Flintshire County Council

This meeting of Flintshire County Council was due to consider reports on its constitution, committee chair terms, political balance, the 2025/26 treasury and performance reports, a Welsh name for Northop Hall, the Flintshire Standard, three notices of motion and member questions. No minute of the meeting has been published, so no decisions are recorded here; the reports set out what the Council could decide.

1. Member Questions rules in the Constitution (deferred item)

   Proposed

   The report asks Council to decide whether to adopt the Constitution and Democratic Services Committee's recommendation on Member Questions. The recommendation would apply rules like those for public questions, such as barring questions about individual planning applications or party political matters. The report also sets out an alternative proposal and a process that limits the number of questions per group. Council may adopt any of these or do something else.

   Why

   The Committee reviewed the rules after Members gave feedback. Group Leaders could not agree on Recommendation 15 in July, so Council deferred it. They argued the bars on questions about complaints, planning and grants, named councillors and party political matters were too broad.

   Based on the minutes, Review and update of the Council’s Constitution

2. Ending a committee chair's term early

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council adopts changes to Section 6 of the Constitution, as set out in Appendix 1. Section 6 covers the role of the chair. The changes would set out how a committee chair's term can end before the end of their term, such as by resignation, disqualification or a successful motion to remove them. The recommendation refers to Appendix 1, but the report also mentions an updated version at Appendix 2.

   Why

   The report says there is no documented rule now for a chair's term to end early. Council deferred the proposal in July because it was new. Officers then produced an updated draft, which the report says better explains what should happen and covers different scenarios.

   Based on the minutes, Term of Office for Committee Chairs, Enc. 1, Enc. 2, Enc. 3

3. Review of committee seats after a councillor left a group

   Proposed

   The report recommends that committee seats are allocated in line with political balance, as shown in Appendix A. It also asks that any changes to nominees are sent to the Democratic Services Manager as soon as possible. The Council must recalculate political balance after a change in political groups.

   Why

   A councillor has left a group, and the group leader asked for the seat allocation to be revised. The law requires seats on committees to reflect each group's share of the full Council, so far as is practicable. The report says Appendix 1 is one lawful allocation, and others may exist. The Cabinet and Standards Committee are not covered by these rules.

   Based on the minutes, Review of Political Balance, Enc. 1

4. Treasury management annual report for 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council approves the annual treasury management report for 2025/26. Treasury management means how the Council manages its cash, borrowing and investments.

   Why

   The report says the Council borrowed £25m from the Public Works Loan Board during the year, and did not reschedule any debt because early repayment costs were too high. It says the treasury function stayed within the limits set in the 2025/26 strategy. The Governance and Audit Committee and Cabinet reviewed the report, and the report says no significant issues were raised.

   Based on the minutes, Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26., Enc. 1

5. Council Plan end-of-year performance for 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council approves the Council Plan end-of-year performance report for 2025/26. The report rates most objectives green or amber. One objective, on keeping people in their homes and making homelessness rare, is red, meaning it is off track.

   Why

   Under the new approach, the report gives an overview for each objective rather than each measure. It says the red rating reflects action still needed on homelessness and housing support, while it highlights 117 social and affordable homes completed against a target of 10.

   Based on the minutes, Council Plan End of Year Performance Report 2025/26, Enc. 1

6. Welsh name for Northop Hall

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council adopts Pentre-moch as the Welsh form of Northop Hall. The Welsh Language Commissioner supports the name, and its Place-names Standardisation Panel has recommended it. Adopting it would also support the Council's Welsh Language Promotion Strategy.

   Why

   The Northop Hall Community Council asked for the change after consulting residents, under section 76 of the Local Government Act 1972, which lets a county council change a community's name when the community council asks. The Welsh Language Commissioner's panel says the name has been used since at least 1682 and is still used today. The report says new signs will show the Welsh name when they are next due for replacement, and there will be a small cost for an official notice.

   Based on the minutes, Place Names in Flintshire, Enc. 1

7. Changes to the Flintshire Standard on councillor behaviour

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council adopts the changes to the Flintshire Standard. The Flintshire Standard sets out the behaviour expected of councillors towards each other and officers. The changes come from a national checklist and from experience of how the local resolution process works in practice.

   Why

   The Standards Committee reviews codes each council term, and it looked at the Standard in 2025. The Committee recommended one change, a slight rewording about respect, but not deleting the rule that excludes officers from political remarks. The report says that rule protects officers, since an earlier comment could have appeared to accuse them of financial mismanagement.

   Based on the minutes, Review of the Flintshire Standard, Appendix 2 Clean copy of further amended Flintshire Standard, Appendix 1 Flintshire Standard with Tracked ChangesPDF

8. Notices of motion on transformation, bin collections and ALN funding

   Proposed

   Motions were submitted for the Council to consider. The first, from Councillor Sam Swash, asks for a full business case for the Strategic Transformation Programme to be published and scrutinised before it is finalised. The third, from Councillor Paul Johnson, calls on the Welsh Government to allocate SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) consequential funding to additional learning needs (ALN) support.

   Why

   The motions were submitted by councillors. The first argues that the programme's cost, savings and workforce effects should be set out in a published business case. The second follows months of missing bin and recycling collections at a new estate, and the third argues that schools and councils have absorbed ALN pressures without enough funding.

   Based on the minutes, Notice of Motion 1 - Strategic Transformation Programme, Notice of Motion 2 - Waste and Recyling Collection on New Housing Developments, Notice of Motion 3 - Additional Learning Needs Funding

9. Questions submitted by members

   Why

   Members submitted questions by the deadline under Standing Order 9.4(A), the Council's rules for meetings. They cover topics including missed recycling collections, the end of roll-call voting at the Planning Committee, a Gypsy and Traveller transit site in Flint, and a consultation on Catholic education proposals.

   Based on the minutes, Member Questions - FCC 22.09.2026

10. Question on roll-call voting at Planning Committee

    Why

    Councillor Sam Swash asked the Chair of the Planning Committee why the minutes of May make no reference to a decision to stop roll-call voting. He said the Deputy Leader had publicly said the Planning Committee made that decision. Roll-call voting means each member's vote is recorded by name.

    Based on the minutes, Question on Minutes - FCC 22.09.2026

Written by AI from the reports on the agenda, before the minutes are published. Reports say what council officers recommend; the meeting can decide differently. Once the minutes are out, this becomes a summary of what was decided.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

2. 3

   Minutes

   Papers: Minutes 24.02.26, Minutes 01.07.26
3. 4

   Urgent Matters as Agreed by the Chair

4. 5

   Chair's Communications

5. 6

   Petitions

6. 7

   Review and update of the Council’s Constitution

   Papers: Review and update of the Council’s Constitution
7. 8

   Term of Office for Committee Chairs

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Term of Office for Committee Chairs, Enc. 1, Enc. 2, Enc. 3
8. 9

   Review of Political Balance

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Review of Political Balance, Enc. 1
9. 10

   Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26., Enc. 1
10. 11

    Council Plan End of Year Performance Report 2025/26

    Part of an issue followed across 10 meetings

    Papers: Council Plan End of Year Performance Report 2025/26, Enc. 1
11. 12

    Place Names in Flintshire

    Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

    Papers: Place Names in Flintshire, Enc. 1
12. 13

    Review of the Flintshire Standard

    Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

    Papers: Review of the Flintshire Standard, Appendix 2 Clean copy of further amended Flintshire Standard, Appendix 1 Flintshire Standard with Tracked ChangesPDF
13. 14

    Notice of Motion

    Part of an issue followed across 12 meetings

    Papers: Notice of Motion 1 - Strategic Transformation Programme, Notice of Motion 2 - Waste and Recyling Collection on New Housing Developments, Notice of Motion 3 - Additional Learning Needs Funding
14. 15

    Questions

    Papers: Member Questions - FCC 22.09.2026
15. 16

    Questions from Members on Committee Minutes

    Papers: Question on Minutes - FCC 22.09.2026

16. Notices of Motion not selected for September 2026

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Notices of Motion not selected for September 2026

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.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• Mel Buckley, ChairLabourPresent
• Steve Copple, Vice-ChairIndependentPresent
• Adele Davies-Cooke, Committee MemberConservativePresent
• Alasdair Ibbotson, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Allan Marshall, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Andrew Parkhurst, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Andy Hughes, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Ant Turton, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Antony Wren, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Arnold Woolley Dip.IM, MCMI, Committee MemberTrue IndependentsPresent
• Bill Crease, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Billy Mullin, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Carol Ellis, Committee MemberTrue IndependentsPresent
• Carolyn Preece, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Chris Bithell, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Chris Dolphin, Committee MemberEaglePresent
• Chrissy Gee, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Christine Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Dale Selvester, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Dan Rose, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Dave Hughes, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Dave Mackie, Committee MemberTrue IndependentsPresent
• Dave Vernon, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• David Coggins Cogan, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• David Evans, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• David Healey, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• David Richardson, Committee MemberReform UKSent apologies
• Debbie Owen, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Dennis Hutchinson, Committee MemberTrue IndependentsPresent
• Faron Hadfield-Jones, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Fran Lister, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Geoff Collett, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gillian Brockley, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Gina Maddison, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Gladys Healey, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Glyn Banks, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Helen Brown, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Ian Hodge, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Ian Roberts, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Jason Shallcross, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Kevin Rush, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Kristian Salkeld, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Linda Thew, Committee MemberTrue IndependentsPresent
• Linda Thomas, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Mared Eastwood, Committee MemberEaglePresent
• Marion Bateman, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Michelle Perfect, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Mike Peers, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Pam Banks, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Paul Cunningham, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Paul Johnson, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Richard Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Richard Lloyd, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Robert Davies, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Ron Davies, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Rosetta Dolphin, Committee MemberEaglePresent
• Roy Wakelam, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Roz Mansell, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Ryan McKeown, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Sam Swash, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Sean Bibby, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Simon Jones, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Ted Palmer, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Tina Claydon, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Vicky Perfect, Committee MemberLabourPresent

Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.