Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed and introduced pupils from Monmouth Comprehensive School who had been invited to the meeting by the Leader, to provide Members with their presentation on Deforestation.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=88

Following the presentation, a minute’s silence was observed to remember the innocent victims of the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

None.

County Councillor Tony Kear declared a personal non-prejudicial interest as the Chair of Usk Civic Society in relation to agenda item 8 (RLDP).

The Chair’s announcement was noted.

The Chair explained that the order of the agenda would be amended so that agenda item 12, Call-In of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pitch Needs – Land Identification, would be heard prior to the Motions to Council.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 21^st September 2023 were confirmed as an accurate record.

In doing so, it was agreed that all Members would receive a response to questions submitted to Full Council in writing.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Accessible Health Services introduced the Head of Gwent Regional Partnership Team, who presented a report on the Gwent Regional Partnership Board (RPB) Area Plan and RPB Annual Report for 2022/2023.

Members received an update on the work of the RPB in fulfilling local authority statutory duties required under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and were presented with the Regional Area Plan 2023-2027 and the RPB Annual Report 2022/23.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=3014

Upon being put to a vote Council resolved to accept the recommendations:

·        Council to consider the joint commitments within the Area Plan.

·        Ensure that Members have the opportunity to review the RPB Annual Report and progress made against the objectives; and provide any feedback/comments.

·        To note the joint priorities in the Area Plan and Monmouthshire’s Integrated Service Partnership Board plan

The Leader presented the Self-Assessment report 2022/23 which provides an assessment of the Authority’s performance during the year ending 31 March 2023, in line with requirements outlined in the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. The self-assessment report ensures that Members have a clear and transparent assessment on how well the Authority is doing, which is a vital part of the Authority’s performance management arrangements.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=3574

Upon being put to a vote Council resolved to accept the recommendations:

·        That the self-assessment for 2022/23 be approved.

County Councillor Alistair Neill joined the meeting at 15:15pm.

The Vice Chair read out the following question from Mr David Cummings, which had been received under public questions, in relation to the agenda item. The Chair explained that the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development would respond within his presentation to Council. 

In reviewing the RLDP documents presented today and heard at recent scrutiny committee meetings many questions remain as to the achievability and the detail of the contents of the report.

For example, the document states that 6,240 jobs are planned to be created but provide no indication of how these will be created and where within the county they will be.

The report fails to address the lack of infrastructure, particularly in Monmouth’s case where there is no spare capacity at schools, GP surgeries or to treat sewage and poor public transport to other settlements.

 Additionally, 50% of the proposed development within the plan be social housing. There are 3,953 open applications for housing in the county. If you create social housing where there is no infrastructure and no public transport, you will create a pool of people disillusioned with life who wish they lived somewhere else.

So with these headline statements in mind, is the September 2023 version of the Revised Local Development Plan fit for purpose?

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development presented the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) Preferred Strategy. Post-consultation updates to the Preferred Strategy were summarised in paragraph 3.9 in the report, as the basis for the ongoing preparation of the Deposit Plan.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=7730

Upon being put to a recorded vote, Council resolved to accept the recommendations:

·        That Council endorses the updates to the Replacement Local Development Plan Preferred Strategy summarised in paragraph 3.9 as the basis for the ongoing preparation of the Deposit Plan

Votes For: 23

Votes Against: 22

Abstentions: 1

Recorded Vote: Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) Preferred Strategy

Any discussion on this item that relates to existing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites or any proposed private sites or any information relating to a particular individual or family or which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual or information relating to any consultation or negotiations which relate to the financial or business affairs of any particular person will be exempt in line with the Local Government Act, Schedule 12A part 4 and will require the Committee to move into a closed session and the press and public will be asked to leave the meeting.

The Chair of the Place Scrutiny Committee presented a report of the Committee on the Call-In of Meeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pitch Needs – Land Identification.

Full Council were provided with the opportunity to consider the decision taken by Cabinet on the 4^th October 2023, concerning meeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Pitch Needs – Land Identification. This follows the call-in of the decision and the subsequent recommendation of the Place Scrutiny Committee to refer the matter to full Council.

The Vice Chair read out the following questions from Mrs Aileen Wallen and Mrs Sandy Lloyd received under public questions, in relation to the agenda item.

It is understood that the place scrutiny committee meeting of 23^rd October 2023 referred the decision call-in to council on the basis that the financial implications of including sites which have so many constraints is unknown.

The below questions refer to the information imparted by the cabinet member (Cllr Griffiths) and estates officer at the place scrutiny meeting and clarifications are sought.

Question 1

The Cabinet Member stated that high level assessments will be conducted on the Langley Close site with regards to noise, air pollution and land contamination during the public consultation period:

·        For the Langley Close site, will the Cabinet Member please define what is meant by high level assessments, i.e. what specific tests will be undertaken and will these be newly commissioned studies involving physical receptors to collect current air and noise pollution levels and boreholes for land contamination or will existing historic and irrelevant reports that are based on out of date data be used. E.g. From the Rockfield Farm and Vinegar Hill developments which are from a different location with different geographic attributes and issues?

Question 2

The estates officer stated that quotes had been secured for air, noise and land surveys which equates to around £14k per site for these high level assessments but that that cost is not consistent across all sites and depends on the findings. Some sites will require further surveys so this is not the final cost. The residents at the scrutiny committee meeting provided evidence that on the Langley Close site, noise and air pollution exceed safe levels and there is potential land contamination and so those further surveys will have to be conducted.

·        For the Langley Close site, will the Cabinet Member please state the breakdown of costs for each initial assessment and costs for the further more detailed assessments?

The Chair asked that the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to address the questions in his response.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=16564

Upon being put to a recorded vote, Council resolved to accept the Cabinet decision:

Votes to accept the Cabinet decision: 22

Votes to refer the decision to Cabinet for reconsideration (with reasons): 21

Recorded Vote: Report of the Place Scrutiny Committee: Call-in of meeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pitch needs – land identification

This Council:

Opposes plans set out by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to end overnight cover at the Minor Injuries Unit at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny and calls on the administration to work constructively with ABUHB and neighbouring local authorities to ensure that outcome.

This Council:

Opposes plans set out by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to end overnight cover at the Minor Injuries Unit at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny and calls on the administration to work constructively with ABUHB and neighbouring local authorities to ensure that outcome.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=19746

Upon being put to a vote Council resolved to accept the motion

County Councillor Angela Sandles rejoined the meeting at 19:30pm

County Councillor Sue Riley left the meeting at 19:35pm

County Councillor Tony Easson left the meeting at 19:35pm

Council notes with concern

·        The increased use of vaping products by children in the UK with the associated risk of addiction to nicotine based products and the increased burden on local authorities taking enforcement action against the illegal sale of vaping products to children, as well as the environmental impact of single-use vapes which end up littering our public spaces.

Council calls on the Leader to write to the UK government to express Council’s demand for the greater regulation of vaping products including:

·        Vaping products to be in plain packaging and kept out of sight behind the counter

·        Mandatory age-of-sale signage on vaping products (as this is currently voluntary)

·        A ban on free samples of vaping products being given out to people of any age

·        A ban on single use vapes

Council notes with concern

·        The increased use of vaping products by children in the UK with the associated risk of addiction to nicotine based products and the increased burden on local authorities taking enforcement action against the illegal sale of vaping products to children, as well as the environmental impact of single-use vapes which end up littering our public spaces.

 Council calls on the Leader to write to the UK government to express Council’s demand for the greater regulation of vaping products including:

·        Vaping products to be in plain packaging and kept out of sight behind the counter

·        Mandatory age-of-sale signage on vaping products (as this is currently voluntary)

·        A ban on free samples of vaping products being given out to people of any age

·        A ban on single use vape

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=22395

Upon being put to a vote Council resolved to accept the motion

County Councillor Tudor Thomas left the meeting at 20:21pm

This Council:

Notes the approval of The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Single Transferable Vote) (Wales) Rules 2023 by the Senedd, giving individual local authorities the power to change their electoral system to the Single Transferable Vote.

Values the mandate of individually elected councillors who are directly accountable to their residents.

Opposes any change to the Single Transferable Vote and instructs the administration not to waste any further time or resources on this issue.

This Council: Notes the approval of The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Single Transferable Vote) (Wales) Rules 2023 by the Senedd, giving individual local authorities the power to change their electoral system to the Single Transferable Vote. Values the mandate of individually elected councillors who are directly accountable to their residents. Opposes any change to the Single Transferable Vote and instructs the administration not to waste any further time or resources on this issue.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=23401

Upon being put to a recorded vote, Council resolved to reject the motion

Votes for the motion: 20

Votes against the motion: 21

Recorded Vote: Single Transferable Vote

County Councillor Ian Chandler left the meeting at 20:57pm

Would the Cabinet Member update me on the review of the Community Asset Transfer policy to Communities and whether the review includes consideration of how parity might be achieved in the existing leasehold agreements between Community Groups and MCC for Community Centres and other such properties wishing to continue with existing leasehold agreements. I ask in specific relation to Goytre Community Centre.

Would the Cabinet Member update me on the review of the Community Asset Transfer policy to Communities and whether the review includes consideration of how parity might be achieved in the existing leasehold agreements between Community Groups and MCC for Community Centres and other such properties wishing to continue with existing leasehold agreements. I ask in specific relation to Goytre Community Centre.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=24594

County Councillor Dale Rooke left the meeting at 20:59pm

County Councillor Maria Stevens left the meeting at 20:59pm

Please would the Cabinet Member provide an update on the Welsh Government’s proposal to carry out a Safety Survey on the A40 Raglan By-Pass?

Please would the Cabinet Member provide an update on the Welsh Government’s proposal to carry out a Safety Survey on the A40 Raglan By-Pass?

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=24715

County Councillor Peter Strong left the meeting at 21:00pm

County Councillor Jackie Strong left the meeting at 21:01pm

Would the Cabinet Member make a statement on parking provision in Monmouth.

Would the Cabinet Member make a statement on parking provision in Monmouth.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=24865

The cabinet member will recall that in July I laid a motion which received unanimous cross party/group support. Magor with Undy Walkway Station is a unique concept and (has always enjoyed) cross group support from Monmouthshire Council, Welsh Government and UK Government.

My request to call on this council  to write to TfW and Network Rail to further lobby for Magor with Undy Walkway station to be the first of the 6 new stations in respect of its deliverability and cost was unanimously agreed.

Please could the cabinet member provide an update.

The cabinet member will recall that in July I laid a motion which received unanimous cross party/group support. Magor with Undy Walkway Station is a unique concept and (has always enjoyed) cross group support from Monmouthshire Council, Welsh Government and UK Government. My request to call on this council to write to TfW and Network Rail to further lobby for Magor with Undy Walkway station to be the first of the 6 new stations in respect of its deliverability and cost was unanimously agreed. Please could the cabinet member provide an update.

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=25125

Will the Cabinet Member for Education provide an update on developments in Caldicot School?

https://www.youtube.com/live/WXW4tpnPFZ0?feature=shared&t=25335