Transcript

Thank you, chair. Apologies for today. Councillor Anthony Davis, Councillor Shelly Godfrey-Coals, Councillor Gary Jones, Councillor Linos Mai Davis, Councillor Kevin Jones, Councillor Alid Von Owen, Councillor Andrew Davis, Councillor John James, Councillor Philip Hughes, Councillor Jean Lewis, Councillor Peter Cooper and Councillor Gareth Thomas. We hold responsibility of the code of conduct to verbally declare any personal interests that you may have in relation to the appearing on the agenda today. Excuse me. Please indicate which agenda item you have a personal interest in and the specific nature of the interest to be declared. Similarly, you will also need to indicate whether you have been granted this position on this committee or the monitoring officer to speak of both in respect of any item on the agenda. If an interest has not been declared at the start but become known in discussions, it needs to be declared when the interest becomes apparent. Please declare your interest now. We now move on to agenda item 3. And that's me. Good morning, esteemed Councillors and guests. It's that time of year again. Whether it's sadness or joy, I don't know. As I address you today, I do so with a blend of gratitude, pride and touch of melancholy. It is a privilege to stand before you as I conclude my tenure as Chair of the Council. Serving in the old has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all who have made it possible. I'm thankful to the independent Councillors for the nomination and to Councillor Sharon Davis and Jason Hart for the unwavering support in the system. Throughout my term, I've been kept busy for nearly 100 events. For going to lifelong friendships and forging life gone for friendships and conclusions, the work that has come out has been beyond expectations, I must say. Special thanks go to the Mayors Chairs and Councillors for the hospitality and patience with my limited Welsh. The modern moments include visiting to care homes during the Christmas period, where the staff dedication and the rest is joy-spoke volumes. I have the privilege of attending 100 birthdays, three of them, and an 100-length birthday as well. A testament to a life well lived and celebrated. Plan raising efforts were successful with 6,000 rates for my nomination to try on charities, including T Brink in Hospice, Pembury in Buryport First Responders and St Paul's Family Centre. Gratitude extends to the Council's active sports section for the generous contributions as well. I must express my deep appreciation to Agra, Wendy, Geina, Linda for their unwavering support and expertise throughout the year. Like Christmas and see it as thanks to the dedicated drivers, Jeff and Andrew, who I will not call drivers, I call keepers of the chain. As you may not know, this will be the final Only World meeting for Linda and she also is retiring at the end of the month and Jeff also is retiring as well from the driver of the keepers of the chain. My best wishes go forth for the future. To my Consul and Doctor and Vice Chair, Hannah Davies and Consul, thank you for your support and guidance. I leave the floor in capable hands and wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Lastly, I thank everyone in the chambers for their personal pictures and understanding during my council meetings. Thank you very much and thank you for giving the honour of doing this. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you. agenda item 4 announcements by the leader cabinet members and chief executive attorney. I have not been made aware of any announcements so we move on to item 5, election of chair of the council for the 2024/25 minutes of the year. It is my pleasure to nominate Kamala Davies as chair of the council for 2024/25 minutes of the year. I say once again, thank you very much for your support and kind words over the years. I leave you all in very, very capable hands. Are there any other nominations, please? Thank you very much, chair. I have great pleasure to formally second the name of Councillor Handel Davies as chair of this county council for 2024/25. I'm convinced that Handel will take the role in his usual way in a professional, easy-going and dignified manner. I know that Handel has had a taster of the work over the last year. Believe it or not, he has actually ventured beyond the banks and some would say that is a good thing. When you hear Handel's name, it tends to be something to do with Landevry. For the next year, of course, he'll be going around the county, but as we all know, he will no doubt be talking about Landevry while he's out. Handel is well known to all, having been a member here since 2017, and before that, an officer with the county council for 35 years. Is he old enough, do you think? He's been around this place for quite some time. He's a father of three children. Daniel, who is a history teacher in Biltwells. Roger is a biomedical scientist at Glengulie Hospital here in Camarthen, and Angharad, who lives in Madrid and works for Hawkeye Innovations and is quite an athlete as well, following her father, no doubt. He's been married to Margaret for over 40 years. Well done, you, Margaret, I will say. In his spare time, he is a town councillor, community councillor, president, governor, trustee, captain, and plays a vital role in many organizations in his local area. And recently, of course, he was the chair of the Appeal Committee leading up to the Irn Nationalist Edvard in Landevry last year, one of the county's most successful events in our county for quite some time. His natural leadership has inspired many over the years. Handel will never forgive me if I sat down now without mentioning something that is very close to his heart, the drovers, of course, the Landevry rugby team. As I was doing a bit of research for today, I did find an article online. The title was How a small market town became the best rugby team in Wales. What a title, and that says it's all really about the success of Handel's team over the last few years. As we know, Landevry won the premiership last year, and this year they won the Triple Crown, winning the premiership title, winning the national cup, and also finishing top of the premiership table. I really hope that all the chairman duties won't disrupt your plans to watch the rugby every Saturday, but his record, his work, is outstanding and is therefore an absolute pleasure for me to second the motion to elect Councillor Handel-Davies as chairman of this council for the coming year, and I wish him and Margaret well as they take on the role during the year. Thank you, Councillor Price. Are there any other nominations? If not, did they come up? Nominations closed, if there isn't any more? Remember, indicate whether you are in favour of Councillor Handel-Davies, Spina Pompeo to check, Margaret can cancel, Portage with him 2425, please. Thank you. Anybody against? And any abstentions, please? Councillor David, congratulations on your election. Congratulations. Well done. Thank you. Good girl. [Applause] [End of session] I, Handel-Davies, having been elected to the office of chair of the council of the county representative, hereby declare that I take the said office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties thereof to the best of my judgment and ability. I undertake to observe the code for the time being as to the conduct expected of members of Camarthenshire County Council and which may be revised from time to time. Good morning, friends and ladies and gentlemen. May I firstly say that I'm deeply honoured and privileged to have been appointed chair of the Camarthenshire County Council. Although I have to confess, it was never something I ever aspired to, or let alone thought would ever happen. Indeed, when I retired nine years ago, becoming a county councillor was the last thing on my mind. It's strange how things happen and how things turn out in life, and I'm sincerely grateful to my fellow primary councillors for placing their faith by nominating me. It has been a very busy year for outgoing chair, Lovene Roberts, having attended nearly 100 events, possibly a few more than she would have wished, but I'm sure she has had a wonderful time and congratulations to Lovene on your excellent fundraising efforts for your nominated charities. You now deserve some well-done rest and relaxation, and some time to reflect on your memorable time in office. I can certainly say it has been a pleasure to spend some time alongside you in your role. Talking of charities, my two nominated charities are LATCH, which is a Welsh children's cancer charity that supports children receiving treatment for cancer and leukemia at the Children's Hospital for Wales and their families, and also Prostrate Cymru, which is the leading prostate health charity in Wales supporting men with benign prostate disease and prostate cancer. I would also like to thank my wife, Margaret, for being my soulmate for the past 45 years or so. They say behind any good man, there is always a better woman, and this is certainly the case with mugs. By the way, she didn't tell me to say that, although they read the Orca Gala into mugs. Ironically, when I was appointed as vice-chair this time last year, it coincided with Lindaveri RFC winning the playoff final to become the indigo rugby champions of Wales. It is therefore totally unbelievable that not only have they once again this year repeated the achievement, but they've also won the Welsh reunion cup at the Principality Stadium in Tardif and also finished top of the pile in the indigo premiership league table, making it a treble of amazing successes. You will hopefully forgive me as club president for mentioning this, but for those that may not know, I've been involved with Lindaveri RFC for 52 years, which is even longer than I've been married to my wife. But I'm sure you will acknowledge that our success has certainly helped put Lindaveri, Camardinshire and West Wales on the map in recent years. Finally, I would also like to take the opportunity to say goodbye to Linda Rees-Jones, who is leaving us at the end of the month after providing a service for 44 years to the council. I have known Linda since 1983, since both of us worked together to the Denevo Council. I would like to congratulate Linda on your excellent service over a long period of time and for always being willing to help me in my job and to wish you all the very best for the future and a long and healthy retirement for you as well. Finally, I would like to welcome and congratulate Councillor Dot Jones on her nomination as vice chair, along with her concert, Dr. Gary Jones, and hopefully we can both look forward to a very enjoyable year. Thank you. [APPLAUSE] Thank you. [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] I now call upon Mrs. Vanessa Rees to present my concert. This is Margaret Davis with her chain of office. [APPLAUSE] [END] [APPLAUSE] [END] I now call on the following members to pay tsubuts to the retiring chair. Councillor Darren Price, leader of Plaecumry, Councillor Jane Temnett, leader of the independent group and Councillor Derek Kelly, leader of the Labour group. I'd like to take this opportunity to formally congratulate Lorraine and your consort Vanessa for your time in office on behalf of the Plaecumry group. We've shared the numerous highlights with us at council meetings which have been great to hear about. I know it's been a very busy year for you as we've heard from Annabelle earlier. We've attended several events together, not just over the past year's chair but when you were vice chair as well. I've got to say I've thoroughly enjoyed being in your company, it's been a joy to see the warmth that you have towards those you meet and how much you enjoy being around people. You are an absolute natural person and I'm sure that that element of the role has brought you much more joy than having a chair, 74 comes to us in this place. But it truly has been a joy to be in your company and it's been lovely to see that warmth that you have with people, Deoch and me, Lorraine. As we all know you're one of the longest standing councillors here and someone that most of us will have worked alongside at some point. What is absolutely clear to those who have worked with you is your passion for Glenmore. We can see it in your commitment and devotion to supporting local residents, events and causes and that continues to this day and long may it continue. On behalf of the Plaecumry group, Lorraine, thank you very much for your hard work over the last two years. I would now like to call on councillor Jane Tamlet, leader of the independent, who will say a few words. Thank you, chair. This is my very real pleasure to pay tribute to the outgoing chair, councillor Louvain Roberts and her consort on behalf of the independent group. During her year as chair, Louvain has been the first lady representing the county council in the many functions and events that she has attended. On the occasions that Louvain has attended, Louvain and I have attended events together such as visits to our residential care homes, Louvain immediately puts people at their ease and engages with everyone with a friendly chat and always her sense of humour comes to the fore. All this as well as being, as ever, dedicated to working for the people in her ward. As her municipal year comes to an end, we all in the independent group and across the whole council wish Louvain well for the future. Thank you. [APPLAUSE] I would now like to call on councillor Derek Kennedy, leader of the Labour group. Thank you, chair. After the fulsome praise that Louvain has deservedly received, much of what I was going to say has actually been said, you've been a brilliant chair. I've known Louvain for more years than I think it's wise for either of us really to remember or even to admit to, but we all know that Louvain is a fighter. We've stood shoulder to shoulder in the past, striving for things we believed in and we've succeeded. Louvain's passion, apart from the majority of her constituents who love her, as basically she was the midwife who attended either the birth of their children or their own birth, and there are many stories we should not hear but telling right now, is actually the health service. She's been a leading light in the preservation of services and preceded me as the chair of the Sostman Committee. To this day, she still fights to get the best, whether it's ensuring that the lobotomy services, as she was nagging me about the other day, are accessible for all the internetally or finding a suitable place for the D-DAS service. I think what we could honestly say is a woman of little fear who is prepared to walk a month of travelling many years ago and sort out disputes there and is unafraid to tell you to your face, and I quote, I love you, but I'm not going to vote for you. It's disconcerting but truthful, and I suppose that sums you up, Madame Chair, an honest and loyal friend who continues to live a life based on your own beliefs, unafraid to take on new challenges where others fall back, and who still delivers for her constituents with a verb and energy that many lack. Thank you for your company. I will also call on our chief executive to pay tribute on behalf of the corporate management team. Thank you to everybody. It's always a pleasure for me to thank the outgoing chair and consort on behalf of the corporate management team and the council. For everything that has been done over the last civic year. It's a pleasure for me to thank the outgoing chair and consort. I appreciate that some may be re-saying and duplicating what's already been said, Chair, but I think it's important in terms of the staff and the officers that work for this authority to give that formal thanks on behalf of the corporate management team and all of the thousands of officers that work here in Camarges County Council, and it's been great to see what has been achieved over the last year, a very busy year for you and consort Vanessa Rees. And I think I'll begin by saying it's from a staff perspective, Chair, for the outgoing chair, it is always a pleasure to work with her and its officers, always have a funny story to tell after they spent time with Levene, and also Levene has always wanted to thank officers and to show her appreciation, which goes a very, very long way with officers, so dieu van voor. So you said last year, Levene, that you were very much looking forward to the varied and interesting year, and I hope that you've had a year that you truly wanted, I really do. And although it doesn't get much more interesting than the Boxing Day wellness dip, and I suppose I have to formally apologise for gibbing out of that one, because I know you've tried very hard to get Linda, myself, and Geina to join you, but I'm afraid you were the bravest and had the biggest heart and courage, so well done, you. It's not something that every chair has done with enthusiasm, but you certainly did give it with enthusiasm, and from what you reported back from the Council, I think you could have, you may take it up as a new hobby. So not only did you do the dip, but you raised 800 pounds, so you deserve an absolute big pat on the back. So we know that you've attended events organised by causes that are close to your heart, there's some community-based projects, some with a focus on the health service, as has already been paid tribute to your year-long services, and the amount of people I've met who, along the way and over the years, have had your support and services via the Health Board. You've also raised a huge amount of money for your chosen charities, and although that's not over yet, I know the final total hasn't finally come in, but I think we're in and around £4,500 for those charities, which is T. Brinkman Hospice, St Paul's Family Centre, and eventually First Responders, so absolutely brilliant, congratulations. [Applause] And Vanessa, I'd like to thank you as well, it's not easy, I know, and I know it's a lot of work, and I think people don't truly appreciate what the year entails until you undertake it, so Diane Diopinvoorte, and supporting your mum over the years. So I know that most Councils at this point are looking forward, everybody has said it to the break, but you will, okay, you will look forward to the break, and I hope that you find some time to relax, okay. But thank you both very, very much for your work, and congratulations on a hugely successful year, it's been an absolute pleasure to work alongside you, Lovell Diopinvoorte. So now I'd like to formally congratulate Handel on his election as Chair of Council, and welcome your wife Margaret, Chrisowy Margaret Heavitt, for this year's concert for this year. So I wasn't in the AGM last year, but I'm sure, like this year, the Clannam Davri name has been mentioned a few times. And I'm sure over the next year we'll be hearing the name even more often across the chamber, and as we all know, you are very fond of your area, but this year that area is going to have to be expanded over the whole county. I'm sure that you and Margaret are looking forward to meet groups and organisations across the county, and I know that you will do an excellent job. We have known each other for many years, Handel, and I'm really looking forward to working with you over the next year, and wishing you all the best, and Margaret. Chair Dott, I'm becoming Vice Chair, Dott and Gary as your consort, I would very much like to wish you and Gary well for the coming year, Dott, we've worked together for a long time as well, so I look forward to working with you in your new role, and anything that we can do as officers, obviously for both of you, we are here to support. So just to close once again, on behalf of the corporate management team and all the staff in the council, I'd like to congratulate and wish you all well for the year. Thank you. Thank you everyone for your words, we'll now move on to item 6 on the agenda. Council for the 2024-25 municipal year, can I please have nominations for the appointment of Vice-Chair of Commander of the County Council for the 2024-25 municipal year. Can I have a proposal please, Councillor Derek, can I understand your proposal? Yes, Chair Foney, thank you very much, I don't get my technology to work, I proposed Councillor Dorothy Jones on behalf of the Labour group for the position of Vice-Chair, now I've been told by Gaynor and Ira and Linda Legal to keep this short, as I have more time next year to validate Dorothy's proposal for Chair. I can tell you that she was born and bred in Swansea, but now lives in Tumble, she works in the DBLA and is married to Gary here today, her husband, who is a community Councillor and arrives at Gold Wing and is a professor at Swansea teaching electrical stuff. He's definitely a bright spark, I apologise, I apologise, okay, and between them they have two boys, one who is also a community Councillor, very political family. We all know her as Dot, so the question is, is she suited to be Vice-Chair? I suppose she qualifies at the base level, she is a County Councillor since 2017 and she was surprised that she was known and voted after only being 18 years of living in Tumble. Actually, when I lived in Tumble, they wouldn't know what I was doing after 18 days, but there we are. Nowadays, an awful lot more people know of her because she is there fighting for her community, individual at a time or when necessary as a campaign organiser for a just cause, but rarely does she hog the line. She's been Chair of Community Council, a dangerous place at the best of times as many of us know. She was a Scout Leader, so she will always be prepared. She has been our Chief Whip for years, so she's used to keeping people in line. She is a fine Councillor, one that I can, with honesty and competency say, doesn't just talk the talk, but is willing to walk the walk to what that extra mile is required. Keeping the short is difficult because she has many attributes, she is an excellent flautist, she loves quizzes, isn't that knowledge petrolhead. I better stop here. So after all, is there nothing I can make do I can say about her? Sorry about that. Well, I do remember her bringing some of her bad habits from DBLA. Those times when she used to bring in tweets to our meetings, do any of you remember that? Those halcyon days when these were cross-party suites, they went around everywhere. Going around from bench to bench, and there were a number of us who were desperately praying that we wouldn't still be chewing when we were called on to speak. Fortunately, that was before the days of television. She can be a bit bossy, but she has a charming side too. Both attributes necessary for both becoming a Vice Chair and Chair of this fine County Council. The first to keep meetings in order and the other to act as an ambassador for us and our communities. Someone who will always be an asset to us and to others while she is on the road. I can see requests coming back to Wendy. Why is this happening? Why can't we sort this out? Why didn't we know? Why didn't I know? I won't go on, you get the drift. And because of this attitude and spirit, I have great pleasure in recommending the Vice Chair for the coming year 2024 to 2025. [Applause] Thank you Derek. And a seconder please. Councillor Tina Higgins, I understand you were seconding the motion. Do you all have their... Thankfully, I don't have to speak apparently, so I can't follow that. I'm happy to see how you're doing. I'm happy to second the motion, thank you. Are there any other nominations? If not, I declare nominations closed. Will members please indicate whether you're in favour of Councillor Dot Jones' appointment as Vice Chair of commands to County Council for the 2024-25 municipal year. [Silence] Anyone against? [Silence] Councillor Dot Jones, congratulations on your election. [Silence] [Silence] Hi Dot Jones. Having been elected to the office of Vice Chair of the Council of the County of Camaraderie, I hereby declare that I take the said office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties thereof to the best of my judgement and ability. I undertake to observe the code for the time being as to the conduct expected of members of Camaraderie County Council and which may be revised from time to time. [Silence] Councillor Jones, would you like to say a few words, please? Yeah, could I? So I sort of prepare, you know, a good 5, 10, 15 minutes speech ahead of the next part of the meeting, but that's fair you all. So I'd like to thank you all for the votes and the support, and I look forward to working with Handler and his concert in the next 12 months. Thank you. [Applause] I now call upon my concert, Mrs Margaret Davies, to invest the vice chair's concert between Gary Jones with his chain of office. [Silence] [Applause] Thank you very much. That finishes the ceremonial part of the meeting. [Silence] So I'd just like to thank the guests for attending today. And they will now retire from the meeting, and we will proceed with the remaining business on the agenda. Thank you. [Silence] Okay, we'll now move on to the remainder of the meeting. So to appoint members to serve on the council's scrutiny, regulatory and other committees of the council, you have before you a report outlining the nominations received for members to serve on the committees of the council and joint committees for the 2024-25 municipal year. And this is on page 3 within your pack. Councillor Darren Price, I understand that you will move the report. Yes, thank you, chair. Happy to move formally the content, as you can see within the pack. Councillor Linda Evans, I understand that you are seconding. Yes, thank you, chair. I am happy to second. Are there any amendments or changes that you'd like to put forward today, please? Please raise your hand if you wish to put forward any changes. Members, please indicate whether you are in favour of appointment of members to serve on those committees, please. Please raise your hand if you are in favour of appointment of members to serve on those committees, please. Anybody against? Any abstentions? I can confirm the report has been received. We'll now move on to item 8 on the agenda. Received and to elect chairs and vice-chairs for the committees, panels of the council for the 2024-25 municipal year. The council is required to appoint chairs and vice-chairs for committees of the council as set out in the agenda for the 2024-25 municipal year. This is in page 25 within your pack. Nominations that are required in advance shall be received from the political groups and unaffiliated members. These are listed on the report. I can confirm that there are no contested seats. Could the leaders of the political groups and representatives of the unaffiliated members who have put forward nominations, please propose their nominations en bloc and can I also have seconders for those proposals? Councillor Darren Price, leader of the Plaid Cymru Group, can you confirm your nominations, please? And Councillor Linda Evans, can you second? Thank you, chair. Happy to propose the nominations on behalf of the Plaid Cymru Group. Thank you, leader. I am happy to second. The leader of the Independent Group, can you confirm your nominations, please? And Councillor Edward Thomas, can you second? Thank you, chair. I confirm the nominations en bloc on behalf of the Independent Group. Thank you. I'm happy to second. Councillor Derek Hyundai, leader of the Labour Group, can you confirm your nominations, please? And Councillor Tina Higgins, can you second those? Yes, I'm prepared to propose en bloc. Thank you. Thank you, chair. I am happy to second the proposal. Councillor Sean Rees. Members, can you confirm your nomination and Councillor Steve Williams, I understand you will second? Yes. Thank you, chair. To propose Councillor Cranan's inclusion as chairman of the Democratic Services Committee, do you honor? Thank you, chair. I'd like to second that motion, please. Are there any amendments? If so, can you please raise your hand? I will now follow, would I, colleague? Members, please raise your hand to note that you are in favour of appointing the chairs and vice-chairs as duly proposed and seconded, please? Anyone against? Anyone against, please, again? Any abstentions? Nominations are approved. I congratulate all the chairs and vice-chairs of committees on their appointments for the forthcoming municipal year. Item 9. The council is required to review its constitution on an annual basis and adopt the amendments to the constitution as contained within the report. This is on page 31 of your pack. In all legislative changes which require changes to be made to the council's constitution, however, the council will need to confirm the scheme of allowances as per the independent remuneration panel for Wales, prescribed amounts to be paid to councillors for 2024-25 and considered recommendations put forward by the constitutional review working group. Could I please have a proposer and a seconder for the adoption of the recommendations? More of Darren Price? Councillor Darren Price, I understand that you will be proposing the recommendations. Thank you, chair. I'm not going to go through the whole report, but I would like to just highlight a few of the changes. As you have mentioned, the allowance scheme for the IRPW is to be paid to councillors for 2024-25 has been included in the report, but I'd also like to highlight a few of the changes. Firstly, the report asks for changes to the terms of reference for the shadow cabinet. As you can see, the terms of reference hasn't been amended since 2002 when it was set up for the first time. One of the changes to note is that the meetings that were agreed upon are approved duties in the allowance scheme. So that is a change in the report. It's an important principle for us as a council is to hold this administration to account. It is something which is very important, and we have the mechanism for members of the council and members of the public to ask myself or any cabinet member on any matter. We welcome those questions, of course, but in order to manage the use of time, Krug is recommending to amend the standing order as follows. First of all, to make sure that public questions on notice should mirror the wording of the questions on notice from members and that they be concise and in the form of a question and not a statement. And secondly, that a time limit be introduced in standing orders for both questions on notice from public for which one minute should be allowed to ask the question and two minutes for the response given to them. With supplementary questions, it should be allowed 30 seconds to allow that supplementary question and no more than one minute to respond to them. And thirdly, that the same time limits be imposed on questions on notice from members and responses to them. And finally, a limit of no more than three public questions be asked on any one topic in one meeting, and that would be on first come, first safe basis. So on behalf of Krug, I'd like to propose these recommendations formally and propose the report in full. Thank you, chair. Councillor Linda Evans, as deputy leader, I understand that you will second. Yes, thank you, chair. I am happy to second those changes. Thank you. Does anybody else want to speak on this matter? Please raise your hand if you wish to speak. If you have a question, please indicate the page number within the pack. Councillor Martin Parfroman. Good day, I think it was Shakespeare who said that brevity is the soul of wit, suggesting that it takes skill to say much of few words, and I'm sure many will agree that's a skill that I've still got some way to go in mastering. But I just wanted to refer briefly, if I could, to the proposed change that the leader just outlined to limit the time for questions on notice both by members of the public and by members to one minute and responses to two minutes. And I absolutely recognise the intent behind that is to maintain focus and to ensure that we all stay very clear about business and don't go on for too long, which I'm bound to do. But I do have really serious concerns that has implications for accountability and democracy. Both in terms of limiting the opportunity of those given questions to get across the points clearly that they would like to ask whoever it is they're asking, and equally that the limited time for responses of two minutes, I accountability and transparency in the business is being discussed. And I think that has implications for the democratic process that I know we all hold very dear as members of this council. So I'd ask if those changes are adopted, that the impact of those limits be very closely monitored and due consideration be given this time next year when we again review the constitution to revoking it, if it's been seen to have a detrimental impact. Thank you, Martin. And the first thing to note is that the agreement was a cross-party agreement in Krug, of course. But the points that you make were debated at that meeting, you know, what is appropriate. I think the intention is quite clear, I think that we've sometimes had examples maybe where we have lost control in terms of the length of the question and also the length of the answer. So there was certainly an intent there just to cut to the chase frankly, you know, what is the question and what is the response. I think it was felt on a cross-party basis within that meeting that PUMNIT would allow to give people that direct answer that they are seeking, you know. I absolutely accept the point that there's a need for us to keep this under review and clearly Krug will meet in a year's time to see how this pans out. But the intention was not to limit the accountability at all, you know, the ability to ask questions remain. And that's not just in this council, but obviously at scrutiny committee and at cabinet meetings as well. So that accountability is really important, but we need to keep business focused and cut to the chase as I mentioned. We will keep it under review and certainly on a cross-party membership basis we will certainly ensure that this is discussed when we look at this next year. Are there any amendments? Whether you're in favour of adopting the constitution and proposed amendments for the council. Anyone against? No? I need patience. Any abstentions? I can confirm that the constitution has been adopted. So we've come to the end of the agenda. There are no other items that I've been made aware of or any items that require urgent consideration. So thank you to everybody for attending. To the annual general meeting of the council today I now declare that the meeting has come