Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C J Barry and Councillor T C Lewis.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C J Barry and Councillor T C Lewis.

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. 

No Declarations of Interest were made.

No Declarations of Interest were made.

To receive a presentation from Ms Denise Moultrie from CSSIW.

The Council received a Presentation from Denise Moultrie Area Manager Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.

The Chair welcomed Denise Moultrie Area Manager Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales to the Meeting.

Denise Moultrie then made a Presentation to the Council on the Merthyr Tydfil Social Services CSSIW Performance Report 2014 – 15 giving details on the following:

·         Findings

·         Leadership and Governance

·         Adult Services – Key National Priorities:

·         Prevention and Early Intervention

·         Integrated Services for older people with complex needs

·         Areas of progress

·         Areas for improvement

·         Children’s Services – Key National Priorities:

·         Prevention and Early Intervention

·         Looked after Children

·         Areas of Progress

·         CSSIW - National Inspections and Reviews

·         CSSIW - Follow up Work this year

The Mayor then thanked Ms Moultrie for the Presentation and update to the Council.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 14 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 14 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 20 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 20 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee held 21 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee held 21 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 21 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 21 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 21 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 21 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 26 October be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 26 October be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance, Performance, Business Change and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held 27 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance, Performance, Business Change and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held 27 October 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

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

Resolved that:

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

Resolved that:

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

Resolved that:

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

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LAESCYP Scrutiny Committee held 2 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LAESCYP Scrutiny Committee held 2 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 4 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 4 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 4 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 4 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 9 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 9 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 10 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 10 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 11 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 11 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 11 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 11 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 11 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 11 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 18 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 18 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 19 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 19 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 19 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 19 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 3 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 3 November 2015 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive. 

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)  The progress to date and the estimated timescales to get the full agreement of all parties to complete the City Deal be noted

(b)  The Leader of the Council and Chief Executive work with the other South East Wales Local Authorities to develop a business case for a City Deal be authorised

(c)  A further update on progress early in the New Year be received

To consider a report of the Chief Executive. 

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

(a)  The Annual Treasury Report for 2014/15 be received

(b)  The actual 2014/15 Prudential and Treasury Indicators be approved

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

The Treasury Management Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy In Year Review Report for 2015/16 be received.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation) and Chief Officer (Social  Services).

Resolved that:

(a)  The content of the report be noted

(b)  Once the Action Plan is fully completed it will be reported to Council and referred to Cabinet

(c)  If approved the Corporate Safeguarding Group will implement the Action Plan which has been developed.

Councillor L Matthews advised of an amendment to the recommendation.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

(a)  The content of the report be noted

(b)  Once the Action Plan is fully completed it will be reported to Council and referred to Cabinet

(c)  If approved the Corporate Safeguarding Group will implement the Action Plan which has been developed.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

This item was withdrawn.

This item was withdrawn.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

The recommendation was accepted.

Councillor D Jones advised of the following amendments to the report:

Paragraph 4.3 – The word ‘Council’ be removed from the last sentence and ‘Cabinet’ be inserted instead.

Additional paragraphs:

4.9 – The terms of the Lease will include an obligation on the Tenant to deliver on the Service Level Agreement.  Should it become apparent at any time during the term of the Lease that this is not being delivered, the Tenant will be in breach of the Lease and the Council will have the ability to remedy the situation

4.10 – That any Service Level Agreement includes Safeguarding Policy compliance

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Community Organisation Rental Policy for implementation from the date of this report be adopted.

Councillor L E Smart left the Meeting at 6.30 pm.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

The recommendation was accepted.

A Member advised that in Appendix 1 – Type of Charitable/ Non- Profit Making Organisation – Principal 9 should read ‘Merthyr Tydfil County Borough’.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The revised Charitable Rate Relief Policy be approved.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

The recommendations were accepted.

Resolved that:

Taking into account the number of properties in each valuation band, discounts and reductions for disabilities, the following resolution be approved:

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 2016/17 shall be 17,896.23 (17,725.11 – 2015/16) and for the area covered by the Bedlinog Community Council for 2016/17 shall be 1075.98 (1007.72 – 2015/16)

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

Resolved that:

To continue the scheme as operated in 2015/16 by providing financial support up to a maximum of £50

Councillor H R Jones left the Meeting at 6.40 pm and returned at 6.41 pm.

Resolved that:

To continue the scheme as operated in 2015/16 by providing financial support up to a maximum of £50

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

The recommendations were accepted.

Councillor D Jones advised that Paragraph 4.3 of the report should read:

·         To carry out initial repair works to allow the Scaffolding to be removed at a cost of £314,932

·         To carry out works that ensure the building is weatherproof following completion of Stage 1 at a cost of £40,836

·         To carry out works to bring the building back into use at a cost of £311,287

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

(a)  A Listed Building Repairs Notice be served on the owner of 115 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil

(b)  Authorisation be granted to seek to (i) acquire 115 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil by any appropriate means, including through negotiation or through Statutory Compulsory Purchase (if considered appropriate by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Governance) and (ii) negotiate a ‘back-to-back sale of 115 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil to a partner to secure the full repair of this Listed Building

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 15 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 (Place and Transformation).

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

If the request to acquire 115 High Street is approved, a ‘back-to-back’ sale is negotiated with the named body to fully repair the building and bring back into economic use.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place and Transformation).

The recommendation was accepted.

Resolved that:

The content of the report be noted, the Business Cases at appendix 1 and the recommended options as summarised in section 4 of the report be approved.

Resolved that:

A Letter be sent to the Mayor of Paris from the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council expressing the Council’s solidarity with the people of Paris.

Resolved that:

A Letter be sent to the Mayor of Paris from the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council expressing the Council’s solidarity with the people of Paris.

No communications were received.

No communications were received.