Flintshire County Council

Flintshire County Council considered two formal motions put forward by councillors: one on the future of Aura's leisure and library services, and one on three-weekly bin collections. Members did not support either motion. The Aura motion followed a dispute over a grant funding agreement that the council had offered Aura, which Aura had not agreed.

1. Notice of Motion to save Aura's leisure and library services

   Decided

   The meeting did not support the Notice of Motion.

   Why

   Councillor Sam Swash, who proposed the motion, said the council had offered Aura a funding agreement on a 'take it or leave it' basis and had refused councillors sight of it. The officers' report said the agreement was a grant, not a contract extension, and that a signing deadline of 16 September had been set so the council could set up a local authority trading company (LATC, a council-owned company) if needed. The report said councillors need information on key strategic issues but are not entitled to see the drafting of legal documents, which is a matter for professional legal advice.

   Based on the minutes, NoM - Aura, Council Aura Report October 24

2. Notice of Motion on three-weekly bin collections

   Decided

   The meeting did not support the Notice of Motion.

   Why

   Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson, who proposed the motion, said the public is strongly against the change and that adequate consultation has not taken place. It also cites an Audit Wales report, from the body that audits public bodies in Wales, criticising the council for not taking residents' views into account adequately when setting policy, and asks the council to ask the new leader to reconsider and cancel the move to three-weekly collections.

   Based on the minutes, NoM - 3 weekly collections

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   (link to recording) Councillors Coggins Cogan and Parkhurst declared personal interests in agenda item number 3. A number of Members also declared personal interests in agenda item number 3 due to their family members using the services provided by Aura but were advised by the Chief Officer (Governance) that they were not required to. As a point of clarification, the Chief Officer (Governance) advised that Members who had been lobbied in relation to Aura were not required to declare an interest. A short adjournment was required to resolve technical issues.

2. 3

   Requisition Notice and Council Report Aura October 2024

   Decision as recorded

   RESOLVED: That the Notice of Motion is not supported.

   Minute

   (link to recording) Councillor Swash introduced the Requisition Notice (agenda item number 3) on ‘Save Aura’s Services’, which was seconded by Councillor Preece. A recorded vote was requested which was supported by the requisite number of Members. For the Notice of Motion: Councillors: Attridge, Bateman, Brockley, Coggins Cogan, Ellis, Gee, Andy Hughes, Ibbotson, Mansell, Parkhurst, Preece, Richardson, Rose, Selvester, Swash and Thew. Against the Notice of Motion: Allport, Glyn Banks, Bibby, Bithell, Brown, Buckley, Carberry, Claydon, Crease, Ron Davies, Chris Dolphin, Rosetta Dolphin, Eastwood, David Healey, Gladys Healey, Hodge, Dave Hughes, Hutchinson, Johnson, Christine Jones, Richard Jones, Simon Jones, Lister, Lloyd, Maddison, Marshall, McGuill, Mullin, Palmer, Peers, Michelle Perfect, Vicky Perfect, Rush, Shallcross, Thomas, Wakelam and Woolley. Abstain: Councillor Debbie Owen. RESOLVED: That the Notice of Motion is not supported.

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: NoM - Aura, Council Aura Report October 24
3. 4

   Notices of Motion

   Decision as recorded

   RESOLVED: That the Notice of Motion is not supported.

   Minute

   (link to recording) Councillor Ibbotson introduced the Notice of Motion (agenda item number 4) on three-weekly bin collections, which was seconded by Councillor Brockley. A recorded vote was requested which was supported by the requisite number of Members. For the Notice of Motion: Councillors: Allport, Attridge, Bateman, Brockley, Coggins Cogan, Ellis, Gee, Hutchinson, Ibbotson, Mansell, Marshall, Owen, Parkhurst, Peers, Preece, Richardson, Rose, Swash, Thew and Wakelam. Against the Notice of Motion: Glyn Banks, Bibby, Bithell, Brown, Buckley, Carberry, Claydon, Crease, Ron Davies, Chris Dolphin, Rosetta Dolphin, Eastwood, David Healey, Gladys Healey, Dave Hughes, Johnson, Christine Jones, Richard Jones, Simon Jones, Lister, Lloyd, Maddison, McGuill, Mullin, Palmer, Vicky Perfect, Rush, Shallcross, Thomas and Woolley. RESOLVED: That the Notice of Motion is not supported.

   Part of an issue followed across 13 meetings

   Papers: NoM - 3 weekly collections
4. 5

   Questions

   Minute

   (link to recording) Seventeen questions (agenda item number 5) were submitted by the deadline and read out by the Members who had submitted them. The Chair gave approval for questions 13, 14 and 16 to be brought forward. Questions 1 to 8, 13, 14 and 16, were asked and answered by the relevant Cabinet Member and subsequent questions to some were asked, to which either a verbal response was given or would be provided by way of a written response. Questions 9, 10, 11, 12, 15 and 17 were deferred to the next scheduled meeting of County Council.

   Papers: Questions

5. Members of the Press and Public in Attendance

   Minute

   There were 67 members of the public and press in attendance.

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

• Coggins Cogan: Personal interest on Requisition Notice and Council Report Aura October 2024

  Personal interest in the Aura item. The minute does not give details.

• Parkhurst: Personal interest on Requisition Notice and Council Report Aura October 2024

  Personal interest in the Aura item. The minute does not give details.

The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.

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