Agenda and minutes

Councillors Keith Henson and Ceris Jones apologised for their inability to attend the meeting.

There were no declarations of personal or prejudicial interest.

a) Councillor Maldwyn Lewis congratulated Ceredigion school pupils recognised for their sporting achievements at the Ceredigion Sports Awards held last week;

b)    Councillor Maldwyn Lewis paid tribute to Ceredigion Music Service and all the primary and secondary school pupils who took part in the School Proms last week;

c)    Councillor Maldwyn Lewis extended his best wishes to all pupils that have taken part in recent examinations and wishes them well on their results, and future endeavours;

d)    Councillor Paul Hinge extended his best wishes to Shaun Button, an ex-serving Royal Marine following a recent accident in the Penrhyncoch area;

f)   Councillor Meirion Davies congratulated Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn on celebrating 185 years;

g)    Councillor Marc Davies congratulated Josh Tarling who competes for ‘Ineos Grenadier’, on wining a bronze medal at the European Cycling Individual Pursuits, and Finlay Tarling on wining a silver medal in the Cycling Track Championship Team Pursuits;

h)    Councillor Rhodri Evans congratulated Lisa Pullman on being selected to represent Wales in the ladies’ shooting championship held in New Zealand last week;

i)   Councillor Euros Davies paid tribute to pupils from the nine primary schools in the Aberaeron area on the recent concert held at Aberaeron Comprehensive School.

It was RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 June 2023, subject to an amendment to item 3 m) Personal Matters to confirm that Ysgol Talgarreg School were the winning football team in the Urdd 5 a side National competitions.

Matters arising:

Councillor Bryan Davies noted that Cefin Campbell MS has been in contact with Councillors Wyn Evans and Gareth Lloyd regarding the Council’s Notice of Motion relating to TB testing in cattle.

It was RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 20 June 2023

Matters arising:

There were no matters arising.

Proposer:  Councillor Catrin M S Davies

Seconder: Councillor Rhodri Davies

Council notes:

We know that poor digital connectivity remains a serious problem in many rural areas across Ceredigion and that access to and use of online services reflects other inequalities in society; and that this can cause economic underperformance and lead to further rural poverty in our county. Poor connectivity can lead to the loss of economic opportunities not to mention its impact on the education of our children and young people.

Alternative network operator, Broadway Partners had been aspiring to deploy their own gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises network across the north of Ceredigion after engaging with local communities for over 2 years. It could have revolutionised the lives of many of our residents and would improve economic growth across the county.

5 projects were outlined and approved for Broadway Partners - in the north of Ceredigion, but recently BDUK (Building Digital UK) has delayed funding for 2 of the projects (namely Ysgubor y Coed and Pontarfynach), stating that these areas would now likely to fall within the scope of the Wales-wide procurement exercise, which is being conducted by BDUK. This effectively destroyed the Broadway partners' plan.

Broadway Partners called in the administrators at the end of May 2023. The administrators are currently looking for buyers to take over part or all of the business and they hope to close the process by end of July 2023. But securing a buyer does not guarantee that the proposed infrastructure projects will continue to be built in Melindwr and Ceulan and Maesmawr wards.

The UK Government's current funding model makes it difficult for alternative network providers to fill the connectivity gap in rural areas. Nevertheless, it would be appropriate for the UK Government to intervene to support these communities, and in particular to help find a company that can take over the plans that have been left unfinished and to include the original areas of Ysgubor y Coed and Pontarfynach. These communities have already waited far too long for adequate broadband connectivity. Every effort must be made to ensure that the plans are not delayed further.

Therefore, the Council is:

a)   Asking BDUK to urgently look at providing fast connectivity to the areas of Ceulan and Maesmawr, and Melindwr - that connectivity that was promised two years ago.

b)   Asking the UK Government, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, to intervene to support the communities that have been affected by the collapse of Broadway Partners, and in particular to help find a company that can take over the plans that have been left unfinished and to include the original areas of Ysgubor y Coed and Pontarfynach.

c)   Noting that Welsh Government recognises that digital connectivity is as important as digital inclusion (it is difficult to have one without the other) We ask what are they doing to support the rural areas of Ceredigion that have been affected by the collapse of the Broadway Partners company?

d)   Requesting details from the UK  ...  view the full agenda text for item 5.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member for Housing, Legal and Governance, People and Organisation and Public Protection presented the report to Council, noting that the Guide to the Constitution and the proposed amendments had been considered by the Constitution Working Group at its meetings dated 25^th of April 2023 during which the amendments presented in this report were considered. An additional meeting took place on the 22^nd of June 2023 to consider further amendments and changes made in response from comments from the working group.

Councillor Bryan Davies noted that the number of Councillors had reduced from 42 to 38, which had placed additional responsibilities on all of them and especially Chairs of Committees, and that Members were welcome to contact his if they wished to review the requirements of the Constitution. 

Members also that that they be given an opportunity to revisit delegated powers in relation to the planning process, and especially the direction of travel when declaring an interest on a particular application. Officers confirmed that this is a live document, and that there are further amendments due to be considered.

Members also asked for clarity in relation to number of Members, and quorate requirements of the Charity Trustee Committee.

The Council unanimously RESOLVED to:

1.    Approve the Constitution Guide as amended (at Appendix 1);

2.    Approve the changes to the Constitution (at Appendices 2 – 16); and

3.  Authorise the Monitoring Officer to update the Council’s Constitution to  reflect the above changes.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member for Housing, Legal and Governance, People and Organisation and Public Protection presented the report to Council, noting that John Weston and Carol Edwards are eligible for reappointment on 22 February 2024 for a further period of 4 years.  Carol Edwards has confirmed that she will accept the reappointment, however John Weston has confirmed that he will not be seeking reappointment once the initial six years comes to an end on 21/2/2024.

Consequently, it is now necessary to recruit a new independent member to the Ethics and Standards Committee to maintain the Committee's composition, as set out in the Constitution, and as required by legislation.

Members asked for clarification of the eligibility requirements for former members and officer of Ceredigion County Council and town and community councils.  Officer noted that this would be reviewed and amended if inconsistencies are identified.

The Council RESOLVED to approve:

1)    That Carol Edwards’ term of office is extended from 22/2/2024 to 21/2/2028.

2)    the role description, person specification and criteria (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report)

3)     Membership of the Selection Panel as follows:

·       Chair of the Council (in absence Vice Chair);

·       Independent/Lay Panel member (nominated by the Monitoring Officer)

·       Chair and Vice Chair of the Ethics and Standards Committee (or other independent members nominated by the Monitoring Officer as necessary)

·       Town and Community Council representative nominated by One Voice Wales.

·        Independent/Lay Panel member (Chair of the selection panel) (nominated by the Monitoring Officer)

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Policy, Performance and People and Organisation presented the report to Council noting that a request was received from the Four Rivers for LIFE project for a representative from Ceredigion County Council to be part of the External Stakeholder Group for a period of three and a half years to end of December 2026. The Four Rivers for LIFE project is a river restoration project to improve the conditions of four major rivers in Wales: Teifi, Cleddau, Tywi and Usk. 

Councillor Bryan Davies confirmed the appointment of the relevant Cabinet Member, currently Councillor Keith Henson as Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management as External Stakeholder.

Council noted the appointment of the relevant Cabinet Member as External Stakeholder to the Four Rivers for LIFE Project for a period of 3 and a half years (until end of December 2026), currently Councillor Keith Henson.

Councillor Elizabeth Evans, Chair of the Democratic Services Committee presented the report to Council.  She thanked Officers for their constant support and for the preparation of the report.

She referred to the work of the Committee, drawing attention to the Member training, and surveys on timing of meetings and ICT requirements, noting that is has been agreed that the Committee would revisit the member ICT requirements towards the end of the current administration, taking into consideration technological changes.  She also highlighted the amendments to legislation and protocols for remote attendance and hybrid meetings.  Councillor Elizabeth Evans reminded members to submit any items that they wished to discuss to the Committee for consideration.

Councillor Gareth Lloyd, Vice-Chair of the Democratic Services Committee re-iterated the words of the Chair, and also noted that the revised format of the report made it far more attractive and easier to read.

Councillor Bryan Davies thanked the Members of the Committee and Officers noting that this is an extremely important committee, and that Members should address any concerns to the committee, or to speak to him directly.

Members noted that they were pleased to see increased diversity in democracy in relation to female representation and hoped that this trend would continue in four years’ time.  An error in relation to the date of the diversity data was noted.

The content of the report was noted by Council.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection presented the report to Council outlining the reporting requirements in referencing the way the committee has discharged its new functions, and monitoring compliance by leaders of political groups on their duties brought about as a result of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

Caroline White, Chair of the Ethics and Standards Committee during the reporting period presented the Annual Report to Council, thanking Members for attending the training provided, and highlighting the importance of presenting applications for dispensation.

She noted that guidance from the Welsh Government on the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 was published in June 2023, and that this would provide greater clarity as to the expectations in relation to the additional duties placed upon Group Leaders. 

She noted that Caryl Davies is now the current Chair of the Committee and asked that Members continue to support her in the way she had been supported and also thanked Officers for their support.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council thanked Caroline White for her work, and thanked the Committee for their advice, and readiness to discuss matters of importance to Members in their communities.

Members asked for clarity regarding the deferred items noted in the report.  Officers confirmed that there are no outstanding items currently.

The content of the report was noted by Council.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection presented the report to Council noting that the Annual Report was presented to the Governance and Audit Committee at its meeting of 21^st June 2023, and that the Committee agreed to approve the draft Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2022-23, subject to the addition of the attendance details for the former Lay Member, Liam Hull, and the inclusion of the words ‘not applicable’ for meetings which took place outside the period of membership of Committee members. These changes have since been made to the report.

Alan Davies, Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee presented the Annual Report to Council, thanking officers for their hard work in preparing the report, and support provided by Officers of the Committee.  He noted that there is a positive attitude towards the Committee and that the procedures of Council are in order as acknowledged by Audit Wales, and that the Committee will be implementing a programme of continual improvement.

The Chairman of the Council thanked Alan Davies for his work, in keeping the Council in order.  Councillor Endaf Edwards noted an error in relation to his attendance on 9 March, confirming that he did apologise, but was present at the meeting.