Agenda and minutes

The Council observed a Minutes Silence for the people involved in the Westminster attack earlier in the day.   

Apologies for absence were received form Councillor C J Barry, Councillor P Brown, Councillor G Jones, Councillor H R Jones and Councillor L E Smart.

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 W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 7 – Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust – Unforeseen Liabilities as he is the Council representative on the Board for the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Ltd.

Councillor E C Galsworthy Declared his Interest in Item 7 – Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust – Unforeseen Liabilities as he is the Council representative on the Board for the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust Ltd.

Councillor M O’Neill Declared his Interest in Item 11 – Request for Full Time Trades Union Representative National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) as he is a former member of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Teachers and a friend of the person referred to in the report.

Councillor M Davies Declared her Interest in Item 11 – Request for Full Time Trades Union Representative National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) as she is Chair of the Merthyr Tydfil Trades Union Council.

Councillor H Barrett Declared his Interest in Item 14 – Council Tax Discounts for Long Term Unoccupied Properties as he is a landlord.

Councillor G Lewis Declared his Interest in Item 14 – Council Tax Discounts for Long Term Unoccupied Properties as he is a landlord.

Councillor W R Smith Declared his Interest in Item 17 – Common Housing Allocations Policy as he is a member on the Board of Merthyr Valleys Homes.

Councillor B Toomey Leader of the Council addressed the Council as this was the last Council Meeting of this administrative term and on behalf of all Members of the Council paid tribute to Officers and Staff of the Council for doing a great job on behalf of the public.

The Leader further stated that the past five years had been extremely challenging and difficult due to the unprecedented cuts forced upon the Council by Westminster Government, however the Council’s entire workforce had demonstrated enormous resilience during this period and that he knew he spoke for all Members when he said ‘thank you so much it has been a privilege working with you’.

The Leader also referred to some Councillors who were standing down at the Local Elections and on a personal level as Leader of the Council thanked each and every Councillor for their considerable contribution to the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil during the period of which they had served and that it had been a privilege serving together and wished every success in whatever the Councillors decided to do next.

To approve as accurate the Minutes of the following Meetings:

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

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 7 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 8 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 13 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee Meeting held 15 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Audit Committee held 15 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 22 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 22 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LAESCYP Scrutiny Committee held 27 February 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 1 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 1 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 2 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Rights of Way Committee held 6 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 7 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the SACRE Meeting held 7 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Minute No 903 should read ‘No apologies for absence were received as all Members were present’.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 8 March 2017 be accepted as a correct record.

Notice of Motion

The Leader Councillor B Toomey referred the Council to the Notice of Motion in relation to ‘Addressing the funding of Local Government – The Financial Transaction Tax’.

Resolved that:

(a)  Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council writes to the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Chancellor and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlining the Council’s position

(b)  Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council writes to our local MP and AM, the First Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government at the Welsh Government to advise them of the Council’s position and seek their support

To consider report of the Chief Executive

The Leader Councillor B Toomey referred the Council to the ‘Scheme of Delegation’ report and recommended that Paragraph 2.3 recommendation (a) be deleted.

Resolved subject to the foregoing that:

(a)  From 22 March until 17 May 2017, the Head of Paid Service (or if he is absent or otherwise unable to act the Deputy Chief Executive) to make a decision upon any matter which is a Council function for reasons of urgency or due process cannot await the next Meeting of Council in consultation with the Leader(s) of each Political Group the Chief Officers (if any) responsible for the function in respect of which the decision is required the Chief Finance Officer and the Monitoring Officer

(b)  From 5 May to 17 May 2017 the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Monitoring Officer to make a decision on any matter which is a Council function for reasons of urgency or due process

(c)  From 29 March 2017 until the next Meeting of the Planning and Regulatory Committee the Chief Officer (Neighbourhood Services) or the Head of Planning to make a decision upon any planning matter which is a Planning and Regulatory Committee function except where:

·         Officers recommended approval but there are two or more objections; or

·         A Councillor requests the matter to be called in

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The Corporate Reserves Policy be approved and introduced for the 2017/18 financial year.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor E C Galsworthy and Councillor W R Smith having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

A ‘one-off’ payment of £110,000 to Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust in respect of unforeseen financial liabilities be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

(a)  The Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/18 to 2020/21 (including the Treasury Management Policy and Annual Investment Strategy 2017/18) be approved

(b)  The Prudential Indicators contained within the Medium Term Financial Plan, be approved with authorisation for managing and monitoring the authorised limit and operational boundary, delegated to the Chief Finance Officer

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The Employee Expenses Policy to be implemented on 1 April 2017 be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The Pay Policy 2017-18 to be implemented on 1 April 2017 be approved.

The Mayor Councillor M Davies having Declared her Interest in the following item vacated the Chair.  The Deputy Mayor Councillor S Slater then took the Chair for the item.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor M Davies and Councillor M O’Neill having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

A Full time Trades Union representative from the NASUWT initially for 18 months be approved to start from 1 April 2017.

Councillor S Slater Deputy Mayor vacated the Chair and the Mayor Councillor M Davies re-entered the Meeting and took the Chair.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The following sites be approved for progression to public consultation commencing on 8 May 2017 for a 12 week period:

Former Vaynor and Penderyn School Site

Godre’r Coed Playing Fields

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

(a)  The preparation for the Wellbeing Duty be noted

(b)  The proposed Wellbeing Statement (and Wellbeing Objectives) for Merthyr Tydfil be approved

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

Councillor H Barrett and Councillor G Lewis having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

(a)  The retention of the current 50% discount in the 2017/18 financial year in respect of Long Term Unoccupied Properties as defined in Class C of Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended be approved.  (See Appendix B)

(b)  The determination to apply no discount in the 2017/18 financial year in respect of Long Term Unoccupied Properties as defined by Classes A and B of Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended be approved.  (See Appendix B)

(c)  The determination to apply no premium in the 2018/19 financial year in respect of Long Term Unoccupied Properties and Unoccupied and Furnished Dwellings be approved.  (This position to be reviewed in 2017 in relation to financial year 2019/20).

To consider report of the Chief Officer Neighbourhood Services

Resolved that:

(a)  The proposal to allow full set Memorials and increase the size of Memorials permitted be approved

(b)  Delegated authority be given to the Parks and Bereavement Services Manager in conjunction with the Portfolio Member for Neighbourhood Services and Public Protection to make final decisions on approving Memorials in the event of needing to vary from Corporate Policy

To consider report of the Chief Officer Neighbourhood Services

Resolved that:

(a)  The Policy relating to littering and dog fouling offences be approved

(b)  Delegated authority be given to the Chief Officer of Neighbourhood Services to make updates or amendments to this Policy in conjunction with the Portfolio Member of Neighbourhood Services

(c)  To delegate the Council’s Environmental Cleansing and Enforcement Officer/s as the Council’s appropriate Officer/s to carry out the Council’s enforcement of littering and dog fouling offences

To consider report of the Chief Officer Community Regeneration

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

Resolved that:

(a)  The draft Common Housing Allocations Policy be approved

(b)  The implementation of the new Arbitras Software System required to effectively administer the new Policy be approved

(c)  Council receives an Information Report later in 2017 advising of the implementation date of this new Policy

The Mayor advised that there was no business deemed urgent.

No communications were received from Her Worship the Mayor.