Agenda and minutes

Councillors Euros Davies, Marc Davies, Steve Davies, Paul Hinge and Mark Strong apologised for their inability to attend the meeting.

Duncan Hall apologised for his inability to attend the meeting due to other Council duties.

There were no declarations of personal or prejudicial interest.

a)    Councillor Ifan Davies, Chairman of the Council wished Mr Geraint Evans, Head of the Ceredigion Schools Music Service on his retirement following 26 years of service;

b)  Councillor Ifan Davies thanked all the staff working day and night to ensure that roads are gritted, office staff, and staff that have been going out in all weathers to provide support to the residents of Ceredigion;

c)    Councillor Ann Bowen Morgan congratulated the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David on the concert held in November to celebrate 200 year at the Lampeter campus;

d)    Councillor Ann Bowen Morgan congratulated pupils and staff at Ysgol Bro Pedr for its excellent performance of ‘Grease’;

e)    Councillor Ceris Jones congratulated Megan Teleri Davies on winning the RCGP South East Wales Faculty Student of the Year Award, receiving the highest score for her portfolio on GP and Patient Pathway Projects;

f)    Councillor Ceris Jones congratulated Michael Morgans on receiving a Community Award from Llanfihangel Ystrad Community Council for his tireless voluntary work in his community;

g) Councillor Elizabeth Evans asked that everyone completes the Hywel Dda Community Health Council patient questionnaire, in order to feed into the national enquiry on the response to Covid-19;

h)  Councillor Keith Evans congratulated Councillor Rhodri Evans on his appointment to the Hywel Dda University Health Board.

It was RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Council meetings held on 24^th November 2022.

Councillor Ifan Davies, Chairman of the Council noted that Councillors Elizabeth Evans, Amanda Edwards and Wyn Evans were appointed to the Hywel Dda Community Health Council 20 May 2022.  Councillor Wyn Evans had requested to stand down from the Hywel Dda Community Health Council, therefore Council was asked to nominate an alternative Member to take up this role.

Councillor Elizabeth Evans nominated Councillor Elaine Evans, which was seconded by Councillor Bryan Davies.

Following a vote, it was unanimously RESOLVED to appoint Councillor Elaine Evans to represent Ceredigion County Council on the Hywel Dda Community Health Council.

Councillor Ifan Davies, Chairman of the Council noted that the Council nominated 2 representatives to the Hywel Dda University Health Board, and following a selection process, Councillor Rhodri Evans received confirmation of his appointment from Eluned Morgan, the Minister for Health and Social Services, to serve as an Independent Member for a term of 4 years.

Eifion Evans, Chief Executive noted the importance of Ceredigion having a voice on the Hywel Dda University Health Board and congratulated him on his appointment.  This was re-iterated by Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council.  Councillor Rhodri Evans thanked everyone for their kind words, and to all Councillors for nominating him.

The appointment of Councillor Rhodri Evans to the Hywel Dda Health Board as an Independent Member (Local Authority) for a term of 4 years was noted by Council.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council noted that Councillor Carl Worrall, a Local Member for the Aberystwyth Penparcau Ward has been appointed to the Pendinas Hillfort Project Steering Group.

The appointment was noted by Council.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection presented the report noting that following a recruitment process Mr Andrew Blakemore was selected as an Independent / Lay Member to the Governance and Audit Committee

It was noted that subject to approval by the Council, the new lay member would be appointed for no more than two consecutive administrative terms, i.e. one term initially, with the option to extend to a second term in 2027 from 15 December 2022, subject to satisfactory references.

Following a vote, it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the appointment of Andrew Blakemore as Independent / Lay Member of the Governance and Audit Committee.

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 new self-assessment based performance regime for Principal Councils was introduces as a result of Part 6 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

He noted that the Council is required to publish a Self-Assessment Report per financial year setting out the extent to which the Council has met performance requirements during that year, and any actions it will take, or has already taken to meet the performance requirements.  This self-assessment discharges the duties of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.  He also noted that the Governance and Audit Committee reviewed the report on 27 September 2022, requesting minor formatting amendments.

Subject to approval by Council, the report will be submitted to Ministers, Estyn, the Auditor General for Wales and the Council’s Governance and Audit Committee and published on the Council’s website.

Following discussion, it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the Self-Assessment Report 2021-22 including the Annual Review of Performance and Well-being Objectives.

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Policy, Performance, People and Organisation presented the report to Council noting that the development of a Council run children’s residential facility has prompted a review of allowance arrangements for staff in residential settings, which may also be used periodically in the Council’s adult residential care homes during periods of inclement weather to ensure service continuity.

He also noted that it is a statutory duty for the Council to have an AMHP on duty at all times. AMHP’s are suitably qualified and approved Social Workers   who are responsible for the coordination and the final decision relating to an individual’s Mental Health assessment. Where necessary, this will include the individual’s admission to hospital if they are to be sectioned as set out in the Mental Health Act 2007.  In recognition of the responsibility, the role and the required skill base when undertaking AMHP duties, an additional allowance is proposed.

Members requested clarification regarding the sleep-in allowance if call out exceeds 30 minutes, and it was confirmed that an hourly rate would apply in such circumstances.  Members also asked if Ceredigion County Council has sufficient AMHP qualified staff to carry out the duties noted, and it was confirmed that recruitment has been successful but that the relevant training will need to be completed.

Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to:

1.    Approve the implementation of a Sleep-In Allowance with effect from 1 April 2022;

2.    Approve the implementation of an AMHP Allowance with effect from 1 April 2022.