDIT COMMITTEE -
Given Councillor N. Moore’s appointment as a
Cabinet Member, it was necessary to appoint a Vice-Chairman of the
Audit Committee given the Committee’s recommendation on
2nd May, 2006 that no member of the Executive be
appointed to the Committee.
Councillor H.J.W. James moved, it being duly
seconded, that Councillor Mrs. M. Kelly Owen be appointed
Vice-Chairman. The Leader moved, it being duly seconded, that
Councillor A.D. Dobbinson be appointed Vice-Chairman. Upon
being put to the vote, it was
RESOLVED - T H A T Councillor A.D. Dobbinson
be elected Vice-Chairman of the Audit Committee for the remainder
of the current municipal year.