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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Guildhall, Swansea.

Contact: Democratic Services - 01792 636923 

Items
No. Item

175.

Apologies for Absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J C Bayliss, A M Day, B Hopkins, D H Hopkins, A J Jones, P M Meara, J Newbury, B G Owen, G Owens, J A Raynor, C Richards, L G Thomas and G D Walker.

176.

Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests.

Minutes:

The Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services gave advice regarding the potential personal and prejudicial interests that Councillors and / Officers may have on the agenda.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reminded Councillors and Officers that the “Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests” sheet should only be completed if the Councillor / Officer actually had an interest to declare.  Nil returns were not required.  Councillors and Officers were also informed that any declarable interest must be made orally and in writing on the sheet.

 

In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea the following interests were declared:

 

Councillors

 

1)              Councillors C Anderson, J E Burtonshaw, J P Curtice, C A Holley, D G Sullivan and C Thomas declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017”;

 

2)              Councillor P Downing declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak and vote on any item relating to general staff Employment, on Budget matters and any other matters that affect Corporate Building Services, other than matters that directly affect his brother with specific reference to his post;

 

3)              Councillor F M Gordon declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that she had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters and any other matters that directly affect Education other than matters that directly affect her son by specific reference to his post;

 

4)              Councillor J A Hale declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general staff employment, on Budget matters and any other matters that affect Unison and health other than matters that directly affect the Councillor in his role as Unison Officer;

 

5)              Councillor K E Marsh declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 ”Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters and any other matters that affect the Corporate Building Services, other than matters that directly affect his grandson with specific reference to his post;

 

6)              Councillor G J Tanner declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017”’ and stated that she had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak but not vote on any item relating to general staff employment on budget matters  other than  matters that directly affect her son by specific reference to his post;

 

7)       Councillor C Thomas declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that she had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters and any other matters that affect Corporate Building Services other than matters that directly affect her grandson by specific reference to his post;

 

8)       Councillor M Thomas declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak but not vote on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters other than matters that directly affect his wife by specific reference to her post;

 

9)       Councillor T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters other than matters that directly affect his daughter by specific reference to her post;

 

10)     Councillor Y V Jardine declared a Personal Interest in Minute 182 “Council Tax Premiums in Wales”;

 

11)     Councillors A C S Colburn, D W Cole, E W Fitzgerald, D Lewis, C M R W D Thomas and L J Tyler-Lloyd declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in Minute 182 “Council Tax Premiums in Wales” and WITHDREW from the meeting prior to its considerations;

 

12)     Councillors P M Black, J E Burtonshaw, M C Child, R A Clay, U C Clay, A C S Colburn, D W Cole, A M Cook, S E Crouch, J P Curtice, N J Davies, P Downing, C R Doyle, V M Evans, W Evans, E W Fitzgerald, R Francis-Davies, J E C Harris, T J Hennegan, C A Holley, P R Hood-Williams, L James, Y V Jardine, J W Jones, M H Jones, S M Jones, E J King, E T Kirchner, A S Lewis, R D Lewis, C E Lloyd, P Lloyd, K E Marsh, P M Matthews, P N May, C L Philpott, P B Smith, R V Smith, R C Stewart, G J Tanner, C Thomas, D W W Thomas, M Thomas, L J Tyler-Lloyd, L V Walton and T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 183 “Admission Arrangements 2017-2018”.

 

Officers

 

1)              J Straw declared a Personal Interest in Minute 183 “Admission Arrangements 2017-2018”;

 

2)              S Rees and J Straw declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017”;

 

3)              H Evans, M Hawes, T Meredith, J Parkhouse, P Roberts, C Sivers and D Taylor declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2016-2017” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration.

177.

Announcements of the Presiding Member

Minutes:

1)       Extraordinary Council - 7 April 2016

 

The Presiding Member stated that he had agreed to hold an Extraordinary Meeting of Council at 5.00pm on Thursday, 7 April 2016.

 

2)       Changes / Amendments to the Council Summons

 

a)       Item 6 “Statutory Resolution - Resolutions to be made in accordance with the Regulations in the Setting of Council Tax 2016-2017”

 

The Presiding Member stated that there was a typographical error on Page 26 of the Council Summons.  The entry in relation to Resolution (5) Band A - All other parts of the Council Area including the Police and Crime Commissioner precept should read £922.50 not £992.50.

 

b)       Item 9 “Planning Policy Context for the Appraisal of Planning Applications for Onshore Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration and Development”

 

The Presiding Member stated that Appendix A (Pages 100-104) needed to be amended so as to reflect current National Planning Policy.  The amendment should read as follows:

 

“Following incorporation of Mineral Planning Policy Wales (MPPW) into Planning Policy Wales (PPW), all references to MPPW will be changed to PPW in the Deposit Local Development Plan (LDP)”.

 

c)       Item 10 “Membership of Committees”

 

The Presiding Member stated that an additional amendment was required to the membership of the Local Authority (LA) Governor Panel.  Remove Councillor J E Burtonshaw.  Add Councillor H M Morris.

178.

Public Questions.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

Minutes:

A number of questions were asked by members of the public.  The relevant Cabinet Member responded.

 

A)       Those questions not requiring a written response are listed below:

 

a)       Questions were asked in relation to Minute 181 “Statutory Resolution - Resolution to be made in accordance with the Regulations in the Setting of Council Tax 2016-2017”.

 

B)       Those questions requiring a written response are listed below:

 

There were no questions requiring a written response.

179.

Public Presentation - Down to Earth Project.

Minutes:

Mark McKenna of the Down to Earth Project gave a presentation on the work of the ‘Down to Earth Project’.  He stated that the project commenced in 2005, with a fairly ambitious idea of delivering education and personal development / well-being differently.  To not only support people who were struggling to “fit in” to mainstream education or mainstream life, but which also embraced sustainability and demonstrated that it should be at the very centre of that approach

 

As the organisation has grown the Project has worked with schools, colleges, universities and community groups to transform their own spaces.

 

Down to Earth is a not-for-profit organisation with a 10 year track record in doing innovative outdoor experiences with vulnerable and ‘hard to reach’ groups of all ages.  It has diversified to work with businesses and tourists to enable the core work of the Project to continue.

 

Further information on the work of the Down to Earth Project may be viewed on their website www.downtoearthproject.org.uk/

 

Councillor W Evans, Anti Poverty and Communities Cabinet Member gave thanks for the presentation.

180.

Pay Policy 2016/2017. pdf icon PDF 49 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development (HR & OD) submitted a report which sought approval of the Pay Policy 2016-2017.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       The Pay Policy 2016-2017 be approved and adopted.

181.

Statutory Resolution - Resolutions to be made in accordance with the Regulations in the Setting of Council Tax 2016/2017. pdf icon PDF 36 KB

Minutes:

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report which outlined a number of statutory resolutions to be made in accordance with the Regulations in the setting of the Council Tax 2016-2017.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       Council notes and adopts the statutory resolutions set out below;

 

2)       It be noted that at its meeting on 26 November 2015, the Council calculated the following amounts for the year 2016-2017 in accordance with Regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended):

 

a)       89,151 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, as its Council Tax Base for the year;

 

b)       Parts of the Council’s Area:

 

 

Bishopston

1,975

 

Clydach

2,576

 

Gorseinon

3,108

 

Gowerton

1,960

 

Grovesend

404

 

Ilston

312

 

Killay

2,067

 

Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton

496

 

Llangyfelach

949

 

Llanrhidian Higher

1,587

 

Llanrhidian Lower

334

 

Llwchwr

3,395

 

Mawr

742

 

Mumbles

9,594

 

Penllergaer

1,355

 

Pennard

1,454

 

Penrice

425

 

Pontarddulais

2,255

 

Pontlliw and Tircoed

1,034

 

Port Eynon

416

 

Reynoldston

281

 

Rhossili

189

 

Three Crosses

711

 

Upper Killay

565

 

being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate;

 

3)       The following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2015-2016 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

 

a)       £678,342,841 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Sections 32(2)(a) to (d) of the Act;

 

b)       £265,150,853 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Sections 32(3)(a), 32(3)(c) and 32(3a) of the Act;

 

c)       £413,191,988 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year;

 

d)       £307,391,774 being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its Council Fund in respect of redistributed non domestic rates, and revenue support grant less discretionary Non Domestic Rate relief;

 

e)       £1,186.75 being the amount at (3)(c) above less the amount at (3)(d) above, all divided by the amount at (2)(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;

 

f)        £967,410 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act;

 

g)       £1,175.90 being the amount at (3)(e) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (3)(f) above by the amount at (2)(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special items relate;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

h)       Parts of the Council’s area:

 

 

Bishopston

1,196.15

 

Clydach

1,212.61

 

Gorseinon

1,202.75

 

Gowerton

1,193.28

 

Grovesend and Waungron

1,188.28

 

Ilston

1,185.85

 

Killay

1,185.09

 

Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton

1,190.52

 

Llangyfelach

1,195.92

 

Llanrhidian Higher

1,224.75

 

Llanrhidian Lower

1,187.88

 

Llwchwr

1,199.90

 

Mawr

1,239.24

 

Mumbles

1,195.13

 

Penllergaer

1,190.66

 

Pennard

1,211.66

 

Penrice

1,199.43

 

Pontarddulais

1,213.15

 

Pontlliw

1,209.45

 

Port Eynon

1,189.12

 

Reynoldston

1,211.49

 

Rhossili

1,193.36

 

Three Crosses

1,218.14

 

Upper Killay

1,207.76

being the amounts given by adding to the amount at (3)(g) above the amounts of the special items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at (2)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate;

i)        Parts of the Council’s Area:

 

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Bishopston

797.43

930.34

1,063.24

1,196.15

1,461.96

1,727.77

1,993.58

2,392.30

2,791.01

Clydach

808.40

943.14

1,077.87

1,212.61

1,482.08

1,751.55

2,021.01

2,425.22

2,829.42

Gorseinon

801.83

935.47

1,069.11

1,202.75

1,470.03

1,737.30

2,004.58

2,405.50

2,806.41

Gowerton

795.52

928.11

1,060.69

1,193.28

1,458.45

1,723.62

1,988.80

2,386.56

2,784.31

Grovesend & Waungron

792.18

924.22

1,056.24

1,188.28

1,452.34

1,716.40

1,980.46

2,376.56

2,772.65

Ilston

790.56

922.33

1,054.08

1,185.85

1,449.37

1,712.89

1,976.41

2,371.70

2,766.98

Killay

790.06

921.74

1,053.41

1,185.09

1,448.44

1,711.79

1,975.15

2,370.18

2,765.20

 

 

 

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Llangennith, Llanmadoc & Cheriton

793.68

925.96

1,058.24

1,190.52

1,455.08

1,719.64

1,984.20

2,381.04

2,777.87

Llangyfelach

797.28

930.16

1,063.04

1,195.92

1,461.68

1,727.44

1,993.20

2,391.84

2,790.47

Llanrhidian Higher

816.50

952.58

1,088.66

1,224.75

1,496.92

1,769.08

2,041.25

2,449.50

2,857.74

Llanrhidian Lower

791.92

923.91

1,055.89

1,187.88

1,451.85

1,715.82

1,979.80

2,375.76

2,771.71

Llwchwr

799.93

933.26

1,066.57

1,199.90

1,466.54

1,733.19

1,999.83

2,399.80

2,799.76

Mawr

826.16

963.85

1,101.54

1,239.24

1,514.63

1,790.01

2,065.40

2,478.48

2,891.55

Mumbles

796.75

929.55

1,062.33

1,195.13

1,460.71

1,726.30

1,991.88

2,390.26

2,788.63

Penllergaer

793.77

926.07

1,058.36

1,190.66

1,455.25

1,719.84

1,984.43

2,381.32

2,778.20

Pennard

807.77

942.40

1,077.03

1,211.66

1,480.92

1,750.17

2,019.43

2,423.32

2,827.20

Penrice

799.62

932.89

1,066.16

1,199.43

1,465.97

1,732.51

1,999.05

2,398.86

2,798.66

Pontarddulais

808.76

943.56

1,078.35

1,213.15

1,482.74

1,752.33

2,021.91

2,426.30

2,830.68

Pontlliw and Tircoed

806.30

940.68

1,075.06

1,209.45

1,478.22

1,746.98

2,015.75

2,418.90

2,822.04

Port Eynon

792.74

924.87

1,056.99

1,189.12

1,453.37

1,717.62

1,981.86

2,378.24

2,774.61

Reynoldston

807.66

942.27

1,076.88

1,211.49

1,480.71

1,749.93

2,019.15

2,422.98

2,826.80

Rhossili

795.57

928.17

1,060.76

1,193.36

1,458.55

1,723.74

1,988.93

2,386.72

2,784.50

Three Crosses

812.09

947.44

1,082.79

1,218.14

1,488.84

1,759.53

2,030.23

2,436.28

2,842.32

Upper Killay

805.17

939.37

1,073.56

1,207.76

1,476.15

1,744.54

2,012.93

2,415.52

2,818.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other parts of the Council area

783.93

914.59

1,045.24

1,175.90

1,437.21

1,698.52

1,959.83

2,351.80

2,743.77

 

being the amounts given my multiplying the amounts at (3)(g) and (3)(h) above by the number which, in the population set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of the categories of dwellings listed in the different valuation bands;

 

4)       It be noted that for the year 2016-2017 the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales had stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

 

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales

138.57

161.66

184.76

207.85

254.04

300.23

346.42

415.70

484.99

5)       Having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (3)(i) and (4) above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2016-2017 for each of the categories of dwelling shown below:

 

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Bishopston

936.00

1,092.00

1,248.00

1,404.00

1,716.00

2,028.00

2,340.00

2,808.00

3,276.00

Clydach

946.97

1,104.80

1,262.63

1,420.46

1,736.12

2,051.78

2,367.43

2,840.92

3,314.41

Gorseinon

940.40

1,097.13

1,253.87

1,410.60

1,724.07

2,037.53

2,351.00

2,821.20

3,291.40

Gowerton

934.09

1,089.77

1,245.45

1,401.13

1,712.49

2,023.85

2,335.22

2,802.26

3,269.30

Grovesend & Waungron

930.75

1,085.88

1,241.00

1,396.13

1,706.38

2,016.63

2,326.88

2,792.26

3,257.64

Ilston

929.13

1,083.99

1,238.84

1,393.70

1,703.41

2,013.12

2,322.83

2,787.40

3,251.97

Killay

928.63

1,083.40

1,238.17

1,392.94

1,702.48

2,012.02

2,321.57

2,785.88

3,250.19

Llangennith, Llanmadoc & Cheriton

932.25

1,087.62

1,243.00

1,398.37

1,709.12

2,019.87

2,330.62

2,796.74

3,262.86

Llangyfelach

935.85

1,091.82

1,247.80

1,403.77

1,715.72

2,027.67

2,339.62

2,807.54

3,275.46

Llanrhidian Higher

955.07

1,114.24

1,273.42

1,432.60

1,750.96

2,069.31

2,387.67

2,865.20

3,342.73

Llanrhidian Lower

930.49

1,085.57

1,240.65

1,395.73

1,705.89

2,016.05

2,326.22

2,791.46

3,256.70

Llwchwr

938.50

1,094.92

1,251.33

1,407.75

1,720.58

2,033.42

2,346.25

2,815.50

3,284.75

Mawr

964.73

1,125.51

1,286.30

1,447.09

1,768.67

2,090.24

2,411.82

2,894.18

3,376.54

Mumbles

935.32

1,091.21

1,247.09

1,402.98

1,714.75

2,026.53

2,338.30

2,805.96

3,273.62

Penllergaer

932.34

1,087.73

1,243.12

1,398.51

1,709.29

2,020.07

2,330.85

2,797.02

3,263.19

Pennard

946.34

1,104.06

1,261.79

1,419.51

1,734.96

2,050.40

2,365.85

2,839.02

3,312.19

Penrice

938.19

1,094.55

1,250.92

1,407.28

1,720.01

2,032.74

2,345.47

2,814.56

3,283.65

Pontarddulais

947.33

1,105.22

1,263.11

1,421.00

1,736.78

2,052.56

2,368.33

2,842.00

3,315.67

Pontlliw

944.87

1,102.34

1,259.82

1,417.30

1,732.26

2,047.21

2,362.17

2,834.60

3,307.03

Port Eynon

931.31

1,086.53

1,241.75

1,396.97

1,707.41

2,017.85

2,328.28

2,793.94

3,259.60

Reynoldston

946.23

1,103.93

1,261.64

1,419.34

1,734.75

2,050.16

2,365.57

2,838.68

3,311.79

Rhossili

934.14

1,089.83

1,245.52

1,401.21

1,712.59

2,023.97

2,335.35

2,802.42

3,269.49

Three Crosses

950.66

1,109.10

1,267.55

1,425.99

1,742.88

2,059.76

2,376.65

2,851.98

3,327.31

Upper Killay

943.74

1,101.03

1,258.32

1,415.61

1,730.19

2,044.77

2,359.35

2,831.22

3,303.09

All other parts of the Council area

922.50

1,076.25

1,230.00

1,383.75

1,691.25

1,998.75

2,306.25

2,767.50

3,228.76

 

182.

Council Tax Premiums in Wales. pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report which provided information and sought consideration of the new discretionary powers to charge higher amounts of Council Tax on certain properties provided for by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and charging higher amounts (premiums) for second homes from 2017-2018 as set out in Section 5 of the report.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       The details of the new discretionary powers relating to Council Tax premiums outlined in this report be noted;

 

2)       The outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council be noted;

 

3)       In accordance with S139 Housing (Wales) Act 2014 the Council exercises its discretion on whether to charge premiums of up to 100% of the standard rate of Council Tax, for dwellings occupied periodically, commonly referred to as “second homes” under Section 12B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 from 1 April 2017 and if so, to determine the percentage of the premium to be applied, of no more than 100% of the standard charge payable;

 

4)       The new discretionary powers relating to long term empty properties be considered during 2016-2017 once further guidance is received from Welsh Government in relation to the exceptions and impact to Council Tax base calculation.

183.

Admission Arrangements 2017/2018. pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Education submitted a report which sought to determine the Admission Arrangements for maintained schools for the academic year 2017-2018.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       The proposed Admission Arrangements for 2017-2018 for Nursery as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved;

 

2)       The proposed Admission Arrangements for 2017-2018 for Reception as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved;

 

3)       The proposed Admission Arrangements for 2017-2018 for Year 7 as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved;

 

4)       The proposed Admission Arrangements / Criteria for Entry for 2017-2018 for Sixth Forms as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved;

 

5)       The proposed Admission Arrangements for 2017-2018 for In Year Transfers as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved;

 

6)       The Schedule of Events as set out in Appendix C of the report be approved;

 

7)       The Admission Numbers for primary and secondary schools be noted, as set out in Appendix D of the report.

184.

Planning Policy Context for the Appraisal of Planning Applications for Onshore Unconventional Oil and Gas Exploration and Development. pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration submitted a report which informed Council of the Planning Policy context for onshore unconventional oil and gas exploration and development.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       The Deposit Local Development Plan (LDP) contains a minerals policy in accordance with national planning policy and which reflects the Notice of Motion of the 28 January 2016 in relation to onshore unconventional oil and gas exploration and development;

 

2)       Council writes to the Minister expressing concerns relating to potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing technology and expressing support for a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques for the development of onshore unconventional oil and gas exploration in Wales until such time as the impacts are properly assessed and understood.

185.

Membership of Committees. pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Minutes:

The Transformation and Performance Cabinet Member submitted a report which sought approval of the nominations / amendment to the membership of Council Bodies.  He also added additions to the proposed membership changes.

 

He referred to the report stating that the Leader of the Council had not made any changes to the Authority’s Outside Bodies:

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       Audit Committee

Remove Councillor D W W Thomas.

Add Councillor C Thomas.

 

2)       Democratic Services Committee

Remove Councillor A S Lewis.

Add Councillor J A Hale.

 

3)       Planning Committee

Remove Councillor P Downing.

Add Councillor P B Smith.

 

4)       Local Authority (LA) Governor Panel

Remove Councillors J E Burtonshaw and P B Smith.

Add Councillors V M Evans and H M Morris.

186.

Advice from the Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Minutes:

The Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised Councillors as to their duty under the Code of Conduct.  Councillors were reminded that it was vital to keep an open mind and one that was not closed until the end of the debate on Item 12 “Judicial Review - Jewish Human Rights Watch”.  Councillors were advised that:

 

1)       Previous indications are not pre-determination unless they had made statements or taken a position which indicates that they were unwilling to consider changing their view;

 

2)       Even if they had indicated that they were pre-disposed to a potential outcome, they were not bound by their previous support or otherwise;

 

3)       They MUST consider all arguments both in favour and against the proposal, including (but not limited to) any new arguments;

 

4)       They MUST approach the decision with an open mind and be willing, if persuaded, to change their view;

 

5)       They MUST make their decision based on relevant considerations and ignore irrelevant considerations.

187.

Exclusion of the Public. pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes:

The Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services gave advice on excluding the public.

 

Council considered whether the report contained exempt information under Paragraph 16 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 and if so whether they wished to waive privilege.

 

RESOLVED that the public be excluded for the following item(s) of business.

 

CLOSED SESSION

188.

Judicial Review – Jewish Human Rights Watch.

Minutes:

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report which provided information regarding a Judicial Review of one of its resolutions.

 

RESOLVED that the Notice of Motion passed on 17 July 2010 remain in place.