Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor H Barrett, Councillor P Brown, Councillor T C Lewis, Councillor S Slater and Councillor Raymond Thomas.

Members of the Council are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.

Note:

a.            Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest; and

b.            Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave. 

Councillor E C Galsworthy Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Management Fee 2016/17 as he is the Council’s Representative on the Board for the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Limited.

Councillor W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Management Fee 2016/17 as he is the Council’s Representative on the Board for the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Limited.

To receive a Presentation on the findings of the Monitoring Team.

The Mayor welcomed Mr Iwan Roberts and Mr Huw Davies HM Inspectors with Estyn to the Meeting.

Mr Roberts addressed the Council and referred in detail to the letter dated January 2016 in relation to the Estyn Monitoring Visit 30 November to 4 December 2015.

Councillor G Lewis entered the Meeting at 5.34 pm.

Mr Roberts outlined:

·         The Outcome of the Monitoring Visit

·         Background to the Visit

·         Role of Estyn following on from the Inspection

Mr Roberts then advised that he would focus on the key messages in the letter and referred to the following in detail:

Recommendation 1: Secure better outcomes for learners at all key stages and analyse and use performance data to identify and address underperformance

The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 2: Strengthen the level of challenge to schools and use the full powers available to the Authority to improve leadership and management in underperforming schools

The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 3: Devise and apply better strategies to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training and build upon existing strategies to reduce the number excluded from school and improve pupil attendance rates, especially in primary schools

The Authority has made satisfactory progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 4: Develop a robust self-evaluation framework for the work of the Local Authority’s Education Services and introduce appropriate and challenging performance targets that drive improvement

The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 5: Develop a more rigorous Scrutiny framework, supported by data analysis to challenge the Education Services

The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 6: Ensure that data on the needs and attainment of all pupils with additional learning needs, and of vulnerable groups, is used at a strategic level to identify specific issues and trends that inform service planning

The Authority has made satisfactory progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 7: Evaluate the impact of Youth Support Services in order to adjust the provision and rebalance resource allocation where necessary

The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation

Recommendation 8: Develop and implement systems to judge whether initiatives and services have a positive impact on children and young people and offer good value for money

The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation

·         Next Steps

Mr Roberts then thanked the Council for the opportunity of presenting and also referred to the Link Inspectors.

Council Members then raised the following questions on the Presentation and were responded to in detail by Mr Roberts:

·         In 2012 there was Systematic Failure- were the Inspectors confident that this had now been replaced with Systematic success

·         Were the Inspectors confident that the level of challenge could be maintained and sustain progress

·         With the high expectations for learners was there the same cultural expectation for learners

·         What impact will the new curriculum at KS4 have on the exams in 2017   Is there a reliable indicator  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1215.

To consider report of the Corporate Director People and Performance.

Resolved that:

The contents of the report be noted.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LAESCYP Scrutiny Committee held 22 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Arising under Members present the Minutes should include Councillor L A Matthews.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 23 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 24 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 24 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee held 24 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 24 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 29 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance, Performance, Business Change and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held 1 March 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 2 March 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 2 March 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 2 March 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 8 March 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 9 March 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 11 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Resolved that:

(a)  The Authority’s Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 to include the following paragraph which can be found at 14.2 of the Pay Policy Statement:

‘The Council employs Chief Officers under JNC Terms and Conditions which are incorporated into their contracts (Director and Chief Executive).  The JNC for Chief Officers negotiates on National (UK) annual costs of living pay increases for this group, and any award of same is determined on this basis.  Chief Officers employed under JNC terms and condition are contractually entitled to any National JNC determined pay rises and this Council will therefore pay these as and when determined in accordance with current contractual requirements’

(b)  The Pay Policy 2016-17 to be implemented 1 April 2016 be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor E C Galsworthy Equalities Champion addressed the Council and led the Members through the ‘Strategic Equality Plan 2016-2010’ report.

Resolved that:

The Council’s Strategic Equality Plan for 2016-2020 be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor E C Galsworthy and Councillor W R Smith having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

Further to the recommendation of Cabinet of 9 March 2016 the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Management Fee for 2016/17 of £2,001,280 be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Resolved that:

An amendment to the current Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy to one supporting a more prudent annual provision be approved on the following basis:

(a)  Historic debt liability at 31 March 2007 – charged to revenue over 50 years by the straight line method

(b)  Post 1 April 2007 debt – from 2015/16 infrastructure assets charged to revenue over a maximum of 40 years

(c)  Post 1 April 2007 debt – from 2015/16 for Capital Expenditure where no asset life determined, charged to revenue over 50 years by the straight line method

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Resolved that:

(a)  The Capital Programme for 2016/17 to 2019/20 of £30.542 million outlined in Appendix B of the report be approved, subject to funding confirmation from external providers

(b)  The Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/17 to 2019/20 (including the Treasury Management Policy and Annual Investment Strategy 2016/17) outlined in Appendix C of the report be approved

(c)  The outcomes of the ‘Council Priorities and Budget Consultation 2016/17’ exercise outlined in Appendix C of the report be noted

(d)  The Prudential Indicators contained within the Medium Term Financial Plan, be approved with authorisation for managing and monitoring the authorised limit and operational boundary, delegated to the Chief Finance Officer

To consider report of the Corporate Director Place and Transformation.

Resolved that:

(a)  The retention of the current 50% discount in the 2016/17 financial year in respect of Long Term Unoccupied Properties as defined in Class C of Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended be approved.  (See Appendix B of the report)

(b)  The determination to apply no discount in the 2016/17 financial year in respect of Long Term Unoccupied Properties as defined by Classes A and B of Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended be approved.  (See Appendix B of the report)

(c)  The determination to apply no premium in the 2017/18 financial year in respect of Long Term Unoccupied Properties and; Unoccupied and Furnished Dwellings be approved.  (This position to be reviewed in 2016 in relation to financial year 2018/19)

Resolved that:

The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 16 under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Resolved that:

(a)  The contents of the report be noted

(b)  Further update reports be prepared for Council’s consideration as and when appropriate

The Mayor advised that there was no business deemed urgent.

No Communications were received.