NORTH AND MID WALES ASSOCIATION
OF
LOCAL COUNCILS
MINUTES
Of the quarterly meeting held at The Royal Oak Welshpool at
10.30am on Friday 11th April 2014
A record of those present and apologies registered is:
|
Council |
Present |
Apologies
|
|
Officers |
Cllr Mariette Roberts (chair) Cllr Derek Hainge (Vice Chair Robert Robinson (Secretary & Treasurer) Cllr Joan Butterfield (President) |
Cllr K Stone (Vice President) |
|
ABERGELE TOWN COUNCIL |
|
Cllr John A MacLennan
|
|
ARGOED COMMUNITY COUNCIL |
|
|
|
BANGOR CITY COUNCIL |
Cllr E Butler |
|
|
BAGILLT COMMUNITY COUNCIL |
Cllr C R Williams |
|
|
BAY OF COLWYN TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr Lindsay Griffiths Cllr Mrs H Meredith
|
Tina Earley Clerk Cllr Perry Cllr Mrs Roy Cllr V Smith |
|
BUCKLEY TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr A Williams Cllr A Woolley |
Cllr N Ditchburn Cllr J J M Woolley |
|
CAERWYS TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr J Webb |
|
|
CAIA PARK COMMUNITY CONCIL |
|
|
|
CONNAH’S QUAY TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr Carol Grainger Cllr P Attridge Cllr R Hill Ian Jones (Clerk) |
|
|
CONWY TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr B Chapman |
Cllr H Roberts
|
|
DENBIGH TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
FLINT TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr Terry Renshaw Cllr David Cox |
Cllr Lorna Jones A Loveridge Town Clerk |
|
HAWARDEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL |
|
|
|
HOLYWELL TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr Karin Davies Cllr P York Cllr P Curtiss |
C Pierce Clerk |
|
LLANFAIR CAEREINION TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr K Astley |
|
|
LLANDUDNO TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr Brian Bertola
|
Cllr T Davies Cllr A Yates |
|
LLANASA TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
LLANFAIRFECHAN TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr C Gell Mayor
|
|
|
LLANDRINO & ARDLEEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL |
Representative present. |
C Davies (Clerk) |
|
LLANDYSILIO COMMUNITY COUNCIL |
Cllr Frances Buckingham |
C Davies (Clerk) |
|
LLANGOLLEN TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
MEINAI BRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL |
|
Cllr M Davies Cllr H Hunt Mayor Ms L Powell Town Clerk |
|
PENMAENMAWR TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
PRESTATYN TOWN COUNCIL |
|
N Acott
|
|
RHOSLLANNERCHRUGOG COMMUNITY COUNCIL |
|
|
|
RHUDDLAN TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
RHYL TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr D Simmons |
Cllr J Chamberlain-Jones
|
|
RUTHIN TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr S Beach Cllr E Wyn |
|
|
SHOTTON TOWN COUNCIL |
|
|
|
ST ASAPH CITY COUNCIL |
|
Cllr Elsie Powell Cllr Barbara Rust |
|
TOWYN AND KINMELL BAY TOWN COUNCIL |
|
Hazel Parkes Clerk Cllr B McLaughlin |
|
WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL |
Cllr Ann Holloway Cllr Estelle Bleivas Cllr Chris Davies Cllr John & Mrs Joan Meredith (Mayor and Mayoress of Welshpool) |
|
|
|
|
|
1659 Welcome by the Mayor of Welshpool Town Council
The Mayor welcomed the meeting to the Town of Welshpool.
1660 Notice of the meeting
The notice of the meeting was accepted.
1661 Minutes of the last meeting
The meeting approved the minutes of both the 24th January and 21st February meetings.
1661 Actions taken since the last meeting
The secretary reported on all actions taken since the last meeting. All actions had been completed.
1662 Financial Report
The meeting received the financial report.
It was pointed out that the loss for the year will be around £1,200 being made up of the web site and translation costs.
The level of fees is to be reviewed at the AGM.
1663 Minutes of the Executive Meeting held on 14th March 2014
The meeting received the minutes of the Executive Meeting.
1664 Local Democracy and Boundary Commission
An update was given by the Secretary including reading out a letter from the First Minister on the subject.
It was agreed that this was a very important subject affecting all Town and Community Councils.
The Secretary confirmed the both Mark Isherwood and Janet Finch Saunders will be at the AGM at which the above subject will be the main item on the agenda.
1665 Health Debate
The Meeting received two updates as follows:
North Wales Study
Ian Jones gave an outline of progress with regard to the North Wales
Study. A draft questionnaire had been produced and will be refined as
time passes. A further meeting is to be held later in the month.
Members were asked to give Ian their details of contact so that he can
ensure all are informed.
Cllr T Renshaw was elected Chair of the working group.
Mid Wales Study
The Mid Wales Study is to take place in July 2014. The Secretary
is working with Mark Longhurst and Paul Lewelyn (Welsh Government
leaders of the Study) with regard to the area served by Shrewsbury
Hospital. The overall plan for the survey is being set up now.
Web Site
It was agreed it would be a good idea to have a web site for bothHealth Surveys with a link to both the North and Mid Wales Studies.
1666 Welsh Translation Cost
After discussion the following was agreed:
a) To contact the Welsh Language Commission to seek advice on our obligations.
b) To consider the matter at the AGM and to consider the costimplications with regard to level of fees.
1667 Flood Plain and Planning related issues
T Meeting considered this important subject and after a full discussion agreed that a letter is sent to all County Councils and the
Welsh Government expressing the following:
a) The Association understands the pressures on the need for newhomes.
b) To encourage both Parliament and the Assembly to ensure that enough money is available to provide
adequate sea defences and a management programme for the maintenance of culverts and rivers.
c) To encourage the authorities to protect the towns and villages along the coast and where absolutely necessary
to compensation properly homes which are affected by the lack or removal of such defences.
d) Extreme care should be taken when considering new developments on flood plains.
e) The Association supports new designs of homes which allow for flood risk and formal guidance should be given on this subject.
f) There should be a reasonable approach to upper floor uses in the flood plain areas.
g) The Association suggests that the above should form overall policy in Local Development Plans in all areas.
h) The consultation with Town and Community Councils should bemeaningful when considering flood plain issues and such views
gained should be treated as a material consideration.
i) The Association supports the governments negotiations for insurance cover help in flood plain areas and urges the government to
include both residential and small business within any scheme.
1668 Cheque signatories
The Meeting noted the following:
a) Repeal of section 150(5) of the Local Government Act 1972
Following the approval of Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, the Minister will shortly be making a legislative reform
order repealing the statutory requirement for 2 elected members to sign cheques and other orders for payment.
1669 Agenda issue
The Meeting considered if a response was needed with regard to issuing of agenda. See below:
Government move to allow councils to send agendaselectronically welcomed – Published 14th March 2014
Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government, has told the Communities and Local Government
Committee that the Government plans to legislate to allow councillors to be sent agendas for council meetings electronically. It was raised during the Committee’s: In Pickles evidence session it was pointed out that councils are currently required to send councillors meeting agendas in hard copy. A number of Twitter users, including several parishes, had submitted questions asking the Government to change the law so that councils could send agendas electronically, something for which SLCC has been pressing for several years.
Commenting, Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local
Government Committee, said:
“I was surprised to learn that councils in the 21st Century are
prevented by law from sending out electronic copies of their
agendas. Judging by the number of tweets we received, however,
this is certainly a matter of concern for those working in local
government.
After discussion it was felt that no response should be made either way.
1670 Policy of the Association
The Policy of the Association was set in 2010 and was to run for 3 years. The Policy was considered and was confirmed to stay the same subject to changing the name to the new one.
This item will now go to the AGM for approval.
1671 Future topics for discussion
The meeting considered topics for future meetings – those chosen in 2010 have all been addressed in the past 3 years. The following was agreed and is to be taken to the AGM for final approval.
1. William’s Report – formation of policy in due course.
2. Health Study – North and Mid Wales.
3. Transfer of services to Local Councils – funding issues.
4. Transport improvements in both Mid and North Wales.
(to include Cambrian Line, Chester to Holyhead Line electrification and the future of bus passes.)
5. Monitoring of the Planning Bill and its effects.
6. Funding of Town and Community Councils.
7. Educational matters – monitoring of reports and performance of our schools.
8. Flooding and building on flood plains.
1672 Membership
The idea of a membership flyer was approved in the form issued but is to be held back until after the July meeting when any new fees are set.
1673 Any other business
The meeting considered the following items of interest:
Police Commissioner for North Wales
The Secretary was asked to gain latest statistics for the last few yearsto see what improvements have been made and to make such
information available for the next meeting.
1674 Date of next meeting
The Secretary confirmed the date for the next AGM and quarterly meeting to be held on Friday 18th July 2014 at 10.30am at the Civic Halls Connah’s Quay.
1675 Web Site
The meeting receive an update on the web site which is now fully in place.
1676 Press release
The Secretary is to issue a press release with regard to the meetings activities.
1677 Actions taken forward:
The following actions are to be taken forward:
a) Press release to all local papers, BBC and local web sites.
b) Letter to Police Commissioner to gain statistics.
c) Letter to Welsh Language Commission on obligations.
d) Letters to County Councils and Welsh Assembly with regard to flood plain issues.
e) To all policy and suggested topics for the 3 year programme to the AGM Agenda.
f) To add the membership flyer to the AGM.
