Agenda and minutes

County Councillor Maria Stevens.

County Councillor Paul Pavia declared a personal non prejudicial interest in relation to agenda items 6 and 8, as an Associate Consultant of Practice Solutions. He is not involved with the project team or the project.

The Chair’s announcement was noted.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 26^th October 2023 were confirmed as an accurate record.

The Cabinet Member for Education presented the report to Council to seek the approval and capital investment to relocate the Pupil Referral Service (PRS) from its current location in the South of the county at Hanbury House in Chepstow to the staff houses on the former Mounton House School Site in Pwllmeyric.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=218

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

·        That Council agree to the capital investment of £1.2m to improve and remodel the accommodation to facilitate this relocation.

·        That the investment is funded via a budget virement of £500k from the Schools refurbishment grant capital scheme to partially meet the costs of this proposal.

·        That to the extent that the remaining £700k cannot be met from other identified Education capital grant funding, a maximum of £700k will be funded via prudential borrowing over a 30-year period that will be met from the PRS budget.

Votes For: 23

Votes Against: 21

Abstentions: 0

Recorded Vote: Relocation of Pupil Referral Service South Monmouthshire

The Chief Officer for Social Care, Safeguarding and Health presented the Annual Directors Report for 2022/23. Members noted that preparing and publishing an annual report of the Statutory Director of Social Services is a requirement under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act (2014). The report is required to show how social care in Monmouthshire meets the requirements of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act and the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=2572

Council resolved to accept the recommendations:

·        For Council to receive and endorse the Annual Report 2022/23.

·        That Council tasks the Chief Officer of Social Care, Safeguarding and Health to maintain focus on the priority actions as set out in the concluding section of the report.

County Councillor Alistair Neill joined the meeting at 13:05pm.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care, Safeguarding and Accessible Health Services presented the Safeguarding Evaluation Report. Members received the report which evaluated the progress of Monmouthshire County Council’s key safeguarding priorities during 2022 / 2023, highlighting progress, identifying risks and setting out actions and priorities for 2023 - 2024.

Members were informed about the effectiveness of safeguarding in Monmouthshire and the work that is in progress to support the Council’s aims in protecting children and adults at risk from harm and abuse. Additionally, Members were informed about the progress made towards meeting the standards in the Council’s Corporate Safeguarding Policy approved by Council in July 2017, amended July 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=6776

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

·        For members to scrutinise the Annual Safeguarding Evaluation Report and Activity prior to its presentation at Council in November 2023.

County Councillor Jayne McKenna left the meeting at 15:58pm and rejoined at 16:28pm.

The Chair of the Place Scrutiny Committee presented a report of the Committee on the Call-In of Developing the Future of the My Day My Life Bases.

Full Council were provided with the opportunity to consider the decision taken by Cabinet on 15th November concerning ‘Developing the Future of the My Day My Life Bases’. This follows the call-in of the decision and the subsequent recommendation of the People Scrutiny Committee to refer the matter to full Council.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=9569

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

Votes to accept the Cabinet decision: 23

Votes to refer the decision to Cabinet for reconsideration (with reasons): 22

Recorded Vote: Report of the Place Scrutiny Committee: Call-In of ‘Developing the Future of the My Day My Life Bases’

County Councillor MaryAnn Brocklesby left the meeting at 18:10pm

County Councillor Frances Taylor left the meeting at 18:10pm

County Councillor Jackie Strong left the meeting at 18:10pm

County Councillor Sue Riley left the meeting at 18:10pm

County Councillor Fay Bromfield left the meeting at 18:10pm

County Councillor Armand Watts left the meeting at 18:10pm

This Council notes:

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed, rising to 1 in 4 for Black men. As many as 69% of those treated with surgery may experience urinary incontinence as a result.  

• 1 in 25 men aged over 40 will experience some form of urinary leakage every year.  

• 1 in 20 men aged 60 or over will experience bowel incontinence in the UK.  

• Men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste (including incontinence pads, pouches, stoma, catheter, colostomy, ileostomy waste by-products) often have no direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets.  

• A survey of men living with incontinence reveals that 95% feel anxiety due to a lack of sanitary bins in men’s toilets for disposing of pads hygienically.  

• Nearly one third of men surveyed have been forced to carry their own waste in a bag.  

This Council believes:  

• that men should be able to safely and hygienically dispose of incontinence products easily and with dignity wherever they go.  

• that men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste should have direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets.  

This Council resolves:  

• That the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment should consider as soon as reasonably practicable the provision of at least one sanitary bin in all County Council male toilets – both public and in council buildings.  

• To encourage other providers of public and workplace toilets in our area to make male sanitary bins available in their facilities.  

• To support Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign.  

• That the Leader of the Council should write on behalf of the Council to our local MP and MS asking them to support Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign and request that respective Governments look to update any necessary regulations to ensure that ‘suitable means for the disposal of sanitary dressings’ is provided in all toilets.

This Council notes:

• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed, rising to 1 in 4 for Black men. As many as 69% of those treated with surgery may experience urinary incontinence as a result.  

• 1 in 25 men aged over 40 will experience some form of urinary leakage every year.  

• 1 in 20 men aged 60 or over will experience bowel incontinence in the UK.  

• Men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste (including incontinence pads, pouches, stoma, catheter, colostomy, ileostomy waste by-products) often have no direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets.  

• A survey of men living with incontinence reveals that 95% feel anxiety due to a lack of sanitary bins in men’s toilets for disposing of pads hygienically.  

• Nearly one third of men surveyed have been forced to carry their own waste in a bag.  

This Council believes:  

• that men should be able to safely and hygienically dispose of incontinence products easily and with dignity wherever they go.  

• that men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste should have direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets.  

This Council resolves:  

• That the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment should consider as soon as reasonably practicable the provision of at least one sanitary bin in all County Council male toilets – both public and in council buildings.  

• To encourage other providers of public and workplace toilets in our area to make male sanitary bins available in their facilities.  

• To support Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign.  

• That the Leader of the Council should write on behalf of the Council to our local MP and MS asking them to support Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign and request that respective Governments look to update any necessary regulations to ensure that ‘suitable means for the disposal of sanitary dressings’ is provided in all toilets. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=15947

Upon being put to a vote, Council resolved to amend the motion as follows:

·        That the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment should consider as soon as reasonably practicable the provision of at least one sanitary bin and other facilities within the toilets that would make them stoma friendly in all County Council male toilets – both public and in council buildings.  

Upon being put to a vote Council resolved to accept the new substantive motion.

County Councillor Tony Easson left the meeting at 18:31pm

County Councillor Frances Taylor rejoined the meeting at 18:50pm

This Council:

Notes the Welsh Government’s phase 2 consultation on a Fairer Council Tax

Recognises the crippling impact that Welsh Government’s options 2 and 3 would have on Monmouthshire families, with council tax rises of up to 16%

Requests the Leader write to the Minister for Finance and Local Government opposing any changes to council tax which disproportionately impact on Monmouthshire residents.

This Council:

Notes the Welsh Government’s phase 2 consultation on a Fairer Council Tax

Recognises the crippling impact that Welsh Government’s options 2 and 3 would have on Monmouthshire families, with council tax rises of up to 16%

Requests the Leader write to the Minister for Finance and Local Government opposing any changes to council tax which disproportionately impact on Monmouthshire residents.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=18011

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

County Councillor Fay Bromfield rejoined the meeting at 18:58pm

County Councillor Tudor Thomas left the meeting at 19:00pm

County Councillor Catherine Fookes left the meeting at 19:01pm

County Councillor Armand Watts rejoined the meeting at 19:24pm

Following on from the motion approved by Council on High Beech roundabout on the 23^rd June 2022, please can you update Council on the progress being made to improve High Beech roundabout traffic congestion problems?

Following on from the motion approved by Council on High Beech roundabout on the 23rd June 2022, please can you update Council on the progress being made to improve High Beech roundabout traffic congestion problems?

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=19589

County Councillor Laura Wright left the meeting at 19:26pm

County Councillor Frances Taylor left the meeting at 19:26pm

What consideration has the Cabinet Member given to extending the consultation period for the Local Transport Plan?

What consideration has the Cabinet Member given to extending the consultation period for the Local Transport Plan?

https://www.youtube.com/live/Npj6L7wldiA?feature=shared&t=19801