Agenda and minutes

None.

Council were presented with a report to approve the publication of Monmouthshire County Council’s Pay Policy, in compliance with the Localism Act.

It was confirmed that staff possibly affected by the introduction of the Alternative Delivery Model would be included under TUPE arrangements.

Council resolved to agree the recommendations:

That Council approves the Pay Policy for the year 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018.

That Council approves to pay the nationally negotiated and agreed pay award of the Joint National Council (JNC) for Local Authority Chief Executive Officers. Chief Executive Officer terms and conditions of employment and pay are prescribed by the JNC for Local Authority Chief Executive Officers. The Pay Agreement reached in 2016 for Chief Executive Officers was for a 1% pay increase effective from 1 April 2016 and a 1% pay increase, effective 1 April 2017. There is no pay offer confirmed for April 2018.

That Council approves to pay the nationally negotiated and agreed pay award for those employees who come under the Joint National Council (JNC) for Chief Officers. Chief Officers’ terms and conditions of employment and pay are prescribed by the JNC for Local Authority Chief Officers. The Pay Agreement reached in 2016 for Chief Officers was for a 1% pay increase effective from 1 April 2016 and a 1% increase effective from 1 April 2017. There is no pay offer confirmed for April 2018. The Council employs Chief Officers under JNC terms and conditions, which are incorporated into contracts of employment. The JNC for Chief Officers negotiates on national (UK) annual cost of living pay increases for this group, and any award is determined on this basis. Chief Officers employed under JNC terms and conditions are contractually entitled to any national JNC determined pay rises and this Council will therefore pay these as and when determined in accordance with contractual requirements

Council received a report to consider and approve the Corporate Plan articulating the authority’s purpose and values alongside the ambitious programme that will be prioritisedover the next four and a half years.

The Leader of the Opposition reflected on the positives of the plan, highlighting it as a clear plan in terms of priorities and measurable but added that, more broadly, the Corporate Plan was a record of failure by the Conservatives in the last five years.  The following points were noted:  The attainment gap was one of the highest in Wales; 800 houses short from our own plan; house prices; installation of monitoring equipment does not deal with pollution.  Councillor Batrouni requested clarity and further information around several points.  He concluded that the Labour Group would abstain from approval of the Corporate Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Education looked forward to delivering the plan over the next four years and was confident that we would do that with the support of everyone who works in the school system.

The Cabinet Member for Social Justice explained that this plan would be about preventing poverty, not just reducing it and would be about encouraging people into work and improving the lives of those in poverty.

In terms of housing a consultation had been issued in November 2017 to the public and stakeholders about whether we should review our LDP.  It was anticipated that there will be a move to review the LDP.  An extra Council meeting has been arranged to move that forward in March.

There was some surprise that there was no mention of public transport in the Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Health asked that it be noted that Monmouthshire maximises the opportunities for people to live independent lives and, in a recent meeting, Monmouthshire had been publically acknowledged as an innovative Council, very successful in certain areas of social services.

County Councillor Groucutt expressed frustration with regards to the education in Monmouthshire and stated that we should acknowledge the huge amount of work to be done and this was not addressed in the Plan.

The Leader responded with disappointment that the opposition considered the Plan a record of failure and added that the members of the Labour Group were not forthcoming with ideas.

Council resolved to agree the recommendations:

To approve the Corporate Plan.

To adopt of the objectives contained in the plan as the Council’s Well-being Objectives in accordance with the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Council were presented with a report advising of the results of the recent public consultation exercise on the Draft Integrated Network Maps (INMs) and seek approval for the final INMs to be submitted to Welsh Government (WG).

In terms of deadlines we had received an extension from Welsh Government to carry out these works.

It was requested that the route identified as A18 Gypsy Lane to the proposed new bridge at Llanfoist be extended to the entrance with Grove Farm.

It was requested that a direct cycle/pedestrian route be considered from the end of the bridge at Llanfoist to the town centre.

There was concern that the active travel routes focused on towns rather than rural areas. 

The B4245 does not fall into the active travel map and would be looked into at the next Severnside Area Committee.  This meeting would also address the concerns surrounding speed limits and accidents which have seen two people sustain life changing injuries.

Council resolved to agree the recommendation:

That the council approves the INMs as attached at Appendices A and C and endorses their submission to WG.

Council received a report to set out the implications to the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) arising from the move to an Alternative Delivery Model for Tourism, Leisure, Culture and Youth services.

The process was clarified by the Monitoring Officer, who explained that there had been an opportunity to call-in the decision made by Cabinet on 29^th January 2018.  However, coming before Council today provided the opportunity to discuss and debate.

The Chairman welcomed officers and consultants from Anthony Collins.

The opposition opposed the ADM and preferred the transform in-house model, stating concerns that the ADM is a tax avoidance model, and the borrowing around the model.  If the model fails, the responsibility would fall to the Council, and therefore tax payers. Councillor Batrouni referred to recent examples where such models had failed dramatically.

It was agreed that should the ADM go ahead that an opposition member would be on the Board.

Assurance was sought that the costs to our secondary schools, in terms of the money they are expected to pay to leisure centres for the provision of services, would not increase above the rate of inflation.

Assurance was sought that links with the health authority, and the public services element of leisure centres would be maintained, with no increasing costs for rehabilitation referrals.

Councillor Watts raised concerns that certain demographics were being missed, and requested detail surrounding Monmouth Pool regarding the ownership of the asset and debt.  It was confirmed that the asset base would remain under ownership of the Council, and the organisation would not hold any debt.

Councillor Pratt expressed her support for the model, noting the benefits of the ADM for the residents of Llanelly Hill.

The Cabinet Member for Governance confirmed that the relationship between the ADM and schools would be protected, as had been agreed at cabinet 29^th January 2018.  He added that governance arrangements would need to be satisfactory before the ADM would go ahead.

The Chief Executive explained to members that approving the report would enable officers to continue and come forward with a further report for Full Council decision of their expectations for a new organisation. 

Council resolved to agree the recommendations:

To agree that £155,000 be drawn from the priority investment reserve to fund ‘start-up activity for the Alternative Delivery Model.

To recognise the need to make provision within the MTFP as part of the budget setting process for the next 5 year period of £388,000, arising from the decision to move Tourism, Leisure, Culture and Youth services into a newly established Alternative Delivery Model.