Minutes of the Meeting of the Powys Branch of SLCC

Wednesday 3rd November 2010at The Council Offices, Llanidloes

PRESENT

Ed Humphreys (Chairman), Rodger Garratt,Peter Kirk, Alan Loveridge, Tracey Price,Sonia Pritchard, Gwilym Rippon, Mary Shergold and Glenys Smith.

Apologies received from Yvonne Charker, Gwyneth Davies, Steve Geary, Eleanor Lewis, Gail Rofe and Jane Shaw.

1. WELCOME

The Chairman welcomed members and thanked them for attending with particular thanks to Sonia for hosting the meeting at the Llanidloes Town Council offices.

2. TRAINING SESSION

The Chairman welcomed Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Services Mananager, Powys County Council and handed over to Wyn for a very informative training session which involved members analysing various scenarios involving code of conduct and associated issues.

Members found the session extremely useful and very informative.

The Chairman thanked Wyn very much for attending and for the opportunity for officer to officer discussions of common issues.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED 08/09/10

a) The minutes of the meeting on 8th September 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record with no amendments.

4. TREASURER’S REPORT AND UPDATE

Rodger reported on the current financial situation. One account remained outstanding and Tracey agreed to contact the Llandrindod Wells Leisure Centre to chase this up.

There were no secretarial expenses this month, in the main due to the circulation of branch papers via email.

5. NEC REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT (INCLUDING CONFERENCE REPORT)

Gwilym circulated detailed reports of the NEC meeting and National Conference and highlighted the main issues. He particularly highlighted the bursary available to Clerks of Councils with a precept below £40,000, and encouraged Clerks to take advantage of this before it expires next year.

6. DATE OF VISIT BY SLCC PRESIDENT

It was agreed to invite the new President,Bruce Poole, to the July branch meeting and this was confirmed as 14th July.

7. NATIONAL TRAINING STRATEGY NETWORKING EVENT

Gwilym confirmed he had already arranged to attend this event.

8. TRAINING UPDATE

Gwilym reminded members of the WWYC training days in Llandrindod next June/July. He also invited expressions of interest in forthcoming ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions. Other WWYC courses arranged in Wales were –

Aberystwyth– September 2011

Wrexham – November 2011

9. TRAINING LINKS WITH CEREDIGION

Tracey reported that Ceredigion had been receptive to her approach on creating training links between branches. It was agreed she reply to Ceredigion indicating that this Branch would appreciate being invited to any training events held by Ceredigion and would reciprocate with invitations to any Powys Branch training.

10. ELECTION OF NEC SUBSTITUTE REPRESENTATIVE

Gwilym asked for volunteers to act a substitute representative for the NEC. This person would be able to attend NEC events as an observer if they wished. Tracey agreed to take this position.

11. VISITS BY CLERKS TO OTHER COUNCILS

The Chairman asked if the Branch was supportive of Clerks visiting meetings of other Councils to observe and gain knowledge and experience. It was agreed that the Branch supported this providing the Clerk to the Council involved was informed as a matter of courtesy, and that such visits were not seen as undermining the host Clerk.

12. CLERKS QUESTIONS

Questions raised were

The Power of Well Being and its implications – not yet inn place in Wales

Financial Regulations – available on SLCC web site

Employment of Cleaners etc and training/Health and Safety Implications

13. BRANCH PROGRAMME 2010/11

It was agreed that the One Voice Wales Chief Executive, Lyn Llewellyn, be invited to the March Meeting. The July meeting would be attended by Bruce Poole, the current President of the SLCC.

Future speakers would be considered at the next meeting.

14. CHAIRMANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chairman drew members attention to –

The recently released CPD programme, enclosed with The Clerk magazine

The Practitioners Conference in February in Stoke on Trent – a very useful training event

The Good Employer Booklet received with the latest issue of The Clerk magazine

The profile of Welshpool Town Clerk in the The Clerk Magazine

15. DATES/VENUES OF NEXT MEETINGS

9th March 2011 Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre

14th July 2011 Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre

The possibility of using Llandrindod Wells as a central location for future meetings was suggested and it was agreed to consider this at the next meeting.

The Meeting ended 9.10pm

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