Transcript

I'd like to welcome members of the public who have joined us both in person and those of you that are at home watching, it is a hybrid meeting as usual. First item business, I must just give the apologies from Archibald's active Emma Palmer. She will be joining us later but she's had to go to a meeting first thing this morning so she will be with us shortly but sent her apologies for this first part of the meeting anyway. So, members, I sit here before you today as chairman for just a few final moments and before I do hand over the reins, I am just going to indulge you for one last short time. I was first elected to Paris County Council in May 2017 to represent the people of Preston and Norton. I'd done my time as an apprenticeship on Preston and Norton Town Council since 2008 and had been mayor but little did I know what was in store when I arrived here in May 2017. The first meeting I attended was an AGM and a pre-meeting was held for the Radnisha Committee to nominate a chair of Radnisha and therefore on a system vice chair. Radnisha and members assembled in Committee Room B and we were giving little slips of paper tonight on nominations on. As the newbie, I wrote Councillor Michael Jones on my slip, Julie folded it over and handed it into the pot. Slowly these slips were unfolded and my name was read out along with several others. When Michael's name was read out, he immediately withdrew as did a couple of others. If I'm honest, I'd absolutely no idea what was going on and what was unfolding. I looked at Michael and I moused, What do I do? A typical Michael fashion, he looked back at me and said very resuitly, Stay there. And I did exactly as I was told, Who was I to argue? We had a couple of rounds of voting and ended up walking out of the room with a briefcase with the Radnisha chain in it. And the rest of the say is history and I'm here for a second time. I have an awful lot to be thankful to Michael for and if it wasn't for him, I would never have been chairman. He was always so pleased to encourage new younger members and was there offering words of wisdom and advice. I've known Michael for many years. He was a founding member of East Radnisha Day Centre, East Radnor leisure centre, was a governor at John Bedo School and sat on many committees in Old Radnor, New Radnor, Gragedry and Preston. He was also a loyal member of the congregation of Old Radnor Church. Michael achieved so much in his political career representing Old Radnor on the council from 1985 to 2022. He was also a chair of council in 2001 too and chairman of the board from 2002 to 2011. When the council adopted a cabinet system in 2011, he became the first leader of council. He gracefully retired at the last elections in 2022 to devote his time and energy in caring for his wife Joy, whose health had deteriorated in recent years. But very sadly he became ill himself at the end of January and after a short illness passed away at Wither Farm on Saturday the 27th of April. I am very honoured and privileged to not only have known Michael as a colleague in this chamber, but also as a friend. Sadly we have also lost two other previous councillors in recent times, Peter Medleycart and Tony Thomas. Peter represented the Nighting Ward from 2012 to 2017 and he was chair of Radnor in 2016-17. Tony was the treasurer of Brettnock Borough Council. He joined past county councillors, county treasurer and local government reorganisation in 1996. Following his retirement from that post, he returned as councillor for the Fell in Vac Ward serving in 2008-2017. He held a number of senior roles as a councillor, serving on the cabinet for a number of years and was also chair of the pensions and investment committee. I am sure you will join me in sending our thoughts to the families of all these people at this very sad time. Moving on to look back at my year as chair, it started with the freedom parade in Hay and Way for the Welsh Guards. The All Wales drum festival at Halbert Hall in Landrendard Wells and the annual Gurker parade in Breckham will all very enjoyable events. Jack's draw and I spent a very warm afternoon at the Y side in Bealth presenting the staff awards and then the Royal Welsh show was upon us, where a lovely afternoon was had presenting silver kites to worthy recipients from around the county and a gold kite to Carrie Jones, a very talented young lady who was playing football for Wales in the women's team. I spent a very interesting afternoon at Hope House learning about the care and support they provide families and entertained the year five and six children from Cross Gates primary school in the chamber who gave Councillor Jeff and I a real good brining, I must say. Several civic services were thrown in and a lovely evening at the Powerist Business Awards in New Town celebrating the successes of businesses in Powerist was enjoyed, even if I almost needed a boat to get home due to the awful flooding. A real highlight was having the honour of presenting Brian Coggy Davis with his nuclear test service medal in Lambert Carinean, a medal he waited 70 years to receive. More recently I attended the decoration of the new High Sheriff Lady Catherine Silk, many of you will know, and then later the same day welcomed the Seven Valley Stages rally to the Metropole and Landrend at Wales where I carried out the ceremonial start. Now many of you may have just seen a photo or two floating round on social media of myself and meeting Shane Lynch of Boyzone fame, for those of you that don't know, Google him, as my children had no idea who he was, and just a week late, and just last week I attended the King's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, which was a wonderful afternooning glorious sunshine, and for those of you that don't know, last time I was chair I never got to go to the Queen's Garden Party, so it was a real treat for me to finally get there. All this was carried out whilst trying to do normal ward work, and a huge highlight for not only prestige, but also for Powerist, was Preston Norton becoming the first dark skies community in both England and Wales, and a little TV appearance was fitted in from myself. I've also had the privilege of offering the post of the Chief Executive Emma and all the new directors, and what a busy couple of days all those interviews were. It can sometimes be difficult juggling everything, but I can honestly say it's been a great year. What many of you probably don't realise behind the smile here is someone that is very hard on themselves, and I spent hours prepping for meetings. I now feel very well versed in Section 4 of the Constitution, and I've always tried to chair meetings fairly with no political favouritism, probably something that is far easier for a member that's an independent member of council. But my aspiration is always for us to be seen as a professional council who can debate, but also show one another respect. I've been really honoured to be chairman, not once, but twice, and to conclude you'll be pleased to know. I would like to thank Caroline Turner, Jack Straw, and Emma for their support. Clive and Debbie for their legal guidance, Karen for a fantastic organisation skills, Skeet Steve for all his knowledge and support, and for all the support staff that are both in the room and upstairs that have supported not just me, but us all throughout the whole year. And mostly, and thank you to you for putting up with me, for most of you, not once, but twice. I do just need to thank my family, without whom this wouldn't be possible. I have a husband at home that supports me immensely, and two wonderful children, the iron and men, are that oh gosh, she was off to another meeting, not another one. But seriously, we all give up a lot to, and there's a lot of commitment that goes into being a councillor, and not just chair, but to every council. So thank you to all our support systems we have in place. So without further ado, I will thank you and ask for nominations for the Chair of Council for 2024-25. Do you think about that then? What year we were in? Chair. Sorry, Councillor, I was looking for your hand on that, sorry. Apologies. And congratulations on your past here as well before I nominate you. You've done a terrific job of work for poets and poets' residents. But my nomination is Jonathan Wilkinson. Thank you, Councillor. Can I have a seconder? Just raise your hand in the room, be fine. Thank you, Councillor Loosey, thank Gareth, we've got several. But can I have, I don't think I have any other nominations members, so I just need to clarify that. So can I just have a show of hands, please, if we're all in agreement? Thank you very much. I do believe that is unanimous. Councillor JOHNSTON, would you like to come and take this chair? There we are. You're going to prize the chain off my neck. Look, there we go. There we are. Thank you. Congratulations, Councillor. Councillor JOHNSTON, please can you read out the nomination, the declaration, and then we'll sign. I, Jonathan Wilkinson, having been erected to the Office of Chair and Powers County Council declare that I take that office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfill the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability. Okay, and the past chairs badge is here, right? Yes, Councillor Bev, it's my pleasure, my first duty to hand over past chairs badge. We'll take it out of its plastic wrap room, see it in all its glory. Thank you very much. Sorry. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Before I say a few words, firstly, thank you all for putting your confidence in as your chair for the next 12 months. I'd firstly like to start by paying tribute to my predecessor, Councillor Bev, who's provided not just one but two years of stewardship of Powers County Council in a most accomplished way. So I think, you know, I think a round of applause, I think, would be appropriate. I think Councillor Bev is a very hard actor follow with her experience, but I will attempt to treat everybody fairly respectfully from whatever political group to ensure that we deliver the best for the residents of Paris. And that was why I joined Powers County Council some say two years ago, I think, now I cut my political teeth probably in the National Farmers Union. I went on to become chair twice of my local community council, developed an interest in politics through that. And we've encouraged very much by my predecessor, Councillor Eldridge Jones, to succeed her as County Councillor for my vid and what is now my vid and Flangano. And I'm very, very proud to do that. I know we're all here for the same reason, and the reason we're all here is to serve not only our communities, but to serve Paris to deliver the best possible services for them. I really take that very, very seriously, and I know that's why we're all here. And what I'll try to do is to ensure that we run this council as efficiently as possible to deliver exactly that. And so you can be assured that I will be putting every bit of effort into this role to achieve that goal. And I think that's probably enough for me, and we will move on to the rest of the agenda for the day. First, these declarations of interest. And now we, I think, I'm sorry, we do have to, sorry, we do have a small matter of the election of the Vice Chair, but sorry, yeah. I thought I was going to run this council single handedly, but I'm clearly not going to do that. So we have a nominations for the Vice Chairman, and that's Councillor Bill Powell. Do we have Chair, a nomination and another seconder, please. I nominate. Okay, thank you. And a seconder. Yep, over here. Ah, do we have any other nominations for position of Vice Chair? I don't believe we do. No. I think Councillor Powell, you are now duly elected. Chair, can I put just a shorthand, should I add a vote, please. I'm new to this. Do you know how much you have? Yeah, okay, that's unanimous. [inaudible] I, William Denson Powell, having been elected to the office of Vice Chair of Paris County Council, declare that I take that office upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfil the duties of it according to the best of my judgment and ability. [inaudible] Well, now move on to item 3, agenda, re-election of Assistant Vice Chair. Do we have any nominations for position of Assistant Vice Chair? No nominations, please. Yes, Councillor. Sorry Chair, I have actually put my hand up. I couldn't say that, I'm sorry. Well, it's on the screen. So, yeah, following meeting, the Ranisher members on Monday evening, we did have so many rounds of votes since after when that was voted as Assistant Vice Chair, I would like to propose the member of the heightened value, Councillor Geoff Morgan. Okay, thank you. So, we have a proposal for Councillor Geoff Morgan, do we have a seconder for that proposal? Yes, Councillor Andes. Councillor Andes. Councillor Andes, Williams. Could we have a shorthand space for if that's unanimous? Thank you very much. Councillor Geoff Morgan, can I welcome you to the top table? Councillor interjecting. I, Geoffrey Gwynne Moore, have you been elected to the Office of Assistant Vice Chair of Paris County Council, declare that I take that office upon myself and duly and faithfully fulfil. The duties are of it according to the best of my judgment and ability. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Thank you. Councillor interjecting. Right, we're now going to move on to item four in the agenda. Do you have any apologies? Chair, I've received apologies from Councillors, Josie Hewing, Les George, Simic Nicholas and Hugh Williams. Okay. Do you have any others? As we do, yes. Councillor Richard. I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear what Steve said, but in case you didn't say it, can I add Carol Robinson? Yes, Councillor. Peter Lewis, Les George. Any more? Decorations of interest, I believe from a monitoring officer, we all have to declare an interest in item seven, which is the member salaries, allowances and expenses. Chair, thank you, Chair. All members will have an interest in item seven, which is the member salary item, but under the code of conduct, you are able to discuss the matter and to participate and vote. But all members are required to fill the formal declaration, which will be sent round by Steve and for those who are at home, Steve will send the appropriate form to you. Thank you very much. Before you leave, members, please make sure that you sign that form. Thank you, Pride. We move on to item six on the agenda. This is the allocations, elections and appointments required to be made at the annual meeting of the Council, firstly to receive and consider the report of the Head of Legal Services and monitoring officer, Mr. Pride Penny. Thank you, Chair. Good morning, members. I'll take you to page seven of the agenda this morning. The first item for decision is to review and determine the allocation of seats on the Council's committees for the different political groups in accordance with regulations. Members will see that this is page 21 of the pack in Appendix 3. This is the basis upon which all members have already, all groups have already nominated. So, formally, I ask that this item will be proposed at a second for this item, please. And then a vote shall be by a show of hands, Chair. So, proposed over. Yeah. So, Councillor Gallard, Councillor JOHN SRI. Nominated, Chair. I seconded that. Councillor Piedt. Sure, please. Can we have a show of hands, please? I think that's unanimous. Chair, move on to paragraph 5.6 which is to make appointments to committees in accordance with wishes of political groups. Chair, members will see that this is set out in Appendix 5, which is in the supplementary bundle. Chair, for the benefit of those who are at home, I'll read out who the appointments are. Yes, please do. Thank you, Chair. So, our appointment... Sorry, we have... Chair, I was hoping to speak on the previous item, but I wasn't able to put my hand up, so if we could return to the previous item, I've got some comments to make on the report following the vote. Yes, I think, yeah. Chair, I'm not sure, comments, Councillor, were the wishes to make. Just in relation to the report, it was proposed and seconded, so I thought it was entitled to make a comment on it then. Yes, absolutely. It was just some observations with the conservative report, would like to make. Members, we're not against the proposals in any way, shape or form, but some of our members had comments from the public in relation. Wrong report? Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, Councillor, Jonathan, I'm jumping the gun. Okay. Okay. Well, we'll move on to... I'm sorry, yeah. Thank you, Chair. Go back to, I think, a 5.6 of the report, and this is, as I said, to make appointments, committees in accordance with the political groups' wishes, and these, as I said, are set out at Appendix 5. So, Chair, the appointment of Councillors to the Learning and Skills Committee, Scutiny Committee, are as follows. Councillors, Garthie, John, Squidward Thomas, Lucy Roberts, Alec Davis, Carol Robinson, Angela Davies, Chloe Maesfield, Jeff Morgan, David Barret. It's sumic with us, Anne Brind Davis. Chair, members of the Health and Care Scutiny Committee are Councillors, Kelty Jones, Andrew Williams, Amanda Jenner, Benjamin Breeze, Carl Robinson, Josie Ewing, Dan Preston, Little Big House, Liz Weinberg, Chris Walsh. Chair, members, nominations for the Economy, Residents, and Communities Scutiny Committee are as follows. Councillors, Britt Davis, Peter James. Sorry, Brian Davis. Sorry, Brian Davis. Peter James, Adrian Jones, Carl Lewis, Angela Davies, Karina Kenyon Wade, Chloe Maesfield, Rafe Delvin, Liz Weinberg, and Gary Mitchell. Chair, members of the Public Services Board Excutiny Committee are as follows. Councillors and Williams, Beverly Bynum, Adrian Jones, Lynn Preston, Karina Kenyon Wade, Sumit Nicholas. Chair, members of the Governance and Order Committee is as follows. Councillors, Beverly Bynum, Britt Great Breeze, Pete Livingston, William Powell, Garth Rocktriff, Chris Walsh. Membership of the Democratic Services Committee consists of County Councillors, Graham Breeze, Garth E. Jones, Ian Haronson, Peter Whitlington, Danny Beb, Player Hall, Glenn Preston, Little Big House, David Morendith, Sarah Williams, and Elvin Warren. Membership of the Planning Taxi Licensing and Rights Awake Committee are Councillors, Garth D. Jones, Garth E. Jones, Deb Edwards, Peter James, Ed Jones, Jonathan Wilkinson, Carl Lewis, Gareth Pugh, Adrian Jones, Angela Davies, Karina Kenyon Wade, Clare Hall, Edwin Roderick, Jeff Morgan, Tom Carber, Hugh Williams, and Elvin Warren. The Licensing Act 2003 Committee consists of County Councillors, Deb Jones, Ed Jones, Jonathan Wilkinson, Adrian Jones, Josie Ewing, William Lloyd, Player Hall, Hugh Williams, David Morendith, and Bryn Davies. Membership of the Employment and Appeals Committee are Councillors Ange Williams, Mike Williams, Lucy Roberts, Ian Roberts, Ian Haronson, William Lloyd, Carol Robinson, Gareth Morgan, Beverly Bynum, David Morendith, Susan McNicholus, and Gary Bichel. Almost there, Chair. Membership of the Pensions and Investment Committee are Councillors Arwell Jones, Peter Lewis, Adam Kennedy, Karina Kenyon Wade, and Hugh Williams. Chair, Membership of the Standards Committee is Councillor Beverly Bynum, Ian McIntosh, William Powell, Liz Weinberg. Membership of the Finance Panel are County Councillors Arwell Jones, Jeremy Pugh, Ali Davies, Pete Lewington, Karina Kenyon Wade, Danny Beb, Gareth Radcliffe, Chris Walsh, and Elvin Warren. Chair, I think this is the last one, Membership of on the Bandai Brek Hanging, the National Park Authority of County Councillors, Edward Rodrick, Ed Jones, Peter James, William Powell, Gareth Radcliffe, and Hugh Williams. Chair, as for a proposal and a seconder for those members, please. Okay, proposal. Can we have a shoulder hands, please? So before you vote, I just have a couple of corrections from Libden, a couple of changes. First of all, on employment, my mistake entirely, can we remove Josie Ewing and add on Gareth Morgan? I've already done that. You've already done that. Okay, and licensing to add to Councillor Councillor Beverly Bynum to the way you can see that exists there. Oh, he's done that. We'll hand it that. Yeah, we'll do that. Thank you. Okay, Councillor Berry Bynum has been added to that. Questions in that? Committee? Best. Okay, yes, Councillor Lussey. Sorry, I don't know if it's appropriate to make a comment at this time, but I just wanted to ask or draw attention to the fact that it's so important that members of these committees do actually attend the meetings and the subcommittees, because there are times when we've really struggled, particularly on the employment committee when it comes to interviewing, those interviews happen during the day. They can't happen at other times. And we need to have enough members who are able to attend those meetings during the day, and I'm sure it's the same for other committees. So while it's really important to have a spread of people from different backgrounds, it is really important that members who put their names forward for these committees can actually attend committees and subcommittees. Yeah, thank you, Councillor Lussey. That's a point well-made and applies to every committee to get the best of those committees. Thank you, Lussey. Okay, Chair for Chauvin. Okay, members can last for a Chauvin's. Thank you, members. I think that's pretty well unanimous. Okay, now we move on to, Chair, then we move on to a part of six of the report, which is the appointment of chairs or security committees nominated by the three groups who are entitled to two chairs, and the nominations for the Economic Resident, the Chair of the Economy, Residents and Community Security Committee is Councillor Angela Davies. The Chair of the Health and Care Security Committee is Councillor Amanda Janner. The Chair of the Learning and Skills Security Committee is Councillor Gwen, but Thomas Chair, I'd ask for a proposal and a seconder, and then a vote. Yes, Councillor Lussey, let's propose, and a seconder. Councillor Gwen, can we have a short hands, please? I think that's unanimous. Thank you, members. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, members. Moving on to the appointment of the Chair of the Democratic Services Committee. Chair, at this moment in time, we asked for a nomination, as we've had one nomination in respect to Councillor Greenbree's, can I ask if there are any other nominations, please? Yes, Councillor Green, okay, we have a nomination for Councillor Elwin. Yes. I have a nomination for Councillor Little. Do we have any other nominations? Chair, in respect of both those second nominations, can I have a second of each, please? Okay, so for Councillor Elwin, do I have a seconder for Councillor Elwin? I can't see how my screen, let's see how it's done there. We have a seconder, Councillor Gary Mitchell, and for the... Councillor Little. Do we have a seconder for Councillor Little? Yes. Chair, Councillor Lussey's got it. Sorry. Yes, we have a proposal and a seconder for Councillor Little. Councillor Bethel. Can I seconder, Councillor Graham, please, please? Okay, Councillor Babbles, seconder, seconder, seconder, seconder of the Graham. Okay. Chair, therefore, we need to move to an electronic vote. Members are reminded that they can only vote for one of the four nominations. The vote will be coming shortly up in your chat. Anybody having any problems seeing the vote in the chat, please, put your hands up and let me know. So likewise, anybody sat at home? Is that coming up? It's there, Chair. Okay, should be there now and can you please vote in the normal way? Well, I'm not able to do it on here, so... No, it's a restart term. Yeah, for just a moment, monitoring officer's laptop is just restarting. How convenient. Party it so far. Anybody not being able to vote? Okay, we've got several. It comes with Gareth, some Jeremy. Yeah, I'll just give another few minutes, another few seconds. Are we still? Okay, please. As of Jeremy, have you been able to vote? Okay, I think at this point, I'll close the electronic vote and any remaining votes will take over. Okay, some tables now. Tweeter ones in the chamber first, Chair, and then we'll have to come and deal with those at home. Okay, so, roll one first. So, I think, yeah, Councilor Jeremy, would you like to? Greenberries. Sorry, who's that, sorry? Yeah, Councilor Jeremy. Yeah, yeah, Councilor Little. Anybody else who have been able to vote? Yeah, damn. Councilor Little. Councilor Little. Councilor Gareth, Councilor Little. Uh, yes. Steve, I don't have those ones clean the vote, but my laptop's still not-- Yeah, my mother is mine, so. Okay, Councilor Benjamin Breeze, can you indicate who you'd like to vote? Thank you, Chair, Graham Breeze, please. Okay, and there was somebody else. Councilor Sandler, can you indicate who you want to vote now, please? Councilor Little, please. Okay, yes, and yet, Councilor Breeze. Okay, and that should conclude the vote. Yes, do we, uh, the result, Steve? Chair, um, Councilor Graham Breeze, 27 votes, Councilor Ellen Vaughan, 4 votes, Councilor Little, break house, 25 votes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we do. I got, uh, was that a tie, Steve? No, not a tie, but, uh, we have Councilor Little. Councilor Little, yeah, Councilor Little, 25 votes, Councilor Breeze, 27 votes, Councilor Ellen Vaughan, 4 votes. Okay, so will I have a vote between Councilor Little? No, don't. And Councilor Breeze. It's off the boat. Yeah, okay, and that voting slip should appear in nearly, yeah, chat box now and the next. Your second. Of course, we don't know what this thing is going to be. I think we're going to use this line in this up. Okay, can you all see the, the voting slip in your chat? No. Okay. Okay. No. Hello, no. Okay. Yeah, if I can vote, uh, please, uh, Councilor Graham, please. Okay, no, we haven't started. Sorry, he's already voted. Okay. Yeah, we haven't started the second vote yet. It's closed. Can we, can we put the, yeah, can we open the ballot for the second vote? Yeah, that's all right. Do you know the same vote as me? You can't see it, can you? Chair, the thing that's been sent through is this line, this is the last line. Yeah, can you, can you tell me if it's come off? You're like, I can't see it. Yes, this is what I'm doing. Yes, yeah. So, it's coming up as close. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're just trying to get it back up. No, yeah. Yeah, we'll confirm, we'll confirm as soon as we're, um, we'll get that back on. Okay. Thanks for bearing with us. Go close. Right and on, go. Okay, we'll try again. Yeah. Thanks for bearing with us members. We will get there. So. We all know. Yeah. If anybody's having any problems voting, can they just raise their hand and let me know? Yep, so that's the Graham, that's the Jeremy, that's the Manda. I'll just give you a few more seconds to have a, have a go. Okay. Yeah, because the Manda, you've been able to vote. Because the Jeremy, you're still struggling. Yeah. And, kind of, Beth, you're done. Okay. I'm sure you're going to close the electoral vote. I will close the electoral vote now and take any remaining votes, only like before. Okay, so, cancel Jeremy. Great. Ben Breeze and Councillor Graham. Graham Breeze. Councillor Graham, I have to ask, I have to ask. Anybody else who's not been able to vote electronically? Three on the line, yeah. I haven't got my screen up, so. Councillor Ian Harrison. Councillor Ian Harrison. Councillor Ian Harrison. I vote for Councillor Graham Breeze. Councillor Benjamin Breeze. Councillor Graham Breeze. And Councillor Sandra Davis. Councillor LITTLE. Thank you, Councillor Sandra. And Councillor Graham Breeze, yeah. Okay, I think that includes the voting. Thank you, members. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. I missed one. Councillor interjecting. I only got five votes. Councillor interjecting. Chair, did you vote? Councillor interjecting. I have to vote in the A&U. Councillor interjecting. Oh, I don't know. I'm not going to have to get you. Sorry. Sorry. Okay. Sorry. Okay. Sorry. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Chair, thank you. We have the results. So Councillor Graham Breeze, 31 votes. Councillor Littleberg, how's 28 votes? Okay. So thank you. Thank you all members. And Councillor Graham Breeze. I think we now move on to item eight, politically balanced appointments on relevant outside bodies, starting with the Banner-Bircenjog National Park Authority. Is that correct? Correct, Chair. Chair, so the nominations for participation on the Banner-Bircenjog National Park Authority are Councillors William Power, Carlos Ratcliffe, Ed Jones, Edwin Mordrell, Peter James, and Hugh Williams. Can I have a proposal and a seconder, please? Yes. Councillor Graham, proposing. And do we have a seconder? Councillor Gailiss. Sure, a shot of hands, please. I think that's unanimous. Thank you, members. We now move on to item nine, the Non-Bircenjogly balanced appointments to outside bodies, starting with the World Local Government Association. Thank you, Chair. Members, we'll see from section nine of the report. That the Council is entitled to nominate three members to the WLGA Council. Chair, to date, we've had four nominations for those three places, and those nominations are Councillors. Matthew Dorins, Councillor James Gibson, Ward, Councillor Jackie Charlton, and Councillor Bevery-Bynum. Chair, I'd ask for a seconder for each of those nominations. And they'll have to vote, please, Chair. Yes, thanks, Chair. Could I also nominate Councillor Anna Davis? I just have her to Davis. We have a seconder. I'll be the seconder. Councillor Grembe. Other nomination, Councillor Ange? Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Yeah. A seconder for Councillor Mathieu-Dorlands. Councillor Kibso. James Kibso, what? And Chuck and Charles, please. Yeah. Councillor David. No, for Mathieu, yes. Seconder, please. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Can I second, please, Chair? Yes. Who is seconding, please? Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Okay, yeah. So we've got slightly out of staff here, but yeah, yeah, okay. So, Councillor Peter. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor interjecting. Councillor be seconding. Councillor Jackie. Thank you. We do have proposals and seconders for everyone. We do have them. Okay. Right, we will now move on to- Chair, sir. So, we have one more, then we have places for it, that's right. Yeah. No, we have two. Two more. Yeah. Chair, we have- Chair, we have five nominations with three seats. So, please, members, vote for their top three, please. Is that set about that cut? Okay. You should see the- Yeah, so members should be voting for three. Yes, Councillor Garness. Yeah, can I just check what if you don't want to vote for three? Can you just check for one or two? You don't need to? Up to three. Up to three. Up to three. Yeah. There's no order preference. No, no, no, no. Is the order of preference you're simply voting for who you prefer candidates are? And that should be- Is it up now? Not yet, Chair. Okay. Okay, it's there, you should be able to vote. Now, as before, members, if you just let me know if you're not able to vote electronically, and I'll take a verbal vote. It won't be that you vote- Yeah, it's saying that you're voting for two. Yeah, it's just voting. I mean, it's making a vote for two. Yes, Councillor Bet. Sorry, apologies. If you only want to vote for one or two members, it won't allow you on the form. It says, please select three options when you press submit. Okay, thank you. Do you think we can do about that? Do you think we can do about that? Chair, the team are trying to resolve that issue. Thank you. Thank you. But Chair is looking at that. But hang on a minute then. Thank you. Chair, thank you. It's too late to have already voted. It's fine. You're the toolkit, is it? Chair, you won't be able to vote twice. Thank you, Jeremy. Can I just have the list of the five again? I couldn't quite catch all the five. Yeah, sure, yeah. I can't see if you would speak the nominations again, please. The nominations are Councillor Matthew Dorins. Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Councillor Chucky Charten, Councillor Bury by now, and Councillor Allie Davis. Members, everybody clear where their voting options are for? Not yet, but you should have them any minute. If we can discount that first vote, we'll put a new vote in the chat. Okay, I'm going to start it first, please. Councillor Gather, I know you've voted before, so you will be able to vote again in a new vote. So we're going to discount the first vote. Sorry, members, for, I think it was a situation, perhaps we're enforcing, isn't it? Okay. Yeah, everybody vote again, please. Vote again, yep. Members, you should be able to vote now. (chatter) (chatter) (chatter) (chatter) (chatter) (chatter) (chatter) Members, has anybody not been able to vote electronically? Again, Councillor Jeremy. My screen's gone blank again. Councillors, Sandra, can I take your vote, please? Vote, I should say. Councillor Sandra, can I take your vote orally? Yes, please. It's Councillor Matthew, Councillor James, Councillor Jackie. Councillor Matthew, Councillor James. And Councillor Benjamin, can I take your vote as well, please, orally? Yep, it's Councillor Allie and Councillor Bev. Okay, and Councillor Ian Harrison. Can I take your vote? Thank you, it's Councillor Allie and Councillor Bev. Anything else? Councillor Jeremy. Jeremy, could you just press your? Yeah, sorry, so James, Jackie and Matthew. Okay, is there anybody else here who hasn't been able to vote? I think we've got everybody now. Okay, I'll close the vote. Thank you, members. Just wait a minute. Councillor. Councillor. Councillor. Councillor. Councillor. Councillor. Thank you, members, we now have a result. Thank you, members. There were 34 votes for Councillor Dorans. There were 35 votes, so Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Councillor Jackie Charlton had to see 24. Henry Bynum, 26. Allie Davis, 21. So the three on the WLGA Councillor, our Councillors, James Gibson-Watt, Matthew Dorans and Bevley Bynum. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Councillor. Thank you, members. We now move on to item 9.7. Council required to point one of its representatives to the WLGA Executive Board. This will require a proposal in the seconder. Chair, it indicates the convention within the county council is that the leader has pointed to the board on the WLGA and I ask for a proposal in the seconder. The proposal, please, that the leader represents. Yes, we do with Councillor RICHES. A proposal in the seconder. Yeah, Councillor CASSIDY. Yeah, I've got another here. Just a little check. And a show of hands, please. Thank you, members. That's you, unanimous. We now move on to item 10. Appointments to outside bodies, other outside bodies and council working groups. Chair, members, I'll see you so I can turn on the agenda. Sorry, Councillor CASSIDY. Sorry, Councillor CASSIDY. Just point one of my own amusement management. Sorry, just appointed clarity for my own amusement. Previously, when we've had five, the bottom one dropped out and then you've done another round. Is this a correct process? Because obviously, the transferable votes. It is a correct process. Thank you, Councillor CASSIDY. Okay, thank you. Just for my own amusement, thank you. Yes, thanks, Councillor CASSIDY. Sorry, if I come back to item 10 on the agenda, Chair, members are required to appoint one member from the Brecklandshire area to the Sacramento group. We don't have any nominations, Chair, so I'm asking for a nomination and a proposal, a proposal and a second from the floor. Yeah, sorry, Councillor CASSIDY. Before, because I wasn't aware quite what that group was. For those members and new members who aren't aware, do you just explain what the Sacramento group is? Councillor interjecting. I'm not sure what it is, I must be honest. Yeah, it relates to religious education. It relates to, yeah, just some members are clear. It relates to religious education in school, so the body oversees that. And thank you very much, Councillor Williams. Yes, Councillor Williams. Yeah. So Chair, a nomination and a second. Councillors interjecting. Yeah, could I nominate a proposed Councillor Peter James? Councillor Peter James. Councillor Peter James is a nomination. We have a seconder for that nomination. As we do, Councillor Edwin. We have a short hands. Thank you members, I think that's even unanimous. Councillors interjecting. Yeah, thank you members. We move on to item 10.3. Council required to appoint representatives to the outside bodies and working groupset. Chair, that's all we just as we're done. That concludes that. We now move on to item seven, member salaries, allowances and expenses. Chair, can I just remind members that all members will have an interest in this matter. But the code of conduct gives you an exemption and allows to indicate you don't have a prejudicial interest. All members are required to sign the declaration of interest. Members in the Chamber will receive a form round from Steve. Can you please all complete that form for those members at home? Steve will send you the appropriate form to sign. So for those members in the Chamber, please sign before you leave the Chamber this morning. I'd now like to ask Jane if I believe is going to give us a report. Thank you, Jane. Thank you very much, Chair. So the purpose of the report today is to receive the recommendations of the independent remuneration panel for Wales, known as the IRPW, in respect of the amount to be paid as basic salary, senior salary and civic salaries, to approve the number of senior salary positions which are remunerated, and to approve the publication of the member schedule of remuneration for 24/25. The schedule must be produced no later than four weeks following this annual meeting of the Council. The IRPW regulations also requires that as soon as practicable after determining its schedule for the year, and in any event no later than the 30th of July, the Council must make arrangements for the schedule's publication. The IRPW produced its annual report for 24/25 in February of this year, and this prescribes the actual level of payments to members. The link to the IRPW report can be found within the report before you today, however, there are no significant changes to previous years other than the increase to the salaries. The IRPW panel has this year awarded an uplift of 1,066 pounds, 6.06 percent to basic salary per annum, taking it from 17,600 per annum to 18,666. As outlined in the schedule, senior and civic salaries which are inclusive of the basic salaries have also increased. The IRPW stipulate that the increases must be applied from the 1st of April 2024, unless any individual member opts personally and in writing to the Chief Financial Officer, which of course is myself as the Director of Corporate Services, to actually receive a lower amount. Accordingly, there is no specific decision for Council required at this time in respect to the value of the salary payments. With rates having been updated automatically from April 2024 pay. The IRPW report states that powers may pay a senior salary to a maximum of 18 Councillors in the prescribed responsibility vans. The Council has a total discretion as to how many senior salaries it allocates, but it must not allocate more than 18 in total. And if it allocates a senior salary, it must be paid at the specific rates. The Council has previously decided that a maximum of 17 senior salary payments should be allocated. The Council is therefore required to approve the allocation of up to 17 senior salaries as set out in the schedule of remuneration. Due to the automatic basic salary increase, there is no specific decision of Council required at this time in respect of civic salaries. And there is no specific decision of Council required at this time in respect of co-opted member payments. However, it is worth noting that the IRPW report now proposes there should be flexibility to apply an hourly payment in addition to the half and full day fees, where it is sensible to aggregate a number of short meetings. Details of what members are entitled to claim for the trouble and expenses and the online method of claiming are prescribed in sections 11 to 15 of the schedule of remuneration or summarized in section 9 and 10 of the covering report. It is imperative that members obtain and retain the 80 receipts for all claims submitted. Members are entitled under the provisions of the family absence for members of local authorities Wales Regulations 2013 to a period of family absence during which if they satisfy the prescribed conditions they are entitled to be absent from authority meetings. Further details are available in section 9 of the schedule as well as in section 5 of the covering report. It must be brought to the attention of members that a contribution to costs of care and personal assistance or CCCPA is available. The full details can be found in section 8 of the schedule of remuneration and in summary members are able to claim this allowance for actual and receded costs for formal registered with the caring spectra at Wales care costs to be paid as evidenced and informal for those that are unregistered care costs to be paid up to a maximum rate equivalent to the real UK living wage as defined by the living wage foundation at the time the costs are incurred. Costs cannot be paid to someone who is part of the members household. There is no specific decision of council required at this time in respect of this allowance however the council should promote a positive culture through raising awareness and ensuring that all members understand the reason for the CCCPA supporting and encouraging others to claim where needed. Members are reminded that they are entitled to elect to join the local government pension scheme and within the IRPW's annual report it stipulates that the increase to member salary must be applied by the council and I can confirm that an appropriate level of budget has been included in the council's budget as approved for 2024 to meet these costs. Council is therefore required today to make decisions in connection with the salaries, allowances and fees that are payable to members and co-opted members of the council in accordance with statute and the regulations and annual report of the independent remuneration panel for Wales. As set out in the recommendations members are asked to consider for approval for the existing allocation of up to 17 senior salaries as detailed in section 4 of the report and subject to any amendments during or following this meeting to approve the publication of the member's schedule of remuneration based on this report. Thank you Chair. Thank you very much Jane. So as you can see from your report back's recommendation is that members won approve the recommendation for the allocation of up to 17 as amended senior salaries as detailed in section 4 of this report to subject to any amendments during or following this meeting to approve the publication of the member's schedule of remuneration based on this report and the reason for the recommendations to take decisions relating to member salaries, allowances and expenses in accordance with statute and the annual report and regulations of the IP, IRP, W. Yeah, we'll start I think also the Gwynburn Cancer Gwynburn Thomas who I think you spoke a little bit earlier just. I did. Obviously my mind was elsewhere but this is the appropriate time to speak about this. Members it's always difficult to speak in relation to this and I'm certainly not speaking in any way to influence us proposing and second in accepting this proposal but the discussions within the conservative group because the matter is rightly reported in the press has caused a little bit of uncomfortable situations for some of us. We're public-fronted and when we see an annual rise, members of the public obviously raised that issue with us. It certainly happened with myself and when I spoke to that member of the public that member of public said I understand better what you do as a local member now and I do think maybe you do provide value for money. That's my point. I'm not sure that when we report this that our statutory report reflects what work we do as local members and I would like to suggest that the Democratic Services Committee does a piece of work on this to help demonstrate in our statute report and I don't think meeting attendances actually reflects. It could be a situation where a member attends six full council meetings and that has a hundred percent attendance and we feel that that is incorrect reporting because many of us perhaps have endless amount of meetings and they're not reported and they're not recorded in our attendance. Our part attendance at meetings isn't recorded in that and I'm not suggesting that members do part attend but it's not a true reflection of what actually happens in this council. Some members perhaps don't pay such an active part in the governance of this authority which is absolutely fine. I'm not criticizing that at all maybe very active ward councillors. They have the opportunity in their annual report to demonstrate that and but I don't feel that we have that accountability, that value for money, that some councillors represent and I think it would be acceptable for the Democratic Services to do a piece of work, have a look at this and perhaps iron out a few things which is a concern of the Conservative group. I hope I've worried that rightly, it certainly not meant as a criticism to any councillor but I don't think the public realise what some councillors actively do during the year and I'll admit the point well. Yeah thanks councillor Grimm but I think we all understood where you were coming from with that. Councillor Gareth E. Jones. Thank you chair. Just to one question for Jane, she mentioned around the care costs only the care standards in Wales. What about if somebody is placing their young child in a formal setting in England? Is that suitable for that payment and the other aspect is on section 6.1 report, I believe there's an error where it says that the additional payment should be in addition to the basic salary of 17,600, surely that should now be 18,666. Okay so I think that's councillor Gareth, can I hand over to Jane for a response? You can, with regard to the correction, yes you're absolutely right, it should refer to the increased salary rates. We will note that and make sure the adjustment. With regard to the care costs and the requirements we registered in Wales, that is a requirement within the regulations that we've got. However I know it is something that has come forward as a question previously so we will take it back to the IRPW and just check that out for you. Councillor Gaby, are you happy with that response? Yes. Okay thanks Jane, thank you very much. Do any other members wish to speak before we go to a vote on this? No? Sorry, got a bit missed out. Yes, Councillor whimby, you're looking back, sorry. Councillor, sorry to be persistent, I made the suggestion that the Democratic Services Committee did a piece of work surrounding this and I was wondering if fellow councillors thought that was an appropriate idea? Yeah, Councillor Graham. Yes, thank you Chair and thank you to Councillor whimper for raising that matter. It is a matter that I have in my mind anyway so I will give assurances that I will take that to the Democratic Services. Okay, we've got a bit of an echo here but I think we've got to adjust to what you were saying. Councillor Graham, thank you for that response. Okay, thank you. It seems to be a bit of a check on you, we seem to have a little bit of a bit of an echo here. We can't hear at all Chair, sorry. There's definitely something. I don't know what we're speaking, Chair. Okay. Councillor, I don't know. We just couldn't hear the last couple of conversations. It was really echoing coming over the system. Yeah, I'm sorry. I'll just summarise, I think if that's okay. Thank you. I'll summarise by saying that the question was posed by Councillor whimper whether the Democratic Services Committee could have a look at this. Councillor Graham responded by saying, yeah, he absolutely, absolutely would and I think that sort of concluded that debate. Is that clear now? Councillor. Yeah, thank you for clarification. Thank you. Yeah, no problem. If no of the members want to speak, I think we'll now ask for a proposal for this motion. A proposal, please. Yes, Councillor Edwin and do we have a seconder? Yes, Councillor Garret? Can we have a show of hands, please, members? Okay. I think that's, I'll take this. Chair, if it wasn't you, none of us, there may be some abstentions. Any abstentions? Do we have any abstentions? We have several, four, five, five, Councillor Garret Mitchell. Can I bring you in? You've got your hand up. Obstantial abstentions. Yep. And any against? Okay. Thank you, members. Yep. We've got that motion as carried. Thank you, members. And I think, members, that concludes the matters for the day. No, Councillor Anne, do you want to come in? Sorry. No, that's fine. It's just, I would like to think that everybody may go out and see the disabled hearing and sensory loss stall in the foyer, please, as disability champion, maybe for the last time. Can I implore you to go and have a word with them, see what they've got for members of your community. There's lots of different things that they can do to help from young people to elderly people. They're in the foyer. If anyone could, please go and speak to them. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Councillor Ang. And somebody who has suffered hearing loss, and I've spoken to Councillor Jackie before about this, my daughter, who's studying hearing loss as part of her medical qualification, how important it is to address hearing loss at an early stage. It can have a massive impact on particularly on the early onset dementia in later life. So I'd emphasize anybody who has any thoughts about the hearing or whether it's not quite as sharp as it used to be, to just get your hearing checked out is incredibly important. So, yeah. And with that, I think we'll conclude the next of the day. Thank you. And close the meeting. Thank you very much, Wendy.

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