Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S. Edmunds and the Interim Corporate Director of Social Services.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations received.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To receive.

Congratulations were expressed to:

ØAlfie Skinner who had represented the British Junior Golf Team in San Diego, California and had finished 18^th and 10^th in two events. 

RESOLVED that an appropriate letter be sent.

The Minute Book for the period November 2021 – April 2022 was submitted for consideration, whereupon:

Annual Meeting of the Council – Part 2 – 10^th June, 2022

Chair of Democratic Services Committee

For accuracy, it was reported that Councillor Julie Holt had declined the position of the Chair of Democratic Services Committee as had all other Members of the Independent Group at this current point in time.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the minutes be approved and confirmed as a true record of proceedings.

To confirm and if thought fit, approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 26th May, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm and if thought fit, approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10^th June, 2022.

Annual Meeting of the Council – Part 2 – 10^th June, 2022

Chair of Democratic Services Committee

For accuracy, it was reported that Councillor Julie Holt had declined the position of the Chair of Democratic Services Committee as had all other Members of the Independent Group at this current point in time.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the minutes be approved and confirmed as a true record of proceedings.

To confirm and if thought fit, approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9^th March, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm and if thought fit, approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17^th February, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd March, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th June, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the Minutes of the General Licensing Committee held on 20^th June, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd March, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th March, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Democratic Services Committee held on 8^th November, 2021.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held on 20^th January, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Joint Education & Learning and Social Services (Safeguarding) Scrutiny Committee held on 21^st January, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Special Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 26^th January, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th January, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 1^st February, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 9^th February, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee held on 23^rd February, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on 28^th February, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee (Budget Monitoring) held on 7^th March, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 15^th March, 2022.

Agreed.

To confirm the minutes of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 14^th April, 2022.

Agreed.

To receive questions, if any, from Members.

There were no questions submitted by Members.

To receive questions, if any, from the public.

There were no questions submitted by members of the public.

To consider the attached Motion.

Consideration was given to the Motion submitted regarding the cost of living.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the Motion be supported and

Ø The pay claim submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers, for an increase of £2,000 or RPI (whichever was greater) be supported.

Ø The Local Government Association be called upon to make urgent representations to central government to fund the NJC pay claim.

Ø The Chancellor and Secretary of State be written to calling for a pay increase for local government workers to be funded with new money from central government.

Ø A meeting be convened with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and consider practical ways in which the council could support the campaign.

Ø All local government workers be encouraged to join a union.

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services, Governance & Partnerships.

Members considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services, Governance & Partnerships.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that Council was satisfied that there was a sufficient level of support for Elected Members.

To consider the report of the Scrutiny and Democratic Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of the Scrutiny & Democratic Officer.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely, the ‘scrutiny activity’ that had been undertaken by each Scrutiny Committee during 2021/22 be approved and the report published on the Blaenau Gwent website.

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services, Governance and Partnerships.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Democratic Services, Governance & Partnerships.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be deferred and re-considered at the September Meeting of the Council.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The report of the Head of Organisational Development was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely, the Schedule of Members Remuneration for 2022/23 be agreed and published.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The report of the Head of Organisational Development was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, i.e. in order to comply with relevant legislation that theStatement of Payments Made to Members during 2021/22 be published.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the suite of Disciplinary and Capability Policies and Procedures be approved for implementation. This would ensure that the policies reflect best practice, statutory requirements and strengthens current practice.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

A Member requested that the document be amended to reflect that the policy would only apply to volunteering within the local community of Blaenau Gwent.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the Volunteering Policy be supported for implementation.

To consider the joint report of the Interim Corporate Director of Social Services and the Head of the Regional Partnership Team.

The joint report of the Interim Corporate Director of Social Services and Head of the Regional Partnership Team was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Population Needs Assessment be endorsed.

Due to the need to consider the following item as a matter of urgency, the Presiding Member has confirmed that the matter can be considered under the Provisions of Paragraph 4(b), Section 100(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

REASON FOR URGENCY

To adhere to timescales as a decision is required across the Gwent region.

To consider the report of the Head of Adult Services.

Due to the need to consider the following item as a matter of urgency, the Presiding Member confirmed that the following matter could be considered under the Provisions of Paragraph 4(b), Section 100(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Adult Services.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 2 be endorsed, namely that an immediate urgent response to the current staffing crisis in social care be developed and implemented and the current commissioned hourly rate to providers be increased by £1 per hour.

This would be time limited for a 6-month period to December 2022.

To consider the report of the meeting held on 28^th January, 2022.

Consideration was given to the report of the meeting held on 28^th January, 2022.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information contained therein be noted.

To consider the attached report.

Consideration was given to:

Aneurin Bevan community Health Council

-        The appointment of one representative on the above.

RESOLVED that Councillor E. Jones be appointed to the Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council.

GWENT ARCHIVE JOINT COMMITTEE

-        The appointment of one representative on the above.

RESOLVED that Councillor H. Trollope be appointed to the Gwent Archive Joint Committee.

Advisory Panel for Local Authority GovernorS

The following recommendations were made by the Panel on 30^th June, 2022 to appoint in principle:

Ebbw Fawr Learning Community – Jon Mower

Willowtown Primary School – Jordan Colcombe

St. Illtyd’s Primary School – Sarah Long

Deighton Primary School – Councillor Ellen Jones

The River Centre – Jacqueline Gwynne

It was, thereupon, unanimously,

RESOLVED that the above appointments be endorsed.

Membership - Advisory Panel for the Appointment of Local Authority Governors

Pursuant to the revised terms of reference agreed at the Panel meeting on 30^th June, the membership of the Advisory Panel for Local Authority Governors was reviewed as follows:

·       3 Majority Group Members (including the Executive Member for People & Educationwho will Chair the Panel); and

·       3 Members from the Minority Group

It was, therefore, RESOLVED that following Members be appointed to the Panel:

1.    Executive Member – People & Education

     Councillor       S. Edmunds (Chair)

2.    Councillor D. Bevan

3.     Councillor D. Davies

4.    Councillor G. A. Davies

5.    Councillor J. Hill

     6.  Councillor T. Smith

Cost of Living Crisis Cross Party Working Group

-        Establishing and appointing Members to the above-named Working Group.

RESOLVED that the following Members be appointed to the above-named Working Group:

1.    Leader of the Council/Executive Member Corporate Overview & Performance

2.    Deputy Leader of the Council/Executive Member Place & Environment

3.    Executive Member – Place & Regeneration

4.    Executive Member – People & Education

5.    Executive Member – People & Social Services

6.    Chair of Corporate Overview & Performance Scrutiny Committee

7.    Councillor G. Humphreys

To discuss.

Members considered the time of future Council meetings.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that all future Council meetings commence at 10.00 a.m.

To receive and consider the following reports which in the opinion of the proper officer are an exempt items taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reason for the decisions for the exemption are available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

To receive and consider the following reports which in the opinion of the proper officer were exempt items taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reasons for the decisions for the exemptions was available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

To consider the report of the meeting held on 17^th June, 2022.

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 & 13, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

Consideration was given to the report of the meeting held on 17^th June, 2022.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report which related to staffing matters be accepted and the decisions contained therein be noted

To consider the report of the meeting held on 28^th June, 2022.

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 & 13, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

Consideration was given to the report of the meeting held on 28^th June, 2022.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report which related to staffing matters be accepted and the post be offered to Joanne Watts on a salary in accordance with JNC 1 (£52,178 - £57,392).