Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Hanbury Road, Pontypool, NP4 6YB
Contact: Rachel Beale Senior Business Support Officer (Democratic Services)
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Attendance / Presenoldeb Minutes: Councillor
Executive Members (with Portfolios): Cllr Anthony Hunt – Leader Cllr Richard Clark – Deputy Leader Cllr Gwyneira Clark – Executive Member Housing, Planning & Public Protection Cllr John Cunningham MBE KSG – Executive Member Neighbourhoods Cllr David Daniels – Executive Member Communities & Anti-Poverty Cllr Lewis Jones – Executive Member Regeneration Cllr Bob Wellington – Executive Member Sustainability & Collaboration Cllr David Yeowell – Executive Member for Education & Performance Improvement
Officers: Nigel Aurelius – Assistant Chief Executive (Resources) Justine Cass - Solicitor Dave Congreve – Assistant Chief Executive (Communities) Richard Edmunds – Head of Strategic Services Dermot McChrystal – Head of Education Duncan Smith – Chief Officer for Planning, Public Protection and Neighbourhoods Alison Ward – Chief Executive Lynne Williams - Head of Business Support & Intelligence John Tushingham- Head of Access, Engagement and Performance Lyndon Puddy- Head of Public Service Support Unit Alan Vernon-Jones – Welsh Language Officer Tim James - Interim Chief Legal Officer Gill Pratlett – Head of Adult Services
Also attending: Rachel Beale - Clerk David Gulliford - IT Support Geraint Thomas – Webcasting Neil Jones – Head of Communications (in Gallery)
There were two Members of the press and public in the gallery.
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Apologies for absence / Ymddiheuriadau am absenoldeb Minutes: 2.1 There were no apologies received. |
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Declarations of Interest / Datganiadau o fudd Minutes: 3.1 The following Member interest were declared:
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Confirmation of Cabinet minutes -14/02/2017 / Cadarnhau cofnodion y Cabinet - 14/02/2017 Minutes: 4.1 The minutes were confirmed as an accurate record.
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Updates on actions / Y diweddaraf ar y camau gweithredu Minutes: 5.1 Cabinet noted the items listed on the action sheet. |
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Decision: Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response attached at Appendix 1 to this report.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: None declared. Minutes: 6 The Chief Executive outlined the report which sought approval to submit a response to the White Paper “Reforming Local Government: Resilient and Renewed” which was issued for consultation on 31st January 2017.
The Leader thanked the Deputy Leader and Chief Executive for their work on the thorough response to the White Paper. The Leader welcomed the approach taken by the Cabinet Secretary on the issue of reforming Local Government; he had spoken to all 22 Local Authorities and listened to the different ideas on how to take the concept forward pragmatically.
The Leader referred to the Framework and Footprint concept mentioned within the White Paper which was built around the principles of subsidiarity, he felt that some decisions taken as a Council would benefit from a greater scale, however had concerns that if all decisions were made on a greater scale the local aspect and the local accountability would be lost. He stated that it was important when taking new proposals forward that the citizens of the borough were at the forefront of our mind.
He said that Gwent had a unique and strong prospective. He informed Cabinet that he recently welcomed the Cabinet Secretary to the SRS to show some of the collaborative work undertaken with neighbouring councils and the Police and hopefully would work with other public services going forward to make savings and to deliver services more effectively by working together.
He
did raise concerns with some aspects of the White Paper which
included the voting and governance arrangements and felt that there
would be a danger if different councils went in different
directions, as the public’s understanding of what happened in
Local Government would be diminished.
Torfaen council had a practical view that PR in Local Government
would not work and he felt that it would break the link between
Members and the wards they represented which was a fundamental part
of the job of a councillor. Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response attached at Appendix 1 to this report.
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Additional documents:
Decision: Cabinet agreed to approve the EAS Business Plan 2017-2020 and the Local Authority Annex 2017-2018.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: Councillor David Daniels declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a director of the EAS. Councillor Richard Clark declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a reserve Member of the EAS. Minutes: The Head of Education outlined the report which sought approval of the EAS Business Plan 2017-2020 which set out the priorities, programmes and outcomes to be achieved by the EAS on behalf on the SE Wales Consortium. The report also sought approval for the Local Authority Annex 2017-18 which focused upon the expected outcomes in Torfaen and the specific programmes that would be implemented during 2017-18.
Members commended the hard work undertaken by all, to produce an excellent business plan. It was pointed out that Torfaen had reduced its funding to the EAS by 42% which made more money available to go to schools direct allowing the per pupil funding to be increased by 15% over the past 5 years. It was noted that even though there was a reduction in funding, the results were increasing which would constitute value for money.
Cabinet agreed to approve the EAS Business Plan 2017-2020 and the Local Authority Annex 2017-2018. |
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Additional documents: Decision: Cabinet agreed to: 1) Consider the outcome of the statutory objection period/process and agreed to proceed with proposal. 2) Note the requirement to publish a notice in accordance with the Education (Determination of Admission Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2006. 3) Subject to the satisfactory completion of recommendation 2 above, agreed to the implementation of the proposal to reduce the 11-16 capacity of Croesyceiliog School to 1200 places with effect from 1st September 2018.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: Councillor Gwyneira Clark declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she had a Grandchild that attended Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School. Councillor Richard Clark declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Croesyceiliog Primary School and Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School. Councillor John Cunningham declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at St Albans RC High School. Councillor David Daniels declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Cwmbran High School. Councillor Bob Wellington declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Cwmbran High School.
. Minutes: The Head of Education outlined the report which asked Cabinet to consider the outcome of the statutory objection period in relation to a proposal to reduce the 11-16 capacity of Croesyceiliog School to 1200 places.
He informed Cabinet that four statutory objections had been received, three individual responses from members of the public and one objection from NASUWT the Teachers' trade union. He summarised the objections received and outlined the councils response to the concerns raised.
He confirmed that after carefully considering all the comments made it was considered that the proposal stood on its own merits and should proceed.
Cabinet agreed to: 1) Consider the outcome of the statutory objection period/process and agreed to proceed with proposal. 2) Note the
requirement to publish a notice in accordance with the Education
(Determination of Admission Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations
2006. |
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Additional documents: Decision: Cabinet agreed to:
1) Consider the outcome of the statutory objection period/process and agreed to proceed with the proposals 2) Submit the objections and Objection Report to Welsh Ministers to determine the proposals in light of the objections received and the content of the Objection report. 3) Implement the proposals if approved by Welsh Ministers/
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: Councillor Gwyneira Clark declared a personal and prejudicial interest as she had a Grandchild that attended Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School. Councillor Richard Clark declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Croesyceiliog Primary School and Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School. Councillor John Cunningham declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at St Albans RC High School. Councillor David Daniels declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Cwmbran High School. Councillor Bob Wellington declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Cwmbran High School.
Minutes: The Head of Education introduced the report which asked Cabinet to consider the outcome of the statutory objection period in relation to proposals to establish a new English medium 6th Form Centre, replacing all current Torfaen 6th forms in English medium school and make regulated alterations to Croesyceiliog School, Cwmbran High School and St Albans RC High School by ending 6th form provision.
He informed Cabinet that 81 statutory objections were received and in addition to the objections, the Council was also aware of an online Petition which as of the 24th February had 964 signatures.
The Head of Education drew Members attention to the objections received and outlined the councils response to the concerns raised making the following comments:
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Additional documents: Decision: Cabinet agreed to give approval to submit the Full Business Case to Welsh Government.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: Councillor Richard Clark declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Croesyceiliog Primary School and Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School. Councillor John Cunningham declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at St Albans RC High School. Councillor David Daniels declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Cwmbran High School. Councillor Bob Wellington declared a personal but not prejudicial interest as a LEA appointed Governor at Cwmbran High School.
Minutes: The Head of Education introduced the report which sought approval to submit the Final Business Case to Welsh Government to build a new £20 million 6th Form Centre in Cwmbran which would replace all current Torfaen 6th Forms in English Medium Schools. 50 % of the investment would be funded by the Council and 50% would be funded by Welsh Government.
Cabinet agreed to give approval to submit the Full Business Case to Welsh Government.
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Additional documents:
Decision: Cabinet supported and agreed to submit to the Welsh Language Commissioners Office, the proposals detailed in Appendix 1.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: None declared. Minutes: The Head of PSSU introduced the report which sought approval to submit proposed wording variations to Welsh Language Standards contained within the Council’s Compliance Notice to the Welsh Language Commissioners Office. Having received the Compliance notice the Council considered that a number of the standards applicable to Torfaen were unreasonable and had appealed 32 standards whilst accepting 139 of the 171.
Cabinet supported and agreed to submit to the Welsh Language Commissioners Office, the proposals detailed in Appendix 1.
Councillors John Cunningham and David Yeowell left the meeting.
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Decision: Cabinet agreed to note the contents of the report.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: None declared. Minutes: The Chief Officer
Planning, Public Protection and Neighbourhoods introduced the
report which advised Cabinet that an application to add a public
footpath between Llantarnam Road and Newport Road to the
Authority’s Definitive Map and Statement had been withdrawn
by the Applicant. Their decision was made on the basis that the
Developer of the former Llantarnam Comprehensive site had agreed to
provide a footpath link through the new site to the existing
footpath 164A between numbers 13 and 14 John Fielding
Gardens.
Councillor John Cunningham returned to the meeting. |
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Heads of the Valleys Green Waste Project / Prosiect Gwastraff Gwyrdd Blaenau'r Cymoedd Decision: Cabinet agreed to approve the extension of the existing green waste contract with Viridor Waste Management for a further three months up until 30th June 2017.
Cabinet approved delegated powers to Chief Officer Neighbourhoods, Planning and Public Protection to award the green waste treatment contract in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive Resources, the Head of Procurement and the Interim Monitoring Officer.
REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the report. CONSULTATION: As set out in the report. MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: None declared. Minutes: The Chief Officer Planning, Public Protection and Neighbourhoods Services updated Cabinet on the long term green waste procurement exercise which was being undertaken in collaboration with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Newport City Council and Monmouthshire County Council.
Cabinet agreed to approve the extension of the existing green waste contract with Viridor Waste Management for a further three months up until 30th June 2017.
Cabinet approved delegated powers to Chief Officer Neighbourhoods, Planning and Public Protection to award the green waste treatment contract in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive Resources, the Head of Procurement and the Interim Monitoring Officer. |