Agenda and minutes

(i)            No apologies were received.

i.              Condolences were extended to Councillor Euros Davies and family on the loss of his father.

ii.            Condolences were extended to Non Davies, Corporate Manager Culture, on the loss of her father.

iii.           Condolences were extended to Helen Harries, Social Care Project Officer - Social Care Transformation, on the death of her husband.

A minute’s silence was observed in their memory.

iv.           A warm welcome was extended to James Starbuck to his first Cabinet meeting following his appointment as Corporate Director.

v.            Nicola Davies, Translator, was congratulated on her appointment as Chair of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

vi.           The following staff members were wished well in their retirement and were thanked for their many years of service to the Council:

·         Ann Eleri Thomas, Manager Tourism and Marketing

·         Margaret James, Senior Engineer Highways Development

·         Beth Davies, HCT.

vii.          Congratulations were extended to Poppy Evans, Aberaeron Comprehensive School on her election to represent Ceredigion at the UK Youth Parliament and to Lloyd Warburton, Penglais School on his election to represent Ceredigion at the Senedd Youth Council.

(i)            Councillor Rhodri Evans declared a personal interest in relation to item 153.

The Leader provided an update on the current situation in relation to Covid-19.

The latest figures, although they show an improvement, may be distorted due a problem within the testing laboratories over recent days. The latest figures are as follows:

34 cases reported today, bringing the total to 10,134 since the beginning of the pandemic which equates to 1159.6 per 100,000 of the population. The positivity rate in the County is currently at 41.7%.

Number of cases per 100k of the population:

Aberteifi & Aberporth                       1205.2

Beulah, Troedyraur & Llandysul   1393.8

Ceinewydd & Penybryn                  1080.2

Llambed & Llanfihangel Ystrad     1091.8

Aberaeron & Llanrhystud               1409

Rheidol, Ystwyth & Caron              1437.7

De Aberystwyth                                1613.6

Gogledd Aberystwyth                      1222.4

Borth & Bontgoch                            1787.6

There are currently 57 members of staff positive with COVID-19, which includes 28 school staff, and they are currently self – isolating.

6 care homes are in the red zone and 4 in the amber. The positive cases are among care home staff members.

18 patients from Ceredigion who have tested positive are currently in Bronglais Hospital.

The Council’s Waste Collection service has been disrupted in recent weeks due to positive tests among staff members; however full service has resumed this week.

The response to a message to staff members (and in particular to those who have a DBS) requesting volunteers to help and support vulnerable people with welfare visits in the County has been very positive with over 300 staff members offering to volunteer, should the need arise. The Leader thanked all and conveyed her hopes that matters would soon improve.

(i)            To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 December 2021.

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

(i)                 No petitions were received.

(i)            None

(i)             None.

(i)            To confirm the nominations 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.

(i)             To establish a brief and conduct a review of post 16 education to be presented to Cabinet.

Reason for decision:

To gain a recent analysis and appraisal of post 16 provision within the county.

(i)            Powys and Ceredigion continue to work together as the Mid Wales Education Partnership

(ii)          Officers from across the Mid Wales Education Partnership will collaborate on a number of agreed local and national priorities

(iii)         The Mid Wales Education Partnership is represented on the full range of cross-regional working parties to ensure equity of provision for schools in Powys and Ceredigion.

(iv)         Ceredigion County Council enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with Powys County Council

(v)          The education portfolio Cabinet members from Ceredigion and Powys to meet with lead education officers from the two authorities at least once a term to discuss the progress report of the Education Partnership.

(vi)         The Education Partnership Annual report to be presented to the scrutiny committees responsible for education in Ceredigion and Powys County Councils.

Reason for decision:

To ensure the Council is involved in regional and national discussions, in collaboration with Powys County Council

(i)            To approve the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA3) in relation to the delivery of the Mid Wales Growth Deal (Appendix 1 of the report).

(ii)          To grant delegated powers to the Corporate Lead Officer-Legal & Governance to make minor amendments to the IAA3, in conjunction with Powys County Council. More significant changes to be authorised by Cabinet.

Reason for decision:

To ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place to cover the delivery of the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

(i)             To approve advertising the proposals to the public, and should no objections be received, the making of the necessary Traffic Regulation Order and the publication of a subsequent Notice of Making in the press to this effect.

Reasons for decision:

To ensure adequate access for traders as part of the Green Infrastructure Scheme.

(i)            To defer consideration of the report to a future meeting.

Reasons for decision:

To enable slight amendments to the report.

(i)             To recommend that Council approve the revised Statement of Gambling Policy as the Statement of Gambling Policy for Ceredigion for the period 2022-2025.

(ii)            To recommend to Council that the Authority’s “No Casino Resolution” should be retained and the decision recorded and added to the final policy.

Reason for decision:

To fulfil statutory requirements to review and publish a Statement of Gambling Policy in accordance with the requirements of the Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 and to improve public safety and clarity for the licensed trade within Ceredigion.

(i)             Cabinet noted the report.

(i)       Cabinet noted the report and that the minutes would be presented to Cabinet each term.

(i)       Cabinet noted the report.

None