Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T C Lewis and Councillor P 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 A Jones Declared his Interest in Item 20 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme as he is a Deacon of Horeb Chapel.

To view a Video in relation to the Social Services and Wellbeing Act.

Councillor L Matthews advised the Council with regard to the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act that would come into force in April 2016.

The Council then viewed a Video available on the Social Services Improvement Agency (SSIA) website entitled ‘What Matters to You, Matters to Us’ which gave an insight into the Act.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 18 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance, Performance, Business Change and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held 19 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Rights of Way Committee held 25 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LAESCYP Scrutiny Committee held 25 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Arising under Members present the Minutes should read Councillor C Barry and not Councillor P Williams.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 26 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 27 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee held 27 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 27 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 27 January 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 1 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Democratic Services Committee held 1 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Objections and Appeals Sub Committee held 3 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 3 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 10 February 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

The Leader Councillor B Toomey referred the Council to ‘The City Deal’ report and advised that since the preparation of the report certain events had moved on and consequently the timelines set out in the report were inaccurate.

The Leader also reminded the Council that even if the Deal is agreed by both Governments, as Leader of the Council he would be authorised to sign the formal City Deal Offer Document only on the basis that it does not commit the Council until the detailed proposals are negotiated and agreed by the constituent Authorities.

The Leader further advised that on Monday this week the core negotiating team consisting of Councillor Phil Bale Leader of Cardiff, Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf and Councillor Peter Fox Leader of Monmouthshire presented the final business case to the other Leaders of the South East Wales Region and the Leaders signed off the Document and the negotiating team formally presented to the Welsh Government Challenge Session on Monday afternoon.

The Leader then referred to Paragraph 3.4 of the report where the core negotiating team is referred to as being made up of the three Council Leaders plus a senior member of the Business and Higher Education Sectors, but advised that last Monday the Westminster Government rejected this so the team consisted of just the three Leaders.

On Tuesday 23 February 2016 the Core Negotiating Team met with the Secretary of State for Wales and other Central Government figures in London to present our case in the second Challenge Session.

The formal outcome of both Challenge Sessions is not yet available, however, in the event of a successful outcome the formal signing of the City Deal should take place within the next two weeks or so.

In the event of a successful Deal, only then when each constituent Authority is in full agreement with the proposals will we be asked to sign the formal Deal Document which will then become binding and this could take between six and eighteen months.

The Leader also advised that there were no additional financial implications at this time although a further report to Council will be presented in due course in order to finance a dedicated Project Team to take the Deal forward.

Resolved that:

(a)  The contents and updates of the report be noted

(b)  In the event that the Deal is agreed by the UK Government and the Welsh Government at the outcome of the Challenge Sessions, the Leader of the Council be authorised to sign the formal ‘City Deal’ offer document on the basis that it does not commit the Council until such time as the detailed proposals are negotiated and agreed between the constituent Authorities.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Resolved that:

(a)  The Redeployment Policy is amended at Section 12 to reflect the following:

Pay Protection is available for employees who are redeployed to a job that has a lower salary than or reduced hours to their substantive post.  The pay protection will be no more than the financial value of one grade or 5 hours less per contractual week

e.g  If an employee is currently on a Grade 7 and wishes to be considered for a redeployment job role of Grade 4 (reduction of 3 grades) the employee will only be eligible for pay protection for one grade lower, which in this example would be the difference in salary between Grade 6 and Grade 7.

(b)  The Redeployment Policy is amended to reflect the following;

When employees are internally appointed to an alternative job role for whatever reason; the receiving manager and the current manager will come to an agreement on the date of when the new role will begin.  Consideration needs to be given on the workload, complexity of work and impact on both areas.

The move to the new job role will be as soon as possible, usually within two weeks, but certainly within four weeks even when agreement cannot be made.

To consider report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor A Jones having Declared his Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

Penydarren Electoral Division allocate their Biffa Monies as follows:

Horeb Chapel – Maintenance                   £1,000.00

To consider joint report of Corporate Director Place and Transformation and Chief Officer Social Services.

Councillor L E Smart left the Meeting at 6.00 pm.

A Member advised that under Paragraph 4.13 it should read ’Merthyr Tydfil’.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

(a)  The content of this report be debated and noted

(b)  If a childminder proposes to look after more than six children they are required to complete and submit the questionnaire and covering letter at Annex B and C of the Welsh Government Policy Clarification Letter CL-01-16 – Planning and Childcare in Wales.  Each case will then be judged on its merits by the Planning Department to determine whether it would result in a material change of use and therefore require planning permission.

And:

(c)  When a childminder or potential childminder submits the questionnaire to ascertain whether planning permission is required there is no charge for this service (if Planning Permission is required the application fee is £380).  Each case will be determined on its merits.           

To consider report of Corporate Director Place and Transformation.

Councillor C Barry advised that under Paragraph 7.1 it should read ‘Full Council’ and not ‘Committee’.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

(a)  The draft Merthyr Tydfil Open Space Strategy and associated Action Plans be approved for consultation

(b)  Six weeks of public consultation on the draft Merthyr Tydfil Open Space Strategy and associated Action Plans commences during March 2016.

To receive report of the Chief Executive.

Resolved that:

The report be received.

Exempt Item

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:

The content of this report be noted.

The Mayor advised that there was no business deemed urgent.

No Communications were received.