CABINET
Minutes of a meeting held on 31st July, 2008.
Present: Councillor G.C. Kemp
(Chairman); Councillor T.H. Jarvie (Vice-Chairman); Councillors
Mrs. J.E. Charles, P. Church, G.A. Cox, A.M. Ernest, A.D. Hampton,
H.J.W. James, R.L. Traherne and Mrs. D.M. Turner.
Also Present: Councillors Ms. M.E.
Alexander, Ms. B.E. Brooks, S.C. Egan, N.P. Hodges, Mrs. K.A. Kemp,
N. Moore, E.T. Williams and Ms. M. Wright.
C103 MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 23rd July, 2008 be approved as a correct
record.
C104 DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST -
Councillors Mrs. J.E. Charles and A.D. Hampton
declared an interest in Agenda Item 18(a) in that they were Members
of Barry Town Council but indicated that they were able to speak
and vote on the matter.
C105 JOINT CONSULTATIVE
FORUM: 18TH JULY, 2008 -
RESOLVED - T H A T the report of the meeting
of the Joint Consultative Forum held on 18th July, 2008
be noted:
Present: Councillor Mrs. J.E. Charles
(Chairman); Councillors Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, Mrs. M. Kelly
Owen, C.L. Osborne, Mrs. M. Randall and M.R. Wilson.
Representatives of the Trade Unions: Mr. P.S.
Carter (Vice-Chairman) (UNITE); Mr. T. Greaves (GMB), Mr. N.H.
Morgan (UNISON), Mr. G. Beaudette (NUT);
Mr. G. Moseley (UNISON), Mr. D.C. Jones (UNISON), Mr. G.
Lewis (GMB) and Mr. A. Unsworth (MPO).
(a)
Introduction of New Chair -
Members of the Forum were introduced to
Councillor Mrs. J.E. Charles, the newly appointed Chair of the
Forum.
(b)
Apologies for absence -
These were received from Councillor A.D.
Hampton, Dr. Browne, Mr. T. Cox and Mr. G. Moses.
(c)
Minutes -
AGREED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 8th November 2007 be accepted as a correct
record.
The following matter arising from the minutes
was noted:
(g) Personal Use of the
Internet and Other Matters -
It was noted that the six personal computers
intended for use by staff who did not normally have access to
personal computers had been installed, and the initiative was
working successfully. However, printers had not been
installed and it was agreed that this be taken up with the Head of
IT.
(d)
Response on Sickness Absence Pilot Scheme in the Alps -
The Head of Visible Services had been due to
report on the outcome of a pilot project that had operated within
Visible Services from June 2006 to January 2007. This
had not been possible due to his inability to obtain comparative
data. The latest sickness management from the previous
personnel management system had been reported to Cabinet in
December 2006 and covered the period April to September 2006.
Following this, a transition period ensued, with the information
being transferred to TransAct, and the first sickness management
report from this system covered the period April to September
2007.
No report had been produced from September
2006 to April 2007, which partially covered the period of the pilot
project, and this data was still not available. Extraction of
the data manually would be a labour intensive process and. in the
light of the fact that the pilot project was so long ago and the
sickness absence policy was being reviewed, the Forum was requested
to consider whether the report would now be relevant.
Following discussions, it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T work on the Sickness
Absence Pilot Scheme in the Alps be discontinued.
(e) Joint
Consultative Forum Constitution and Terms of Reference -
Arising from minor changes to the members of
the Directorate Consultative Groups, and their Terms of Reference,
it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the Constitution of the
Joint Consultative Forum be amended as follows:
Paragraph
6.3.1 “Community Services” to be
changed from “Social Services”
6.3.2 Remove “Housing”
6.3.3 Remove “Regulatory”, add
“Public Protection and Housing”
6.3.4 Add “Catering”.
(f) Minutes of
Directorate Consultative Groups -
AGREED - T H A T the minutes of the Learning
Directorate Consultative Group held on 10th January and
13th March 2008 be noted.
(g)
Minutes of Corporate Occupational Health and Safety Committee -
AGREED - T H A T the minutes of the Corporate
Occupational Health and Safety Committee held on 7th May
2008 be noted.
(h) Car
Pool Working Group -
AGREED - T H A T the minutes of the Car Pool
Working Group held on 4th April and 12th
June 2008 be noted.
(i) Draft
Management of Attendance Policy -
The Forum received the draft Management of
Attendance Policy which had been subject to extensive
consultation. Also before the Forum was a written response of
the Trade Unions and consultation feedback. It was intended
that the draft Policy be presented to Cabinet for approval.
The main areas of disagreement with the Joint
Trade Unions were:
Industrial Injuries
Trade Union representatives stated that whilst
they generally accepted the draft Policy, they were concerned about
the treatment of industrial injuries. Members of staff
injured through no fault of their own should not, it was claimed,
suffer detriment. It was felt that such people should fall
under a separate policy, and concerns were expressed that members
of staff could be given notice of termination if they were off work
for no fault of their own.
In response, the following comments were
made:
- Under WAG rules, different
types of “absence” were not distinguished
- The issue was not how the
absence was classified, but how it was treated. Long term
absences were to be treated sensitively through a case-management
approach and each case had to be treated on its own merits
- No separate policy exists
for the treatment of staff affected by industrial injury
- From an employment law
perspective, there was no reason why industrial injury cases should
be treated differently from other absence from work. The
Policy deals with absence, not the reason for it
- The main emphasis of the
Policy is to help people return to work.
Members of the Trade Unions stated that whilst
they could see many good points in what had been said, it was still
their wish that a special policy be produced for the treatment of
absence caused by industrial injury, and that the Teaching Unions
be involved. It was also requested that industrial injuries
be a material factor in case management practices.
Following further discussions, it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T additional paragraphs
and / or a protocol on the treatment of absences arising from
industrial injury be added to the Policy.
Appeals
Trade Union representatives reiterated their
wish that appeals remained with the Members in that Members would
give more dispassionate consideration of an appeal.
The Chairman stated that she had sat on
appeals and had always found the advice of officers to be
unbiased. On the other hand, she did express the view that it
could be a traumatic experience for the appellants to appear before
an Appeals Committee. The Chairman stated that she could see
both sides of the argument and proposed that the procedure outlined
in the draft Policy be given a trial period of 12 months.
Following a lengthy discussion, the Elected Members
RECOMMENDED - T H A T Appeals arising from
dismissals under the new Policy should remain with the Appeals
Committee.
Limited Fitness to Return to Work
Reference was made to the section of the draft
Policy entitled “Limited Fitness to Return to Work” (Page 5 of the
document), in particular reference to the use of annual leave in
the final paragraph of the section.
Following discussion, it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the penultimate sentence
of the final paragraph of the section entitled “Limited Fitness to
Return to Work” read “Any time in addition to the Special Leave
needed by the employee will be by use of accrued leave”.
Other
Concern was expressed at a number of other
aspects of the draft Policy such that it was felt that an
extraordinary meeting of the Forum be convened to consider the drat
Policy further.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T, notwithstanding its
earlier recommendations in this matter, an extraordinary meeting of
the Joint Consultative Forum be convened to further consider the
draft Management of Attendance Policy.
(j) Feedback on
Policy Development -
AGREED - T H A T the details submitted
relating to the above, which included those policies recently
approved, those about to be submitted for approval, those
concerning which ongoing discussions were being held and those in
the process of being drafted, be noted.
(k)
Policy Development Consultation Flowchart -
The Policy Development Consultation Process
had been reviewed and agreed by the Joint Trade Unions in Single
Status, and a copy was provided to the Forum for formal
agreement.
AGREED - T H A T the Flowchart be
endorsed.
(l) Trade Union
Item -
Essential Car User
The Trade Union representatives had requested
consideration of this item in the belief that the Cabinet’s
decision to remove Essential Car User Allowance for all new
applicants, and not proceed with the buyout scheme had been applied
incorrectly.
The Forum was advised that, whilst the
decision of Cabinet to advertise new and vacant posts to be on
Casual User only meant that at least applicants could make a
decision on whether to apply for a job knowing all the conditions
attached, it was felt that the decision had been unfairly
interpreted to include groups of staff who should have retained the
allowance.
Such members of staff were those who had been
involved in restructuring and had either been matched into new
posts or had to apply for new posts with their old posts being
subsequently deleted. The staff had no alternative but to
apply for the new posts and it was felt that they should not be
treated the same as someone viewing the Vale as a new employer and
looking at the package on offer and comparing it with their current
job. It was stressed that the staff’s jobs would have been
put at risk if they had not accepted the new jobs.
Having considered the matter, it was
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T further consideration be given to the decision to remove
Essential Car Allowance for all such affected staff and that a
further report be brought before the Joint Consultative Forum for
consideration.
(2) T H A
T, in the interim, no further deductions be made from the affected
group of staff.
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C106
CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE (PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY) -
The following minutes of a meeting held on
23rd July, 2008 were submitted:
Present: Councillor H.J.W. James
(Chairman); Councillors P. Church, A.M. Ernest and A.D.
Hampton.
(a)
Minutes -
The minutes of the meeting held on
9th July, 2008 were approved as an accurate record.
(b)
Declarations of Interest -
No declarations were received.
(c)
Application for Public Path Diversion Order - No. 3 St. Nicholas
(DEER) -
The Sub-Committee were informed of an
application for the diversion of part of Public Footpath No. 3 St.
Nicholas, and approval was sought for the making of the relevant
Diversion Order.
The application related to the part of the
path known as Public Footpath No. 3 St. Nicholas, which ran
northwards from the accommodation road to Homri Farm and which
terminated approximately 156m north of Homri Farm.
Planning permission had been sought for
alterations to and the extension of the existing farmhouse at Homri
Farm under planning consent 05/01329/FUL, which had been approved
on 24th March 2006 with conditions.
Condition 6 of the planning consent stated
that “no development shall take place until such time as a
Diversion Order had been made for the diversion of Public Footpath
No. 3 St. Nicholas, under Section 257 of the Town and Country
Planning Act 1990”.
The application sought to divert part of
Public Footpath No. 3 St. Nicholas into the adjacent field to allow
the construction of a garage and to grant greater privacy to the
occupants. The diverted route was more extensive than the
minimum required to enable the planning consent to be implemented
and for that reason it was being made under Section 119 of the
Highways Act 1980.
The land that the definite path and proposed
diversion were on was in the ownership of the applicant.
It was proposed to divert the section of
Public Footpath No. 3 St. Nicholas shown on the Definitive Map as
following the western side of the field boundary from the
accommodation road at Homri Farm northwards through two fields, and
terminating at a stile.
For reasons of increased security for Homri
Farmhouse and for the convenience and safety of the users of the
public footpath, it was proposed to divert the path to a route
northwards directly off the accommodation road via a single large
field to the east of Homri Farmhouse for approximately 159m, where
it would then cross the field boundary to rejoin the definitive
path at a stile.
The applicants had agreed to reimburse the
Council for the costs of £1,000 for the making of the new Order in
accordance with the current regulations, and to carry out any
necessary works to the proposed new path.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services be
authorised to make an Order under Section 119 of the Highways Act
1980 to divert part of Public Footpath No. 3 St. Nicholas as shown
on the map attached to the report, and provided no objections are
received, be authorised to confirm the Order.
(2) T H A
T once the required works had been satisfactorily completed, the
Public Rights of Way Officer be authorised to issue a certificate
of completion under Schedule 6 Paragraph 9(1) - 9(3) of the
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Reasons for decisions
(1) The
Order is required for the security and convenience of Homri
Farmhouse and for the safety and convenience of users of the
footpath.
(2) There
are works to be carried out by the landowner on the new route of
the path to bring the path into being.
----------
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes be noted.
C107 VOLUNTARY ACTION
SCHEME PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING IN 2009/10: (REF) (SCRUTINY -
CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Voluntary Action Scheme application guidelines
had been approved by Cabinet on 15th February, 2006
(Min. C2307). The Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee on
22nd July, 2008 considered the arrangements and
priorities for funding for the 2009/10 Scheme.
The scheme in the current year had been
limited by Cabinet to one year funding only. The Scheme as
originally envisaged provided for up to three year funding.
Members and representatives of the Voluntary Sector were very
supportive of the view that the 2009/10 Scheme should revert to
that originally envisaged providing security of funding to
organisations over a period of up to three years.
The Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee,
having considered the matter,
AGREED - T H AT Cabinet be requested to
approve the Voluntary Action Scheme 2009/10 to provide funding to
organisations over a period of up to three years.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the above,
RESOLVED - T H A T the Voluntary Action Scheme
2009/10 be approved with a view to a review being undertaken as
whether to provide funding over a period of up to three years.
C108 IMPROVEMENT
AGREEMENT 2008 - 2011 (CX) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
The report advised Cabinet of proposals for
undertaking a new Policy Agreement with the Welsh Assembly
Government (WAG).
The Council entered into two previous Policy
Agreements with WAG covering the periods 2001/04 and 2004/07.
Policy Agreements were based on the premise that the Council and
WAG shared common objectives and that agreements could be entered
into to assist in achieving those objectives. The Council was
paid an incentive grant by WAG to incentivise achievement of
targets, to the value of £1.18 million annually.
A new 'Improvement Agreement' (IA) with the
Council was being sought by WAG, the key differences between the
proposal and the former Improvement Agreement included:
·
The incentive grant would be paid on a sliding scale instead of the
'all or nothing' approach used in previous years.
·
There were four themes within the IA (a healthy, fair and just
society adults; a healthy, fair and just society children;
sustainability communities; a prosperous, cultural and diverse
society) and two activities or targets must be chosen under each
theme.
·
Both activities and performance indicators could be used (in the
previous Policy Agreement only performance indicators were
used).
·
Evidence must be provided annually for each activity/indicator to
show progress to receive the incentive grant.
If entirely successful in achieving targets,
the Council could expect to continue to receive £1.18 million for
each year of the Agreement (over three years), the grant to be
entirely un-hypothecated.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Chief Executive be empowered to enter in negotiations with
the Welsh Assembly Government to develop a Joint Improvement
Agreement.
(2) T H A
T the Chief Executive report back to Cabinet with a draft Agreement
for consideration.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) In order to agree mutually
beneficial targets that will secure the Incentive Grants from
WAG.
C109 EXTERNAL
FUNDING APPLICATIONS (CX) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT /
LIFELONG LEARNING) -
Cabinet considered various proposals for the
submission of external funding applications to maximise the amount
of external resources to support the delivery of corporate
objectives. The Corporate Management Team had previously
agreed new procedures to improve the way in which the Council
accessed and co-ordinated its bids for external funding.
Consideration was given to proposals in respect of the restoration
of the ground floor and principal rooms at Dyffryn House and an
application for Youth Service Welsh Assembly Government Capital
Funding.
With regard to Dyffryn House, the house
currently cost the Council approximately £65,000 per annum to
maintain as 'empty' disregarding any liabilities for significant
repairs. Regardless of the use for the remainder of the
house, the restoration of the ground floor and principal rooms
would enable the Council greater flexibility in the utilisation of
accommodation and would act as an additional visitor
attraction. This would generate additional income for the
site as a whole. The current proposal related to the initial
outline phase of a two-stage application process and would
establish the 'in principal' basis for the way forward. It
was proposed that Heritage Lottery Funding grant of £1.5m. be
sought with the Council providing match funding of £500,000.
Grant might be sought in phases as appropriate. An additional
sum of £28,000 would be required for the production of the Business
Plan, which would be funded from within the existing Capital
Programme resources identified for Dyffryn House and Gardens.
As far as the Youth Service was concerned, the
Council had been allocated £129,171 for the next three financial
years. It was proposed to utilise the current year's
allocation, together with a part of next year's funding, to
purchase a mobile youth provision in the form of a single decker
bus, which would enable access to be afforded to a large number of
locations including rural towns and villages. The cost of the
purchase and refurbishment of the vehicle was estimated at
£197,500.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the submission of outline submissions to the Heritage Lottery
Fund in respect of restoration of the ground floor and principal
rooms at Dyffryn House be approved.
(2) T H A
T the submission of an application and authority for the acceptance
of Youth Service Welsh Assembly Government Capital Funding for
2008/09 be approved.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
enable the Council to ascertain whether the Heritage Lottery Fund
will support 'in principle' an application to restore the ground
floor and a limited number of principal rooms within Dyffryn
House.
(2) To
maximise capital external resources available to the Council to
improve the youth provision in the area.
C110
HEALTH SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING STRATEGY: LIVING BETTER LIVING
LONGER (2008 - 2011): IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (DSS) (SCRUTINY - SOCIAL
CARE AND HEALTH) -
The Welsh Assembly Government required all
local communities to produce a strategy which showed how they
intended to improve health, social care and wellbeing of people in
their area. The strategy should span a broad spectrum of
issues, from preventative actions intended to improve health and
reduce the risk of ill-health through to the Council's social care
services and intervention by the National Health Service. A
Health Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy had been endorsed by
Cabinet on 13th February, 2008 and by Council on
5th March, 2008. It had been agreed that a more
detailed implementation plan would be developed to specify the
actions required to deliver the strategy and this was submitted to
the Cabinet for approval.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the implementation plan for
the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy 2008 - 2011 be
approved.
Reason for decision
To support improvements in health and social
care services by providing a framework for partnership working by
the Council, the Local Health Board and key stakeholders.
C111
SCHOOL TRANSPORT: HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORT POLICY REVIEW AND UPDATE
(DEER) (SCRUTINY - LIFELONG LEARNING / ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
The report set out a number of proposed
changes to the Council's Home to School Transport Policy for
incorporation into the main body of the policy. It was
intended that the changes be adopted in time for the start of the
academic year in September 2008.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Council's Home to School Transport Policy be amended to
include the updates outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.
(2) T H A
T the updated Home to School Transport Policy be issued to all
schools for information.
(3) T H A
T a further update report be presented to Cabinet in 12 months.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
provide an updated Home to School Transport Policy which clearly
reflects recent changes in legislation and Council policy.
(2) To
ensure that all schools in the Vale are made aware of the
amendments to the Home to School Transport Policy.
(3) To
apprise Members.
C112 RURAL LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
The Rural Local Development Strategy was an
integrated strategy for the regeneration of the rural Vale.
The Creative Rural Communities Partnership had been successfully
operating for over four years and had delivered high quality
community led projects using European / Welsh Assembly grants,
primarily 'Article 33' and numerous external sources for match
funding. The Council was the lead body for the Partnership,
employing staff and carrying out all management and financial
roles.
Following the discontinuation of Article 33, a
bid for its successor funding under the Rural Development Plan for
Wales, Axes 3 and 4 were submitted in November 2007. The bid
comprised a Business Plan for a three year period along with a
range of projects for action. The Rural Development Plan
monies were available from 2007 to 2013, with the Business Plan
submitted covering the first part of this period (2008 -
2011). Axis 3 of the Rural Development Plan addressed
community led regeneration projects, with Axis 4 allowing a more
innovative, less risk adverse approach.
The original Business Plan submitted included
14 projects, of which 11 had been approved for funding by the Welsh
Assembly Government as follows:
(a)
'Tourism Matters' Grant Scheme (£350,000)
The Scheme would offer grants of up to £10,000
to tourism businesses and attractions located within the rural
Vale, maximum grant rate to be 75%. Match funding would come
from recipients, including match funding of associated staff
costs.
(b)
'Inspire' Grant Scheme (£979,416)
The Scheme was split to deliver projects under
the following themes:
·
Enterprising Community Buildings
·
Village Renewal and Development.
Grants of up to £40,000, at a 75% grant level,
would be offered. Match funding would come from recipient
groups, including match funding of associated staff
costs.
(c)
'Places for Young People' Grant Scheme (£279,765)
The Scheme would fund the development of young
people's facilities in the rural Vale of Glamorgan and was aimed at
young people up to and including 30 years old, developing
facilities for that age group. Grants of up to £40,000, with
grant awarded at 75%, would be offered. Match funding would
come from recipient groups, including match funding of associated
costs.
(d)
Heritage Tourism (£171,067)
This was a project to brand, improve and
market a group of heritage tourism locations within the rural Vale,
provide comprehensive and innovative interpretation facilities and
promote the wealth of heritage tourism attractions in the
Vale. The project had been developed and would be overseen by
a Heritage Projects Group, made up of community and Council
representatives. Once established, its continuation would be
managed by the Council's Tourism Unit within existing budgets,
utilising support from individual sites.
(e)
Greenlinks Community Transport (£232,158)
This was a project strongly supported by the
Rural Partnership and recent research and provided for a pilot
volunteer led, demand responsive, community transport
project. Most match funding would come from the Local
Transport Services Grant, project income and volunteer time.
(f) Rural
Footpaths/Stiles (£101,722)
This project aimed to secure the continued
existence of the historic stone stiles which were such a
distinctive feature of the landscape of the western Vale. The
project would be administered by the Council's Countryside and
Environment Group and partly matched from existing staff and
volunteer time.
(g) Rural
Bridleways (£51,722)
This project involved the development of
bridleways around the Llansannor area and would be administered by
the Council's Countryside and Environment Group and matched from
existing staff time in part.
(h)
Rural Events Network (£55,901)
A Rural Events Network would be established,
together with a stock of small equipment required by organisers of
rural events. The project would be led by the Council's
Events Officer, whose time would be credited as match funding.
(i) Young People's
Bursary (£147,977)
The 'Inspiring the Vale' Bursary would act as
a local funding source established to provide bursaries for
individuals and groups of young people aged up to 30 years old
intending to start a new business or community enterprise in the
rural Vale. Two categories of bursary would be offered:
·
Taster Bursaries
·
Full-time Venture Bursaries.
Applications of up to £1,000 would be
considered in respect of the former and £3,000 in the case of the
latter. March funding would come largely from
recipients.
(j) Business
Networking (£54,977)
The project would provide a lead role in
developing linkages between businesses in the rural Vale to
maximise added value. Some funding would be available to
develop small projects but it was hoped that networks created
through the scheme would be able to utilise Tourism Matters
Grants.
(k)
'VisitVale+' Grant Scheme (£176,161)
The scheme would provide grants of up to
£10,000, at the maximum grant rate of 75%. Funded activities
could include the trailing of new and innovative approaches to
tourism products and services in the rural Vale. Match
funding would come largely from applicants.
The following projects had not been offered
grant support:
(a)
Boverton Road Public Realm Improvements
(b) Rural
Business Centre
(c)
Product Development Grants.
The delivery of the various successful
projects outlined above would require new posts to be created for
the duration of the grant period.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T subject to the Director of Finance, ICT and Property agreeing the
content of the formal Funding Agreement when available, the grants
offered under Axes 3 and 4 of the Rural Development Plan for Wales
as described in the report be accepted and the schemes
progressed.
(2) T H A
T should the Boverton Road Public Realm Regeneration project be
approved on appeal, a further report be made to Cabinet to seek
authority to progress and accept the grant.
(3) T H A
T Council be requested to amend the Capital Programme to reflect
Appendix 3 to the report as follows - 2008/09 amended to £455,000,
2009/10 to £1,195,000 and 2010/11 to £951,026 and that within these
budgets the Authority's total match funding allocation of £118,000
be amended as follows - 2008/09 to £28,000, 2009/10 to £70,000 and
2010/11 to £20,000 and that Article 13 (urgent decision procedure)
be applied for where appropriate.
(4) T H A
T Council be requested to approve the scheme underwritten by the
Authority and that Article 13 (urgent decision procedure) be
applied for where appropriate.
(5) T H A
T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services be
authorised to sign a Funding Agreement with the Welsh Assembly
Government.
(6) T H A
T the new temporary posts of Principal Rural Regeneration Officer,
Senior Rural Regeneration Officer (x3), Monitoring Officer and
Administrative Assistant be added to the Council's Establishment
for the duration of the grant award, i.e. to the end of February
2011.
Reasons for decisions
(1-6) In order to achieve
Council Regeneration objectives.
(1) In
order to progress the scheme without any further delays within the
grant deadline.
(2) In
order to ensure sufficient match funding is available to progress
the scheme.
(3) In
order to underwrite the scheme.
(4) In
order to accept the grant offer terms.
(5) In
order to progress the delivery of the projects.
C113 RETAIL UNIT AT 57 WINSTON
ROAD, BARRY (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
Members received additional information as
requested at the Cabinet meeting on 9th July,
2008. The decision of Cabinet of 25th June, 2008
to grant consent for change of use of 57 Winston Road from pharmacy
to A3 use had been called in by Councillor Mrs. K.A. Kemp.
She had sought clarification as to why the Cabinet had failed to
have proper regard to the views of local residents and to properly
investigate what steps had been taken by the leaseholder to dispose
of the premises. As a result of the call-in, the Scrutiny
Committee (Corporate Resources) had recommended that Cabinet be
requested to reconsider its previous decision and refuse to grant
consent for the change of use. Having considered this request
on 9th July, 2008, Cabinet had resolved that a further
report be submitted, detailing the level of marketing of the unit
that had taken place.
Information regarding the steps taken by the
leaseholder to market the property had been provided and was set
out in the report.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet Members considered at this meeting
that it was more suitable to allow the change of use than the unit
to remain vacant and
RESOLVED - T H A T the additional information
provided be noted and the Director of Finance, ICT and Property, in
conjunction with the Director of Legal, Public Protection and
Housing Services, be authorised to grant and effect the requested
change of use for the retail unit at 57 Winston Road, Barry from
use as a pharmacy to A3 use.
Reason for decision
To enable the matter to be resolved and the
lease amended as appropriate.
C114 MEDIUM TERM
FINANCIAL PLAN 2008/09 TO 2011/12 AND BUDGET STRATEGY 2009/10
(INCLUDING BUDGET REVIEW) (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
Cabinet was asked to approve the draft Medium
Term Financial Plan 2008/09 to 2011/12 and Budget Strategy 2009/10
(including the proposed Budget Process and Timetable).
The draft Medium Term Financial Plan was
attached to the report covering, for revenue, the period 2008/09 to
2011/12 and, for capital, 2008/09 to 2012/13. The draft
Capital Investment Strategy 2008/09 was also included.
It was important to emphasise that a Medium
Term Financial Plan was not the budget setting process that
allocated detailed budgets for services, its purpose being to
inform Members and to suggest a way of dealing with the future
financial pressures facing the Council. For 2009/10, these
were presently estimated to be a shortfall in revenue funding in
the region of £9.5m. This assumed that efficiency and other
savings totalling £6.3m. were achieved and would be a significant
challenge for all services.
The Budget Strategy for 2009/10 was detailed
at Section 9.2 of the Plan and outlined that:
·
in order to establish a baseline, Services should prepare initial
revenue budgets for next year based on the cost of providing the
current level of service and approved policy decisions. This
meant the cost of price increases and pay awards should be
included.
·
Increases to budgets approved during the course of a financial year
could restrict the freedom the Council had to allocate its
resources to priorities during the following budget cycle when it
was aware of all the competing demands. Consequently:
-
supplementary estimates would only increase the base budget if
Council had given specific approval to this effect. Increases
met by virement within a year would not be treated as committed
growth
- Directors
should find the cost of increments and staff changes from their
base budget unless the relevant specific approval had been given
for additional funding
- the effect
of replacing grant from outside bodies that had discontinued would
not be treated as committed growth. In addition, before any
project or initiative that was to be met either wholly or partly by
way of grant may proceed, the exit strategy must be approved
- certain
items of unavoidable committed growth would continue and these
included the effect of interest changes and the financing cost of
the Capital Programme, increases in taxes, increases in levies and
precepts charged by outside bodies and changes to housing benefits
net expenditure.
·
the proposed timetable for the 2009/10 budget was for Cabinet to
make its initial revenue and capital budget proposals in
November. The capital bids considered and prioritised would
include those recommended to the Management Team by the Corporate
Asset Management Group. Revenue cost pressures would also be
submitted by services in priority order. Each Scrutiny
Committee would be consulted and would receive the relevant initial
proposals of the Cabinet in November / December
·
Scrutiny Committees would be asked to make comments on the
proposals and in particular to consider the prioritisation of the
capital bids and revenue cost pressures. The Scrutiny
Committee (Corporate Resources) would act as the lead Scrutiny
Committee in this respect
·
the budget would then be considered by the Cabinet Budget Working
Group which would submit its recommendations to Cabinet in January
/ February. Cabinet would formulate its final proposals and
submit them to a meeting of full Council to be held in March having
first taken any response from the lead Scrutiny Committee into
account. It may be necessary for Scrutiny Committees, Cabinet
and Council to hold special meetings in order to ensure that the
budget may be approved within the statutory deadline
·
membership of the Cabinet Budget Working Group would consist of the
Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Finance, ICT
and Property.
This was a matter for Executive
decision. However, Council was required to approve the final
2009/10 budget proposals.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the contents of the draft Medium Term Financial Plan for 2008/09
to 2011/12 be approved subject to page 24, the title 'Mental
Handicap Strategies' being amended to read Learning Disability
Strategies.
(2) T H AT
the draft Capital Investment Strategy 2008/09 be approved.
(3) T H A
T the Budget Strategy and Budget Review process for 2009/10,
including the requirement for Directors to prepare initial revenue
budgets for 2009/10 in accordance with a timetable agreed by the
Director of Finance, ICT and Property be approved. Preparation to
be on the following basis:
- Capital charges, central accommodation costs and central
support costs to be estimated centrally;
- Services to prepare baseline budgets on current service levels
as set out in the report;
- Budgets to be broken down subjectively and objectively in as
much detail as deemed appropriate by the Director of Finance, ICT
and Property;
- Cost Centre Analyses (CCAs) to be prepared for all budget costs
centres as part of the concurrent Budget Review process;
- Budget reports to include revised estimates for 2008/2009;
- Full account to be taken of the revenue costs, other than debt
charges, of new capital schemes coming into use;
- Efficiency savings made directly by services (including any
savings over and above individual service targets) be available for
recycling within the service in order to improve service delivery
and meet existing cost pressures;
- Directors to submit detailed capital bids for schemes for
inclusion in the Capital Programme as well as details of any
revenue costs pressures in the format required by the Director of
Finance, ICT and Property.
(4) T H A
T the following timetable for the 2009/10 budget process be
approved:
|
Timetable for 2009/10 Budget Process
(including Budget Review)
|
To be completed no later than
|
|
Cabinet consider the initial budget proposals
and the results of the Budget Review Financial and Activity
Analyses
|
19th November 2008
|
|
Lead Scrutiny Committee responds to
consultation and makes comments on budget proposals
|
23rd December 2008
|
|
Cabinet make its final proposals on the
budget
|
25th February 2009
|
|
Meeting of Council to consider budget and
council tax resolution
|
4th March 2009
|
Reason for decision
To facilitate the integration of medium term
financial planning (including the Capital Investment Strategy) into
the corporate planning process and enable the 2009/10 budget
process and budget review to be commenced.
C115 BENEFITS: BID FOR VOICE RISK
ANALYSIS PILOT (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
Cabinet was informed of a bid made to the
Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) for the Council's Benefits
Service to partake in a Voice Risk Analysis (VRA) pilot. The
DWP had, to date, helped fund 14 local authorities to undertake the
first testing of the VRA in the public sector. In view of the
success of the initial pilot, the DWP had announced funding for
further testing with the objective of establishing what efficiency
savings were available. The system used software linked to
the telephone system which allowed analysis of information being
given by claimants. The process helped to confirm the
majority of customers as genuine, enabling them to be fast-tracked
through the remainder of the process, thereby improving both
customer service and reducing process costs for councils. The
minority of customers identified as a potential risk would undergo
further verification ensuring that no-one was incorrectly refused
benefit whilst at the same time improving fraud detection and
management.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T should the bid for funding be successful, the grant be accepted
and the Benefits Services partake in the Voice Risk Analysis
pilot.
(2) T H A
T the results of the pilot be reported back to Cabinet following
completion of the project.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) To authorise the acceptance of
the grant funding for the pilot to commence and to keep Members
informed of the outcome.
C116 PENARTH
HEIGHTS (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY - HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION)
-
Notwithstanding security measures already in
place, the Penarth Heights site was subject to increasing acts of
vandalism and theft. Consequently, consideration had been
given to what additional measures were now appropriate and to
related issues such as overgrown open spaces adjacent to public
footpaths.
The derelict and vandalised community centre
was not covered by the Housing Revenue Account and continued to be
a revenue liability in terms of its security. Selective CCTV
cameras linked to the OneVale Service had been considered.
However, the cost of this option was likely to be in the region of
£110,000 in capital costs and £12,000 in ongoing revenue
costs. A reconfiguring of security poles and the erection of
more substantial steel railings around a number of the blocks had
also been considered. The cost, including the clearing of
overgrown vegetation, would be in the region of £75,000.
Having considered the various benefits and
costs of the above options, a reconfiguration of security patrols
and steel railings to encase the buildings had been deemed to be
the best option and, following discussion with the Leader and
Cabinet Member, appropriate steps had been instigated to put these
measures in place.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the action being taken to
reconfigure security patrols, install steel fencing to encase the
estate buildings and clear overgrown vegetation off the site be
noted and endorsed.
Reason for decision
To address security and safety issues at the
site.
C117 MEETING THE WELSH HOUSING
QUALITY STANDARDS 2009 - 2014 (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY - HOUSING AND
PUBLIC PROTECTION) -
The latest Business Plan had identified a
requirement to increase capital investment in the Council's housing
stock by £65m. during the period 2009 - 2014 (including fees) to
achieve Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS).
In terms of the procurement process, the
Council would be required to spend in excess of the OJEU threshold,
currently set at £3.8 million. Consequently, the tendering
process would be subject to the European Union procurement
regulations. Three procurement options were open to the
Council, viz open procedure, restricted procedure or negotiated
procedure. Having considered the various options, the proposal
before Members was to adopt a restricted procedure. Details
of the detailed procurement steps which would be involved were
contained in the report.
In addition to the WHQS programme itself,
planned maintenance would need to be co-ordinated with the
programme in order to maximise the impact of the planned works
budget. Void properties would need to be inspected on WHQS
principles and, where major works were required prior to letting, a
decision would need to be taken as to whether the properties should
be brought up to WHQS standards whilst empty.
The approach would require an element of
co-ordination of the Voids and WHQS budgets but, given the
reduction in void properties over the past year and the level of
Void budget, this would be achievable. Building Services
would be given the opportunity to undertake this work to drive
efficiencies that could be gained during the void
process.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the restricted procedure option for procuring the Welsh Housing
Quality Standards work be approved.
(2) T H A
T the tender arrangements that would seek up to three partnering
arrangements to deliver the WHQS be approved.
(3) T H A
T approval be given to up to £750,000 per annum of WHQS monies
being kept back from the partnering contractors and being made
available to the Council's Building Services Division to bring some
void dwellings up to WHQS where the property is in poor condition,
subject to the service meeting the criteria set out in paragraph 32
of the report with regard to their demonstrating their
competitiveness.
(4) T H A
T a progress report be presented to Cabinet in 12 months.
Reasons for decisions
(1-3) To enable the Council
to progress the procurement and delivery of the WHQS.
(4) To
monitor progress.
C118 PROPOSALS TO CHANGE
THE STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IN WALES (CMT)
(SCRUTINY - SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH) -
Cabinet on 25th June, 2008 (Min.
No. C51) resolved
(1) T H A
T the Welsh Assembly Government be advised that Cabinet objects to
the proposal to merge the Vale and Cardiff LHBs and also any
proposal to have a single health body covering the Vale and
Cardiff. Cabinet is strongly of the view that the interest of
Vale residents will not be best served by a Cardiff centric health
service given the differing character and needs of the two
communities and that other options be pursued.
(2) T H A
T the urgency procedures of the Council be adopted to determine
this matter.
(3) T H A
T Corporate Management Team be requested to report further.
Fundamental realignment of structures within
the NHS in Wales was proposed, with the most likely outcome at
present involving a considerable concentration of power in a
smaller number of very large health organisations, apparently aimed
at securing greater consistency in service provision and greater
efficiency. There were good reasons to believe that such
changes posed a considerable threat to the interests of residents
in the Vale and to the ability of the Council to represent those
interests properly in decision making, service planning and
delivery. This was particularly the case should there be a
one-provider solution involving a merger between Cardiff and the
Vale NHS Trust, the Vale Local Health Board and the Cardiff Local
Health Board.
Given that the Minister had announced further
consultation would take place following the summer recess it was
important that the Council made early representations, reiterating
its opposition to any moves that would oblige the Vale to join a
new area framework for health services within which Cardiff would,
inevitably, have an overly dominant position.
The report before Members dealt in detail with
areas where it was considered significant threats were presented
under the current proposals. These were:
· threats to accountability
· threats to health and social care
integration
· threats to partnership working with
health.
Having considered the report it was
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T Cabinet maintain its opposition to a model in which there would
be one NHS unit for the Vale and Cardiff responsible for planning
and providing most health services.
(2) T H A
T, if this were the model generally adopted for Wales as a whole,
Cabinet strongly advocated arrangements whereby the Vale was
included within the area covered by the current Abertawe Bro
Morgannwg University NHS Trust. Alternatively, Cabinet
supported the creation of a statutory local consortium in the Vale
responsible for service planning and delivery of health and social
care.
(3) T H A
T the Scrutiny Committee (Social Care and Health) be requested to
consider whether the best interests of Vale residents would be
served by an NHS body covering the Vale and Cardiff.
(4) T H A
T the Director of Social Services be authorised to write to the
Minister, the WLGA, Ann Lloyd of the Welsh Assembly Government and
other WAG officials informing them of the Cabinet's views on the
proposals and that the urgent decision procedure be invoked in
order to do so.
Reasons for decisions
(1-3) To ensure that the
need of Vale residents for health and social care are properly
represented in decisions about reconfiguring the NHS in Wales; to
ensure that key partnerships for delivering the Vale's Health,
Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy continue to operate as
effectively as possible; to ensure that the possible impact upon
all local government functions in the area is given proper
consideration; and to ensure that any proposed governance
arrangements for the NHS acknowledge the community leadership role
of local authorities.
(4) To
ensure the views of Cabinet are forwarded as soon as possible.
C119 MATTERS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN
HAD DECIDED WERE URGENT -
RESOLVED - T H A T the following matters which
the Chairman had decided were urgent for the reasons indicated
under the minute headings be considered.
C120
MANAGING SICKNESS ABSENCE: ACTION PLAN (DLD) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE
RESOURCES)
Urgent by reason of the need to make a
decision prior to the August recess
The Council's Corporate Plan and its Human
Resources Strategy included the aim of reviewing and implementing
new systems to improve sickness management and to achieving a
reduction in levels of sickness absence. As requested by
Cabinet in April 2008, a report was submitted on the implementation
of previous Corporate Management Team decisions in respect of
sickness absence.
The Corporate Management Team had
previously agreed the following actions:
·
To continue to support positive health measures, effective use of
the Occupational Health Service and re-affirmed its commitment to
the Corporate Health Standard.
·
Re-emphasised, that whilst the Council would continue to be
supportive, fair and reasonable, continuing absence which impacted
on the capacity of the organisation to deliver its statutory
obligations would be dealt with through the agreed procedures,
potentially leading to dismissal of staff.
·
Confirmed that management of the corporate risk relating to
sickness absence would rest with the Corporate Management Team.
·
To establish specific arrangements to review sickness management
and the effectiveness and consistency of case management
through:
·
The establishment of a new Management of Attendance Working Group
with revised objectives based on the WAO recommendations and
involving the relevant Cabinet Members and Chief Officers, Sickness
reports being referred to all Directorate Management Teams to
consider and develop local action plans with the agreed
procedures.
·
Each Directorate to nominate a Head of Service to take the lead in
sickness management and to be accountable to the Corporate
Management Team for monitoring and reviewing progress.
·
The establishment of targets to reduce sickness absence levels
within each service area. These were to be included in Service
Plans, reported to Scrutiny Committees and disaggregated and
discussed at team level.
·
A launch of the Councils revised Sickness Management Policy with
explicit Corporate Management and Elected Member support.
·
To explore the possibility of reviewing Occupational Sick Pay for
short term sickness.
The reformed Management of Attendance Working
Group was a key feature of the management of sickness
initiative. The role of the Group, which would meet
quarterly, would include examining key areas of concern and
underlying causes of absence in order to implement coherent
actions. The Group would also take a lead role on workplace stress
and examine activities that could be taken both corporately or at
service levels that contributed to the creation of a positive
attendance culture.
Cabinet received the Management of Attendance
Policy. The policy had progressed through widespread consultations,
including the Policy Review Group (two Heads of Service and two
Operational Managers) plus all Heads of Service and was structured
around the following headings:
·
Purpose, Scope
·
Corporate Roles
·
Interventions
·
Positive health and the role of Occupational Health
·
Employee responsibilities
·
Abuse of the Sick Pay Scheme
·
The Sickness Management Procedure
·
Dismissals and Appeals
The Policy was considered at length by the
Joint Consultative Forum (JCF) on the 18th July 2008 as the final
stage of consultations before recommendations were sent to
Cabinet. A number of matters were raised and these were set
out in detail in the report to Cabinet.
Concern had also been expressed at the JCF by
Elected Members regarding a number of other aspects of the Policy
which they wished to explore in detail. It had. therefore, been
recommended that the Policy be deferred, pending a special meeting
of the JCF to be arranged as soon as possible.
It was the view of the Corporate
Management Team, having considered the issues that the revised
Policy and Action Plan was an important priority for the Council
which should be proposed as a matter of urgency. The Council had
established consultation processes so that implementation
arrangements, the development of new initiatives and monitoring
processes could be shared with recognised Trade Unions. If the
burden of the current sickness levels could be reduced, this would
be a positive benefit for Council services, for the staff and for
the communities which the Council served.
A recommended Action Plan was, therefore,
submitted to Cabinet for consideration. The timescales shown were
indicative timescales which would be reviewed by the Project
Manager.
The Action Plan would be driven and monitored
by the Management of Attendance Working Group. In addition, the
Cabinet Member for Human Resources and Equalities would be
personally involved in the training of Chief Officers and the
'Innovations' features of the Action Plan. To support a project of
this scope and scale would require an appointment of a Project
Manager and Project Team. Once the Project Manager had been
appointed a more detailed project plan could be produced which
would identify the additional resources required, which was not
expected to exceed £150k per annum, the money to be provided from
the policy budget.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Action Plan with the Chief Executive acting as Champion for
the project, be approved.
(2) T H A
T a further meeting of the Joint Consultative Forum be convened as
requested by the Forum as a matter of urgency in order to complete
the Forum's consideration of the Sickness Policy and to make
recommendations to Cabinet.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
reduce sickness absence.
(2) To
progress the policy.
C121 LAND AT CEMETERY
ROAD, BARRY (REF - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
Urgent by reason of the need to comply
with the call-in procedure as set out in the Council's
Constitution
The matter had been considered by the Cabinet
at its meeting held on 9th July 2008 (Cabinet Minute No.
C54) when it was resolved that the land at Cemetery Road, Barry, be
disposed of to Newydd Housing Association for residential
purposes. Councillor N.P. Hodges had called-in the decision
for a number of reasons to two Scrutiny committees for joint
consideration but had been advised that the Council’s Constitution
clearly set out that surplus land was entirely within the remit of
the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) to consider.
Councillor Hodges had proposed a number of questions, and had
further been advised that only the following could be considered at
the Scrutiny meeting:
(1) To ask
how many objections would have been necessary to change the
decision of the Cabinet.
(2)
Whether the Cabinet considered there was sufficient public open
space in Barry to ensure that the Vale continued to have a rich and
diverse local environment.
(3)
Conserving and enhancing the environment is a key role for the
Council to ensure that people living, visiting and working in the
Vale have access to a clean and high quality local environment and
that uniquely valuable urban and rural assets and biodiversity are
protected from insensitive development. Whether Cabinet was
satisfied this policy had been upheld.
(4) The
first decision of the Planning Committee to allow development was
revisited when it came to light the status of the land was public
open space. Why did Cabinet not revisit the earlier decision
to dispose of the land which was also taken in ignorance of its
correct status?
(5) Was
the request by Barry Town Council to purchase taken seriously and
why was no attempt made to negotiate with them?
At the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate
Resources) on 29th July, 2008 the Chairman advised that
he had received a written statement from the Cabinet Member in
response to the questions and read out the reply as detailed
below:
“The comment regarding the number of
objections made was in response to a particular comment regarding
the number of objections made by some objectors. Cabinet made
their decision after taking into account many issues including
Council priorities, Assembly Government Policies on affordable
Housing and the fact that the land had been left overgrown for many
years so the numbers of objections alone would not of itself have
changed the Cabinet’s decision. Cabinet considered that the
benefit to the Council in disposing of the land outweighed the
benefit of retaining the land as it would better enable the Council
to address its numerous priorities.
In general terms, for the majority of age
groups the land is only a short distance from the Buttrills open
space playing fields which are one of the largest designated open
spaces within the Vale of Glamorgan.
The original decision to dispose of the land
was made prior to planning permission being obtained and provision
was accordingly made in the contract. This position has been
consistent throughout and remains so. At the Cabinet meeting
on 9th July consideration was given to the fact that the
land was designated open space and to the resulting objections
made. The Cabinet report made it clear that in the light of
those objections the Cabinet had unfettered discretion as to
whether or not to dispose of the land. This issue was
therefore considered.
The request by Barry Town Council was debated
and the letter from the Town
Council was, indeed, attached to the report to
Cabinet on 9th July 2008.”
The Scrutiny Committee was informed that
answers to Councillor Hodges’ remaining questions had been provided
in a comprehensive letter which had been sent by the Chief
Executive and which was attached for information at Appendix A to
the call-in request dated 18th July 2008.
The Chairman also advised the Committee that
he had received 17 questions from Mr. D. Harkus in
relation to the matter and to which his written response was also
tabled at the meeting for information.
Councillor Hodges was of the opinion that the
land at Cemetery Road should remain as public open space. He
had also requested that the Council consider undertaking a
comprehensive review of every piece of land in its ownership to
determine its status. The Scrutiny Committee, having considered the
call-in, the Chief Executive's response to Councillor Hodges, the
views of Councillor Hodges at the meeting, the information tabled
at the meeting including the Cabinet Member’s response and the
response of the Chairman to questions by Mr. Harkus
recommended:
· T H A T the information presented to
the Scrutiny Committee be forwarded to Cabinet, who be requested to
review its decision in light of the information.
· T H A T Cabinet be requested to
consider that a review of all land declared surplus by the Council
to date and in the future be undertaken in order that full details
of the land’s status can be ascertained.”
At the Cabinet meeting Members were reminded
of the history of the matters in that the Council in 2002 had
declared the land surplus and it had been placed for sale. No
objections at that time had been received from either members of
the Council or members of the public. In 2006, the tender
process had taken place and a preferred bidder approved namely
Newydd Housing Association. Planning applications were
subsequently made to the Councils Planning Committee by Newydd
Housing Association, the second of which was refused. Any
appeal would be to the Planning Inspectorate of the Welsh Assembly
Government.
A view was expressed at the meeting of
potential drainage issues in the locality.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Having considered all the information
presented Cabinet,
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the reference of the Scrutiny Committee be noted and the decision
of Cabinet on 9th July, 2008 be re-affirmed.
(2) T H A
T the ongoing review of existing procedures in the Estates and
Legal departments relating to the status of land identified for
disposal, declared surplus or proposed for appropriation continues,
in order that full details of the land's status can be
ascertained.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having had regard to the
comments made by the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources)