Cabinet

None.

Members were presented with the Forward Work Programme for the Cabinet. RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Forward Work Programme be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Education sought approval to consult with the public (in accordance with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code, 2018), on a proposal for the re-location of the Foundation Phase Behaviour Resource provision from Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn, Llandudno to Canolfan Addysg Conwy Key Stage 2 Pupil Referral Unit provision at Y Ddraig Goch, Llandudno. As a result of the expansion of provision for learners with autism, Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn provided notice for the termination of the behaviour resource provision in April 2022. In order to ensure service continuity, the resource base for the 2022-2023 academic year had been temporarily accommodated at Y Ddraig Goch. The Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 6 October 2022 and supported the recommendations to Cabinet. Members supported the consultation and thanked both Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn and Y Ddraig Goch and officers for supporting the continuation of the provision. RESOLVED- That ‘Permission to Consult’ on the Re- location of the Foundation Phase Behaviour Resource provision be granted, in accordance with the School Organisation Code, and the Consultation Document and Response Form be approved for publication on the Council’s website.

The Leader presented the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory’s report in which she sought approval of the Draft Housing Support Programme Strategy, prior to a further period of consultation in autumn 2022. The Housing Support Grant (HSG) Programme was the policy and funding framework for delivering housing related support to vulnerable people in different types of accommodation and across all tenures. The Programme aimed to deliver high quality and strategically planned housing related support services that were cost effective, complemented existing services and provided service users with the best possible outcomes. The Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 27 September 2022 and supported the recommendations to Cabinet. In relation to the above, the Vice-Chair of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised that Members of the Committee were supportive of the report and looked forward to seeing the results of the consultation, which would be used to deliver housing priorities. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Homelessness was a serious concern for all Members and the report highlighted the challenges faced in the sector. · In response to concerns that Welsh Government (WG) policies were driving landlords away from the private rented sector, the Leader advised that as Conwy was heavily dependent on the private rented sector, he had raised concerns with the Welsh Local Government Association and the WG. · It was understood that the delivery of social housing needed to be accelerated. · It was noted that some individuals also required specialist support in order to secure their housing needs. · There was a misconception of homelessness, with many households now finding themselves in a position of being homeless, as a result of the lack of provision in the private rented sector. · A Local Electoral Ward Member for Pen-sarn Pentre Mawr (Councillor Paul Luckock) referred to the Human Rights Act and the need to support the most challenging of cases, with reference made to those in his Ward. In response, the Head of Law and Governance advised Councillor Luckock that he had a prejudicial interest and should not refer to individual cases. RESOLVED- (a) That the Draft Housing Support Programme Strategy be approved for consultation with relevant partners. (b) That delegated authority be given to the Head of Regulatory and Housing Services, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory, to review responses to the consultation of the Draft Housing Support Programme Strategy to determine whether they require further scrutiny or can be referred direct to Cabinet for approval.

The Cabinet Member for Democracy and Governance presented the Annual Report and provided a summary of the progress Conwy County Borough Council had made in 2021/2022 to deliver the Corporate Wellbeing Objectives set out in the Corporate Plan 2017 - 2022. The report represented the fifth and final Annual Report for the current Corporate Plan 2017-2022. The Cabinet Member provided a detailed account of the positive successes made by the Council over the past five years, with staff and Members delivering objectives despite working through the most challenging circumstances, including Covid and financial constraints. Accompanying the Annual Report was the Annual Self-Assessment for 2021/2022, as required by the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. The self-assessment was an extension of the performance review of the Corporate Wellbeing Objectives, evaluating performance against 3 statutory questions outlined in the Act, relating to the effectiveness and efficiency of how the Council exercised its functions and used its resources. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 3 October 2022 and supported the recommendations to Cabinet. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Officers were commended for their continuing commitment to the Council and to improving the lives of residents. · It was a positive report and thanks were extended to the previous administration. · Reference was made to excellent service provided through Ffit Conwy and it was noted that membership had surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The Leader welcomed the report, which not only highlighted the excellent achievements of the Council, but outlined the improvements that were required moving forwards. RESOLVED- That the good progress made in delivering the Corporate Plan 2017-2022 Wellbeing Objectives be acknowledged and the self-assessment for 2021-2022 accurately answers the 3 statutory questions.

The Leader presented the draft Corporate Plan 2022-2027, which had been developed following analysis of the draft Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board Assessment of Wellbeing and analysis of community engagement feedback. It had also been through formal public consultation that ended in July 2022, which included two sessions with newly elected Members in June 2022. The previous Corporate Plan (2017-22) ended in March 2022. In compliance with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the Corporate Plan 2022-2027 set out the Council’s ambitions to make a difference for the People of Conwy over the next five years, in order to meet the Council’s long term citizen outcomes. The Well-being priorities were the areas the Council wanted to focus special attention on, in order to support the achievement of the citizen outcomes people want for the County. There were other plans, which go into more detail about the specific tasks the Council will do, and the priorities were supported by service plans, which set out the ‘business as usual’ work, which the Authority would continue to deliver. The basis of the five year Corporate Plan focussed on the goal to reduce carbon emissions, adapt to and support the mitigation of climate change, and to manage the way out of the Covid 19 pandemic in a sustainable way.. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 3 October 2022 and supported the recommendation to Cabinet, with an additional request that Action 6.6 (Supporting the mental well-being of unpaid carers so that they are able to carry out their important role, and can access help in times of crisis and avoid breakdowns in care) being amended to read ‘Supporting the mental well-being of unpaid carers so that they are able to carry out their important role, and can access help in times of crisis and avoid breakdowns in care, also providing practical help, support and respite care to unpaid carers’. The Leader recognised the importance of unpaid carers and therefore supported the above amendment to the recommendation. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Together with the Council’s partners, it was hoped that the Corporate Plan would be delivered. However, the Plan was not static and would be reviewed in line with the challenges facing the Council. · It was acknowledged that, as a result of the current financial climate, there needed to be an honest dialogue with the public on the impact of financial constraints on service delivery. · Communities could be key in delivering the Plan’s objectives, which could be achieved through building on the collective culture established during Covid. · The Census 2021 data would provide the information on the impact of Covid on communities, which could inform the Corporate Plan. RESOLVED- That the Council be requested to approve the Corporate Plan for 2022/2027, subject to Action 6.6 (Supporting the mental well-being of unpaid carers so that they are able to carry out their important role, and can access help in times of crisis and avoid breakdowns in care) being amended to read ‘Supporting the mental well-being of unpaid carers so that they are able to carry out their important role, and can access help in times of crisis and avoid breakdowns in care, also providing practical help, support and respite care to unpaid carers’.

RESOLVED- That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.