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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – That the work programme as attached at appendix 1 to the report COGC/12/23 be agreed subject to the aforementioned amendments.
AGREED – That a Task & Finish Group be established comprising of the following membership, to review the asset disposal policy in respect of the Agricultural Estate. Representatives of the Farming Unions to be involved in this work:- Councillor Graham Rogers Councillor Frank Hemmings Councillor Jerry Wellens Councillor Marc Jones Councillor Jeremy Newton
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors William Baldwin and Paul Rogers.
AGREED – To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2023.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare any interests in relation to any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declaration was made: Agenda Item 4a and 6 – Council Owned Farms and Land Councillor Robert Ian Williams - Personal and non-prejudicial – as a ward Member for farms mentioned in report; individual mentioned in report known to him. The Councillor remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That the work programme as attached at appendix 1 to the report COGC/12/23 be agreed subject to the aforementioned amendments.
The Chief Officer Governance and Customer submitted a report COGC/12/23 allowing Members to consider the work programme of the Customers, Performance, Resources & Governance Scrutiny Committee attached at Appendix 1. The scrutiny facilitator introduced her report and referred to the following proposed changes: · ‘Workforce Monitoring Annual Report’ – to be considered at the June 2023 meeting. · ‘Modern Ways of Working’ and ‘Office Accommodation Review’ – reports to be merged and considered at the April 2023 meeting. AGREED – That the work programme as attached at appendix 1 to the report COGC/12/23 be agreed subject to the aforementioned amendments.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That a Task & Finish Group be established comprising of the following membership, to review the asset disposal policy in respect of the Agricultural Estate. Representatives of the Farming Unions to be involved in this work:- Councillor Graham Rogers Councillor Frank Hemmings Councillor Jerry Wellens Councillor Marc Jones Councillor Jeremy Newton
(Members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 42 above) The Lead Member Finance and Performance submitted a report COH/09/23 allowing Members to consider the implications of potential Management Policy changes. The Head of Service Assets introduced the report and thereafter, jointly with the Lead Member, responded to questions from Members. The Chair introduced representatives from the National Farmers’ Union Cymru (NFU Cymru) and the Farmers’ Union of Wales and invited them to address the Committee. They took part in the debate thereon. During discussion of the report, the following issues were raised: · More detail was sought with regards to how land could be used to maximise Council income and retain young farmers’ options where possible. · Disappointment that the report did not contain a greater level of detail including, for example, gross yield per annum, status and land quality of current tenancies, size comparison of farms etc. · The need to explore innovative and modern ways of making the most of Council owned land. · The importance of working together to protect small holdings and increase the number of young people being able to establish careers in farming and remain in rural areas. · The need to consider the essential balance between procurement and renewable production. · Concern that the current policy provided no succession for small holding properties. · There had been some opposition from the farming community towards productive farming land being used for tree planting. · Clarification was sought with regard to progress with the Council’s solar farm at Berthengron Farm. The Lead Member for Environment provided more information in relation to the current situation and agreed to provide further detail related to the generated income. · Concern that a third of the Council owned farms and land were still vacant and therefore not providing income for the Local Authority. · Suggestion that farms and education should not be considered as two separate issues. Farms in Wrexham would be an asset in terms of educating and introducing young people to agriculture. · Suggestion that Members of the Committee take part in a site visit to Council owned farms and land. · Reference was made to some additional information received by a member of the public following a ‘freedom of information’ request which had not been included in the report. A number of Members of the Committee stated that they did not feel able to make a recommendation in light of the lack of information provided in the report. In responding to some of the concerns raised the Lead Member reminded Members that that Executive Board had previously made a decision to sell agricultural land and invest the income generated in the 21st century schools capital programme. He stressed that any changes made to this aspect of the Council owned farms and land policy would have a significant impact on the future delivery of this programme. Officers further stressed that they were actively looking at the Council’s agricultural estate and considering suitable viable options. AGREED – That a Task & Finish Group be established comprising of the following membership, to review the asset disposal policy in respect of the Agricultural Estate. Representatives of the Farming Unions to be involved in this work:- Councillor Graham Rogers Councillor Frank Hemmings Councillor Jerry Wellens Councillor Marc Jones Councillor Jeremy Newton
The Chair read the part 2 declaration as follows: In considering whether to exclude the press and public from the next part of the meeting Members are asked to consider the following factors when determining the public interest test. Agenda Item 6 – Not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The Proper Officer has determined in considering this report that paragraph 14 should apply. Her view on the public interest test was that while she was mindful of the need to ensure the transparency and accountability of public authorities for decisions taken by them in relation to the spending of public money, the right of a third party to the privacy of their financial/business affairs outweighed the need for that information to be made public and disclosure of the information would give an unfair advantage to tenderers for commercial contracts. This information is not affected by any other statutory provision which requires the information to be publicly registered. On that basis she felt that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information It is, therefore, recommended that the press and public be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following item as it is likely that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). Following a vote by the Committee it was subsequently: AGREED – That press and public not be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following item.
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.
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