Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T C Lewis and Councillor S Williams.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T C Lewis and Councillor S Williams.

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 B Carter Declared his Interest in Item 22 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme – Abercanaid Community School as he was a Governor of the School.

Councillor H R Jones Declared his Interest in Item 22 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme – Abercanaid Community School as he was a Governor of the School.

Councillor G Lewis Declared his Interest in Item 22 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme – Abercanaid Community School as he was a Governor of the School.

Councillor B Carter Declared his Interest in Item 22 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme – Abercanaid Community School as he was a Governor of the School.

Councillor H R Jones Declared his Interest in Item 22 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme – Abercanaid Community School as he was a Governor of the School.

Councillor G Lewis Declared his Interest in Item 22 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme – Abercanaid Community School as he was a Governor of the School.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee held 13 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee held 13 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Chief Executive Scrutiny Committee held 14 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Chief Executive Scrutiny Committee held 14 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 15 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Rights of Way Committee held 20 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Rights of Way Committee held 20 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Group Meeting held 22 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Group Meeting held 22 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 22 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 22 October 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 3 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 3 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Schools Scrutiny Committee held 3 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Schools Scrutiny Committee held 3 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 5 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 5 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 5 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 5 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Objections and Appeals Sub Committee held 12 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Objections and Appeals Sub Committee held 12 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 12 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 12 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 4 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 4 November 2014 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)   The further interim arrangements for the management of Social Services and the role of Statutory Director of Social Services be agreed

(b)   The roles mentioned in Paragraph 1.4 of the report be allocated such delegated powers as are contained in the Scheme of Delegation applicable  to each area of service delivery

A Member then referred to Paragraph 2.2 of the report and advised that Lisa Curtis Jones had been appointed as Head of Children’s Services and he welcomed Mrs Curtis Jones to her first Meeting as Head of Children’s Services.

The Chief Executive also advised the Council that Mr Philip Hodgson had been appointed as the Interim Statutory Director of Social Services.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The following recommendations were accepted:

(a)   The Strategic Workforce Plan 2014 -17 be approved

(b)   The monitoring of delivery of the Action Plan within the Transformational Programme be approved

(c)   Delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Chief Executive’s Directorate and Interim H R Manager to make such changes as are appropriate to the Strategic Workforce Plan.

Arising on the Strategic Workforce Plan 2014-17 a Member referred to Paragraph 4 – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough and advised that in relation to the pregnancy rate the information was incorrect as the figures had come down and that in relation to residents over 65 the figure in the report was the increase figure and not the number of residents.

Resolved that:

(a)   The Strategic Workforce Plan 2014 -17 be approved

(b)   The monitoring of delivery of the Action Plan within the Transformational Programme be approved

(c)   Delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Chief Executive’s Directorate and Interim H R Manager to make such changes as are appropriate to the Strategic Workforce Plan.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)   The amendments to the Constitution as shown in Appendix 1 be noted

(b)   The amendments to the Constitution as proposed in paragraphs 1.4.2 and 1.4.3 of the report be agreed

(c)   The Constitution be amended to reflect the changes

To consider a report of the Director of Customer Services.

The recommendation was accepted.

Councillor B Carter, Councillor H R Jones and Councillor G Lewis having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for this item.

Resolved that:

The request for the allocation of £500.00 to Abercanaid Community School be approved.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

Pursuant to this report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) regulations 1995, as amended by the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) and Council Tax (Prescribed class of Dwellings) (Wales) (Amendments) regulations 2004, the number calculated by the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council for 2015/16 shall be 17,725.11 (17,629.02 – 2014/15) and for the area covered by the Bedlinog Community Council for 2015/16 shall be 1007.72 (966.98 – 2014/15).

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The following recommendations were accepted:

(a)   The Revaluation Rate Relief Scheme as outlined within the report in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 be adopted

(b)   It is reasonable for Council to make this decision having regard to the interests of persons liable to pay Council Tax set by the Council

A Member referred the Council to the report and advised of the following addition to Paragraph 1.5:

The Business rates revaluation was postponed by Welsh Government from 2015 to 2017.  However, the funding is not specifically limited to this purpose.  It may also so be used to further other economic development priorities identified by the Authority.

Resolved that:

(a)   The Revaluation Rate Relief Scheme as outlined within the report in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 be adopted

(b)   It is reasonable for Council to make this decision having regard to the interests of persons liable to pay Council Tax set by the Council

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 14 under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)   The proposed expenditure be approved

(b)   The application for further funding be approved

The Leader updated the Council on the current situation in relation to voluntary Mergers.

The Leader updated the Council on the current situation in relation to voluntary Mergers.

The Mayor advised that there were no communications.

The Mayor advised that there were no communications.