Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor K Gibbs.

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

No Declarations of Interest were made.

Notice of Motion

The Chief Executive referred to the Notice of Motion that had been received and gave details of the Rules in The Constitution and advised that the Notice was flawed under these Rules.

A Member then proposed a Motion that Council Procedure Rules be Suspended.

The Chief Executive advised that this proposal required half of the Council to support this Motion and gave further details of The Constitution.

A vote was then taken on the Motion by a show of hands and it was

Resolved that:

Standing Orders be Suspended.

Councillor C Barry then proposed the following Motion:

‘A full and comprehensive report be brought to the next available Council examining the whole range of reductions to those services provided directly by the Local Authority, as well as the savings proposed by the School Forum.  This will enable Council which is after all the decision maker in this Authority to make an informed decision on where best to spend the £200k that has been identified from earmarked reserves to the best effect for the benefit of the Electorate of Merthyr Tydfil.’

This Motion was seconded by Councillor D Roberts.

Considerable debate then ensued on the Motion and the Chief Executive suggested that if accepted this report be brought to the Full Council Meeting scheduled for 25 July 2018.

Resolved that:

(a)  A full and comprehensive report be brought to the next available Council examining the whole range of reductions to those services provided directly by the Local Authority, as well as the savings proposed by the School Forum.  This will enable Council which is after all the decision maker in this Authority to make an informed decision on where best to spend the £200k that has been identified from earmarked reserves to the best effect for the benefit of the Electorate of Merthyr Tydfil

(b)   This report be brought to the Meeting of Full Council scheduled for 25 July 2018.

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 Annual General Meeting and Mayor’s Installation held 16 May 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 2 May 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 2 May 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 16 May 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 25 April 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 10 April 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 17 April 2018 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

The Leader Councillor K O’Neill referred the Council to the ‘Welsh Government Consultation Document: Strengthening Local Government: Delivering for people’ report and proposed that Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council remains as it is and continues to favour working through Consultation and Collaboration.

Councillor T Rogers then proposed an amendment that Option 3 as contained within the report be accepted.

A Vote was then taken on the amendment and the amendment fell.

A Vote was then taken on the Motion and it was

Resolved that:

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council remains as it is and continues to favour working through Consultation and Collaboration.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Community Regeneration

The Mayor welcomed Geraint Talfan Davies, Carole-Anne Davies and Amanda Spence of the Design Commission for Wales to the Meeting.

Councillor G Thomas referred the Council to the ‘Crucible – Design Charrette Report: Cyfarthfa Heritage Area’ and the recommendations as contained within the report.

The Council were also circulated with the ‘Merthyr Tydfil Industrial Heritage Design Charrette Report’ Document.

The representatives from the Design Commission then commented on the report and responded in detail to questions raised by the Members.

Resolved that:

(a)  A small Working Group to progress the ‘Crucible’ concept and projects be established

(b)  A Task and Finish Group to undertake discussions as part of an Internal Design Charrette be established

(c)  An Interim Working Group to explore the establishment of an appropriate development vehicle to take the programme forward be established

(d)  A potential location for a new development vehicle to be based be identified

(e)  Community Consultation and identify engagement with key Stakeholders be undertaken

(f)   Existing Heritage Lottery Fund applications for Cyfarthfa be reviewed

(g)  The establishment of links with major London based Charities, Trusts, Welsh Government Departments and all relevant UK based funding Organisations be explored

The Mayor then thanked the representatives of the Design Commission for Wales for the Presentation to the Council.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Neighbourhood Services

Resolved that:

The request to change the Terms of the Post from a 2 year fixed term to a permanent position be agreed.

Councillor T Rogers left the Meeting at 7.07 pm.

The Mayor referred to the Resignation of Rhonda Braithwaite who had served as a Gurnos Ward Member and paid tribute to her work as a Councillor and these sentiments were endorsed by Councillor K O’Neill.

No Communications were received from His Worship the Mayor.