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THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE CITY & COUNTY OF CARDIFF
The County Council of the City & County of Cardiff met at City Hall, Cardiff on Thursday 24 September 2009 to transact the business set out in the Council Summons dated 18 September 2009.
Present County Councillor Griffiths, Lord Mayor (in the Chair); County Councillor Hyde, Deputy Lord Mayor.
County Councillors Ali, Aubrey, Aylwin, Berman, Bowden, Bowen, Bridges, Burfoot, Burns, Carter, Chaundy, Clark, Ralph Cook, Richard Cook, Cowan, Cox, Kirsty Davies, Tim Davies, Dixon, Finn, Foley, Ford, Furlong, Gasson, Goddard, Goodway, Grant, Greening, C Holland, M Holland, Hooper, Howells, Hudson, Ireland, Islam, Jerrett, Brian Jones, Margaret Jones, Jones-Pritchard, Joyce, Kelloway, Lloyd, Macdonald, McEvoy, McKerlich, Montemaggi, David Morgan, Derrick Morgan, Elgan Morgan, Linda Morgan, Page, Jacqueline Parry, Patel, Pearcy, Pickard, Piper, David Rees, Dianne Rees, Robson, Rogers, Rowland-James, Salway, Smith, Stephens, Wakefield, Walker, Walsh, Williams and Woodman.
Apologies: Councillors Lansdown, Keith Parry and Singh,
(Prayers were offered by the Rev Dr John Payne)
62 : MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2009 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.
63 : CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
(The Chairman reminded Members of their responsibility under Article 16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct to declare any interest, and to complete Personal Interest forms, at the commencement of the item of business.) County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 169
1. Awards
Congratulations were extended to the Private Sector Housing team who had made the finals of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Housing’s UK Housing Awards with their Landlord Accreditation Wales Scheme.
2. Councillor John Dixon
The Lord Mayor offered his congratulations to Councillor Dixon on his recent marriage.
3. Steven Phillips, Corporate Director
The Lord Mayor wished Steven Phillips every success in his new post of Chief Executive of Neath Port Talbot District Council. Councillors Berman, Ralph Cook, Cowan, McEvoy and Walker all added their own thanks for his work with the Council and their best wishes for the future.
4. Webcasting and Recording of Proceedings
Members were reminded of a decision of the Constitution Committee on 10 July 2008 to webcast the Council meeting.
Members were also reminded that the Constitution Committee had previously agreed that Council proceedings be recorded for administrative purposes.
Formal approval to record the proceedings was granted.
64 : PUBLIC QUESTIONS
Question: Mrs M Bond
Chapel Wood was the first estate to be built in Llanedeyrn, yet it has no proper play area for the children. What proposals, if any, does the Council have to make the estate fit for children to play and enjoy the outdoor?
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The children used to use school pitches and they were fenced off and, now the fields have been fenced, this only leaves the main road. This is an accident waiting to happen.
Reply : Councillor Nigel Howells
Chapel Wood contains a substantial amount of green space, although I appreciate that the majority of it is in the form of small scale, geometrical blocks of open space which are not suitable for use by older children for ball games. However, it can be used by younger children and, of course, by residents of all ages for relaxation purposes.
In addition, there is still a sizable area of open space next to the school playing fields that is outside the new fence line and which could, if local residents agree, be used by older children for ball games. If local residents wish to explore this option, then can I suggest that they contact their local Ward Councillors to pursue this matter.
With regard to formal play facilities, the estate is served by a small equipped children’s play area at the northern end of Chapel Wood and a modern, enclosed multi use games area approximately 400 metres away next to the car park at the Maelfa Shopping Centre.
While I would agree that the level and extent of play provision is not ideal, I do think that there is a reasonable range of facilities within a modest walking distance of the estate. Notwithstanding this, I would be happy to liaise further with local Councillors on this matter.
Supplementary Question: Mrs M Bond
The playground you’re talking about is for toddlers. It has two small swings and two small rocking horses. The children I’m concerned about are the children who are playing football on our main roads. They have nowhere else to play football. All we want is a decent football pitch so we can get them off our roads. Can you help?
Reply : Councillor Nigel Howells
Thank you Mrs Bond, I do appreciate that the play area there is for small children and youngsters but as I’ve said, if you liaise with your local County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 171
Councillors then we will set up a series of meetings to explore what options we can take in order to improve the situation.
Question: Ms Jenny Rathbone
What is the Council's policy on food in schools? Given widespread concerns about obesity and healthy eating amongst young people, what standards does the Council set for the quality and availability of food and drink in Cardiff's schools?
Reply : Councillor Freda Salway
Since the introduction of Fair Funding legislation in 2000, schools have had the budgets for the provision of support services delegated to them. Schools have been free to choose their provider of catering, cleaning, building maintenance, grounds maintenance etc. from the in-house service or the private sector or operate the service themselves.
Cardiff Council’s Catering Direct Service Unit (DSU) provides a school catering service to 100% of the city’s schools. There are only two local authorities in Wales that have retained all their catering services in-house – Cardiff and Pembrokeshire.
Food purchasing for Cardiff Council is managed by the Council‘s Procurement Team and the Catering DSU determines the quality and specification of the food destined for school meals. Full traceability of all food used on the primary school menu is provided on the Council’s website at: www.cardiff.gov.uk/schoolscatering This enables both pupils and parents to view recipes and ingredients and to access full information about any item from its origin to its nutrient value. I can also confirm that we use RSPCA approved Welsh Free Range Eggs and RSPCA approved Freedom Standard Chickens.
All local authorities in Wales are working to the WAG Appetite for Life guidelines, which place particular focus on healthy food and achieving a good nutrient intake for children. Clearly, this will only benefit children who purchase or qualify for a school meal. In Cardiff, the uptake of meals is 42.83% in primary schools and 38.46% in secondary schools.
The Appetite for Life initiative has given all local authorities in Wales two years of grant funding. Cardiff Council uses some of this money on
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 172 an Appetite for Life Coordinator, who has already facilitated a range of improvements to the meal and the wider issues of health, namely:
• Developed partnerships to provide support to schools in a whole school approach to food and fitness; • Provided exemplar Food and Fitness Policy for all schools; • Arranged School Nutrition Action Groups in 15 secondary schools and 16 primary schools; • Arranged a Primary School Cooks Focus Group; • Provided After School Cooking Clubs run by school catering staff who have trained in OCN Level 2 Nutrition.
We are also looking at the other influences of children’s eating at school – for example, the increasing number of schools that are shortening the time available for pupils accessing meals. In some schools, paying a half- term in advance puts some parents off.
It is also worth noting that the Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Jenny Randerson AM, has put forward the first private member’s Bill, otherwise known as a Legislative Competency Order (LCO), to be considered by the National Assembly for Wales under its new law-making powers. The proposed Healthy Eating in Schools Measure, which will compel schools to teach children about healthy eating, has been supported by an all party committee of AMs and is expected to receive Royal Assent next month. I am pleased to say that Cardiff Council is already well on the way to achieving much of what is contained in the Bill, and I will let you have afterwards a list of what we have done and are doing and a sample of the menus.
Supplementary Question: Ms Jenny Rathbone
Thank you for confirming that schools catering in Cardiff is directly managed by the Council, which is all the more important then that the Council has a duty to ensure that they are already implementing ‘Appetite for Life’. Why then, 18 months after ‘Appetite for Life’ was published are we still selling drinks in our vending machines that are not on the list of acceptable drinks? It is a waste of time to compel schools to teach children about healthy eating if the Local Authority is not doing as it says. If we still have in our vending machines Coca Cola, Dr Pepper and other fizzy drinks of no known nutritional value, as well as crisps and chocolates, we are undermining the policy on snack foods, which is not to County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 173 deter people from eating decent food. We are obviously just compounding the obesity problem as well as the discipline problem.
Why is it that the ‘Appetite for Life’ Co-ordinator has not managed to deal with the contract for vending machines which is completely undermining any of the quality food which we may or may not be serving in our schools?
Reply : Councillor Freda Salway
Thank you for drawing that to my attention. My understanding is that it is up to the schools. We can make recommendations but, of course, as you know the governing bodies decide what goes into schools. But after your supplementary question I will ask for it to be reviewed again and find out exactly how many schools still have vending machines. But, of course, it’s a source of income to schools and in some schools that’s very valuable. It’s the old adage - you can take a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink - and it’s the same with youngsters with their school meals. But I do agree with you about fizzy drinks and crisps not being good for healthy eating. However, I will take the matter up but we can only make recommendations. But once the Jenny Randerson document is given Royal Assent we will be compelled to implement healthy eating.
65 : PETITIONS
The following petitions were submitted:
1. Councillor Islam – residents of Pontcanna Street call on the Council, to increase residents only parking permits to avoid future illegal parking in the area.
2. Councillor Walsh –residents of Broadlands House, Hazelwood Drive, St Mellons request that a crossing be situated to enable residents to reach their bus stop at Llaneirway in safety.
3. Councillor Howells – residents of Beresford Road ask the Council to look at the parking problems in this road.
4. Councillor Carter – 349 residents of Chapelwood, Llanedeyrn call on the Council to provide a place for children to play in safety as the fields have been fenced off.
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5. Councillor Robson – residents of Rhiwbina ask that double yellow lines be put at the junction of Heol Brynglas and Rhiwbina Hill.
6. Councillor Cowan – Obections have been received to cars being sold on the public highway on Thornhill Road and the Council is asked to take appropriate remedial action.
7. Councillor Jackie Parry – local residents request that security cameras be situated at the rear of the parade of shops on Newport Road, Rumney because of a number of burglaries that have occurred.
66 : STATUTORY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
It was moved by the Leader that this report be deferred to the October Council meeting to enable the document to be fully updated following its consideration at the Executive meeting.
RESOLVED – That the Statutory Improvement Plan be deferred for consideration at the October meeting of Council.
67 : ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2008/09 (Councillors Clarke, Hyde, Salway and Walsh declared an interest in this item as current or previous recipients of the Cardiff and Vale Pension Fund and withdrew from the meeting. Councillor Ralph Cook also declared an interest in this item as his wife is a member of the Pension Fund. He also left the meeting)
The Council’s Statement of Accounts for the financial year 2008/09 was presented and approved at Council on 25 June 2009. Following the production of the accounts the Wales Audit Office had undertaken a full audit of the accounts and had submitted a report to Council.
The report highlighted that there were • no significant concerns about the qualitative aspects of the accounting practices and financial reporting. However, improvement was required in some key areas mainly around the technical issues surrounding fixed assets • no uncorrected misstatements • no material weaknesses in internal control identified County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 175
• no other matters which need to be reported as required by other auditing standards • no other audit matters of governance interest to report
During the audit, a number of non-trivial misstatements were identified in the Council’s accounts and a number of other corrections were identified.
For the first time the Wales Audit Office had reported separately on the audit of the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund. The audit identified no material misstatements in the accounts.
The Council’s external auditor was also required to audit the accounts of the Cardiff Port Health Authority for the year ended 31 March 2009.
RESOLVED – That
(1) the reports of the Wales Audit Office on the Statement of Accounts of Cardiff Council, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Pension Fund and Cardiff Port Health Authority for the year ending 31 March 2009 be noted;
(2) it be noted that the Leader of the Council and the Council’s Section 151 Officer would formally sign the Letters of Representation at the conclusion of the meeting.
68 : COMPLAINT OF MALADMINISTRATION AGAINST CARDIFF COUNTY COUNCIL
The Public Services Ombudsman had investigated a complaint made by Mr Davies and Miss Brown about failings in the Council of dealing with their complaints as Council tenants in respect of the anti-social behaviour of a neighbour and the Council’s failure to consider the full range of sanctions that were available. The Ombudsman recommended that the Council transfers Miss Brown to comparable and suitable alternative accommodation and to pay Miss Brown £7,500 compensation within the next 3 months. She should also be sent a detailed and fulsome apology.
The Ombudsman also recommended that the Council revises its anti social behaviour policy to formalise early discussion with legal representatives and consideration of the alternative legal remedies that are available to tackle anti social behaviour.
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The Council should also proceed with further training for staff on the revised anti social behaviour procedure.
In addition to the Ombudsman's findings, the Council also received the observations of the Chief Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal Officer and the Chief Regulatory Service Officer.
RESOLVED – That
(1) the recommendations in the Report be accepted and the sum specified in the Report be paid;
(2) the action taken by the Chief Housing & Neighbourhood Renewal Officer be noted.
69 : CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE 27 JULY AND 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
The Constitution Committee on 27 July 2009 was advised that from 1 October 2009 all County and County Borough Councils in Wales were required to establish a committee to review or scrutinize crime and disorder functions. The Constitution Committee recommended to Council that the Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee be given the powers of a Crime and Disorder Committee and that the City and County Solicitor should be authorised to make such amendments to the Constitution as are required to enable this Scrutiny Committee to carry out the duties of the Crime and Disorder Committee. The Constitution Committee on 11 September 2009 considered a report outlining changes to the role of, and arrangements for, meetings of the Planning Committee and potential changes to incorporate new Procedure Rules for Planning Committee meetings as a result of views received from Members in a questionnaire survey. The Committee recommended that Council approve the draft Members’ Planning Code of Good practice as set out in Appendix 2A and the draft Planning Committee Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 2C. The Constitution Committee was advised that a number of issues had been identified where minor amendments were considered necessary to improve the efficacy and clarity of the Scheme of Delegations. Council County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 177 was recommended to adopt the revised Scheme of Delegations as set out in Appendix 3A. There followed a debate on these matters and Councillor Berman, Chair of the Constitution Committee responded. RESOLVED – That the recommendations of the Constitution Committee be approved as follows:
(1) the Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee be given the powers of a Crime and Disorder Committee;
(2) the City and County Solicitor be authorised to make such amendments to the Constitution as are required to enable the Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee to carry out the duties of the Crime and Disorder Committee; (3) the draft Members’ Planning Code of Good Practice, as set out in Appendix 2A, be approved; (4) the proposed changes to Planning Committee meeting arrangements, which are listed in Appendix 2B, be noted; (5) the draft Planning Committee Procedure Rules, as set out in Appendix 2C, be approved; (6) the revised Scheme of Delegations as set out in Appendix 3A be adopted.
70 : PLASNEWYDD AND ROATH COMMUNITIES: CHANGE OF NAMES
The Executive Business Meeting on 10 April 2008 had agreed proposals for the review of Community Councils and the change of names of the communities of Plasnewydd and Roath. The authority for renaming communities lay with the Council, on the request of a community meeting.
Consequently, a meeting was convened with the community of Plasnewydd on 2 September where it was agreed to relinquish the community name of Plasnewdd and to adopt the community name of Roath, subject to a separate decision being taken by the present community of Roath to relinquish the community name of Roath.
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The latter meeting took place on 9 September where it was agreed to relinquish the community name of Roath and to adopt the community name of Penylan.
RESOLVED – That
(1) the request from the Roath community meeting to relinquish the community name of Roath and adopt the name of Penylan be approved;
(2) the request from the Plasnewydd community meeting to relinquish the community name of Plasnewydd and adopt the name of Roath be approved;
(3) Pen-y-lan be designated the Welsh language version of Penylan, and Y Rhath the Welsh version of Roath;
(4) the Chief Executive issue the necessary notices to effect the decisions.
71 : APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER REPRESENTATIVES TO OUTSIDE BODIES
Council considered the following appointments to outside bodies.
Cardiff Waste Ltd
Cardiff Waste Ltd, which was established in 1991, was currently a dormant company but should be maintained in the event that Council in the future wished to use the company. The current directors were Steven Phillips, Corporate Director (Environment), who was leaving the Council on 2 October 2009 and Ruth Chapman, Chief Officer, Highways and Waste Management. It was necessary to appoint a new director to replace Steven Phillips.
Officer Representatives
A review of senior officer representation on outside bodies and other external groups was recently undertaken by the Corporate Management Board and Chief Officers.
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The issue of effective continuity planning was considered which would enable Corporate Directors, Chief Officers and Heads of Functions to take on additional responsibilities by serving on outside bodies or at meetings of external groups that would previously have been assigned to Corporate Directors. It was proposed that the Chief Executive be granted delegated powers to appoint officer representatives to outside bodies.
It was moved by Councillor Howells, seconded by Councillor Dixon and agreed that the words ‘in consultation with the relevant Executive Member’ be added to the recommendation.
Councillor Howells added that Members would be informed when such appointments are made.
RESOLVED – That
(1) the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority to appoint an officer representative as Director of Cardiff Waste Ltd with effect from 2 October 2009; and to make such further appointments as may be required from time to time to fill any vacancies in the position of Director of Cardiff Waste Ltd.
(2) the Chief Executive be granted delegated authority, in consultation with the relevant Executive Member, to appoint and revoke, from time to time as necessary, officer representatives to outside bodies and other external groups where required, such authority to be further delegable in cases where the Chief Executive may be unable to act due to a conflict of interest.
72 : COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Council noted that Councillor McKerlich was to replace Councillor Ireland on the Business Committee.
73 : APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF LEA SCHOOL GOVERNORS
The Council was recommended to approve the appointment of LEA School Governors as listed in the appendix to the report, and as shown on the Amendment Sheet.
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RESOLVED - That
(1) the following appointment of School Governors be approved;
School Ward Start of Applications Vacancy Meadowlane Primary Trowbridge 09/11/07 Mr D Hannigan Meadowlane Primary Trowbridge 15/08/09 Cllr M Walsh Ninian Park Primary Grangetown 22/05/07 Mr J Lewis The Hollies Pentwyn 19/11/08 Mr L Gerson Woodlands High Caerau 01/06/09 Cllr B Finn
Future LEA Governor Vacancies
School Ward Start of Applications Vacancy Cardiff High Cyncoed 15/11/09 Mr ALM Farook Ely and Caerau Ely 15/12/09 Cllr S Goddard Children’s Centre Gladstone Primary Cathays 15/12/09 Mrs C Pascoe Llanedeyrn Primary Pentwyn 18/10/09 Mr C Ribton Pentyrch Primary Pentyrch 15/12/09 Mrs C Beaman Meadowlane Primary Trowbridge 15/11/09 Miss C Griffin St Mary The Virgin C/W Butetown 15/12/09 Cllr D Greening Primary Willows High Splott 15/12/09 Mr A Powell
(The meeting was adjourned at this point for a short interval and re- convened at 7.30pm)
74 : NOTICE OF MOTION
It was moved by Councillor Bill Kelloway and seconded by Councillor Delme Greening as follows:
This Council: County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 181
1. welcomes the ambitions expressed in Lord Carter’s report, entitled “Digital Britain”, which recommends that a 2 Mbit/s universal access provision to broadband should be in place throughout the UK by 2012;
2. notes with concern the conclusions contained in the OFCOM publication, entitled “UK Broadband Speeds, 2009”, which demonstrates that Wales lags behind the rest of the UK in the roll out of broadband technology;
3. notes that broadband ‘not spots’, where access to broadband provision at a speed of at least 2 MBit/s is not currently available, do not just exist within rural areas but also within urban areas, including within certain parts of Cardiff;
4. notes with further concern that many residents, including those within Cardiff, often enter contracts with broadband providers believing they will be securing a faster broadband provision than is actually available at their location via their telephone line;
5. calls upon the Welsh Assembly Government to commit the necessary resources to ensure that the ambitions articulated in “Digital Britain” are fully realised by 2012 in Wales and Cardiff.
The motion was carried.
75 : CORPORATE STATEMENT (County Councillor Berman)
Cardiff City Stadium
I was delighted to attend the official opening the new Cardiff City Stadium on 22 July for Cardiff City's pre-season friendly against Celtic. I was also happy to step into the breach to perform the official opening ceremony when it became clear that the First Minister had not been able to arrive at the stadium in sufficient time.
The Council has subsequently concluded an agreement with Cardiff City Football Club (CCFC) in the form of two separate leases – one on the stadium itself and one on associated land – plus there is agreement on a
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 182 variation to the development agreement which provides an additional year (to the end 2010) for delivery of the House of Sport project, reflecting the current difficult market conditions for development. These arrangements safeguard the Council's position as set out in the original agreements and allow CCFC (and the Cardiff Blues Rugby Team) to commence playing in the new stadium which is already proving an outstanding success.
Connecting South East Wales Partnership Board
I attended a meeting of the Connecting South East Wales Partnership Board of the ten local authorities in the region on 23 July. There were positive discussions about shaping the future regional agenda allied to a presentation on collaborative data sharing from the Local Government Data Unit.
High Speed Rail Link
On 9 September, I attended a High Speed Rail Summit at which High Speed Rail UK (HSR UK,) a new national campaign for a UK-wide high speed rail network was launched. The campaign is supported by 11 UK cities across England, Scotland and Wales.
The Council’s aspiration is for the development of a state-of-the-art high speed rail link between London and South Wales via the Great Western rail corridor as part of a wider UK network of high speed rail linking its major cities. To this end, the Council is also working closely with partnership agencies in South Wales and the South West of England to develop the case for the early development of a Great Western high speed rail line as part of any future UK high speed rail network.
OPENCities Photography Exhibition Launch Event
On 11 September the OPENCities Photographic Exhibition was launched by the Lord Mayor and myself at the Old Library building in the Hayes. The exhibition, which has arrived in Cardiff from Dusseldorf, examines what it is like to settle in a new city. From Cardiff the exhibition will tour the cities of Belfast, Bilbao, Dublin, Madrid, Sofia, and Vienna throughout 2009 and 2010, and it includes the work of photographers from each of these cities. Over 100 people attended the launch event which included speeches from Dr. Kevin Higgins, Director of the British Council Wales, and Roy Jefferies, headmaster of St. Mary’s Roman County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 183
Catholic Primary School – whose pupils were the focus of Cardiff’s contribution to the exhibition.
As part of the launch event I also took part in a panel discussion, chaired by Noreen Bray and including Paul Graddon, Chief Executive of Memory Lane Cakes, Bill Savage, Chair of Cardiff & Co, Daniel Prokop, an international student studying in Cardiff, Derek Ngulube, father of one of the pupils of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School and Cardiff City footballers, Gabor Gypes and Miguel Comminges. The discussion focused on what makes Cardiff a welcoming city in which to live and work, and what can be done to make Cardiff a more open city.
The exhibition is open to the public from the 12 September to 13 October. Visitors will be asked to say what they think makes Cardiff an open city, and what can be done to make the city even more open.
International Sports Village (ISV)
The Olympic-standard canoe course can be seen taking shape at ISV with most of the concrete works already complete. Before the end of the year the four pumps, which will pump a total of 16 cubic meters of water a second into the course, will be installed. Final commissioning and completion of the facilities building will follow in February 2010.
Three piers which will support the four spans of the Pont y Werin are complete, and fabrication of the steel bridge itself has commenced. Construction of the bridge, which includes an opening section, is on programme. It will open to allow the passage of sailing craft for the first time in June 2010. The bridge is an integral part of the national cycle network and will complete an eight mile circular pedestrian and cycle route around Cardiff Bay.
Concept plans for an improved Ice Rink have been completed and work is progressing to ensure that the facility is ready for October 2011 with an OJEU notice for an Ice Rink operator from November 2009 onwards published last week. Meanwhile, use of the existing temporary rink has been extended and bids will shortly be requested for operation of the rink during this interim period.
Bayscape, the development on the former Cambrian Marine site, is currently progressing through planning. The developer is in detailed talks
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 184 with upmarket hotel operator Wyndham International, its preferred operator for the scheme.
Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)
The CLGF-sponsored partnership with Vadodara City State of Gujarat, India is progressing with a reference visit to Cardiff by their Mayor (who is also an MP), Deputy Commissioner and Project Manager planned for 29 September. A reciprocal visit, which I will attend, is currently being arranged for December. It will be funded by the CLGF
Opening of John Lewis and St David’s Centre
I am very pleased to be able to inform you that the new John Lewis department store opened to the public today having been completed on time and to programme. As I have previously indicated, not only is this the firm’s first store in Wales, it is also the biggest department store in Wales and the largest John Lewis store outside of London. Boasting an impressive 280,000 square feet of floor space, it has already created 700 much needed extra jobs in the city. With the opening of the store comes the added bonus of 550 new car park spaces in its new basement car park including dedicated disabled and parent & child spaces.
The refurbishment of the existing St David’s Centre was completed on 4 August and the Town Wall route to Hills Street reopened, reinstating a much used covered route through the city. The remainder of the retail development, including the very impressive 240 metre long Grand Arcade with its selected limestone floor, will open on Thursday 22 October. This will, when fully occupied, take the total new jobs created in the city to 4,000 and will also add another 2,000 car park spaces including further disabled provision and Shopmobility.
To complete the transformation, the traffic orders allowing the pedestrianisation of the Hayes will come into force on 15 October – providing the city with major new public areas and a streetscape featuring new trees, benches and public art. Under the Countdown 2009 banner, the Council has played a major part in this transformation of the public realm in the city centre by funding and providing new gateway crossings in St Mary Street and Duke Street, upgrading Hayes Island and refurbishing Mill Lane to truly transform the city.
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Forthcoming Executive Business
The following items are currently scheduled to be considered on 1 October 2009:
Corporate: Councillor Rodney Berman
• Ask Cardiff – A New Framework for Consultation and Engagement • Complaints Report for Periods 2008-2009
Communities, Housing & Social Justice: Councillor Judith Woodman
• Rover Way Gypsy and Traveller Site Re-development
Education & Lifelong Learning: Councillor Freda Salway
• School Organisation Planning: Recommendations relating to the Amalgamations of Marlborough Infants and Junior schools and Glyncoed Infants and Junior schools
• Schools Organisation Planning: Proposed amalgamation of Trowbridge Infant and Junior Schools and the establishment of a Welsh Medium Primary School
• Instrument of Government
• Maintained Schools Partnership Agreement
• Policy on monitoring and evaluating the work of schools
Environment: Councillor Margaret Jones
• Declaration of the Nant Fawr Corridor as a Local Nature Reserve
• Signs and Advertisement Guidance for the Cathedral Road Conservation Area
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Finance & Service Delivery: Councillor Mark Stephens
• Cardiff Council’s Submission to the Welsh Assembly Government's Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales: Tax and Borrowing Powers
Health, Social Care & Wellbeing: Councillor John Dixon
• Social Pedagogy
76 : CORPORATE QUESTIONS
Question: County Councillor Walker
At the July Council you failed to provide a response to the question I asked about salary increases at Director and Chief Officer level. After 17 days of persistent requests, I was finally provided (and it seemed reluctantly) with data which should have been readily available to any Councillor at short notice. This apparently showed that, since 2004/5 and including national and discretionary awards, the Chief Executive’s salary has risen by 34.35%, those of two Corporate Directors by 38.07% and that of a Chief Officer by 28.92% (please confirm that these figures are correct). In your explanation of these large increases you cited the elimination of some former director posts as justification.
The Transition to the Cardiff Strategic Partnership Model approved by Executive on the 10 th September shows the Corporate Management Board shrinking to 5 senior people by 2011. Will this mean further substantial increases in senior level salaries (since this was the justification previously used)?
What would be the scale of such increases and how could further awards be justified and explained to the Council tax payers of Cardiff who might well be surprised to learn of the increases already awarded by the Executive to senior managers since 2004?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
You were not provided with a response at the last meeting because you asked a detailed question that required officers to pull together the County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 187 necessary information and ensure that it was accurate. You received a response to your request in due course and, as a result, your comments about the work undertaken by officers are both unfair and unwarranted.
As I pointed out to you in my response, Cardiff Council is one of the largest employers in Wales employing approximately 18,000 staff who provide more than 700 services each year to the taxpayers of the city. The Council is a multi-million pound business with an annual gross revenue budget of around £895m and an annual capital budget of £108m. The comparable private sector top executive administering an organisation with similar turnover and staff numbers can be expected to earn double, treble or quadruple the basic salary of a council chief executive. For example, private sector basic salaries are only some 41% of total remuneration and the top FTSE 250 chiefs receive an average of £586,000 in bonuses ( Source: SOLACE – Promoting chief executives 2009: Public and private sector salaries ).
I can further confirm that the percentage increases in salary provided within my previous response are correct. Clearly, the figures you have quoted within your question today are a simple addition of percentage increases over the five year period.
These increases, however, need to be taken in context with the reduction in the number of senior management posts that has been made by the Council since 2004 and the consequential reduction in the total amount spent on salaries for senior officers that has been achieved in the same time period. The Council has gone from having previously had 6 Corporate Directors and 18 Chief Officers to the current position where we have 3 Corporate Director and 13 Chief Officer posts (with three reporting directly to the Chief Executive).
This has resulted in approximately £0.75 million per year in savings on senior management costs. This has proved to be both a sensible and cost- effective way forward that has delivered genuine savings to local tax payers.
Whilst some individual post holders will now be earning more, this is largely because they have been given a greater level of responsibility within a streamlined and rationalised senior management structure that has been developed over recent years, which shares out the overall responsibilities between a lesser number of senior managers. If you share
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 188 out the same responsibilities between a smaller number of people then it is only right that you should seek to pay some of those individuals who remain more, but doing so enables you to make savings overall.
During 2007/08, senior managers also moved to new salary scales, based on independent recommendations made by the Hay Group, which are linked to satisfactory performance. This forms part of a contractual entitlement which brought senior managers into line with the National Conditions that are applied to all other staff employed by the Council. Any incremental increases in salaries for these individuals within their respective salary scales are not discretionary, but are performance based and linked to the individual’s contract of employment.
I can also confirm that the percentage increases for both the Chief Executive and those officers who report directly to him comprise two separate and quite distinct elements.
The first is the annual pay award, negotiated and agreed nationally, which the Council would implement for all staff, including its senior managers. The second element comprises salary increases based on external and objective evaluations of posts – which takes account of changes in roles and responsibility – and which are properly benchmarked against appropriate public sector comparators.
You will be aware that the remuneration of Senior Officers in the Council is a matter delegated to Employment Conditions Committee, of which you are a member. That Committee has determined and agreed salary ranges for the post of Chief Executive, as it has for Corporate Director and all Chief Officer posts, and the percentage increases I confirmed on 6 August 2009 are in line with the agreed decisions.
In relation to the specific question you have asked concerning further substantial increases at a senior level, I would refer you to the Chief Executive’s report to the Executive Business Meeting on 10 September 2009, entitled ‘The Cardiff Strategic Partnership Model’. I am led to question whether or not you have actually read this report, something which you should be doing in your role as Leader of the Opposition. Paragraph 27 of the report states very clearly that:
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“The vacant post of Corporate Director (Environment) will not be replaced, and the remaining Corporate Directors and Chief Officers have committed to take on additional workload for the same remuneration.”
You may also be aware that, in relation to the annual pay award, the Employers Side of the Joint National Council (covering these senior management posts) has reaffirmed its position that it would be inappropriate to award a salary increase this year, in the light of the current economic climate, and discussions are ongoing with the Officers side on this matter.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Walker
One of the premises in the response you have given me to this question Leader is that you can justify grading increases/salary increases where there is reorganisation leading to fewer managers in particular. Now obviously with the whole Transformational Change process there is going to be a magnification of that process throughout the organisation. Are you concerned that you are setting a precedent here by saying that where there is a shrinkage of the management structure the other managers can warrant substantial salary increases because if you are saying that it is a slippery slope?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I’m afraid I didn’t catch the end of what you said there because of noise so I apologise if I miss anything out.
I don’t think we’ve set any particular precedent because I think there is a well established principle that we should be paying staff according to the amount of responsibility they have and the amount of work that they do. That’s a principle that applies right across the board and it’s something that is very much underpinning the job evaluation exercise that this Council has been undertaking for the last few years, and which we hope to draw to a conclusion in time for the next financial year.
So for everybody, whether they are at the top or at the bottom, we shall be trying to give them a fair rate of pay according to what they do and what responsibility they have – so there is no difference for those at the top and those at the bottom. As you have acknowledged, as I said in my answer, in slimming down the senior management structure we have managed to
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 190 deliver savings over and over again on an annual basis to the people of Cardiff. Now if that means that we have to, on occasions, give some individuals more because they have got more responsibility then I think that’s a sensible approach because overall we are making savings and we are returning funding from paying for more senior staff than we need to actually paying for frontline services. That’s an approach that I would be very happy to continue with in this Authority.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Walsh
Whilst I hear what you say Councillor Berman are you going to be saying exactly the same now with the vacancy arising from Steven Phillips leaving the Authority? I am pleased to hear you say fair pay for what people do but at the end of the day the lower paid workers have an hourly rate and there is a lot of low paid workers who do extra work. I accept what you are saying there is a certain amount of savings but we hear this excuse every time. How much work can a person do? We’ve seen quite a few Chief Officers and Senior Officers leaving, no disrespect to any Senior Officer in this Authority, they do the work and they put the effort in but people can only do so much work so are these people going to be paid extra money again for doing the work that you are now saying is going to happen when Steven Phillips goes?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
Councillor Walsh, I wonder if you are actually acting in league with Councillor Walker because you appear to be making the same mistake that perhaps he is making in that he is not actually reading the reports we have produced for this Council. We have already answered that point because Councillor Walker in his question wanted to know if we were going to be paying any individuals more as a result of recent changes in the senior management structure. You are asking it again – but not only did you not obviously read the report in which we dealt with it, you obviously haven’t read this answer here which has dealt with that point in relation to Councillor Walker asking it in his question.
Paragraph 7 of the report in question, which was Cardiff Strategic Partnership Model – a report to the Executive Business meeting on 10 September – read as follows: “The vacant post of Corporate Director (Environment) will not be replaced, and the remaining Corporate County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 191
Directors and Chief Officers have committed to take on additional workload for the same remuneration”.
I really wish Members would actually read things before wasting the time of Council with questions that have already been answered.
Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
Is it not the case that a number of recent incidents and events involving Members of the Council Executive provide clear evidence that some Members of your Executive have their “eye off the ball” and are not fit to govern? Or do you think they are all as good as each other and are a credit to you and your administration?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I make it a habit not to answer such general or cryptic questions at Council, but I would be happy to respond to any question that is more specific.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
To be specific then, are you happy with the way your Administration has handled items such as: the announcement of the sale of school land at Hywel Dda; the delivery of redundancy notices last week to members of the St Mellons Creche and then swiftly three days later retracting them; your Economic Development Portfolio Supremo explaining the Local Development Plan process to the people of Cardiff through the Echo and someone at a meeting last night from the same Party claiming that his Leader had been misadvised by Council officers about the process; and, of course, not pre-empting as we saw earlier today a second report on the Housing Services response to antisocial behaviour and just because its come into my hands I’ll just ask this one too? I have here a piece of paper that was handed out at the very meeting I mentioned last night, in which I believe your Economic Supremo said “we are the elected politicians and we set the policy, Council officers understand that now”.
Are you satisfied with that sort of thing from your Executive Members?
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Reply: County Councillor Berman
I said I would be happy to answer a specific question, but I think there were several questions within what you’ve just raised there and, therefore, I would point out that in supplementary questions you are only supposed to ask one question. Therefore, I find it impossible now to answer.
Question from County Councillor Cowan
Following your comments in the South Wales Echo that, “European style apartment living will help to protect Cardiff’s green spaces” , will you look to uphold the proposed Council Policy SP3 (A) of the deposit LDP, relating to the protection of buildings for residential use particularly in areas close to the City Centre such as Richmond Road?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I do not personally uphold any planning policies. It is a matter for the Planning Committee to take account of development plans and any other material considerations in making decisions on particular planning applications .
((No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
Question: County Councillor Carter
With John Lewis opening today and St David’s 2 due to open next month, could you inform council what percentage of units of the new shopping centre will be vacant and what is the expected economic benefit to the city?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
The number of vacant units upon the opening of St David’s 2 is a commercially sensitive issue for the developers and it is their decision as to what information is released. I can state, however, that their last release of information was that 34% of the total space available was still to be let, meaning that at least 66% of the total available space has been County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 193 let to date. I believe this is a major achievement in the current economic climate.
In addition, the St David’s Partnership has implemented a void strategy to make use of the vacant space for Christmas trading, thereby maximising the use of floor area in the new centre and creating “live” frontages.
The overall economic benefit to the city in terms of additional sales based on the scheme being fully let is forecast at £260 million per year. An increase in footfall of 27% will also take the annual footfall in the expanded St David’s shopping centre to 33 million. More importantly, the scheme will have created a total of 4,000 new jobs once the centre is fully occupied.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Carter
Clearly there is still a very large amount of space not occupied at this stage, which is understandable as we are in recession but I was just wondering what programme the Administration has to try and fill those vacant places in a clearly very competitive market?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
It’s not actually, I think, the Administration’s direct responsibility as such to try to fill the vacant units within the centre. That is really down to the owners of the centre. But I think it’s certainly incumbent upon us as an Authority to do all that we can to ensure that we have as buoyant an economy as possible in Cardiff. That’s why, for instance, in this year’s budget we brought forward measures such as extra support for small businesses, grants, loans – we’ll be having a Dragons Den type scheme whereby businesses can get equity from the Council towards their businesses, for instance.
All sorts of opportunities that we follow to try to bring business into the city are going to make the circumstances right for more shop units to be taken up. We look at all opportunities. One such opportunity we took in recent years was in fighting to secure an Ashes Test coming to Cardiff by taking the step, for instance, to lend money to Glamorgan County Cricket Club to make sure they had the money to invest in redeveloping their ground. That then led to people coming into the city, and spending money in this city, during the five days that the Ashes Test was on. We will
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 194 continue to keep investing in public services to make sure that that sort of investment can continue to flow in.
Question: County Councillor Piper
Does the Leader anticipate votes from the four Cardiff constituencies being counted over night at the next general election?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I understand that the Council’s Election Project Team, which is headed by the Chief Executive as Acting Returning Officer, has made clear its intention to conduct the Parliamentary election count immediately following the close of poll at 10.00pm on the Thursday night. It is very likely that the counting of votes will stretch into the early hours of Friday morning.
It should also be noted that if it is not possible to reach a definitive result during the night in a particular constituency due to the recounting of votes, then the Acting Returning Officer may decide to postpone the completion of the count until the following day.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Piper
Can I Councillor Berman on behalf of political anoraks everywhere thank the Chief Executive and the Election Project Team for their decision and can I ask - do you believe, as I do, that overnight counts should be maintained for all elections - General, European, Local and Welsh Assembly - as a great hallmark of our democracy and should continue and will you represent those views to the Chief Executive?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I most certainly do agree. There is nothing better, I think, than trying to keep awake through into the small hours to watch the votes being counted. The idea of having to go home and sleep on it and then wait till the next day is not one that is particularly inviting. I speak as a Member who, when I was first elected, had to wait for a recount to take place the following morning – so that’s an experience I wouldn’t want to wish on anybody. I think the earlier we can get the results the better.
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But I think when it comes to the General Election, in particular, the nation wants to know how the new government is going to take shape. They want to know that quickly. I know probably a lot of people out there just go to bed and then wake up in the morning to find out, but I think they might be surprised if they woke up in the morning and found that nothing had started counting. So I fully support what you say and I will happily make such representations.
(The Lord Mayor advised that there was no further time for supplementary questions for the Corporate Portfolio)
Question: County Councillor Richard Cook
In July 2008, you told Full Council that the major community benefit from the Cardiff City Football Club development, the ‘House of Sport’, would be completed by June 2009. In September, you told Full Council that tenders had been received. As of today, no building work has started, why not?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
It may have escaped your notice but the state of the economy has changed somewhat since July 2008.
As I set out in my Corporate Statement today, the Council has concluded an agreement with Cardiff City Football Club (CCFC) in the form of two separate leases – one on the Football Stadium and one on associated land – plus there is agreement on a variation to the development agreement which provides an additional year (to the end 2010) to deliver the House of Sport project, reflecting the current difficult market conditions for development. These arrangements have helped to safeguard the Council's position as set out in the original agreements and have allowed CCFC (and the Cardiff Blues Rugby Team) to commence playing in the new Stadium, which is already proving an outstanding success.
The planning obligation relating to the House of Sport required the building to be completed by December 2009 or, alternatively, for a payment to be made to the Council at that time. CCFC has been involved in delivering the stadium fit-out arrangements and asked for the House of Sport obligation to be deferred for 12 months. That request has been accepted but, as security for that deferment, the Council has retained step-
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 196 in rights in regard to two commercial development sites within the stadium.
CCFC has emphasised that it intends to deliver the House of Sport. But if that did not happen, then the Council would be able to sell the two commercial development sites and use the receipts to procure the development of the House of Sport. Having personally participated in the discussions which led to this revised agreement, I consider this to be a sensible way forward given the realities of the current recession. It is hoped that CCFC will indeed be able to deliver the House of Sport according to the revised timetable that has now been agreed, but if this turns out not to be possible then the Council has negotiated an important alternative safeguard mechanism that will ensure it can still be delivered.
I understand that the position was also explained to you in a recent telephone conversation with the Corporate Director (Environment).
Question: County Councillor Robson
Why has the Statutory Improvement Plan target 2009/2010 for PED012 – Percentage of citizens surveyed who are satisfied with Council Services – been revised from 90 to 86?
What improvement does this show?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
Information to support this performance indicator is collected using the Ask Cardiff Resident Survey which is distributed to 5,000 households and members of the Council’s Citizens’ Panel. The response to this question has varied in recent years as can be seen below:
2005-06 88.9% 2006-07 83.2% 2007-08 85.5% 2008-09 Available following analysis of 2009 Ask Cardiff Survey
Asking residents to state their overall satisfaction with Council services can be very subjective and open to variation and this is why targets have County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 197 been amended on an annual basis to reflect overall changes in resident opinion. Based on recent trends, the decision was taken during the development of the Corporate Plan 2009-2012 that increasing the target to 90% was not realistic or achievable and that a new approach was needed to measure levels of satisfaction with the Council.
The Ask Cardiff Survey now asks a series of questions to find out views on more specific areas of satisfaction. These include satisfaction with Cardiff as a place to live; satisfaction with the way that the Council is running the city; and satisfaction with a range of specific Council services including schools, libraries, recycling facilities, street lighting and pavement maintenance. The findings from these more specific measures of satisfaction enable the Council to target those areas of service delivery where there are lower levels of satisfaction, as opposed to reacting to changes in overall satisfaction that could be caused by a range of unidentifiable local issues.
Question: County Councillor Pickard
Will you, as Leader of the Council, commit Cardiff Council to join the 10:10 campaign which aims to cut the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by 10% in 2010?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I am pleased to confirm that Cardiff Council will be signing up to the 10:10 campaign. You will be aware that the Council has already committed to cut its emissions by 60% by 2018 and this campaign ties-in well with that commitment.
Emissions covered by the 10:10 campaign will include Council buildings (but not schools), air travel & road travel (vehicle fleet & staff mileage). The baseline year is 2009-10 and there is flexibility to align this with the Council’s existing reporting periods so that we won't have to calculate emissions for two different periods. Reductions in emissions will be measured in 2010-11. Reporting on CO2 emissions from road and air travel and setting a reduction target also ties in well with the Council’s existing Green Dragon commitments.
The 10:10 campaign will celebrate any reduction in emissions of 3% or greater, with those achieving a 10% reduction receiving the most
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 198 prominence in any media campaigns. It offers the opportunity for the Council to encourage individual employees and the public to also sign up to the campaign, thereby promoting efforts to reduce CO2 emissions within the wider community. This also fits well with ongoing work with our community planning partners to develop a carbon-lite strategy for Cardiff.
Question: County Councillor Walker
Does the Leader believe that, in the current economic climate, above inflation tax increases are acceptable?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
I would have hoped by now that you would accept I had ably demonstrated my genuine concern to keep council tax rises in Cardiff to as low a level as is practical. Since I have been Leader of the Council, the average annual council tax rise has been around 3%, compared to a massive 11% under the Council’s previous Labour leadership.
As always, when setting the annual Council budget, proposed council tax levels have to be balanced with the need to provide vital local services. I do not accept that we should keep council tax rises artificially low regardless of the impact on services.
And in terms of general taxation policy, the parties which form the administration believe that tax reductions should be targeted at those from lower incomes. This contrasts with your own Conservative party, which would appear to be far more interested in tax cuts for the super rich.
If there is a specific problem with the affordability of council tax in the current economic climate then it is because council tax, which your party introduced in the first place, is not levied in a manner which is related to ability to pay. If you are genuinely concerned about the affordability of local taxation, then I hope you will now join with me in arguing for council tax to be replaced with a local income tax so that a person’s ability to pay can be properly taken into account. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 199
Question: County Councillor Cowan
Why isn’t the current Electoral Review from the Boundary Commission on the Council Summons for debate?
Reply: County Councillor Berman
Members will be aware that the Local Government Boundary Commission Wales (LGBCW) is currently reviewing the electoral arrangements for Cardiff. An initial letter has been sent to interested persons and organisations announcing the review and inviting proposals and recommendations (Stage 1 of the LGBCW’s review procedures). The deadline for responses to the initial consultation being undertaken by the LGBCW (Stage 2) has also been extended from 22 September 2009 to 22 October 2009.
At this stage of the review, individual Members or Groups are able to make representations directly to the LGBCW with any proposals or recommendations they may have regarding the number of councillors to be elected to the Council, the number and boundaries of electoral divisions, the number of councillors to be elected for each electoral division, or the name of any electoral division.
The Council may wish to respond to any draft proposals or recommendations that may be put forward in due course by the LGBCW in its Draft Proposals Report (Stage 3). This will be followed by a further consultation period of nine weeks (Stage 4), which is expected to be in early 2010.
The LGBCW is expected to formulate final proposals for submission to WAG later in 2010 (Stage 5). WAG may give effect to the LGBCW’s proposals with or without modifications, but not before six weeks have elapsed, during which time further representations may be made to WAG (Stage 6).
Question: County Councillor Pickard
Will Cardiff Council rule out counting the votes cast for the four Cardiff parliamentary constituencies at the next General Election on the Friday morning, and instead pledge to keep the count on the Thursday night?
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Reply: County Councillor Berman
I refer you to the previous answer provided to Cllr Piper.
77 : SPORT, LEISURE & CULTURE STATEMENT (County Councillor Howells)
UK SCHOOL GAMES – “Best Games Yet”
Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of Youth Sport Trust, declared the UK School Games, Wales as the ‘best Games yet’. She has commented that the quality of the sports venues, professionalism of the volunteers, combined with some outstanding performances from athletes all contributed to an exceptional Games and has thanked host cities Cardiff, Newport and Swansea for their contribution to the Games.
The Games kicked off with an Opening Ceremony in Cardiff Bay for the 1,700 competitors, 900 volunteers and 1,200 spectators with the aim of creating an Olympic Games experience for all involved. The Athlete Village was a hub of creative activity providing opportunity for competitors to experience “down time” and nutrition management whilst dealing with all the distractions that a multi sport event throws up.
Team Managers from the UK National Governing Bodies for Sport said the event was as close to a Commonwealth Games experience for the children as we could get. They were very impressed by the ease of access in the City and the closeness of each of the top class facilities to the Athlete Hub. It was a fantastic experience and excellent preparation for all the young athletes. It surpassed the previous years’ Games held in Bath/Bristol, Coventry and Glasgow.
Darren Campbell, Jamie Baulch, Christian Malcolm, Denise Lewis, Sally Gunnell and David Roberts were involved throughout the Games to help, support and advise young athletes in preparing for a major Games. With the exception of Denise and Sally, all of these Stars have agreed to work with Sport Cardiff as ambassadors for our childrens sports programmes.
Post event, we are now discussing bringing additional resources from the Youth Sport Trust into Cardiff to develop Young Ambassadors and a new competitions framework for school sport. We have also met with County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 201 representatives from London 2012 about utilising our Volunteers for the Olympic Games in 2012 as a ready made and trained workforce with event staging experience.
Thanks go specifically to our team at Sport Cardiff who led the bid to London in 2005 and managed the Games through to the closing ceremony in September 2009.
This has been a key pillar in celebrating our year as European City of Sport 2009.
Libraries
I am very pleased to let you know that Central Library continues to flourish and that we are extremely pleased as the new building has attracted over 7,000 new members since it opened. What is particularly pleasing is that 75% of these are under 40 years old – it is these younger age groups that are traditionally very hard to attract into libraries.
I am also pleased to report that work has now started on the latest Branch Library refurbishment at Cathays. The building closed just after the August Bank Holiday and the work should be completed by the middle of next year. As well as upgrading the structure and services we will be bringing the west wing back into use as a public area and providing a small community meeting room.
The temporary closure of Cathays has given us an opportunity at the Maindy Centre to run a pilot project testing the provision of a remote library service. An RFID machine has been installed to enable borrowers to self issue and return their books and library staff visit regularly to keep the stock of books refreshed. Staff from the leisure side are on hand to help resolve any immediate problems and liaise with the library staff. This will be an interesting pilot and help inform us as to whether this is a viable way forward in the future.
Parks
I am pleased to announce that the Council has been successful in being awarded two new Green Flags for Cardiff Bay Barrage and Cathay’s Cemetery as well as retaining Green Flag status for four of its parks and green spaces, Grange Gardens, Victoria Park, Roath Park and Bute Park.
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The green flag award scheme is managed by the department for Communities and Local Government whose vision is of prosperous and cohesive communities, offering a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for all. In order to be awarded a Green Flag the applicant is required to meet key criteria ensuring that the park or green space is a welcoming place, is a healthy, safe and secure place for all members of the community to use and is clean and well maintained. Applicants must demonstrate that the park or green space is maintained in a sustainable manner and that particular attention is paid to conservation and heritage. Evidence of community involvement and a management plan or strategy that reflects the aspirations of Local Agenda 21 are also key criteria.
I am also delighted to report that with the support of the Council the friends of Coed-y-Felin Woodland have been successful in attaining a Green Pennant Award for the second year running. The Green Pennant award recognises high quality green spaces that are managed by voluntary and community groups.
The retentions and new awards are a result of thorough independent assessments undertaken during the summer and the success achieved is a clear demonstration of the Council’s commitment to the appropriate and effective management of its Parks and Green Spaces.
This week also sees three hundred delegates from twelve European countries arriving in Cardiff as the City hosts the Entente Florale 2009 Awards. The overall aim of the Entente Florale competition is to improve the quality of life for urban and village communities and the competition promotes the greening of towns and villages and development which is environmentally and ecologically sensitive.
Success of Cardiff Summer Events
Cardiff Harbour Authority’s summer events programme started with the Outdoor Action Show in June, which was designed to get people onto the water and to get active. The event attracted more participants than ever this year and started to promote the new Cardiff International White Water Rafting centre which will be opening in Spring 2010
This was followed by the Cardiff Festival which this year ran throughout July and August.. There were 16 events starting with the Open Air Theatre in Cardiff Castle and the Festival was brought to a close with the Cardiff Harbour Festival. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 203
Over 350,000 attendees with a marketing reach of 2 million people.
Highlights this year:
• Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival – coincided with the 1 st Ashes test and UWIC graduations with over 40,000 visitors. • Welsh Proms – the World Premier of Karl Jenkins Euphonium solo at the Last Night with David Charles . • WOW on the Waterfront – Internationally acclaimed French theatre company Transe Express provided this year’s entertainment with a breathtaking performance over 2 nights with large crowds and rave reviews on line and in the media • Admiral Cardiff Big Weekend – a great community event with FREE live music over 3 days and the UK’s largest travelling funfair. • Cardiff Harbour Festival - on August Bank Holiday weekend hosted for the first time in Wales the Young’s Great British Fish Craft Championships and the Welsh Oyster Championships
Royal Welsh Show Cardiff exhibited as part of the Glamorgan counties host county presence at the show with the WLGA and also won best commercial stand at the show for its Capital for Shopping garden display and trade stand supported by John Lewis, St David’s Cardiff Arcades and the Cardiff Retail Partnership. Over 200,000 people visited the stand over 2 days which promoted the opening of John Lewis and the new St David’s shopping centre.
All in all a successful season for the capital adding to the dynamism and buoyancy of the City as a summer destination.
78 : SPORT, LEISURE & CULTURE QUESTIONS
Question : County Councillor Chaundy
Could you please confirm that Council litter bins provided are legally, hygienically and a perfectly acceptable place to use for the disposal of dog faeces?
If the ordinary litter bins are not acceptable, why are no special dog litter bins provided?
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Reply: County Councillor Howells
Under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996, dog waste was declassified and specific bins are no longer provided.
The Council has researched the effectiveness of bins being installed specifically for dog waste and has concluded that such bins are of little overall value for the following reasons:
1) Analysis of the contents of the bins showed that over 85% of the waste was ordinary litter and not dog faecal matter. This meant that the Council was paying controlled waste charges for mixed litter and not controlled waste.
2) The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 places the responsibility of disposing of dog waste with the person in possession of the dog and if there are no bins available then the person must dispose of it in their domestic refuse.
3) The Council is under no legal obligation to provide such bins and the Act downgraded dog waste so that it can be disposed of in ordinary litter bins.
4) The Council has altered its bin emptying regimes so that dog waste can be dealt with through its core bin emptying regimes.
Question: County Councillor Page
What is considered more important when considering complaints from residents with problems caused by Council owned trees – the health of the tree or the health and welfare of the residents?
Reply: County Councillor Howells
Each tree complaint is considered individually and on its own merits and public safety is always the prime consideration when dealing with such matters.
What the Council strives to achieve, in what can be a complex and sensitive area of complaint management, is a balanced approach.
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Question: County Councillor Robson
Due to representations from constituents, will the Council provide an additional machine in Rhiwbina Library to allow residents to check in books using self-service?
Reply: County Councillor Howells
I will arrange for officers to review the situation at Rhiwbina Library to see how the number of issues compares with other branch libraries and assess whether or not another machine is required.
((No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
79 : TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS
Question : County Councillor Bridges
At June’s Council meeting, in response to a supplementary question from me about residents-only parking policy, you stated that: “The roll-out [of increased residents-only parking provision] has already started... But we will hope to progress this issue further and marry it up with the Civil Control of Parking, which will come to the Executive in April. So it will happen later this year.” Three months on, what is the latest situation?
In areas with particular problems with parking congestion, where there is a clear need for an increased residents-only provision, what steps are being taken to do the necessary parking surveys and to allocate extra spaces for residents?
What advice would you give residents in such areas who want to ensure that their street can feel the benefit of the new 75% ratio of residents-only bays?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The review of resident parking policy is approaching completion and it is intended to report this review to the Executive Business Committee by the end of the year.
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Subject to the revised policy being agreed by the Executive, surveys will be carried out to assess whether the streets concerned meet the criteria for 75% resident parking.
Residents who consider that their street may be eligible for 75% resident parking should be advised of the current position as indicated above.
Supplementary Question : County Councillor Bridges
I am interested to read that the review is nearly complete but why have Members not been consulted on that review and why have members of the public not had any opportunity to contribute to it either?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
There will be street by street consultation during the survey and indeed when the programme for residents parking is rolled out. I met with Officers yesterday in fact to discuss how their review was going ahead. They have to look at differential charges and how much they charge for the first car and a second car and what areas of Cardiff where residents parking is appropriate. In very narrow roads you can’t actually put residents parking on both sides of the road so the percentage you can achieve varies.
The report has taken a little bit longer to prepare than I had hoped. Nevertheless I am pleased to advise you that the report will be submitted to the Executive by December. One other reason for the delay is that we want to dovetail it closely with the CP report such that civil enforcement of parking which will change the pressure on residents, and perhaps make them more defensive of areas in front of their homes. We need to marry those together. I can assure the Council that both residents parking and the CP system will be operational next summer but the report that you’ve asked for will be submitted to the Executive in December and certainly we would value Member input to that.
Question: County Councillor McKerlich
What is the range of costs of installing a bus shelter where the pavement is of adequate width?
Does the cost increase if the installation is funded by section 106 money? County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 207
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The total costs of installing a bus shelter where the pavement is of adequate width are between £30613 and £32360 dependent on the type of shelter and the cost of providing a power supply as detailed below.
The breakdown of the total costs is as follows:
Enclosed style shelter: £14,842 Cantilever style shelter: £13,095
Installation costs: £1445 Provision of a power supply: approximately £2000 dependant on site and quote from Western Power Distribution Raised kerb: £2500 Real Time Information display: £8500 and, Crime camera £3073
It should be noted that these costs do not include any maintenance elements.
I am able to confirm that costs remain the same regardless of source of funding.
Supplementary Question : County Councillor McKerlich
Since first getting that information which I asked to be confirmed today I have taken to asking people how much they think it might cost to erect a bus shelter and the highest estimate I received so far is about a third of the figure which is mentioned. Can I ask that if it has not recently been the subject of a competitive tendering exercise it is long overdue and it should be?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
I will convey that to Officers and see if it can be looked at. Certainly, of course, the maintenance costs are much less and, as you know probably in cases where there is advertising the maintenance is zero for the Council.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 208
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Aubrey
How does the Planning Department calculate S106 contributions when there are specific S106 contributions for bus shelters?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
I will get that information to you thank you.
Question: County Councillor Richard Cook
What are the criteria that are used in the MARCHpms assessment of highway and footway surfaces in order to reach the points total?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The MARCHpms is computer software that processes data from highway inspections that pick up surface defects on footways and carriageways. The inspections are carried out by qualified inspectors who identify major and minor defects. The former relates to a defect such as cracking over a large area whereas the latter relates to point defects such as potholes or a single or small number of cracked paving slabs.
The main criteria used to calculate a street’s points total are for each surface type:
Cracking, settlement, rutting, fretting, chip loss, potholes, edge deterioration, lack of kerb face, kerb misalignment.
Each of the factors is recorded by the inspector on a data-capture device and this is downloaded to the computer on return to the office. The software then attributes a rating depending on the severity and type of defect and computes the overall score for a street. In addition to this a weighting is applied depending on the road category which relates to use. There are different categories for carriageways and footways and, in general, the greater the usage by pedestrians or vehicles, the higher the weighting. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 209
Question : County Councillor Brian Jones
What special transport measures have you put in place to ensure that elderly and disabled veterans will be able to gain easy access to St David’s Hall on October 31 st for the Wales Festival of Remembrance?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
When the St David’s 2 development is fully open, a Shopmobility scheme will be in place on the lowest car park level. This level will also have disabled parking spaces. People with mobility difficulties will have access to the lifts that take people from the car parks directly into the Eastside Arcade. The car park, which is accessible 24 hours a day, is a short distance from St David’s Hall and offers a facility that is closer than previous car parks. This will be open and available for use from 22 nd October 2009.
Private car parking is accessed from Mary Ann Street for Shopmobility scheme users, and the new John Lewis store has its own car park accessed from Hayes Bridge Road.
At present, the closest point to St David’s Hall accessible by taxi is Wharton Street. The distance from Wharton Street to the entrance of St David’s Hall is less than 100m.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Smith
On a Friday and Saturday night if there is an event in St David’s Hall that requires access for a large number of disabled people are you sure this is going to work?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
I do know that pre-arrangements can be made by informing the Hall in advance how many people are coming either by coach or car. Arrangements can be made to allow special parking for the disabled to cope with the numbers involved. We are pretty positive and we will be increasing the amount of parking available in certain parts of the City Centre during this coming year. I hope that these measures will be successful and we’ll review them if they are not.
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Question: County Councillor Chaundy
It has come to my attention that some dog owners are disposing of their dog’s faeces, wrapped in plastic bags, and placing them into the street’s main drainage system, the consequence of which may cause possible blockages and subsequent flooding. As a result of this and other possible blockages, are our street main drainage systems subject to regular inspection or maintenance to keep them clear of possible obstructions?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The highway gullies and their connections to sewer systems are inspected and cleansed to a frequency in accordance with or in excess of the “Roads Liaison Group, Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management”.
The Council currently undertakes a more frequent cleansing cycle in areas where risk of flooding indicates this to be necessary according to location and circumstances. The majority of gullies are however either cleansed annually or every six months.
If an area was found to be particularly prone to this type of obstruction (dog faeces) information would be passed to the Council’s enforcement team for monitoring and further action.
All main drainage combined sewers and a high percentage (approximately 95%) of surface water sewers are the responsibility of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water. Consequently it is not possible to comment on their inspection or cleansing cycles. The remaining surface water sewers are either private or Council owned and are inspected and maintained when problems are highlighted as a result of the gully cleansing operation.
Question: County Councillor Walker
Please update Council on the recently publicised joint investment by the Council and WAG for transport schemes in Cardiff and the projects and timescales being considered? County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 211
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The announcement of Cardiff as Wales’s first Sustainable Travel City in March 2009 has provided the opportunity for Cardiff Council to begin work on delivering a number of schemes that will make a positive contribution in helping to deliver key sustainable transport objectives set out in the Annual Progress Report (APR) of the Council’s Transport Strategy.
These schemes, their current state of development and their timescales are as follows:
Smart Bikes: The Cardiff ‘Bike’ Scheme was successfully launched at the Welsh Assembly Government’s Walking and Cycling Conference on the 22 nd September. The scheme, which is run by OY Bike Ltd as a commercial venture, operates 70 bikes from 35 bike stations at 10 locations around Cardiff, and is designed to offer an easy sustainable alternative for journeys around Cardiff. It is anticipated that the scheme will expand to operate a larger number of bikes across the city in due course and that additional sites will include districts of Cardiff outside the city centre and at key tourist destinations. Cardiff Sustainable Travel City is sponsoring the scheme for its initial year of operation.
Bike It: A Sustrans ‘Bike it’ scheme to schools has been implemented across Cardiff. The Bike It Officer is now in post and is working proactively with the Council’s Road Safety Team to deliver this scheme which is designed to encourage more children to cycle to school. The scheme will operate for 2 years.
Travel Planning Grants: A Travel Planning Grant application process has been set up and rolled out to organisations. Grants are designed to support Travel Plan measures for organisations in Cardiff who either have a plan in place or who are initiating the process. Applications for grants of up to £10,000 can be made. These will be assessed by a panel consisting of officers from the Council and Sustrans. The first application deadline will close at the end of September and further opportunities will be available to apply with deadlines of the 30 th October and November respectively.
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Car Clubs: A pilot scheme providing 10 cars for a Cardiff Car Club is proposed. A revised tender has been re-issued and tenders are due to be returned on or by the 2 nd October 2009. It is anticipated that the scheme will be at launch stage during spring 2010 subject to tender.
Park and Ride: Construction of the Pentwyn Park & Ride site is scheduled for completion in October 2009. This Park & Ride facility will be known as Cardiff East Park and Ride and is planned to open on Monday, 19 th October 2009.
City Centre Bus Box The new city centre “bus box” works, providing bus priority measures around the city centre, is ongoing and Cardiff Bus will commence new service arrangements in the city centre to reflect the “bus box” improvements from Sunday 4 th October.
City Centre Shuttle Bus: The City Centre Shuttle Bus is due to commence service by October 19 th to coincide with the opening of the Cardiff East Park and Ride and supporting the full opening of the SD2 shopping centre on 22 nd October.
Question: County Councillor Cowan
Following numerous representations from residents, will the Executive Member please advise where the removal of the Heol Llanishen Fach Road Narrowings (in Rhiwbina) is on the priority list and the approximate timescale it would take based on current funding?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The scheme to replace the road narrowing on Heol Llanishen Fach with a 20mph zone is currently in 21 st place in the Traffic Calming section of the priority waiting list. It is not possible to estimate the timescale for implementation of the scheme as its position on the waiting list can change when the list is updated annually. The implementation of the scheme is also dependent on the level of funding available.
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((No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
Question: County Councillor Pickard
Following the introduction of the free Smart Bike scheme, how does the Council plan to work with the Police to ensure these bikes – and other bikes in the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods – are better protected from the high rates of bike theft prevalent in Cardiff?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
Part of the process of implementing the newly launched Cardiff Bike Scheme has involved communication with the Police to raise awareness of police officers to the existence of the scheme. Bike Stations are generally covered by cctv in the City Centre. The scheme is operated as a commercial venture by OY Bike Ltd who operate a number of schemes across the UK and in Europe.
OY Bike Ltd. anticipates that there will be an initial period of increased interest in the equipment and that there may be incidents of damage or theft in the early stages. From experience they expect this to reduce over the first few months. The bikes supplied via this scheme are unique and more traditional in design. This, and the nature of the mechanical design of the units, prove to make them less attractive to thieves whilst remaining attractive to customers of the scheme.
With regards to the general issues of cycle theft Cardiff Council try to ensure that cycle stands are secure and covered by cctv camera wherever possible. The new joint control room, which is operated by the Council and South Wales Police from County Hall is due to become operational this month and will offer the opportunity of better response times to incidents where this is possible. The Cardiff Council Cycling Officer works closely with the police on issues of cycling and the Council has an annual programme to install a number of additional stands for public use.
Cyclists are advised that they should lock their bikes to secure, immovable objects, preferably facilities provided specifically for the purpose, using robust high quality cycle locks which will deter thieves.
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Question: County Councillor Cowan
Following numerous representations from residents, will the Executive Member please advise where the removal of the Zebra Crossing close to the Mormon Church on Heol Llanishen Fach in Rhiwbina is on the priority list and the approximate timescale it would take based on current funding?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
Council agreed the following motion on 19 th March 2009.
“This Council calls upon the Executive to instruct Officers to prioritise the crossing outside the Mormon Church, Heol Llanishen Fach against the established assessment criteria and total available resources for highway renewal schemes across the City.”
Accordingly, the possible relocation of this zebra crossing will be assessed for inclusion on the Traffic Management priority waiting list when it is next updated early in 2010.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
Question: County Councillor Gasson
What are the short term and long term proposals for car parking in the city centre with the advent of St David’s 2?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
In the short term, for the opening of the John Lewis store but before the opening of the St David’s 2 development, there will be approximately 9,500 parking spaces available in the City Centre. This includes the new 500 space basement car park under the John Lewis store.
When the SD2 development opens on 22 nd October the parking stock will increase by a further 2000 spaces, providing a total of approximately 11,500 parking spaces available in the City Centre. A new traffic signage County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 215 system will also be in place providing live information about the availability of spaces in key car parks.
Furthermore, the new park and ride site at East Cardiff will be operational from the 19 th October providing a daily service opportunity for shoppers to break their journey outside the city centre transferring onto buses that will set down and pick up in Dumfries Place. The new Park and Ride facility at Leckwith is already in operation serving the west side of the city as of Monday 21 st September.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Gasson
We used to have disabled parking in Hills Street by the old Post Office which is now located in the old St David’s Centre. Where are those replacement disabled parking bays located now please?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
If you write to me I will advise you of that and hopefully find an alternative.
Question: County Councillor Cowan
Does the Chairman of the Committee agree with her colleague that devastating flooding in Rhiwbina, which has occurred twice in the past decade, is “neither here nor there”?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
Of course, any flooding of property is to be considered a very serious matter and there is great concern for those residents in Rhiwbina who suffered as a result of the recent and past flood events.
It must be said that the event in June was exceptional. The Environment Agency has said that the rainfall intensity immediately preceding the flood was approximately 125mm per hour which, to quote their Flood Defence Manager, was of “monsoon” proportions. That is not to say that the Council is in any way complacent and, as you will be aware from the answer provided in response to your related question, a study is in hand which will support a bid for grant funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake flood alleviation works.
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In the interim following the flooding, gullies have cleaned to ensure they are working to full capacity and the entire length of the brook has been walked to identify any obstructions that may be restricting the hydraulic capacity of the brook. You are, I think, aware that it is the responsibility of the riparian owner, which in some locations on the brook is the Council, to maintain the bank of the brook and arrangements are in hand to ensure that any obstructions to the flow are removed.
I have the deepest sympathy with the residents of all areas affected by the storm on 6 June 2009. I understand that the Member in question was expressing a personal opinion.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
Question: County Councillor Cowan
When will money be made available for work to be undertaken on improving flood defences in Rhiwbina?
Reply: County Councillor Bowen
The Council is currently undertaking a study of the brook in the Rhiwbina and Whitchurch wards. The study, which is due for completion at the end of this year, involves the analysis of computer modelling of the catchment area and will include a cost-benefit analysis of options for improvement.
This study will form the basis of a subsequent bid for funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake improvements to the existing flood defences. The Welsh Assembly Government makes available 85% grant funding for such projects, but any application has to compete with similar schemes put forward by other local authorities in Wales. Therefore, at this time, it is not possible to say when any work will be undertaken to improve flood defences in Rhiwbina.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber). County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 217
80 : COMMUNITIES HOUSING & SOCIAL JUSTICE QUESTIONS
Question: County Councillor Bridges
What progress has there been on the motion brought to Full Council in November last year regarding student housing and HMOs in Cardiff?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
Members will recall that the Council passed a motion at Council on 20 November 2008 relating to the impact of high concentrations of students in certain areas of the city. As a result, a meeting was held in January 2009 to which local Members from recognised student areas in the city (i.e. Adamsdown, Cathays, Gabalfa, Grangetown, Llandaff North, Plasnewydd and Riverside) were invited, together with relevant officers from the Council’s Housing & Neighbourhood Renewal, Highways & Waste Management, Strategic Planning & Environment Service and Economy, Enterprise & Infrastructure Services.
This led to the establishment of three Task & Finish groups, comprising of Members and Officers, which have considered the following key issues:
1. Additional Licensing The Executive considered a report on 10 September 2009 from the Additional Licensing task & finish group and agreed to undertake a consultation exercise on proposals to declare an additional licensing scheme for the Cathays ward. This could potentially mean that all Houses in Multiple Occupation in the area would require a license, be better managed and have higher standards. The consultation period is expected to run for two months from October to December 2009 and the outcome will be reported back to the Executive in due course.
2. Waste Management The Waste Management task & finish group has examined a range of best practice solutions which could have significant impacts. The responsibility for rubbish in frontages used to be split between Waste Management and Private Sector Housing, but has now been taken on
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 218
by Waste Management in order to provide a single point of contact for complaints.
3. Planning The Planning task & finish group has considered the following issues:
issues:
To Let Signs Up to 38% of properties in some streets in student areas display To Let signs, often all year round. This has a detrimental impact on the street scene and potentially contributes to making student property an easy target for burglars. To remedy this, three options are being considered:
1. Continue proactive enforcement. 2. Engagement with letting agents to agree not to display the signs. 3. Removal of deemed consent to display signs, which means that signs cannot be displayed without planning permission.
Student Density The task & finish group has analysed research and visited other cities to ascertain what planning tools and other ideas are available to influence student density. Further work has been agreed and will continue to be undertaken.
Student Parking The task & finish group has considered planning issues relating to any potential future development of halls of residence and parking provision. It has also looked at what, if anything, can be done to restrict students bringing cars. Further work has been agreed and will continue to be undertaken.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Bridges
I would be grateful if you could relay my thanks to the Officers who worked so hard on this particularly Bethan Jones and her Team. What is your personal view on the issue of HMO density? Do you agree with me that more can and should be done to address some of the problems caused by extremely high concentrations of HMOs in certain areas of the City County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 219 and will you commit to doing more with the Planning Team to move this forward?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
I will certainly relay your thanks to Bethan Jones and the Team but it’s also members of Councillor Jones’ portfolio as well as Councillor Delme Bowen’s portfolio as well because it covers many Service areas. I will relay it to all those Officers. As regard HMO density as an Executive Member I will refer you to the LDP which is what I have supported and that is a replication of my view.
Question: County Councillor Richard Cook
How many complaints of maladministration have been investigated by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales since January 2005 in the Communities, Housing and Social Justice service areas?
What was the result of each investigation and how much have the complaints cost the Council in a) compensation payments and b) officer time in assisting the Ombudsman in their enquiries?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
The information provided in this response relates to the period from April 2005 to September 2009. Records prior to these dates are archived and are not immediately available.
During this period, the Council received 120 ombudsman complaints, of which 83 (69%) were either withdrawn/not upheld/not proven.
Of the remaining 37 complaints, 15 (12.5%) were decided through local settlement (s21) and 4 (3.3%) have resulted in a public interest report (s16). 18 cases are currently awaiting the decision of the Ombudsman.
Cases have resulted in the review and improvement of procedures within the Council’s Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal Service.
In some instances, compensation is paid to the complainants. The total amount paid during this period is £18,725.
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In terms of the officer time involved in assisting the Ombudsman with his enquiries into these 120 cases, this is estimated to be approximately 360 days (3 days per case).
As you will be aware, the Council produces an annual report on complaints, which will be considered by the Executive on 1 October 2009. This report recognises the importance of complaints monitoring and the need to learn from the issues raised by such complaints so that services can be improved.
However, in analysing statistical information there is also a need to understand the context. In the Ombudsman’s annual report for 2007/08, he made the following comments in his overview:
“The number of complaints of maladministration & service failure by public bodies has continued to rise. Whilst 2006/7 saw a 10% increase in new cases over 2005/6, this year has seen a further 10% increase over 2006/7. My view as to the reason for the increase remains the same as last year; that is, that there is an increased awareness amongst members of the public of the service I provide. I do not think the increase in complaints stems from a deterioration in performance by bodies in my jurisdiction. The number of complaints which I have upheld is little changed from last year.”
In his most recent report for 2008/09, he also comments as follows:
“Historically housing & planning complaints have been the most numerous complaints received. In 2007/8 housing complaints accounted for 23% of the caseload.”
In this respect, I can confirm that Cardiff Council has replicated the national picture.
Of course, I always regret any failure of service, but believe that the administration’s policy of reporting and monitoring complaints in an open and constructive way has led to service improvements as will be evidenced in the forthcoming report to the Executive, which shows a general reduction in complaints across the board. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 221
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Richard Cook
Could you please clarify? You say that during this period the Council received 120 ombudsman complaints. In my question I asked for complaints in your Service area. Was that 120 complaints in your Service area or 120 complaints for the Council as a whole? If it is the Council as a whole could you provide me with the number in your Service area if that’s incorrect. But just to emphasis the fact it says that the Council Officers are spending 360 days per year on complaints and that’s needing two people so it’s important to get things right. We are employing two people a year really to reply to the ombudsman’s enquiries?
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
I will clarify that this is my Service area, Housing & Neighbourhood Renewal. I am very surprised that you are berating the Officer time spent on these cases. The simple reason it is not just HANR Officers, it is Legal Officers as well as Community Safety Officers. At the end of the day I think it is irrelevant how much Officer time is spent given that people who complain and have the right to complain to the ombudsman deserve for their case to be looked into fairly, accurately and consistently and if that does involve a lot of Officer time then it’s crucial that that investigation is done properly.
Question: County Councillor Gasson
Are you aware of the strong feelings of unfairness and injustice amongst the Bromley Drive leaseholders, who are being asked to contribute to the cost of “communal” door entry systems to the flats above their maisonettes, to which they have no access?
The legal advice from the National Leaseholders Association in London is that leaseholders should not be charged for “communal” doors to which they have no access. My view is that the matter should go to Court for ruling. Will you ask the Home Owner Unit for some specialist advice on this matter please?
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Reply: County Councillor Woodman
When a tenant purchases a flat from the Council they enter into a lease agreement. The lease contains a specific covenant requiring a service charge contribution to the cost of maintaining, repairing, improving and, where necessary, replacing any equipment serving that building. The Council has a fiduciary duty to recover costs incurred in accordance with the terms of the lease.
The owners' service charge contributions are payable in a proportion equivalent to the number of flats in the block and the charge is a share of all costs incurred in respect of the block. That is considered to be the fairest approach. Otherwise, top floor owners could be meeting the cost of maintaining the roof and ground floor owners could be meeting the cost of maintaining the foundations.
With regard to the communal areas of the Bromley Drive flats, I am informed that a previous application by a leaseholder to a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal determined that the applicant was indeed liable to pay a contribution for works to the communal areas. As such, a contribution has been duly sought towards the recently installed improved door entry systems.
The Council cannot waive such charges, but it endeavours to assist where it can via grants or extended payment terms. In this instance, I am pleased to inform you that, in the particular circumstances of this case, the Council has been able to make available some funding assistance on community safety grounds. The leaseholders at Bromley Drive are free to take up this assistance which will have the effect of reducing their contributions to the door entry system cost.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Gasson
I am grateful to the Executive Member for the source of funding that has been found from Community Safety. The issue for the residents is the principle rather than the cost. Do you think it’s fair that the leaseholders should be expected to pay for the cost of vandalism accumulated by the antisocial behaviour of the tenants living above these disabled houses in the block? The neighbours above and their visitors County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 223 cause breakages of the communal door entry and you are asking for the victims to pay for it.
Reply: County Councillor Woodman
I understand that this issue concerning this particular block of flats in Bromley Drive has been going on for a considerably long time. Former Councillors Harry Ernest and Charlie Gale raised it as well. I was not aware that a certain resident in that block and their visitors were responsible for this damage constantly. That has not been raised with me. This is the first I’ve heard of it. If you would like to give me details I will certainly look into it but again I am governed by what the legislation is regarding leaseholders.
81 : EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING QUESTIONS
Question: County Councillor Grant
Can Councillor Salway give me an update on the situation at the St Mellons Creche?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
St Mellons crèche is run in partnership between the Council and a local association. It is well funded through our Lifelong Learning Service and provides parents and carers with the opportunity to follow adult education courses whilst their children are cared for by professional staff.
Over many months, officers have engaged with the crèche providers in St Mellons to seek to ensure the sustainability of the crèche. The facility has been running for five days a week and the education provision at the community centre is run both by the Council and by partners who are members of the Cardiff Community Learning Network.
Unfortunately, some time ago, a partner organisation withdrew its classes from St Mellons. The reduction in learning hours led to the crèche being available when there were no learning activities. Officers were mindful of the importance of the crèche as a means to enable some parents to be able to access learning, and therefore sought to maintain the crèche during learning hours.
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Despite the difficulty around the lifelong learning budget being used to fund the crèche, we have made it possible for staff to continue to run the crèche for the whole week.
I am also delighted to be able to inform you that officers are now working on using Council employed tutors to fill the gap that was created and it is my hope that, in the near future, we will have more children being cared for at the crèche and more parents participating in adult education.
The future of the crèche is, of course, another matter. Tesco has been making the appropriate arrangements to be able to expand its store in St Mellons and has been keen to ensure that it can provide accommodation for the crèche for some of the coming years.
It is now imperative that local organisations, local Members and Council Officers work together to ensure that sufficient, appropriate childcare continues to be available in St Mellons. Additionally, it is my hope that the Council and its partners can work together to ensure improved opportunities for adult learning in St Mellons.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Grant
Can I thank you for your very comprehensive answer to my concerns about the crèche. I very much welcome your answers and, in particular in your final paragraph, I too think it’s vital that local organisations connected with the crèche, together with local Members and Council Officers, work together to make sure that the childcare continues at this excellent crèche. Do you agree?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
Thank you for the question and I can assure you that we will be working together in the future.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
Your answer to my question says “There was, and there is, NO danger to the survival of the St Mellons crèche”, that to me and don’t you agree suggests you have a fundamental failure to understand the basics of the funding that underpins the continuation of the crèche and also that you need more than two members of staff in order to run a crèche because if a County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 225 child needs to go to the toilet instantly the child to adult ratio in the rest of the crèche falls below what is legally allowable. So I would say that your answer to my question is completely incorrect. Could you please explain to me, therefore, how it was not under threat by the withdrawal of the five days functioning and the redundancy of all but two of the staff?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
It was felt that it was not under threat because it is a training centre and the purpose of the crèche is for mothers to be able to train. Initially this centre was open for mothers to be able to stay to train them up so they would make suitable employees and perhaps gain employment and, therefore, safeguard their future and raise their self-esteem.
That was the original idea. As you know, this year Sure Start finished in your area. There is no Flying Start, I can’t understand why but that’s the Assembly’s decision.
I want to assure Council, despite a number of erroneous facts that have appeared in the press, that there was no danger to any of the courses because the Officers actually managed to condense all the courses into three days.
Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
How is it possible for you to have missed the dire consequences that would have arisen had the decision to reduce the availability of the St. Mellons Community Creche been carried through?
Were you aware that staff working in the facility were about to be summarily made redundant and why did you not insist that Local Members (particularly myself, given my longstanding involvement with the creche) were consulted first?
Do you agree that if Local Members had been consulted first a better decision would have been reached and staff would not have unnecessarily been subjected to the stress of being suddenly informed of their redundancies?
I suggest you should issue a personal apology to the staff and clients of the Creche – can you confirm that you will do so?
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Reply: County Councillor Salway
The St Mellons crèche is provided with significant funding support from the Adult and Community Learning Service budget. The crèche is funded so that children can be cared for, whilst parents, carers or guardians are able to engage in adult learning.
Council officers are currently dealing with significant budget pressures and have been asked to ensure that they operate within budgets, whilst ensuring that core services are maintained. Consequently, officers looked at how they might be able to continue to provide adult education across the city, whilst being able to exercise the financial discipline that was required.
There was, and there is, NO danger to the survival of the St Mellons crèche. Officers sought to ensure that the crèche was available to cover learning hours. That is what was proposed by officers and, accordingly, staff were informed that their hours would need to be tailored to meet the opening hours of the crèche.
Subsequently, we have been able to assure officers that the funding shortfall will be covered this year so that crèche availability remains unaltered. The Adult and Community Learning Service is also engaged in seeking additional opportunities for adult classes in St Mellons over the winter. As a consequence, we hope that the centre and the crèche will be able to provide more opportunities for adults and children over the coming months.
As far as an apology is concerned, it would not be reasonable for HR issues relating to identifiable individuals to be discussed here in Council. However, I will be asking officers to ensure that HR protocols were and are fully adhered to in dealing with staff in these very difficult circumstances.
I have also asked officers to engage with local Members as St Mellons faces interesting times with the Tesco development and associated investment in the community. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 227
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
Basically you have fundamentally misunderstood the nature of the crèche and your answer, in which you tried to address my accusations that you fundamentally misunderstand it, proves it even further.
As you probably know all the staff but two were given redundancy notices on Friday of the week before last and on Wednesday of last week they received a one liner saying that that redundancy was retracted - one line. They went through a weekend of worry and the community was worried. There was a big meeting the following week among those attending the courses and those who had children in the crèche and so on. Do you think one line saying that the redundancy has been rescinded is good enough and don’t you think the 11 members of staff who received redundancy notices should have at least an apology?
I am worried that if you don’t apologise and treat them humanely that they will have a case and they will take it to their Union against the Council when a little apology would be probably appreciated and stop that. Would you like to do that please?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
I think I say in the penultimate paragraph and I’ll read it out for ratification “As far as an apology is concerned, it would not be reasonable for HR issues relating to identifiable individuals to be discussed here in Council.” However, what I will say is one line is not good enough, I agree.
Question: County Councillor Cowan
Does the Executive Member feel that all school governors should have a CRB check before taking up the important role in our schools?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
My feelings on this are irrelevant, as the matter is covered by statutory requirements.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 228
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 will require governors of educational establishments to be CRB checked and to be enrolled in the Independent Safeguarding Authority’s new vetting and barring scheme so that their regular activity is monitored. This will come into force in July 2010 when the Welsh Assembly Government issues the relevant regulations and guidance.
The requirement for governors to be enrolled in the ISA scheme will apply to all newly appointed and elected governors, including re- appointed and re-elected governors who are appointed or elected after a date set in the Order made by the Welsh Ministers.
It will not apply to governors who are in post from the date when the scheme becomes operational. They will be exempt from being in the scheme until such date as is prescribed by Welsh Ministers in an Order, or until they are due for re-appointment or re-election.
The existing regulation, which requires all governors to be CRB checked if their governing body has agreed this, will remain in place until the new regulations are put in place in July 2010.
((No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
Question: County Councillor Robson
Will the Executive Member make a statement on the future of Greenhill Special School and surrounding land?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
Over recent months, a number of companies have indicated that they might be interested in developing plans for the school and its site.
However, I can confirm that we are not currently planning to develop or bring forward any proposals for Greenhill School.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber). County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 229
Question: County Councillor Cowan
On the Whitchurch High School Website it states that, “At an extraordinary meeting held on Monday 27 th July 2009 the Governors of Whitchurch High School agreed to start the process, which will change the category of the school to Foundation with effect from September 2010” . What discussions have you or Council Officials had with Whitchurch High School regarding the above statement relating to Foundation Status?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
I have had no discussion with Whitchurch High School concerning this matter. Officers from Legal Services and from the Schools and Lifelong Learning Service have exchanged correspondence with the school to obtain further details of the proposal.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
Question: County Councillor Cowan
Of the 235 Total Performance Indicators for Schools and Lifelong Learning, how many are overdue?
Reply: County Councillor Salway
When performance indicators are added to the Cardiff Improvement System (CIS), a nominal due date is automatically calculated. In many cases, this has no performance significance as it does not match the reporting period of the performance indicator. This is further complicated by the fact that some performance indicators are collected on an academic year basis, but then reported by financial year.
A majority of the performance indicators technically listed on the CIS as ‘overdue’ are not ‘live’ and should be removed from the system as they are no longer used. The Research & Information Team within the Schools and Lifelong Learning Service is reviewing the indicators stored on the CIS in order to remove defunct performance indicators where necessary and also to ensure that due dates for performance indictors are
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 230 modified to accurately represent the reporting requirements. This review is due to be completed by the end of October and officers will report the updated position to you in due course.
I am pleased to say that all core and national strategic indicators are up- to-date and complete.
I understand that Officers will also be supplying you with the full statistics.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
82 : ENVIRONMENT QUESTIONS
Question : County Councillor Pickard
Can the Executive Member confirm if funding has been secured for a new Tidy Text initiative – in which residents can sign up to be sent a free text message reminding them when their waste collection day is – and explain the process and timescales before its implementation?
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
I can confirm that funding has been secured for this initiative through the Tidy Towns Local Environmental Quality grant and officers are currently in the process of procuring a system.
Residents will be able to sign up via the web for free text reminders about their collection days. The day before their collection day, they will receive a text message stating which waste streams should be placed out for collection. The new system will also have optional extras, such as language options, information about local litter picks and activities, as well as a request service for more green bags, bio-bags and food waste liners.
The scheme will be available city-wide and we are aiming for the new text service to be operational by Spring 2010. Once the system is available, the new service will be promoted city-wide and focused campaigns will take place in both student and problematic areas.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 231
Supplementary Question : County Councillor Pickard
It’s great news that funding has been found for a new Tidy Text Initiative. There was a three month pilot in 2008 but it was very badly publicised. Local Members didn’t know that it had started and by the time we knew it had started, it had just ended and we didn’t know that either. It took place in the summer months when really this is a scheme which should be directed to students, not exclusively towards students but they are a key type of market. Can we make sure that this scheme is better publicised and better rolled out?
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
Very much so.
Question: County Councillor McKerlich
According to the Statutory Improvement Plan, the review of overtime payments at Lamby Way carried out by the Chief Scrutiny Officer was completed in March 2009. As this review resulted from a Conservative notice of motion following information passed to us by a whistle blower, is it not ridiculous that we have not been given access to this report 6 months after it was completed?
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
The basic premise underpinning your question, which suggests concealment of information, is quite wrong. In addition, I should also point out that the original investigation by Internal Audit into the previous practices at Lamby Way commenced in response to a complaint by a member of the public, who is now a Member of this Council.
The remit provided to the Chief Officer was discussed at a meeting with the Corporate Director on 3 February 2009, which both you and I attended.
The report to which you refer substantially shaped the papers that were submitted to, and discussed at, the Policy Review and Performance Scrutiny Committee on 29 April 2009. Accordingly, these have been in the public domain for almost six months.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 232
Subsequently, the issues were again discussed at a meeting between the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee and the Corporate Director on 23 June 2009.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor McKerlich
Councillor Jones you rightly say that a remit given to the Chief Officer was agreed on 3 February and in subsequent regular meetings I’ve been asking when the report will be available and the most recent of these meetings was on 15 September. The answer I was given was that it might be available soon. At no stage was I told either that it had been written in March nor was I told that it was substantially in the public domain, which is what you are now saying. If the Officer can write it in two months why does it take six months to read it and pass it on to the people who set it up in the first place and if, as you say, it is substantially in the public domain, why is it not entirely in the public domain?
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
I think you are mistaken about which report we are talking about actually Councillor McKerlich. I think what you and I were talking about two weeks ago was the repeat audit committee - the Internal Audit report. That is the one that’s come out in July. We’re not talking about the Scrutiny Officer report. That was discussed in Scrutiny many months ago. The report that you and I were talking about was the repeat report that was done by Internal Audit so I’m not sure what you’re talking about because that report will be the subject of a PRAP Scrutiny in the coming months.
Point of Explanation: County Councillor McKerlich
I asked when the report produced by Martin Hamilton would be available and you said it might be available soon. In the Improvement Plan on page 46 it says that it was completed in March. That is what caused my question. I’ve checked with the Chair of the PRAP Committee and she was not given that report written by that Officer in that form so either you have not read the question or you misunderstand me. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 233
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
I don’t recall you asking me that in September but going back to PRAP Scrutiny can I just say the front page of the Scrutiny Report actually says that further reviews were then carried out by the Chief Officer, Scrutiny, Performance & Governance and completed in March 2009 which has informed the current Management Review and which was thoroughly discussed by the Scrutiny Committee. At no time did anybody ask for a copy of this report. In no way has it been hidden, there is no reason for it to be hidden. The body of the Scrutiny Officer’s report was actually in the Scrutiny Report that was discussed at that time, so I’m not sure where this question comes from and you and I know that if you’d asked me for the Chief Officer’s Scrutiny Report I would have got it for you within 24 hours and you know that well enough.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Bridges
I am grateful to the Executive Member in providing further clarity on this matter but I’m confused from the original question. Perhaps Councillor Jones you could explain the following – has this information been requested before; was the way in which the information was presented challenged at any time in the last six months and are the actions in the management review report being progressed?
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
Well I hope I can help in this confusion. This information has not been requested before to my knowledge. The way in which the information has been presented has not been challenged particularly by the Chairperson of the Scrutiny Committee so I’m not sure where all this is coming from. Finally the Chief Officer is ensuring that actions are progressed and I am happy to provide the PRAP Scrutiny with any information required to enable them to complete their review of this matter and if anybody wants this report, the Martin Hamilton report I presume you are talking about and not the repeat Audit Report, then I’m happy for anybody to have it. I don’t see what the fuss is about. We are not hiding anything.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 234
Question: County Councillor Robson
In the South Wales Echo on 21 st September 2009 the Leader is quoted as saying that “ if we can get more three or four-bedroom apartments we can start to build a more sustainable city....but to do that we have close off the easy option to develop large swathes of green-field sites for housing ” and that the alternative was for Cardiff to sprawl outwards until it merged with surrounding areas, including Newport. In view of these comments, why is Cardiff now heavily reliant on the designations of Green Belt and Green Wedge by Newport Council to prevent coalescence following the decision in the deposit LDP not to designate green belt land south of St Mellons Business Park?
Reply: County Councillor Margaret Jones
Since most of the countryside between Newport and Cardiff falls within Newport City Council’s administrative boundary, it is true that Cardiff is reliant upon Newport to prevent inappropriate development there. In fact, Newport has designated the area at the Wentloog Levels/west of the LG site – up to Cardiff’s boundary – as Green Belt/Green Wedge in its adopted Unitary Development Plan.
The relatively smaller parcel of land referred to in your question, which is located to the south of St. Mellons Business Park, was subject to Candidate Site submissions and contains the potential development of a new rail station. National guidance stresses the permanence of Green Belt designation which would remove the flexibility to consider strategic development issues at a later date. Hence, the Council resolved that it was inappropriate to designate that particular land as Green Belt.
Nevertheless, that land lies outside both the existing Settlement Boundaries in the Local Plan and the proposed Settlement Boundaries in the Deposit LDP and is also shown as a Special Landscape Area in the Deposit LDP. Accordingly, Policy HER3 (Landscape Protection) would apply to any planning application submitted. Planning Committee would consider such a proposal in relation to development plan policies and other material considerations.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber). County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 235
83 : FINANCE & SERVICE DELIVERY QUESTIONS
Question: County Councillor Pickard
From April 2010, Cardiff Council will join a carbon trading initiative in which every tonne of the Council’s carbon dioxide emissions will have a financial value. Dependent on the amount the Council consumes compared to its baseline position, the Council will either make a profit or loss. Can you confirm whether the carbon dioxide emissions from the waste disposal plant(s), which will be constructed as a result of the Prosiect Gwyrdd procurement process, will be included in the calculation of the emissions of the five participating local authorities?
Can you confirm whether this would also include the carbon emissions as a result of transporting the waste materials to and from the site(s)?
Finally, can you confirm that the anticipated financial cost of these carbon emissions will be taken into account when weighing up the comparative costs of each of the short-listed waste disposal plant options, and will not only be regarded as an additional ‘environmental’ consideration?
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
I can confirm that from April 2010 the Council will participate in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) but this only covers emissions from fixed sources so would not include emissions from transporting waste.
It is possible that emissions relating to energy use at the proposed waste treatment plant will be included in our CRC commitment depending on the final organisational structure of the project. The latest version of the CRC User Guide contains the following advice on Joint Ventures and Private Finance Initiatives:
Joint ventures and PFI If your venture, Private Finance Initiative, Public Private Partnership or Build, Design, Finance and Operate agreement has a majority owner (>50%) then the joint venture’s energy use is aggregated with that of the majority owner organisation.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 236
Where the venture has no single owner with a stake greater than 50%, the joint venture is counted as a separate organisation and must assess if it qualifies for the scheme in its own right."
If the majority owner is a local authority then the plant would be included in the CRC as all Welsh local authorities already qualify for the CRC. If it is a separate organisation it will only qualify for the CRC if it uses more than 6,000MWh of electricity through half-hourly meters settled on the half-hourly market. By way of comparison, Lamby Way used 1,323MWh through HH-meters last year and County Hall, City Hall & Willcox House combined used approx 6,600MWh last year so would qualify on their own.
The CRC User Guide also advises that if electricity generated from waste is exported to the grid, this can be claimed as an electricity credit at the grid average emissions rate. Any electricity from waste used on site is exempt from CRC.
It is probable that the Environmental criteria used in evaluating Prosiect Gwyrdd solutions will take into account net CO2 (i.e. each solution will be scored comparative to one another) but will not consider absolute cost (i.e. solution 1 has a CO2 cost of £xx etc.). It should be noted that the solutions will be required to re-use materials wherever possible and to generate heat and power, all of which will assist in reducing the overall CO2 footprint of the facility. While we should also not fail to lose sight of the fact that the closure of a landfill site or sites will have a significant positive impact in cutting overall CO2 emissions.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Pickard
Thank you Councillor Stephens for a lengthy answer to a lengthy and relatively incoherent question about Project Gwyrdd. I think most questions about that subject will remain relatively incoherent because it’s pretty complicated.
The key issue that I was trying to get an answer to was how the costs of CO2 emissions are calculated, not just as an environmentally damaging cost but as literally a financial cost because there will be a cost under the Carbon Trading Initiative and a cost which presumably is likely to increase massively given that this plant will still be running in like 2035 when the costs of carbon emissions will presumably have risen. Will you make sure that it is regarded as a financial cost when comparing the costs County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 237 of one plant being constructed with another or is it actually calculated as part of the contract that we would then sign with the plant whichever was chosen and that the cost of delivery the cost of CO2 emissions is within the cost of delivering that?
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
The difficulty we have, looking at this question, is where we base Project Gwyrdd in its reporting framework. I think we can take guidance on that but as a principle one of the things we are discussing about the Project at the moment is obviously the framework around which we receive bids from the private sector. One of the things we have to do is to determine how we want to look at those bids from an environmental, financial and socially sustainable outlook. I think you may know we’ve had some public consultation already. There was an event in County Hall, I think it was two or three weeks back now, where 50-60 people got together and started talking about CO2 emissions, for example.
I think there is a degree of confusion around all this that we have to try and sort out. But I’m very clear that we have to get to a more sustainable outcome - getting rid of landfill will address a lot of the CO2 problems in the City, it won’t address all of them.
There was a problem on transport emissions being within the CRC which the answer reflects. But going beyond that I would hope Project Gwyrdd would give the issue due consideration. In the longer term I think the answer has to be that because carbon emissions and carbon tax costs may vary so much I think what we have to do as a Committee in awarding that Contract is look at the comparator of solutions so I don’t think it’s sensible to look at the actual cost because the cost will change over time significantly. We have to accelerate now an extra £8 a year on landfill tax for instance and carbon taxes are probably going to come in in the next four/five years so I think it’s important we look at the comparative costs if that’s helpful.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Richard Cook
Councillor Pickard asked about transport costs and you say in your answer the transport costs aren’t included. Is that because of legislation or because we aren’t including them because if we are transporting our waste to Newport obviously that’s going to make quite a high carbon
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 238 cost? So is it just because of legislation that you are not including it, if so, surely we should if we are looking at best practice? If the Liberal Democrat Party asks the Liberal Democrat Councillors, and the Leader agrees, to reduce your carbon by 10% surely we should be looking at best practice and, therefore, we should be including the transport costs whether or not we have to under legislation?
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
My understanding is it’s legislative in that because it’s not a fixed source of carbon emissions we don’t necessarily take that on the CRC side of things. That differs perhaps from the Council’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions. We are talking two different things here. So as a Council we may decide that we want to cut those transport emissions down and that’s one side of the equation and, as I explained earlier, I think it’s too early for me to say as a member of the Committee before we set the guidelines for potential solutions to say what we would expect.
I think we may consult a little bit more on that and set that framework very, very soon as a Committee. But my personal view is we should look at the wider sustainability interests of this project and I hope that will give you some assurance.
Question: County Councillor McKerlich
Does our Finance Department have any benchmarking figures setting out how our key costs compare to other councils of comparable size in England or Wales?
What attempts have been made to produce zero based budgets for departments of Cardiff County Council?
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
A number of specific benchmarking exercises are undertaken across the Council enabling comparison of both financial and non-financial data with other authorities. Some have been undertaken on an ad hoc basis, though most, such as the financial benchmarking for schools, are undertaken annually.
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 239
In addition to specific benchmarking exercises, various data is collated and available for comparative purposes as part of data collection by the Welsh Assembly Government and also as part of the CIPFA statistical information library. This information is available to support reviews within service areas, with much of the data compiled in conjunction with management and staff in those areas.
Zero based budgeting techniques have not been used at an overall Council or service area level as this can be extremely resource intensive. However, within service areas and DSUs, certain budgets are reviewed in line with those principles where there is a specific need or where this is deemed useful. Specific examples include the Council’s Design and Construction Team budgets and the 3-year budget for Cardiff Harbour Authority.
Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
As the recent embarrassment concerning the impromptu closure of the St. Mellons Community Creche has undoubtedly revealed, the Adult Education budget does, and will continue to, present the Executive with significant challenges. Do you agree with me that the Council’s Adult Education budget and resources should be focused on helping people with the greatest level of need to get into employment?
How do you envisage ensuring that vital facilities such as the Creche and Community Education Centre in St. Mellons continue to provide an essential adult education service to people (particularly women) living in the most disadvantaged areas of our city?
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
Over the last 12 months, a WAG consultation has provided local authorities with some clarity over the emerging national priorities for adult education funded by WAG. The priorities were identified largely as: getting people back to work; the delivery of English for speakers of other languages; raising the standard of basic skills; providing qualifications at levels 2 and below, and; the provision of opportunities for those who may not previously have engaged in education.
In keeping with the new national agenda, it is envisaged that this provision will be made increasingly in partnership with other members of
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 240 the Cardiff Community Learning Network. The Council is currently awaiting publication of formal guidance from WAG on this whole area of work.
At recent Scrutiny Committee meetings, there has been a clear view emerging that Members would like to see the work of the service increasingly focused on these areas and I also believe that we should seek to support the well-being and older people’s agendas with the support of adult and community learning in a more targeted way. However, it should be noted that the consultation is based around priorities and not necessarily the level of funding that could be made available to Councils across Wales at a time when unemployment will inevitably rise during the recession. I would hope that additional targeted funding is made available to the Council to meet the increasing demand for re-training and supporting facilities.
In developing budget proposals for 2010/11, I expect officers to address all of these agendas so that the Council can be at the forefront of ensuring that those in greatest need are given support.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Ralph Cook
Regardless of the understanding of how the crèche is funded and maintained within the Council, which I think may be a little bit uncertain from the answers to earlier questions, the main issue as Councillor Salway has explained, is the continuation of the funding of the appropriate courses that bring mainly women into the Community Education Centre and their children into the neighbouring crèche. I support your sentence in the last line but from your answer I identify that there are some significant challenges facing you.
I would like to know how soon can Council Members, as people like myself, who are particularly interested, expect to be able to assess the issues at stake and the choices that face the Executive? How soon is that likely to take place? The reason I ask is because I think a lot of us need to be prepared in advance because with the current direction of travel being decided by the Assembly and which you express support for from here we may find ourselves with a significant public campaign attempting to derail us and I would prefer to have that information in our hands at an early stage so that we can help together to ensure that we keep to our priorities. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 241
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
This is a very complicated topic actually and I’m no expert on it at all. What strikes me is we should achieve the right outcomes and not necessarily settle for what we have at the moment - and the outcome is to provide support for people to get the necessary training to get back into work. That’s what we are trying to do.
Now connected to that in the future, will be what we do with Oakfield Primary as an ICC. That needs to be discussed locally and some priorities set there. The Assembly Government as I said in the answer, news to me a little bit I must admit, but that’s what they are saying - they want to target the funds they have available in that way. That’s fine, I can see the logic of that but there are implications for other parts of the service and unless they provide more funding given the pressure we’ve got in the recession we are going to have problems.
I can’t hide from that and I can’t hide the fact that we need more crèche facilities, I should think, in areas such as St Mellons but also in other parts of the City.
So yes we debate. Sure Start not being there is not helpful but we’ve got to get over it. We’ve got to move forward but I think what we need to do is not look at what we’ve got now but look at the right outcome and I know there is discussion around a local Section 106 Agreements, which I know is your favourite topic. That may actually be a sort of hindrance into being creative in solutions but again that is something for the community to discuss. I think that as a Council we all support the priorities in that WAG consultation but the delivery is going to be quite tough.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Gasson
Perhaps Councillor Cook and Councillor Stephens have considered Community First funding because we access some of that for ESOL and also for training. Of course we’ve got the ITC in Ely which you haven’t got but presumably will have in the future and I am aware that we’ve put a City-wide bid in for ESOL across the Community First areas so I think perhaps that could be explored for both of you? Do you agree?
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 242
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
I’m not aware of where we are at the moment on that bid but obviously if there is grant funding available then we will take it at the earliest opportunity. We’ll try and get any sorts of income we can to get the right outcome.
(The Lord Mayor advised that there was no further time for supplementary questions for the Finance and Service Delivery Portfolio)
Question: County Councillor Walker
How many employees have volunteered for voluntary severance as a result of the recent Council initiative? Please break down your answer into departments and grading levels.
Reply: County Councillor Stephens
Clearly, an expression of interest in voluntary severance is a matter for the individual employee. Ongoing work is being undertaken by senior managers to consider the expressions of interest that have been received, which includes assessing the business case for release and making final recommendations.
When recommendations have been considered by the Chief Executive and Corporate Management Board, this information will be made available to Members. I understand that this is likely to be in late October/early November.
This work is also linked to the current in year proposals for 2009/10 and the development of budget proposals for 2010/11. As was outlined in the ‘Budget Monitoring – Month 3 Report’ that was considered at the Executive Business Meeting on 10 September 2009, progress will be reported to the Executive as part of the ‘Budget Monitoring – Month 6 Report’. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 243
84 : HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE & WELLBEING STATEMENT (County Councillor John Dixon)
Scrutiny Matters
Since the last ordinary Council meeting on 16 July 2009 the following issues relating to the portfolio have been discussed at Scrutiny
• Reconfiguration of Residential Care - Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee (21 July 2009 and 3 September 2009) • Adult Services Performance Information Quarter 1 - Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee (3 September 2009)
Corporate Parenting Panel
The following issues were discussed at the Corporate Parenting Panel on 16 September 2009
• Young People Leaving Care – Education Employment and Training • Social Pedagogy • If This Were My Child – implementation in Cardiff Council • Better Futures Project – Improving Outcomes for Looked After Children in Cardiff Council • Children’s Homes – the regulations and their implications
Executive Business Matters
The following Executive proposal relating to the portfolio was discussed at the Executive Business Meeting on 22 July 2009
• Changes in Client Needs & Service Requirements in Adult Services 2009/2019 – Changes to the Contract with Hafod Care Association
Meetings and Visits
I have met with, visited or attended the following external events:
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 244
• 22 July 2009 – visited Children’s Services Family Intervention and Support Services, Llanedeyrn with members • 27 July 2009 – visited Linc to see progress on the Llanishen Extra- care apartments and investigate new models of nursing care in Newport • 29 July 2009 – attended and spoke at the Carers Strategy Consultation Event, Leckwith Stadium, Grangetown • 30 July 2009 - attended a press conference for the enabling works for Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Adamsdown • 6 August 2009 – attended a Healthy Cities Steering Group Meeting, County Hall • 10 August 2009 – attended a Cardiff and Vale uLHB Transition Board Meeting, Vale of Glamorgan Civic Offices, Barry • 11 August 2009 – met with Monica Dennis of Dignified Revolution, Vale of Glamorgan • 12 August 2009 – together with WLGA, met with the Professor Mansel Aylward, the new chair of Public Health Wales to discuss opportunities for local authority partnership working, Cardiff University, Cathays • 18 August 2009 – visited Ty Catrin Pastoral Cymru Unit, Caerau • 19 August 2009 – chaired a meeting of the Health Alliance, County Hall • 20 August 2009 – met with Cllr Nick Tregonning, Swansea Council, as part of the mentoring scheme organised through the WLGA, County Hall • 28 August 2009 – got married and went on honeymoon! • 15 September 2009 - met with Katherine Thomas, Consultant in Public Health, about Cardiff’s approach to public health issues, County Hall • 16 September 2009 – met with Cllr McKerlich to discuss the Radyr Good Neighbours scheme, County Hall • 17 September 2009 – Visited Council-run Children’s Residential Homes with members, Ely and Fairwater • 21 September 2009 – Met Arwl Ellis Owen, the new Chair of Care Council Wales, Southgate House, Cathays County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 245
85 : HEALTH, SOCIAL CARE & WELLBEING QUESTIONS
Question: County Councillor Cowan
Does the Executive Member think it is appropriate for the Council to offer a free spa day in a luxurious 5 star Cardiff Hotel for staff who nominate an individual who wishes to become a carer, and also the carer if they are accepted onto the scheme?
Reply: County Councillor Dixon
I assume that you are referring to a recruitment exercise currently being conducted amongst Council staff, to increase the in-house pool of foster carers, in which staff would refer friends or family that might be interested in joining the Council’s service.
When the total cost is only £50 for each new foster family, and that would enable potential savings on placements for looked after children of thousands of pounds per year, and ensure that more children were cared for closer to their families in Cardiff, I think it would take remarkably biased judgement to conclude that it was not a good use of public money.
The two week recruitment exercise that the Council’s fostering service is currently undertaking, to increase the number of in-house foster carers in Cardiff, includes an offer of a £25 voucher for a “Spa Day” for the person introducing and for the person who is recruited and approved. The vouchers are only given when a person is introduced, assessed, approved and joins the Cardiff Council in-house fostering service.
Placement of children local to their home area helps to provide continuity of contact with their family, friends and communities, including provision of education and health services. The Council has been successful in increasing the availability of foster placements for children in the Cardiff area by using placements provided through both its in-house service and independent fostering agencies.
We want to build on this so that local placements are available for all those children who would benefit from them, and I hope that members would applaud efforts to recruit sufficient capacity to enable this.
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The Council has improved its support, including payments, to foster carers in recent years and the progress achieved has been acknowledged by both the Council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales, which is responsible for regulating fostering services.
Recruitment of foster carers is competitive and agencies use a variety of approaches to raise the profile of their recruitment campaigns and to retain carers. The Council recruits continuously and the current campaign, and its use of a promotional offer, will, as usual, be evaluated alongside other our other approaches used to recruit foster carers.
I would anticipate that the total cost will ultimately be no more that a few hundred pounds, but that the total value to the Council of any families successfully recruited will be many times that.
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
86 : QUESTION TO THE CHAIR OF LICENSING COMMITTEE
Question: County Councillor Pearcy
Does the Council monitor taxi drivers who add on additional fares before the journey has started during day time hours?
Is there anything passengers can do to complain about it?
Reply: County Councillor Bridges
The Council sets the maximum rate of fare which can be charged by hackney carriages. The driver of a hackney carriage engages the taximeter when the hiring is commenced and the taximeter records the fare from that point.
It is an offence for a hackney carriage driver to charge a greater fare than permitted. Complaints should be directed to the Licensing Authority and officers will investigate and take the appropriate enforcement action.
It should be noted that the fares for private hire contracts cannot be regulated by the Council. County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 247
(No supplementary questions were allowed as the Councillor submitting the original question was not present in the Council Chamber).
87 : QUESTIONS TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTH WALES POLICE AUTHORITY
Question: County Councillor Bridges
What it the current situation regarding the proposed closure of Cathays Police Station?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
Cathays and Roath Stations are both up for sale and will be sold once a buyer is found. However, this could take some time to complete being no different to the sale of any other commercial premises. This delay involves finding a buyer and completing the legal agreements.
The Division will be keeping all interested parties updated with developments. The Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) officers will be remaining at Cathays and Roath until appropriate, locally based, alternative accommodation has been identified.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Bridges
Certainly the first that I have heard about the Police Station being up for sale and that would seemingly belie your assertion that the division will be keeping all interested parties up to date with developments. Do you share my view that this lack of communication is worrying and suggests a desire by the Police to ride rough shod over public opinion and do you also share my belief that it is essential for the Police to secure alternative accommodation before relinquishing their existing premises?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
Councillor Bridges, I need to have that question in writing to answer all parts of it but I just want to remind Council that the South Wales Police Authority has the second highest number of police stations and police buildings next to the Metropolitan Police and its been a policy procedure and practice to reduce these over time. Of course, when the Chief
County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 248
Constable didn’t get her required precept she made a statement fairly promptly after not getting what she wanted that she would be closing Police Stations in Cardiff. Councillor Tim Davies and I met with the BCU Commander a couple of days ago and we asked for an update on the future of these Police Stations because we knew that it was a matter of anxiety amongst Members and we were told that it would be at least a couple of years. I’m not sure if I’ve answered all your questions but if you can put the supplementary in writing I’ll do my best because you appreciate the question is prepared by the Police Authority and not by me personally.
Question: County Councillor McKerlich
A recent report in the Western Mail cited Home Office figures showing that the number of full time police officers fell from 3251 in September 2008 to 3146 in March 2009, a drop of 105, but Chief Superintendent Josh Jones told Councillors at a meeting in City Hall that he expected an increase of 46. What is the current number of full time officers in South Wales Police?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
You will be aware that our funding situation has required extensive workforce transformation. This has meant the identification of positions occupied by police officers, which do not require full warranted police powers – as a result, these posts have been ‘transformed’ into police staff posts or absorbed elsewhere in the organisation, thereby allowing officers previously occupying support functions to be re-deployed in operational roles.
This has resulted in an increase in our overall police staff numbers, and a reduction in our overall police officer numbers. However, this has NOT resulted in the reduction of any officers from ‘front line operational roles’ – in fact, it has allowed us to fill our establishment capacity on Divisions more effectively than we have done so in the past; hence the fact that although our total establishment figures for warranted officers has reduced, our ability to staff Divisions has increased. You will no doubt appreciate there is a constant flux in actual numbers of officers due to retirement, courses, sickness, annual leave, and recruitment processes.
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As at 31 July 2009, establishment posts = 3049.63 police posts + 103 externally funded posts. Police Staff posts = 2257.
I hope this clarifies the perceived anomaly of Chief Superintendent Jones’s comment.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor McKerlich
I accept that the South Wales Police have a case for more central funding but when the annual income rises by more as a percentage than the salary of a police constable it should be possible to employ more constables unless money is dissipated in salary groups, backroom staff or expensive toys like helicopters. Now it says in the reply that frontline officers are not being reduced but three wards in the west, - Creigiau and St Fagans, Pentyrch and Gwaelod-y-Garth, Radyr and Morganstown, which is an enormous area, - once had three police constables serving it which would be few enough for such a big area, now they have one manager covering that whole area. Can you point that out to the Police Authority please?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
You appreciate that the allocation of resources depends on crime levels. It’s an operational issue but they look at the levels of crime and then allocate officers. In my own ward, for example, we are a PCSO short and we are a high crime area. I refute your statement that a helicopter is an expensive toy. A helicopter is an essential tool in looking for people, mainly of a vulnerable disposition, elderly people who go walking, patients from Whitchurch, children, anybody. A helicopter with its thermal imaging to find people is absolutely essential so it is not an expensive toy. I reject that statement.
I have regularly asked at Police Authority meetings when Cardiff is going to have its extra 45 Officers. Councillor Davies and I discussed it the other day and we are still hoping. All I can say is we are putting pressure on and we do regularly to make sure Cardiff has its quota. In fact at the last Police Authority meeting the representative of Swansea Neighbourhood Watch complained that 10 police offers from Swansea were being moved to Cardiff so you can see there is acrimony amongst other Local Authorities.
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Supplementary Question: County Councillor Carter
Obviously a drop of five police officers is disappointing. As this Local Authority looks towards its budget for next year and clearly the Police Authority are doing the same, will you endeavour as an individual and with your colleagues to push the case for a proper precept rise next year which gives the Police Authority the resources it needs to do the job but not to leave us with another 100 plus officers being taken off the beat?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
Some of us did push for the 9.8% rise including in the first instance the Labour Chairman of the Police Authority, but considerable pressure was put on all the Labour Councillors to vote for the 5%, which is why South Wales Police suffered yet again.
Question: County Councillor Bowden
Would Cllr Gasson comment on the installation of a new computer system within the South Wales Police Authority which has apparently resulted in the loss of police records relating to incidents that had been recorded in the Heath Ward over the previous few years?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
It would be helpful if you could clarify where this information has come from as no-one within Call & Incident Management or the Cardiff Command Team are aware of any such situation.
All data is archived after a certain time and certain records expunged in line with data retention requirements, but the Police can establish no ‘inadvertent loss’ of information.
Supplementary Question: County Councillor Bowden
The information has actually come from Llanishen Police themselves who actually had to contact the Council Officers to try and track this information down because was it information that supported a planning application that was approved by the Council some 18 months ago. The absence of this information is now jeopardising an application for an County Council of the City & County of Cardiff 24 September 2009 251 alleygate. I wonder if I pass all this over to you could you take this up with the Commander because I really feel we need track down this information?
Reply: County Councillor Gasson
We have been reassured that data is not lost with the transfer from the old system. Some of us have more faith in computers than others and I’m not one of them but if you can give me that information I’ll ensure that the Commander follows it up because, as you say, it is essential that you have those records to prove the case for the Council and I’m not sure whether the old 101 may have some records there as well which may be worth exploring.
(The meeting closed at 7.50pm)