Minutes Of the quarterly meeting held at the Buckley Town Council Offices at 10.30am on Friday 18th October 2013
A record of those present and apologies registered is:
| Officers | Cllr Mariette Roberts(chair of the meeting)Robert Robinson(Secretary & Treasurer)
Cllr Ken Stone (Elected Vice President) |
Alan Guinn (retiring President)Cllr Ken Iball (retiring Vice President)Cllr Joan Butterfield (Elected President) |
| ABERGELE TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Richard G Waters | Cllr John A MacLennanCllr Brian C Roberts |
| ARGOED COMMUNITY COUNCIL | Cllr M Jones | |
| BANGOR CITY COUNCIL | Cllr Derek Hainge | |
| BAGILLT COMMUNITY COUNCIL | Cllr C R Williams | |
| BAY OF COLWYN TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Lindsay GriffithsCllr Mrs H Meredith | Tina Earley ClerkCllr Mrs RoyCllr Perry |
| BUCKLEY TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr A WilliamsCllr A WoolleyM Wright Town Clerk | Cllr J WoolleyCllr N Ditchburn (Mayor) |
| CAERWYS TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Webb | |
| CAIA PARK COMMUNITY CONCIL | ||
| CONNAH’S QUAY TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Carol GraingerCllr P AttridgeCllr R HillIan Jones (Clerk) | |
| CONWY TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| DENBIGH TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr R BartleyCllr Mrs Bowe | |
| FLINT TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Lorna JonesCllr David CoxCllr Terry Renshaw | |
| HAWARDEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL | ||
| HOLYWELL TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Karin DaviesCllr P York | Colin Pierce (clerk)Cllr P Curtiss |
| LLANFAIR CAEREINION TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr K Astley | Ivernia Watkin (Clerk) |
| LLANDUDNO TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Brian Bertola | Cllr Ann Yates |
| LLANASA TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| LLANFAIRFECHAN TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr C Gell | |
| LLANDRINO & ARDLEEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL | C Davies (Clerk) | |
| LLANDYSILIO COMMUNITY COUNCIL | C Davies (Clerk) | |
| LLANGOLLEN TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| MEINAI BRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL | MayorDeputy Mayor Town Clerk |
|
| NEWTOWN TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| PENMAENMAWR TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| PRESTATYN TOWN COUNCIL | Nigel Alcott Town Clerk | |
| RHOSLLANNERCHRUGOG COMMUNITY COUNCIL | ||
| RHUDDLAN TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr J T JonesCllr G H Williams | |
| RHYL TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr D SimmonsGareth Nichols (Clerk) | Cllr J Chamberlain-Jones |
| RUTHIN TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| SHOTTON TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| ST ASAPH CITY COUNCIL | Cllr Elsie PowellCllr Barbara Rust | |
| TOWYN AND KINMELL BAY TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Ken Stone (Host Mayor)Cllr McLoughlin | Hayley Parks (Clerk) |
| WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL | Cllr Estelle BleivasCllr Chris DaviesCllr Ann Holloway |
1603 Minutes Silence
The meeting stood in silence for one minute in memory of the sad passing away of Nigel Jones Town Clerk of Flint Town Council.
1604 Welcome by the Town Clerk of Buckley Town Council
The Town Clerk welcomed the meeting to the Town of Buckley.
1605 Notice of the meeting
The notice of the meeting was accepted.
1606 Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as a correct record.
1607 Actions taken since the last meeting
The secretary reported on actions taken since the last meeting as set out in the agenda papers kept on file.
1608 Health Matters – Letter from Leslie Law
The meeting received a copy of the letter from Leslie Law.
It was agreed that as the subject was so important that the secretary takes the following actions:
a) To place the item on the agenda of the next meeting.
b) To send a letter to Leslie Law seeking assurances on
ambulance timings.
1609 One Voice Wales
A copy of a proposed letter with attachments was circulated to the meeting.
After some debate the meeting agreed that the secretary takes the following actions:
a) To send the letter with attachments with all AM’s in Mid and
North Wales.
b) To send a separate letter with the above (a) to the First Minister.
c) The meeting confirmed that the minutes and agenda should continue to be sent to One Voice Wales.
The Secretary reported on the finances and a financial statement was issued with the agenda.
The Audit had been completed.
1611 Annual Conference 2014
The meeting received a recommendation form the Executive Meeting which was agreed as follows:
Venue Connah’s Quay
Timings 10am to 1pm to be followed by lunch
There was also a discussion on programme. The secretary will provide for the next meeting three alternative programmes for consideration. One is to contain the AGM and two speakers, the second the AGM, one speaker and a debate on a current issue and the third the AGM with one speaker and workshops.
1612 January Quarterly Meeting
The meeting considered the alternative menu options for the meeting in Llandudno in January 2014. A vote was taken and option 1 on the menu card is to be taken forward.
1613 Executive Meeting
The minutes of the last Executive Meeting had been circulated with the minutes. These were received.
1614 Elections for President and Vice President
The Meeting took nominations from the floor and the following persons were elected to serve until the AGM in 2018:
President Cllr Joan Butterfield Unopposed
Vice President Cllr Ken Stone Unopposed
1615 Presentations to the Past President and Vice President
The secretary had available an engraved gavel for Alan Guinn the immediate past President in recognition of his exceptional service.
The secretary had available a framed certificate for Ken Iball the immediate past Vice President in recognition of his service over many years.
In view the fact that neither were present arrangements will be made to deliver the presentations to them.
1616 Framework for delivering integrated health and social care
The Meeting considered the paper issued with the agenda. It was agreed that the paper as presented should be sent in response to the consultation with the following addition:
The need for monitoring so that if there are shortfalls they are
picked up very early.
1617 VAT and refurbishment of property
A discussion took place around VAT and empty property which appears to remain un-refurbished due to the current position. The matter was raised against a background of open space being eaten into by new development. The secretary pointed out the open space guidelines which are set out under the 6 acre rule. (this is a guideline of 6 acres of public open space to 1,000 head of population).
The meeting agreed that this item should be place on the Agenda for the January meeting in Llandudno with full information so that members can consult their Councils before a full discussion.
1618 Rail Matters
The secretary updated the meeting on the two rail lines as follows:
North Wales Line
The electrification of this line is many years off as it is claimed by the Welsh Assembly that a business case is difficult to put forward at present. The subject is to be monitored.
Mid Wales and Cambrian Lines
The secretary is also secretary to the Shrewsbury/Aberystwyth Rail Committee and they are (on instructions from Edwina Hart) carrying out a survey along the line so that recommendations can be made to the Minister by the middle of November with regard to enhanced rail times.
The trains on this line need to be fitted with the ETRMS system. These trains also form part of the North Wales line service so there maybe some changes to the type of trains used to meet needs and technology.
The meeting will be informed of the results at the next meeting.
1619 Regeneration Funding
The paper on regeneration funding was issued with the agenda. The point being that some authorities are not included in the list of who can bid for the funding. Information came from the floor that all Counties were approached but only those on the list made it to the next stage.
The secretary is to write to seek clarification on the method of selection used.
1620 Public Toilet Provision
The meeting considered public toilet provision. Many Counties are now cutting this service due to budget restraints. The secretary gave an outline of the cost of running a set of public toilets:
Rates £2,500
Electric £2,500
Water £2,000
Stock £2,000
Insurance £500
Hand dryers £1,000
San bins £1,000
Repairs £2,000
Cleaning £8,000
Total estimated cost £21,500
The issue of how you deal with disabled emergency calls needs to be considered.
The meeting felt that each Council should make its own decisions on the taking over of public services and not take a general stand. However, budget cuts will be a main item agenda in due course including funding arrangements.
1621 Consultation on Public Workforce
The meeting considered the paper circulated to the meeting regarding the above. There were two points of discussion:
a) A letter from Llandudno Council was considered complaining about
the secretary putting out a letter before any discussion. It was pointed
out that the letter was issued for discussion and not just sent. The
meeting confirmed that the secretary reports and presents matters in
the way that the Association wishes and was fully supported by the
meeting. A letter of response is to be sent to Llandudno Council by
the Chair.
b) The draft letter was considered and approved subject to the removal of the notes under item no 8.
1622 Crown Post Offices in North Wales
The meeting was made aware of the closure of a number of Crown Post Offices. There are 20 such offices in Wales and the closure programme will affect 8 of them. North Wales has 4 such Crown Post Offices including Holywell, Rhyl and Holyhead. The meeting agreed to send at letter of objection to the authorities with regard to these closures.
The Meeting AGREED to write a letter of support to Bangor City Council and also to write to the Welsh Assembly seeking the works to stop pending further consultation.
1623 Date of next meeting:
The meeting noted the following forthcoming meetings:
Quarterly Meeting:
Friday 24th January 2014 at Venue Cwmru Llandudno at 10.30am
Executive Meeting:
Friday 13th December 2013 at Rhyl Town Council Offices at 10.30am
1624 Actions to be taken forward
The following actions are to be taken forward:
a) Post information on the web site
b) Letter to Leslie Law on ambulance times
c) Add the letter from Leslie Law to the next agenda
d) Add VAT on empty property to the next agenda
e) Programmes for the AGM to be presented to the next meeting
f) Letters to AM’s and first minister regarding One Voice Wales to be sent
g) Letter on consultation regarding the Workforce
h) Consultation to be submitted on a framework for integrated care
i) Letter on regeneration funding to be sent seeking guidelines.
j) Letter to be sent objecting to the closure of Crown Post Offices
