Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED to: · note the monitoring position for 2021/22 and the forecast deficit; · consider the initial estimate for 2022/23, noting the increased base budget costs; · the Joint Authority contributions are uplifted as shown in Appendix I; and · consider the medium term financial forecast.
AGREED to note the report.
AGREED the Agreement after feeding back their comment.
AGREED to appoint Jonathan Persons, Church and Building Officer, Diocese of Monmouth as a co-opted member of the Committee.
AGREED the revised Disability Access Policy.
1.1 The Joint Committee AGREED that Councillor David Davies would chair the meeting in place of Councillor Woodhouse. 1.2 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sheila Woodhouse, Monmouthshire County Council, Jonathan Millard, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Stephen Duffin, Coleg Gwent.
2.1 No declarations of interest were made.
3.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2021 were agreed as a true and accurate record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to: · note the monitoring position for 2021/22 and the forecast deficit; · consider the initial estimate for 2022/23, noting the increased base budget costs; · the Joint Authority contributions are uplifted as shown in Appendix I; and · consider the medium term financial forecast.
4.1 The LFO presented her report highlighting key points and following, there were no questions from the Joint Committee. 4.2 The Joint Committee AGREED to: · note the monitoring position for 2021/22 and the forecast deficit; · consider the initial estimate for 2022/23, noting the increased base budget costs; · the Joint Authority contributions are uplifted as shown in Appendix I; and · consider the medium term financial forecast.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the report.
5.1 The CA presented her report and highlighted key points. Following, the CA responded to the Joint Committee’s questions as follows:- · Collections could be used to apply for grants in order to increase catalogue collecting output. Should any Collection enquiries come in then these were charged. · Researchers visiting one day a week was implemented at the beginning of restrictions in order to control high volumes of visitors and for everyone to have the chance to visit. This arrangement had become very flexible over time and so if students wanted to visit and there was space for them, then they could. Any messages around this on social media could be revisited. · In terms of treating documents, originally they had to be quarantined before and after use but this was no longer the case. Individuals were asked to order documents in advance, but this was flexible. People were also no longer restricted to six items. Processes were developing all the time as guidance changed. · The increase in use of Welsh language resources was an interesting trend. There were two Welsh speakers in the team and so they were able to respond to enquiries. They also had support from the local authorities’ Welsh language service too. In terms of funding in Welsh language provision, they were fine. 5.2 The Joint Committee AGREED to note the report.
Decision as recorded
AGREED the Agreement after feeding back their comment.
6.1 The CA reported that she had realised after the agenda had been dispatched that the appendix within the report was not showing tracked changes and so she apologised that this had to be sent out afterwards. 6.2 The CA responded to a question asked by the Joint Committee, reporting that the new curriculum offered exciting opportunities which were being explored by the Education Outreach Officer and the Archives and Records Council for Wales, together with representatives from Welsh Government, University Archives and others. Any resources that they were able to tap into that would enhance their educational offer would be explored. 6.3 The Joint Committee AGREED the Agreement after feeding back their comment.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to appoint Jonathan Persons, Church and Building Officer, Diocese of Monmouth as a co-opted member of the Committee.
7.1 The CA presented her report and clarified that Jonathan Persons was the Church and Building Officer for the Diocese of Monmouth, not Worcester, as outlined in her key messages. 7.2 The CA responded to a question asked by the Joint Committee by saying that appointments were built into the Agreement where they could be reviewed and discussed as and when there was a need. 7.3 The Chair asked that a letter be sent to Canon Arthur Edwards thanking him for his many years of service. 7.4 The Joint Committee AGREED to appoint Jonathan Persons, Church and Building Officer, Diocese of Monmouth as a co-opted member of the Committee.
Decision as recorded
AGREED the revised Disability Access Policy.
8.1 The CA presented her report her report and responded to a question by the Joint Committee by stating that parking at Gwent Archives could be difficult and that they had a role to play in ensuring that people with disabilities park as close to the building as possible. The rear entrance was available but it was away from Reception. There was a need to do what they could in order to point people to the right entrance but one of the positives was that the facility was all on one level. 8.2 The Joint Committee AGREED the revised Disability Access Policy.
9.1 The Joint Committee thanked Councillor Davies for chairing the meeting. 9.2 The Chair commended the work of Gwent Archives, having visited other services that were not near as friendly and as inviting. He believed that the service really set a standard that others should be looking to achieve, and that was testament to the staff. The Joint Committee joined the Chair in congratulating the staff.
10.1 The date of the next meeting was confirmed to take place on Friday, 11 March 2022. 10.2 The Chair wished everyone a Merry Christmas and peaceful New Year, and thanked them their commitment.
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.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.