Agenda and minutes

Apologies for being unable to attend the meeting were received from Councillor Rhodri Evans and Eifion Evans, Chief Executive.

i.              Condolences were expressed to Wyn and Mary John and their family on the tragic loss of their son.

ii.            Condolences were expressed to Bronwen Morgan (former Chief Executive) and her family on the recent loss of her mother.

iii.           The Housing Service was congratulated on winning a Gold Procurement Award for their ‘Cartrefi Cynnes’ scheme.

iv.           Ceredigion County Council's Work Welsh Scheme celebrated successes at the National Work Welsh awards. Mariolina Lai, a Day Care Assistant at Min-y-Môr, won the ‘Foundation+ level Learner who has made the best progress' award. Alison Newby, a Numeracy, Literacy, and Business Tutor at Dysgu Bro Ceredigion, came second in the award for ‘Foundation+ Level Learner who makes the Best Use of Welsh for Work purposes'. Dewi Huw Owen, the Council's Work Welsh Training Officer, placed second for the ‘Work Welsh Tutor of the Year' award. Congratulations were extended to all three.

v.            Councillor Lynford Thomas stated that, at the Special Cabinet meeting on 30 March 2021, he inadvertently referred to information which was contained in an exempt report which was not available to the public. He sincerely apologised for the oversight which had contravened the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillors Catherine Hughes and Ceredig Davies disclosed a  personal/prejudicial interest in item 13 below and withdrew from the meeting whilst the matter was being discussed.

 .

The Leader of the Council, Ellen ap Gwynn, provided a verbal update in relation to COVID-19.  She stated that figures remain low in the county but continued vigilance is needed by all. The vaccine programme continues effectively throughout the county and is set to complete first vaccinations ahead of schedule. Second vaccinations are due to be completed by September.

Hospitality venues may now open fully and up to six people from different households may share a table inside. Up to 30 people can take part in organised indoor activities and up to 50 people can take part in organised outdoor activities.

Testing continues for school staff and secondary school pupils through twice weekly LFD tests.  LFD tests are now also available to non-paid carers. Schools are fully open and years 11, 12 and 13 pupils are currently undergoing their assessments.

School playing fields will re-open and be available for community use following the half term break and Aberaeron and Lampeter Leisure Centres along with Lampeter swimming pool will open on 7th June 2021. Significant remedial work is required at Plascrug and alternative arrangements have been made for the use of Penglais Sports Hall.

Face-to-face music lessons in schools are due to be resumed at the end of June.

Safe zones have been adapted and will be is use over the half term holidays and the 6 week school summer holidays.

Indoor visits at Care Homes are now available by prior arrangement and visits indoors will be available where required. Visits in the pods provided at Care Homes continue and will soon become available for longer visits.

DECISION

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 March, 2021.

Matters Arising:

(i) There were no matters arising from the minutes.

DECISION

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 30 March, 2021.

Matters Arising:

(i) There were no matters arising from the minutes.

It was noted that the above  petition had been received and would be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines in the Petitions Protocol.

None.

Refer to decision14 below.

DECISION

i. To approve the proposal to remove spare seat provision to comply with Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000

ii. To approve the revised appeals process to reflect the requirements of the Local Authority Constitution

iii. To approve the revised Home to School Transport Policy, as presented.

Reason for decision:

1. To comply with Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000

2. To comply with Part 7 of the Local Authority Constitution with regards membership of the Education Transport Appeals Panel

DECISION

To confirm the nomination of those named in the report as LA representatives on the Governing Bodies of the relevant School.

Reason for decision:-

To nominate representatives of the LA on Governing Bodies.

DECISION

i.    To approve the Guidance for Ceredigion Anti-Bullying Policy

     Rights, Respect, Equality 2019; and

ii.   To recommend that Ceredigion schools’ Governing Bodies adopt the Policy.

Reason for decision:-

To update and share information with Cabinet on the updated Anti-Bullying Guidance document within Ceredigion schools.

DECISION

To adopt the Welsh Government’s Non-Domestic Rates - Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme 2021-22 as a Discretionary Non-Domestic Rates Relief under Section 47 of the Local Government Act 1988.

Reason for decision:-

To support local businesses using available grant funding.

DECISION

i.          To recommend the approval of the Carers’ Policy to include the following additions, as recommended by the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a.    Include telephone number for Carers Unit in Para 11.2

b.    Include contact details for Carers Unit in Section 6

c.    Include telephone numbers for NHS Direct in Section 6

d. Add the following paragraph to Section 9.1:

‘During emergency situations, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, enforced homeworking allowed some carers the opportunity of balancing their work and caring responsibilities. The experience allowed a greater understanding of the flexibility available in any given role for both the employee and line manager.’

ii.   To note the feedback from the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reason for decision:-

To recognise and support Council employees who undertake significant caring responsibilities alongside their paid employment.

DECISION

i. To authorise the display of a Section 228 Notice and,

ii. If no objections are received, to proceed with the adoption process.

Reasons for decision:-

To ensure that the Wellbeing of residents is maintained through continued inspection and maintenance of the estate road.

DECISION

(i)  To agree to award the contract to the Most Economically Advantageous  Tender, subject to 10 day statutory standstill period

Reason for decision:-

To enable the transport, sorting and recycling of dry mixed recyclate collected at the kerbside.

DECISION

i.              To note the report for information purposes.

DECISION

i.          To note the report for information purposes.

The report is not for publication as it contains exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007. If, following the application of the Public Interest Test, the Council resolves  to consider these items in private, the public and press will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration, in accordance with Section 100B(2) of the Act.

DECISION

i.              Not to exclude the public and press from the meeting as the document was not discussed in public.

ii.            To note the information within the report.

None.