Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Skinner.

Members 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 and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, 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 I Thomas Declared his Interest in Item 6 – Council Tax Resolution 2022/23 as he is a Member of the Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Health Council but has Dispensation to Speak and Vote.

Councillor S Jago Declared her Interest in Item 6 – Council Tax Resolution 2022/23 as she is a Member of the Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Health Council but has Dispensation to Speak and Vote.

Councillor D Jones Declared his Interest in Item 7 – Non-Domestic Rates – Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief in Wales – 2022-23 as he owns a Property affected by the report.

Councillor C Tovey Declared his Interest in Item 7 – Non-Domestic Rates – Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief in Wales – 2022-23 as he owns a Property affected by the report.

Councillor G Thomas Declared his Interest in Item 7 – Non-Domestic Rates – Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief in Wales – 2022-23.

To approve as accurate the Minutes of the following Meetings:

The Council approves as accurate (subject to any amendments) the Minutes of the following Meetings:

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 2 February 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 2 February 2022 be accepted as a correct record

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Combined Governance and Audit Joint Scrutiny Committee held 26 January 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Public Protection and Housing Scrutiny Committee held 25 January 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Transformation, Commercialisation and Corporate Centre Scrutiny Committee held 1 February 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 14 February 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 9 February 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 16 February 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Notice of Motion

Councillor A Barry referred the Council to the Notice of Motion and read out the Notice of Motion in full and moved the proposal as detailed in the Motion.

Councillor A Barry and Councillor K O’Neill also requested a Recorded vote.

The Leader of the Council then responded in support of the Notice of Motion and updated the Council in relation to representations that had been made and discussions that were ongoing in relation to this matter.

The Monitoring Officer then advised that support from five Members was required for a Recorded Vote and requested a show of hands and confirmed that the number had been met and a Recorded Vote would be undertaken.

A Recorded vote was then taken on the following Motion:

The 151 Officer supported by the Chief Executive Officer and the Leader of the Council will send a joint Communication to Rebecca Evans MS Senedd Finance Minister to inform Welsh Government of our preference for Council Tax and Revenue Support Grant Reform.

The Motion was therefore unanimously carried.

Resolved that:

The 151 Officer supported by the Chief Executive Officer and the Leader of the Council send a joint Communication to Rebecca Evans MS Senedd Finance Minister to inform Welsh Government of the Council’s preference for Council Tax and Revenue Support Grant Reform.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

The Monitoring Officer advised the Council of the procedure that would need to be undertaken if a Member proposed an amendment to the recommendations as contained within the report.

Councillor L Mytton referred the Council to the ‘Budget Requirement and Council Tax 2022/23 – State of the Council Debate’ report.

Councillor L Mytton Leader of the Council then addressed the Council and thanked all Members, Officers and Staff of the Authority for their continued support in such difficult times in delivering high performing services for the Citizens of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.

Councillor L Mytton then moved the recommendations as contained within the report and was seconded by Councillor C Davies.

Questions were then raised by the Members on the report and were responded to in detail by the Officers.

Councillor D Isaac then advised that he had experienced technical difficulties and had lost connectivity a number of times and therefore would not be voting on the item.

Comments were also made by Members on the motion.

Councillor D Roberts and Councillor B Carter advised that they had experienced a power cut and sought advise from the Monitoring Officer in relation to voting.

A Recorded Vote on the item was then requested.

The Monitoring Officer advised that support from five Members was required for a Recorded Vote and requested a show of hands and confirmed that the number had been met and a Recorded Vote would be undertaken.

A Recorded Vote was then taken on Recommendations 2.1 to 2.9 as contained within the report:

Therefore the Motion was carried.

Resolved that:

(a)  The Council Tax increase of 1.0% for 2022/23 (‘Band D’ of £1,746.27) for the County Borough Council be approved

(b)  The Budget Requirement of £143.074 million for 2022/23 (net revenue budget) be approved

(c)  Additional temporary accommodation homelessness provision costs of £357,000 for 2022/23 be approved

(d)  The utilisation of £703,000 of the 2021/22 projected revenue surplus outturn be approved

(e)  The core funded Capital Programme of £72.875 million for the period 2022/23 to 2025/26 be approved

(f)   The Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26 (including the Capital Strategy Report 2022/23 and Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2022/23) be approved

(g)  The Prudential Indicators contained within the Medium Term Financial Plan be approved with authorisation for managing and monitoring the authorised limit and operational  ...  view the full minutes text for item 723.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

(a)  The formal Statutory Council Tax resolutions 2022/23 as outlined in Appendix 1 and summarised in Paragraph 5.1 of the report be noted and approved

(b)  The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales approved precept for 2022/23 of £5,615,451 for the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council area be noted

(c)  The Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Council approved precept for 2022/23 of £27,870 for the Community Council area be noted

(d)  The Welsh Government 2022/23 Non Domestic Rate for Wales of 53.5 pence in the £ be noted

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Declarations of Interest

Councillor D Jones, Councillor G Thomas and Councillor C Tovey having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

(a)  The implementation of the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief scheme in accordance with the rules described in the report be approved

(b)  Sections 47(1)(a) and S47(3) (discretionary relief) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 shall apply as regards the hereditaments described above in accordance with the rules described in relation to those hereditaments.  It is reasonable for the Council to make this decision having regard to the interests of persons liable to pay Council Tax set by the Council

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

(a)  The shortlisting and interview arrangements to appoint a new Director of Governance and Resources be approved

(b)  The granting of Delegated authority to the Chief Executive to determine the recruitment timetable and any changes that may be required to be made to the interview panels in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Governance and Corporate Services be approved

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The ‘Statement of Well-being’ and ‘Focus on the Future: Well-being in our Community’ documents be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The Reserve Forces Training and Mobilisation Policy be approved with immediate effect.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The lighting of the Beacon and associated activities in Merthyr Tydfil as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The content of the report be noted.

War in Ukraine

The Leader of the Council referred to the conflict and advised that together with the Leaders of the other twenty one Local Authorities had pledged support to anyone seeking refuge from the Ukraine and would work together with Welsh Government and Central Government on processes, procedures and arrangements which were currently being worked out and would update the Council as soon as possible.

No Communications were received from their Worship the Mayor.