Decision details

The Lord Mayor advised that a notice of motion proposed by Councillor Thomas and seconded by Councillor Williams had been received for consideration and was included on the Summons for the meeting. There was one amendment to this motion.

 

The Notice of Motion was as follows:

 

1)    This Council notes that there are six Community Council’s in Cardiff, namely:

 

·         Lisvane Community Council

·         Old St Mellons Community Council

·         Pentyrch Community Council

·         Radyr & Morganstown Community Council

·         St Fagans Community Council

·         Tongwynlais Community Council

 

 

2)    This Council recognises the hard work carried out by the members and officials of these Community Council’s and notes that many of the participants are volunteers.  Without the efforts of Community Council’s, a number of local amenities would close and events in these communities would not happen.  However, vacancies can sometimes be difficult to fill and there can be a lack of candidates at Community Council elections, risking a democratic deficit.

 

3)    This Council also notes that historically over many years, channels of communication between Community Council’s and Cardiff Council have been weak or non-existent.  This includes notifications to the Community Council’s of works proposed on highway or Community Council involvement in planning applications and a say in best use of any Section 106 monies.

 

4)    This Council calls on the Cabinet to, in conjunction with the Community Council’s, consider how links could be improved and strengthened.  The Cabinet may wish to consider:

 

(i)            If there are areas where services could combine (eg: either the Community Council or Cardiff Council undertaking grass cutting in an area)

(ii)           Introducing a single point of contact for Community Councils.

(iii)          How the Community Council Charter can be further embedded within Cardiff Council and how awareness of it can be increased

(iv)          Regular liaison between key officials and Community Councils, with those periodically attending Community Council meetings.

(v)           How the role of Community Councils in making representation on planning applications and section 106 agreements cane be enhanced.

 

The Cabinet should bring forward a report within six months.

 

Amendment 1 –          Proposed by Councillor Bradbury

 

Seconded by Councillor Stubbs

 

Point 2 – Deletion of all after the first sentence

 

Deletion of Point 3 and replace with

 

3) However this Council notes that in the 2017 Election all Community Council seats were uncontested and therefore no election held.

 

Point 4 (ii) deletion of the word ‘Introducing’ and replace with ‘How to enhance and continue with’

 

Deletion of Point 4 (v)

 

The motion as amended would be as follows:

 

1)    This Council notes that there are six community Councils in Cardiff, namely:

 

·         Lisvane Community Council,

·         Old St Mellons Community Council

·         Pentrych Community Council

·         Radyr & Morganstown Community Council

·         St Fagans Community Council

·         Tongwynlais Community Council

 

2)    This Council recognises the hard work carried out by the members and officials if these Community Councils and notes that many of the participants are volunteers.

 

3)    However this Council notes that in the 2017 Election all Community Council seats were uncontested and therefore no election held.

 

4)    This Council calls on the Cabinet to, in conjunction with the Community Councils, consider how links could be improved and strengthened. The Cabinet may wish to consider:

 

i)              If there are areas where services could combine (e.g. either the Community Council or Cardiff Council undertaking grass cutting in an area).

ii)             How to enhance and continue with a single point of contact for Community Councils

iii)           How the Community Council Charter can be further embedded within Cardiff Council and how awareness of it can be increased.

iv)           Regular liaison between key officials and Community Councils, with those periodically attending Community Council meetings.

 

The Cabinet should bring forward a report.

 

The Lord Mayor invited debate on the motion.  At the conclusion of the debate the Lord Mayor invited Councillor Thomas to sum up.  In summing up Councillor Thomas advised that she did not accept either of the amendments.

 

The Lord Mayor moved to the votes

 

The Vote on the Amendment proposed by Councillor Bradbury was CARRIED.

 

The Substantive Motion was as follows:

 

1)    This Council notes that there are six community Councils in Cardiff, namely:

 

·         Lisvane Community Council,

·         Old St Mellons Community Council

·         Pentrych Community Council

·         Radyr & Morganstown Community Council

·         St Fagans Community Council

·         Tongwynlais Community Council

 

2)    This Council recognises the hard work carried out by the members and officials if these Community Councils and notes that many of the participants are volunteers.

 

3)    However this Council notes that in the 2017 Election all Community Council seats were uncontested and therefore no election held.

 

4)    This Council calls on the Cabinet to, in conjunction with the Community Councils, consider how links could be improved and strengthened. The Cabinet may wish to consider:

 

i)              If there are areas where services could combine (e.g. either the Community Council or Cardiff Council undertaking grass cutting in an area).

ii)             How to enhance and continue with a single point of contact for Community Councils

iii)           How the Community Council Charter can be further embedded within Cardiff Council and how awareness of it can be increased.

iv)           Regular liaison between key officials and Community Councils, with those periodically attending Community Council meetings.

 

The Cabinet should bring forward a report.

 

A vote was taken on the Substantive Motion.  The Substantive Motion was CARRIED.