Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R Braithwaite, Councillor G Davies, Councillor E Galsworthy and Councillor S Williams.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor R Braithwaite, Councillor G Davies, Councillor E Galsworthy 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 P Williams Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he has a friendship with the Contractor.

Councillor B Toomey Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as his son is an employee of Merthyr Town Football Club.

Councillor B Carter Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he is an employee of Merthyr Town Football Club.

Councillor C J Barry Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he is a supporter of Merthyr Town Football Club.

Councillor C T Jones Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he is a Member of the of Merthyr Town Football Society.

Councillor A Jones Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil and advised that he has Dispensation to speak but not vote.

Councillor C J Barry Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor T C Lewis Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor H Barrett Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 23 – Leisure and Culture Trust – Public Open Space Notice as he is the Council’s Representative on the Board for the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Limited.

Councillor P Williams Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he has a friendship with the Contractor.

Councillor B Toomey Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as his son is an employee of Merthyr Town Football Club.

Councillor B Carter Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he is an employee of Merthyr Town Football Club.

Councillor C J Barry Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he is a supporter of Merthyr Town Football Club.

Councillor C T Jones Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil as he is a Member of the of Merthyr Town Football Society.

Councillor A Jones Declared his interest in the extra item – Football Ground, Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil and advised that he has Dispensation to speak but not vote.

Councillor C J Barry Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor T C Lewis Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor H Barrett Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 21 – Gellideg Housing Co-operative Project as he is a Board Member Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 23 – Leisure and Culture Trust – Public Open Space Notice as he is the Council’s Representative on the Board for the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Limited.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee held 12 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee held 12 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Chief Executive’s Scrutiny Committee held 13 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Chief Executive’s Scrutiny Committee held 13 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Group Meeting held 14 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Group Meeting held 14 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Councillor L Mytton advised that her apologies for absence needed to be recorded in the Minutes.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Minutes of the Social Services and Social Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held 14 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Councillor L Mytton advised that her apologies for absence needed to be recorded in the Minutes.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Minutes of the Social Services and Social Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held 14 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 14 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 14 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 19 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 19 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Schools Scrutiny Committee held 19 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Schools Scrutiny Committee held 19 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Schools Scrutiny Committee held 26 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Schools Scrutiny Committee held 26 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 28 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 28 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 28 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 28 January 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 4 February 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 4 February 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 4 February 2015 be accepted as a correct record.  

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 4 February 2015 be accepted as a correct record.  

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

The recommendations were accepted.

Councillor B Toomey Leader of the Council addressed the Council in relation to the State of the Council.

Resolved that:

(a)   The Council Tax increase of 4.5% (Band D of £1,352.72) for 2015/16 for the County Borough Council be approved

(b)   The Net Revenue Budget (Budget Requirement) for 2015/16 of £113.265 million outlined in Appendix 1 of the report be approved

(c)   The Minimum Revenue Provision Statement be approved on the following basis:

(i)             Option 1 as the basis for calculation for the historic debt liability at 31 March 2007 and

(ii)            Option 3 for all capital expenditure financed by borrowing from 1 April 2007

(d)   The Chief Finance Officer’s comments relating to the robustness of the estimates and adequacy of reserves be noted

(e)   The proposed reporting of the following financial documents to Council on 26 March 2014 be noted:

·         Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/16 to 2017/18

·         Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2019/20

·         Prudential Indicators in compliance with the Prudential Code framework for capital investment in Local Authorities

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)   The formal statutory Council Tax resolutions 2015/16 as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report and summarised in paragraphs 3.1 be noted and approved

(b)   The South Wales Police Authority approved precept for 2015/16 of £3,542,493 for the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council area be noted

(c)   The Bedlinog Community Council approved precept for 2015/16 of £19,500 for the Community Council area be noted

(d)   The Welsh Government 2015/16 Non Domestic Rate for Wales of 48.2 pence in the £ be noted

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

The Workforce Equalities Policy be adopted and approved.

To consider report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)   The Council Tax Discretionary Relief Policy be approved

(b)   The Policy be implemented with immediate effect

(c)   Applications under the Policy be determined in accordance with delegated powers as per 2.4 of the report

To consider report of Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

The request from the Town Electoral Division to allocate their Biffa Monies as follows be approved:

Resurfacing of Bryony Close, Twynyrodyn - £2,500.00

To consider report of Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

The publication of the Merthyr Tydfil Local Housing Market Assessment 2015 to form part of the Local Development Plan / Local Housing Strategy evidence base and to assist in negotiating affordable housing on new housing developments be approved.

To consider report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendations were accepted.

Declaration of Interest

Councillor C J Barry, Councillor T C Lewis and Councillor W R Smith Declared their Interest in this item.

Councillor T C Lewis and Councillor W R Smith then left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

The Council were circulated with a copy of the model referred to in paragraph 4.4 of the report.

Resolved that:

(a)   The development of the Gellideg Cooperative Project in partnership with Merthyr Valleys Homes be approved and

(b)   The use of the Public Works Loans Board to finance the project as set out at paragraph 7.1 of the report be approved

To consider report of the Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendation was accepted.

Councillor B Carter left the Meeting at 6.30 pm.

Resolved that:

The amended ‘Housing Choice’ Common Allocations Policy be approved.

Resolved that:

The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 14 and 16 under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972

To consider report of Corporate Director of Customer Services.

The recommendation was accepted.

Declaration of Interest

Councillor W R Smith having Declared his Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

The recommendation as contained within the report be accepted.

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

Recommendation 6.1 of the report was accepted.   

Recommendation 6.2 of the report was accepted subject to amendment.

Declaration of Interest

Councillor C J Barry, Councillor C T Jones, Councillor B Toomey and Councillor P Williams having Declared their Interest left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Councillor A Jones did not vote on this item.

Resolved that:

Recommendation 6.1 of the report be accepted.  

Recommendation 6.2 of the report be accepted subject to amendment.

The Mayor advised that there was no urgent business or correspondence.

The Mayor advised that there was no urgent business or correspondence.

No Communications were received.

No Communications were received.