Agenda and minutes

Venue: remotely via video-conference

Items
No. Item

202.

Apologies

Minutes:

i)     Eifion Evans, Chief Executive apologised that he would be late in joining the meeting.

ii)    Russell Hughes-Pickering, Corporate Lead Officer: Economy and Regeneration apologised for his inability to attend the meeting.

 

203.

Personal matters

Minutes:

i)     Condolences were extended to the family of Dai Jones ‘Llanilar’ who recently passed away. The Leader paid tribute to his vast contribution locally and nationally.

ii)    Condolences were also extended to the family of Gethin Bennett, a former Cabinet Member and the last Chairman of Dyfed County Council, who recently passed away.

A minute’s silence was observed in their memory.

iii)   Congratulations were extended to Sioned Davies, a member of Llanwenog Young Farmers Club on winning Senior Member of the year and to Cari Davies, a member of Tregaron Young Farmers Club on winning the Junior Member the year at county level. Best wishes were extended to both as they compete in an all-Wales competition held soon.

iv)   Best wishes were extended to the Leader on her retirement. She was thanked for her significant contribution and leadership over the years.

v)    The Leader thanked all members and officers for their support during her 10 years as the Leader of the Council. She wished everyone well for the future including Councillor Bryan Davies as the new Leader of Plaid Cymru.

 

204.

Disclosure of Personal/ Prejudicial Interests.

Minutes:

Councillors Ceredig Davies and Catherine Hughes declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to item 216 and withdrew from the meeting whilst the matter was being discussed.

 

205.

A verbal update by the Leader of the Council in relation to COVID-19

Minutes:

The Leader provided an update on the COVID-19 situation. She explained that she had hoped to provide a more positive update before her time as a Leader came to an end, but unfortunately, rates have risen once again.

 

113 PCR cases were reported by Public Health Wales today, bringing the total in Ceredigion to 11,942 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The current case level is 296.6 per 100,000 of the population.  The positivity rate in the County is currently 32.4% which is also an increase. This currently seems to be the pattern across Wales.   

 

It was noted that Scotland were currently reconsidering their plans to remove all COVID-19 restrictions due to an increase in cases. The Leader explained that based on Swansea University’s prediction model, it was anticipated there would be an increase in cases in March, before decreasing once again in April. The current figures only account for PCR tests but if LFT tests were included, there would be a significant increase and the rate per 100,000 of the population would be extremely high. 

 

The Leader reported that the recent increase had begun to affect schools and although all schools were open, 2 classes at Bro Sion Cwilt Primary School were currently closed due to illness and a shortage of supply teachers.

 

2 care homes are currently under restriction.

 

The Leader reiterated the advice to test regularly and to wear a mask where required. 

206.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Cabinet and any matters arising from those Minutes pdf icon PDF 162 KB

Minutes:

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Cabinet held on 22 February 2022.

 

Matters arising: There were no matters arising from the minutes.

 

207.

Any petitions received

Minutes:

None.

208.

Reports of any decisions (if any) having been called in from Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Minutes:

None.

209.

Any feedback from Overview and Scrutiny Committee not otherwise on the agenda

Minutes:

None.

210.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Schools and Culture upon LA Representative on Governing Bodies pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Minutes:

DECISION:

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

 

Reason for the decision:

To nominate representatives of the LA on Governing Bodies.

 

211.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Schools and Culture upon Ceredigion's Additional Learning Needs Principles and Expectations document with feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

DECISION:

i)     To agree to adopt the content of Ceredigion’s ALN Principles and Expectations document.

ii)    That any comments made by the Welsh Government are included as amendments to the Plan and presented to the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet for information.

iii)   That an annual report on progress against Ceredigion's ALN Principles and Expectations be presented to Schools, the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet.

iv)   To note the feedback from the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Reason for the decision:

To comply with the requirements of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018.

 

212.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Gofal upon the Empty Property Action Plan pdf icon PDF 426 KB

Minutes:

DECISION:

To agree the proposed Action Plan.

 

Reason for the decision:

To ensure the effective implementation of the Action Plan.

 

213.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Economy and Regeneration upon Boosting Ceredigion's Economy- A Strategy for Action 2021-35 pdf icon PDF 5 MB

Minutes:

DECISION:

To endorse the Welsh Government’s draft Regional Economic Framework.

 

Reason for the decision:

To further enable the implementation of the Economic Strategy.

 

214.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Cymorth Cynnar upon Sport Wales Capital Grant Award for Aberaeron Swimming Pool and Calon Tysul Ltd pdf icon PDF 159 KB

Minutes:

DECISION:

To agree:

1.    That the Sport Wales Grant offer of £280k in relation to capital funding for Aberaeron Swimming Pool and Calon Tysul Ltd is accepted and that the Council acts in an intermediary role as banker.

2.    That the scheme is included in the Capital Programme.

 

Reason for the decision:

To enable £280k of Sport Wales Capital investment to be made in Aberaeron Swimming Pool and Calon Tysul.

 

215.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Legal and Governance upon the Coroner Pay Arrangements 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Minutes:

DECISION:

To approve the following pay rates effective from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023:

 

1)    Senior part-time Coroner:

i)     Retention Salary of £21,120 p/a to cover retention/out of hours service availability.

ii)    Using the agreed daily rate of £465, to pay the Coroner an annual salary of £11,625 including training days.

Total: £32,745 per annum (plus on-costs).

iii)   Office expenses/business support allowance – £5,000 p/a.

 

2)    Assistant Coroner:

 The daily rates will be:

·         full day £397; and

·         half day: £199.

 

Reason for the decision:

Compliance with relevant legislation and JNC Circulars, mitigation of challenge and safeguarding public funds.

 

216.

To consider the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Finance and Procurement upon Welsh Government’s Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme 2022-23 pdf icon PDF 231 KB

Minutes:

DECISION:

To adopt the Welsh Government’s Non-Domestic Rates - Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme 2022-23 as a Discretionary Non Domestic Rates Relief under Section 47 of the Local Government Act 1988.

 

Reason for the decision:

To support local businesses using available grant funding.

 

217.

To note the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Finance and Procurement upon the Capital Programme Monitoring Report for 2021/22 Quarter 3 pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Minutes:

Cabinet noted the report.

 

218.

To note the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Finance and Procurement upon the Controllable Revenue Budget for 2021/22 Quarter 3 pdf icon PDF 589 KB

Minutes:

Cabinet noted the report.

 

219.

To note the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Cynnal upon CYSUR/CWMPAS Combined Local Operational Group Safeguarding Report Quarter 2 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Cabinet noted the report.

 

220.

To note the report of the Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Cynnal upon the Independent Reviewing Service Performance Management Report Quarter 2 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 635 KB

Minutes:

Cabinet noted the report.

 

221.

Any other matter the Chairman decides is for the urgent attention of the Cabinet

Minutes:

Eifion Evans, Chief Executive thanked the Leader and all members for their contribution over the years.