The Council, 31/07/08

Y C YNG OR 31/07/08 THE COUNCIL, 31/07/08 Present: C ounc illor Evie Morga n Jones (C ha ir) C ounc illor Anne Lloyd Jones (Vic e-c ha ir) Councillors: Bob Anderson, S W C hurc hma n, Anwen Da vies, E T Doga n, Dyfed Edwa rds, Dyla n Edwa rds, Huw Edwa rds, Trevor Edwa rds, T G Ellis, Ala n Jones Eva ns, Alun Wyn Eva ns, Jea n Forsyth, K G reenly-Jones, G wen G riffith, Ma rga ret G riffith, Alwyn G ruffydd, Siâ n G wenllia n, C hristopher Hughes, Da fydd Ll Hughes, Huw Pric e Hughes, Louise Hughes, O P Huws, Aeron M Jones, Bria n Jones, C ha rles W Jones, Da i Rees Jones, Dyfrig Wynn Jones, Eric Merfyn Jones, John G wilym Jones, J R Jones, John Wynn Jones, Linda Wyn Jones, R L Jones, Penri Jones, Eryl Jones-Willia ms, P.G .La rsen, Dewi Lewis, Dilwyn Lloyd, June Ma rsha ll, Keith Ma rsha ll, J W Meredith, Llinos Merks, Linda Morga n, Dewi Owen, W Roy Owen, W Tudor Owen, Arwel Pierc e, Peter Rea d, Da fydd W Roberts, C a erwyn Roberts, G lyn Roberts, G wilym Euros Roberts, John Pughe Roberts, Liz Sa ville Roberts, Siôn Selwyn Roberts, Trevor Roberts, W G a reth Roberts, Dyfrig Sienc yn, Ann Willia ms, G ethin G lyn Willia ms, G wilym Willia ms, J.W.Willia ms, Owa in Willia ms, R H Wyn Willia ms a nd Robert J Wright. Also present: Ha rry Thoma s (C hief Exec utive), Dilwyn Willia ms (Stra tegic Direc tor - Resourc es), Dewi Rowla nds (Stra tegic Direc tor - Environment), Da fydd Edwa rds (Hea d of Fina nc e), Dilys Phillips (Monitoring Offic er/Hea d of Administra tion a nd Public Protec tion), G a reth Wyn Jones (Senior Lega l a nd Administra tive Ma na ger), Arwel Ellis Jones (Senior Ma na ger - Polic y a nd Opera tiona l), Ann Owen (Polic y a nd Performa nc e Ma na ger, Ec onomy a nd Regenera tion), Sha ron Wa rnes (Senior Polic y a nd Performa nc e Ma na ger - Development), Dyla n G riffiths (Stra tegic a nd Fina nc ing Pla nning Ma na ger), Eleri Pa rry (Senior C ommittee Ma na ger) Invitees: Heulyn Da vies, Senior Welsh Affa irs Ma na ger, Roya l Ma il G roup Wa les, Da ve Wa ll, Externa l Rela tions Ma na ger, Post Offic e Ltd. , Ala n Knowles, Field C ha nge Advisor, Post Offic e Ltd.; Eifion Pritc ha rd, C ha irma n, Postwa tc h Wa les a nd Keith Ric ha rds, Welsh Opera tions Ma na ger, Na tiona l Federa tion of Sub-postma sters. Apologies: C ounc illors EIwyn Edwa rds, Simon G lyn, Selwyn G riffiths, Sylvia Humphreys, Dewi Llewelyn, Ieua n Roberts, Ioa n Thoma s, G uto Rhys Tomos 12 PRAYER The meeting wa s opened with a pra yer by C ounc illor Dyfed Edwa rds. MINUTES The C ha ir signed minutes of the previous C ounc il Meeting held on 19 June a s a true rec ord. 1Y C YNG OR 31/07/08 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">3</li><li style="flex:1">DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST </li></ul>The following members dec la red a persona l interest for the rea sons noted a nd withdrew from the c ha mber during the disc ussions on those items:- C ounc illors S C hurc hma n a nd Dewi Lewis in the item “Post Offic e Ltd’s Network C ha nge Progra mme” sinc e they own Post Offic es in G wynedd. C ounc illor Linda Wyn Jones in the notic e of motion rega rding bulky wa ste sinc e she wa s a Direc tor of C wmni Seren, whic h c ollec ted bulky wa ste. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">4</li><li style="flex:1">CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS </li></ul>C ongra tula tions were extended to Alun Ffred Jones AM a nd former Lea der of this C ounc il on being c hosen the Minister for Herita ge in the Assembly G overnment C a binet. C ondolenc es were extended to C ounc illor Arwel Pierc e on losing his mother-in-la w rec ently. C ondolenc es were extended to everyone who ha d rec ently lost loved ones a nd the C ounc il stood in silenc e a s a ma rk of respec t a nd sympa thy. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">5</li><li style="flex:1">CORRESPONDENCE, COMMUNICATIONS OR OTHER BUSINESS </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">(i) </li><li style="flex:1">Reported, for informa tion, tha t a letter ha d been rec eived from West Lothia n C ounc il </li></ul>expressing c onc ern rega rding the inc rea se in fuel pric es a nd requesting the C ounc il to c a ll on the Westminster G overnment to a c t in order to mitiga te the problems. It wa s further reported tha t the C ounc il Boa rd, in its meeting on 29 July, ha d a lrea dy expressed c onc ern rega rding the situa tion a nd ha d resolved to write to the C ha nc ellor expressing c onc ern to this end. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">6</li><li style="flex:1">URGENT BUSINESS </li></ul>(i) It wa s reported tha t a n urgent notic e of motion ha d been rec eived from C ounc illor G wilym Euros Roberts rega rding the Ambula nc e Servic e a nd tha t the C ha ir ha d a greed tha t the ma tter be c onsidered by the C ounc il. However, following a meeting between C ounc illor G wilym Euros Roberts, the Ambula nc e Servic e, the Assembly Member a nd the Member of Pa rlia ment on the morning of the C ounc il, it wa s reported tha t the member wished to withdra w his motion. (ii) The C ha ir a greed, under Sec tion 100B (4)(b) of the Loc a l G overnment Ac t 1972, to inc lude a question from C ounc illor Alwyn G ruffydd rega rding the use of the Regula tion of Investiga tory Powers Ac t 2000 (RIPA) bec a use the ma tter ha d a ppea red in the press very rec ently, a fter the C ounc il a genda ha d been published. 2Y C YNG OR 31/07/08 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">7</li><li style="flex:1">POST OFFICE LTD’S NETWORK CHANGE PROGRAMME IN RELATION TO GWYNEDD </li></ul>(a ) The C ha ir welc omed to the C ounc il, representa tives of the Roya l Ma il G roup Wa les, Post Offic e Ltd., Postwa tc h Wa les a nd the Na tiona l Federa tion of Sub-postma sters. Ba c kground Sinc e the UK G overnment ha d identified tha t fewer people were using Post Offic e bra nc hes, pa rtly owing to the fa c t tha t tra ditiona l servic es, inc luding benefit pa yments a nd other servic es, were a va ila ble by other mea ns, the G overnment ha d dec ided to c ha nge the Post Offic e Ltd network to ma ke it more susta ina ble. In Ma y 2007, bills ha d been published by the UK G overnment for the restruc turing a nd modernisa tion of the network a nd Post Offic e Ltd ha d now dra wn up The Network C ha nge Progra mme whic h mea nt c losing 2,500 UK bra nc hes a nd, in some c a ses, introduc ing new wa ys of providing the servic es through “Outrea c h”. Proposa ls ha d been provided by Post Offic e Ltd. for a pproxima tely 50 different a rea s a nd the proposa ls for the provision in North Wa les, inc luding G wynedd, were subjec t to public c onsulta tion between 29 July a nd 15 September 2008. Postwa tc h Wa les, a n independent body monitoring posta l servic es, would be working with Post Offic e Ltd. a nd loc a l c ommunities to a ssess the proposa ls in order to ensure the best outc ome for c ustomers in the different a rea s. (b) The C hief Exec utive spoke briefly. It wa s reported tha t the C ounc il ha d a lrea dy emba rked upon the work of ga thering evidenc e a nd a working group would be looking a t the proposa ls in August in order to dra w up a forma l response for submission a nd for c onsidera tion by the releva nt c ommittee a t the beginning of/mid September. (c ) Presenta tions were given by the following:- <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">(i) </li><li style="flex:1">Heulyn Da vies, Senior Welsh Affa irs Ma na ger, Roya l Ma il G roup Wa les on the Network </li></ul>C ha nge Progra mme a nd New Wa ys of providing servic es through “outrea c h”. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">(ii) </li><li style="flex:1">Eifion Pritc ha rd, C ha ir of Postwa tc h Wa les, on the work of the independent body whic h </li></ul>monitored the posta l servic es a nd worked with Post Offic e Ltd. a nd loc a l c ommunities to a ssess the proposa ls. (iii) Keith Ric ha rds from the Na tiona l Federa tion of Sub-postma sters rega rding the subpostma sters situa tion a nd views. Members were given every opportunity to a sk questions of the representa tives a nd the C ounc il C ha ir tha nked them for their presenta tions a nd responses. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">8</li><li style="flex:1">QUESTIONS </li></ul>Question from Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams: 3Y C YNG OR 31/07/08 A notic e of question ha d been rec eived from C ounc illor Eryl Jones-Willia ms but the c ounc illor expla ined tha t he ha d rec eived a sa tisfa c tory response to his enquiry from the Portfolio Holder a nd tha t he no longer wished to a sk the question. Question from Councillor Alwyn Gruffydd “Why is G wynedd the sec ond- highest user of RIPA of c ounc ils in Wa les? Twenty of G wynedd’s offic ers ha ve a uthority to opera te the a c t; is this rea sona ble/essentia l? Is there justific a tion for using a n Ac t origina lly intended to c omba t serious c rimes a nd terrorism, a ga inst the c itizens of G wynedd?” Response from Councillor John R Jones, Senior Portfolio Leader - Resources “RIPA sta nds for Regula tion of Investiga tory Powers Ac t 2000. The Ac t provides a fra mework for ensuring tha t there a re proper c hec ks a nd ba la nc es when public a uthorities a uthorise a nd c onduc t c overt surveilla nc e. It is there to ensure tha t priva te individua ls a re protec ted from unwa rra nted intrusion. It is wrong to sa y tha t it wa s brought in to c omba t terrorism or serious c rime. Its purpose is to ena ble public a uthorities, when underta king surveilla nc e work, to do so in a wa y whic h is c ompa tible with the Europea n C onvention on Huma n Rights. It is intended a s a protec tion for c itizens. The C ounc il does not ha ve a c c ess to informa tion a bout the a pproa c h to or the use ma de by other a uthorities of the legisla tion. The C ounc il ha s a uthorised the use of surveilla nc e under the Ac t on a tota l of 133 oc c a sions in the 30 month period between 1 Ja nua ry 2006 a nd 23 June 2008. The va st ma jority of a uthorisa tions rela ted to the investiga tion of a lleged benefit fra ud, in pa rtic ula r offenc es under the Soc ia l Sec urity Administra tion Ac t 1992 rela ting to fa ilure to dec la re pa rtners a nd fa ilure to dec la re employment. The other insta nc es in whic h a uthorisa tion were gra nted rela ted to investiga tions of a lleged a nti soc ia l beha viour a nd theft. It is a C ounc il requirement tha t before a ny offic er c a n a uthorise surveilla nc e a c tivity he or she ha s rec eived forma l tra ining. A number of offic ers a t Ma na ger level a nd a bove ha ve rec eived the tra ining but only 5 ha ve a c tua lly sought a nd been given power to a uthorise the a c tivity. A c entra l rec ord of a ll a uthorisa tions is kept, whic h inc ludes the rea sons why surveilla nc e is c onsidered nec essa ry. Externa l inspec tors periodic a lly inspec t the C ounc il’s proc esses rela ting to the Ac t.” Supplementary Question from Councillor Alwyn Gruffydd “Is it possible for elec ted members a nd the public to be informed of the oc c a sions on whic h it c a n be used?” Response from the Monitoring Officer “Tha t is possible within the limita tions of the Da ta Protec tion Ac t.” 4Y C YNG OR 31/07/08 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">9</li><li style="flex:1">COUNCIL’S THREE YEAR PLAN </li></ul>Submitted, for C ounc il a pprova l, the fina l version of the Three Yea r Pla n. (i) It wa s reported tha t the Three Yea r Pla n sought to offer a c lea r a nd c o-ordina ted foc us to the work of the C ounc il. It esta blished a longer term pla nning horizon for the C ounc il – brea king in for the first time into the a nnua l pla nning c yc le, a nd c onc entra ting on the ma in priorities, ma king the biggest differenc e to the c ounty a nd its people a nd providing a foc us on delivery a nd looking forwa rd even a t a diffic ult fina nc ia l time. (ii) A dra ft of the pla n ha d been a pproved for c onsulta tion purposes in the C ounc il meeting a t the end of Februa ry 2008 a nd deta iled a ttention ha d been given to the ma in observa tions rec eived during the c onsulta tion. (iii) £300,000 perma nent revenue ha d been inc luded in the 2008/09 Fina nc ia l Stra tegy for the funding of a ny new c ommitments a rising from the pla n a nd the Ma na gement Tea m would c ontinue to c ha llenge a nd verify the proposed use of the money, reporting to the C ounc il Boa rd on rec ommenda tions prior to relea sing a ny resourc es. The C hief Exec utive wa s tha nked for c onvening sessions on the Three Yea r Pla n a nd for providing new members with a n opportunity to be pa rt of the Pla n. While a greeing tha t muc h wa s to be welc omed in the Pla n, a member wa s of the opinion tha t it wa s not a mbitious enough, not c ha llenging enough a nd tha t it did not give suffic ient a ttention to rura l a ffa irs. Ma ny wished to defer ma king a dec ision in order to give new members a n opportunity to ha ve more input into the Pla n. It wa s empha sised tha t the Pla n wa s releva nt to the whole of Wa les – to rura l a nd urba n a rea s a like, a nd tha t it wa s a live doc ument. It wa s expla ined tha t there would be opportunities to review, improve a nd modify the Pla n regula rly, a nd members were enc oura ged to a pprove it. An a mendment wa s proposed a nd sec onded to “to d e f e r ma k ing a d ec i si o n i n o r d er t o g i v e n e w membe r s a n oppo r tunity to h a ve i n p u t i n to the T h r e e Y e ar P l a n .” In a c c orda nc e with Proc edura l Rule 19 (6) the following vote wa s rec orded: For (17) C ounc illors: Anwen Da vies, Alwyn G ruffydd, C hristopher Hughes, Da fydd Ll Hughes, Louise Hughes, Aeron M Jones, Eric Merfyn Jones, Eryl Jones-Willia ms, Dilwyn Lloyd, Llinos Merks, Peter Rea d, G wilym Euros Roberts, Siôn Selwyn Roberts, G ethin G lyn Willia ms, G wilym Willia ms, Owa in Willia ms a nd Robert J Wright. Against (46) C ounc illors: Bob Anderson, S W C hurc hma n, E T Doga n, Dyfed Edwa rds, Dyla n Edwa rds, Huw Edwa rds, T G Ellis, Ala n Jones Eva ns, Alun Wyn Eva ns, Jea n Forsyth, K G reenly-Jones, G wen G riffith, Ma rga ret G riffith, Siâ n G wenllia n, Huw Pric e Hughes, Anne Lloyd Jones, C ha rles W Jones, Da i Rees Jones, Dyfrig Wynn Jones, Evie Morga n Jones, John G wilym Jones, J R Jones, John Wynn Jones, Linda Wyn Jones, R L Jones, Penri Jones, P.G .La rsen, Dewi Lewis, June Ma rsha ll, Keith Ma rsha ll, J W Meredith, Linda Morga n, Dewi Owen, W 5Y C YNG OR 31/07/08 Tudor Owen, Arwel Pierc e, Da fydd W Roberts, C a erwyn Roberts, G lyn Roberts, John Pughe Roberts, Liz Sa ville Roberts, Trevor Roberts, W G a reth Roberts, Dyfrig Sienc yn, Ann Willia ms, J.W.Willia ms a nd R H Wyn Willia ms. Abstentions (0) The following members ha d withdra wn from the c ha mber before the vote ha d been ta ken:- Trevor Edwa rds, O P Huws, Bria n Jones a nd W Roy Owen The C ha ir dec la red tha t the a mendment ha d fa llen. Voting wa s held on the origina l proposa l a nd the proposa l wa s c a rried. RESOLVED (i) to approve the final version of the Gwynedd Council Three Year Plan (ii) To authorise the Head of Policy and Performance to complete minor changes to the plan prior to its printing.

The Council, 31/07/08

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