LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR WALES
6 OCTOBER 2004 AT CARADOG HOUSE, ST ANDREW’S PLACE, CARDIFF
Present:
Commission
Mrs Susan Smith (Chairman), Mr John Davies (Deputy Chairman), Mr Dennis Roberts (Member)
Secretariat
Mr Edward Lewis (Secretary), Mr Steve Halsall, Mr Clive Chapman, Mr Dave Carr
1. Minutes of Last Meeting
1.1 These were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 Information Technology issues
2.1.1 It was noted that a costing was still awaited from MERLIN/ICT in respect of updating the high speed connection between Caradog House and the Assembly.
2.1.2 It was noted that the Commission were still awaiting information from Siemens Business Services in respect of invoices.
2.1.3 It was noted that the Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Assembly Government had replied to the Secretary explaining that the position in respect of the Siemens invoices was being investigated, and a full reply would be received by the Commission once those investigations were complete.
2.2 Review of part of the boundary between the communities of Brackla and Coity Higher in the County Borough of Bridgend
2.2.1 It was noted that initial letters had been issued in respect of this review.
2.3 Accountancy Training for Commissioners
2.3.1 It was noted that courses had not yet been identified.
3. Cilgerran Review - Draft Proposals Report
3.1 The Commissioners proposed various amendments to the draft put before them.
3.2 It was agreed that a revised draft incorporating these proposals be cleared by e-mail, with the Secretary co-ordinating replies, and that the revised draft be again submitted to the Commission's legal advisor.
4. Annual General Open Meeting arrangements
4.1 The meeting noted the arrangements for the Commission's Annual Meeting which was to be held on the following day.
4.2 It was agreed that in future, the Annual Meeting would be referred to in its full title form of "Annual General Open Meeting" in all correspondence and documentation.
5. Budget Report - Second Quarter 2004/05
5.1 It was agreed to accept the report.
6. Draft 2005/06 Operational Plan
6.1 The plan was discussed.
6.2 It was agreed for some minor amendments to be made, prior to the plan being accepted and submitted to the Assembly.
7. Whistle-blowing Policy
7.1 The meeting noted a paper recommending Commission staff access to a grievance procedure as part of the review of the Commission's "Whistle-blowing" policy.
7.2 It was agreed that whilst the amendments required to the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum still remained outstanding, the Commission adopt the Welsh Assembly Government grievance policy as an interim arrangement until the delegation of power issues had been resolved.
8. Any Other Business
8.1 Wales Public Sector Waste Minimisation Campaign
8.1.1 Copies of the Welsh Assembly Government's Waste Minimisation paper were circulated.
8.1.2 It was agreed that the Commission's response to the paper would be discussed at the next meeting.
8.2 Carer's Policy
8.2.1 It was reported that the Welsh Assembly Government had recently published a paper in respect of a "Carer's Policy".
8.2.2 It was noted that there were no implications from this paper for the Commission at this time.
9. Date of Next Meeting
9.1 The date of the next meeting would be decided once arrangements to meet with the Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services had been confirmed.
17/1/2005