Agenda and minutes

The Council observed a Minutes Silence for Mr Mostyn James, former Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Chair Cwm Taf Local Health Board who had recently passed away.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor H Barrett.

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 D Jones Declared his Interest in Item 4 – Mineworkers Pension Scheme Fund Surpluses as he is in receipt of a Miners Pension.

Councillor B Carter Declared his Interest in Item 15 – Biffa Profit Sharing Scheme as he is Chair of the Pentrebach Labour Club.

To approve as accurate the Minutes of the following Meetings:

The Council approved as accurate (subject to any amendments) the Minutes of the following Meetings.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 21 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 21 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Democratic Services Committee held 21 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 21 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 30 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 30 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 1 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Standards Committee held 18 November 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LAESCYP Scrutiny Committee held 5 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 6 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 7 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Rights of Way Committee held 12 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 13 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 14 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Arising on the Minutes a Member advised of the following corrections:

Councillors C Barry and P Williams Cabinet Members to be added to Members Present.

Minute No: 662 – ‘Community Councils’ should read ‘Community Organisations’.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 19 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance, Performance, Business Change and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee held 20 December 2016 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 4 January 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 4 January 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 9 January 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 11 January 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Notice of Motion

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

The Leader Councillor B Toomey referred the Council to the Notice of Motion in relation to ‘Mineworkers Pension Scheme Fund Surpluses’.

Resolved that:

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council writes to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee requesting that this matter be taken up by the Committee for Independent Scrutiny.

Notice of Question

Vaynor 25 – Right of Way

Councillor C Tovey referred the Council to the Notice of Question in relation to Vaynor 25 – Right of Way.

Councillor K Moran responded that the total cost to the Council was £6,300.00.

Councillor Tovey then asked a supplementary question: - Now that Welsh Government has ruled that the Right of Way should be reopened is the Council going to appeal to the Crown Court or Supreme Court or ignore Welsh Government and the residents of Merthyr Tydfil as it still remains closed.

The Monitoring Officer then responded to the supplementary question.

Litter Wardens

Councillor C Tovey referred the Council to the Notice of Question in relation to Litter Wardens.

Councillor C Barry advised that there was an item on the agenda for consideration later in the Meeting.

Councillor Tovey then asked a supplementary question - What are the contractual arrangements and gave an example of the Cyfarthfa Retail Park and did the Wardens have the right to go where they wanted and the Council had no say.

The Monitoring Officer then responded to the supplementary question.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

The Leader Councillor B Toomey referred the Council to the ‘Cardiff Capital Region – City Deal’ report and referred to Paragraph 1.2 of the report and advised that the appendices had been e-mailed to Members together with a report being available in the Members Library.

The Leader then responded in detail to the questions raised by the Council.

Resolved that:

(a)  The Joint Working Agreement (‘JWA’) as the legal document that formally establishes the Cardiff Capital Region (‘CCR’) Joint Committee (the Regional Cabinet) as a Joint Committee with delegated functions with a Commencement Date of the 1 March 2017.  The Elected Member representative to the Regional Cabinet shall be the Leader of the Council or his/her nominated Deputy be approved

(b)  The financial contributions from each Constituent Council towards the collective £120m total (together with such associated costs e.g carry costs) as detailed in the body of this report be approved

(c)  The carry forward of any remaining revenue funds from 2016/2017 contributed by each Constituent Council into 2017/2018 in order that the support structure for the Regional Cabinet continues be approved

(d)  The collective revenue contributions of up to £1million (inclusive of recommendation (3) above on a proportionate basis  as set out in the JWA) to the 2017/2018 budget in order that the support structure for the Regional Cabinet continues be approved

(e)  The City of Cardiff Council acting as the Accountable Body with the responsibilities as set out in the JWA be approved

(f)   The Assurance Framework as the open and transparent robust decision making process for considering all proposals requiring support from the CCR City Deal Wider Investment Fund be approved

(g)  The Implementation Plan in the form attached to the JWA subject to each Constituent Council approving the JWA Business Plan be approved

(h)  The Chief Executive/Managing Director in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Legal Officer and s151 Officer be granted delegated authority to agree such amendments as are necessary to the JWA Assurance Framework and Implementation Plan (as are appropriate) from the date of acceptance of these recommendations to the Commencement Date of the 1 March 2017

(i)    The Chief Executive/Managing Director in consultation with the Leader of the Council the Chief Legal Officer and s151 Officer be granted delegated authority to decide whether the Council should continue to explore the opportunity to participate in the CCR City Deal in the event that one or more of the ten Constituent Councils fail to agree any of recommendations 1 – 7 above

(j)    The Leader of the Council or his/her nominated Deputy be granted delegated authority to sign the JWA on behalf of the Council

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

(a)  The Cabinet recommended Medium Term Financial Plan revisions detailed in Paragraphs 5 to 8 and Appendices 4 to 6 of the report be approved (subject to further review)

(b)  The Medium Term Financial Plan revisions detailed in Paragraph 9 of the report be noted as previously approved through Delegated Authority

(c)  Further proposals to address the revised budget deficit of £1.659 million for 2017/18 be identified and recommended to subsequent Cabinet and Council Meetings for approval

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

(a)  The Annual Treasury Report for 2015/16 be received

(b)  The actual 2015/16 prudential and Treasury Indicators be received

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The Treasury Management Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy In Year Review Report for 2016/17 be received.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

This item was deferred.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

Councillor L E Smart left the Meeting at 6.00 pm.

Resolved that:

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme adopted for 2016/17 be re-adopted for the 2017/18 financial year commencing in April 2017.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The scheme as operated in 2016/17 by providing financial support up to a maximum of £50 be continued.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Neighbourhood Services

Resolved that:

Council provides an in-house Enforcement Service for litter and dog fouling offences (Option 4) on a one year trial basis through directly employed Litter Wardens be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Community Regeneration

Resolved that:

Council proceed with its duty to declare the declaration of an AQMA for affected section of Twynyrodyn Road.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Community Regeneration

Councillor B Carter having Declared his Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

Biffa Monies be allocated as follows:

Plymouth Electoral Division

Pentrebach Labour Club Football Session - £800.00

The Mayor advised that there was no business deemed urgent.

No Communications were received from Her Worship the Mayor.