Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received as all Members were present.

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 L Davies Declared his Interest in Item 4 – Notice of Motion – Leisure Trust as he works for the Trust.

Councillor D Roberts Declared his Interest in Item 4 – Notice of Motion – Leisure Trust as he is a Trustee and has Dispensation to Speak and Vote.

Councillor M Jones Declared her Interest in Item 4 – Notice of Motion – Leisure Trust as she is a Trustee and has Dispensation to Speak and Vote.

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 Meeting of the Full Council Meeting held 6 July 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 6 July 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 26 July 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 10 August 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 29 June 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Rights of Way Committee held 13 July 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 18 July 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Corporate Support and Resources Scrutiny Committee held 28 June 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Regeneration, Public Protection and Housing Scrutiny Committee held 5 July 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Learning and LGES Scrutiny Committee held 20 June 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 21 June 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services, Planning and Countryside Scrutiny Committee held 27 June 2022 be accepted as a correct record.

Notice of Motion – Leisure Services

Councillor L Davies having Declared his Interest in this item left the Council Chamber for the Consideration of this item.

Councillor K Gibbs referred the Council to the Notice of Motion as detailed at Item Four of the agenda in relation to the Leisure Services and read out the Motion in full.

This Motion was then seconded by Councillor B Carter.

Questions were then raised by Members on the Notice and were responded to by Members.

The Monitoring Officer also gave advise in relation to procedure.

A Member then suggested an amendment to the Motion and another Member indicated that they would support this amendment.

However, this suggestion of an amendment was not accepted by the Members who had submitted the Motion.

Considerable debate then ensued on the Motion.

A Vote was then taken on the Motion as detailed in Item Four of the agenda and it was

Resolved that:

The Local Authority open Formal Consultations with the General Public, Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust, Trade Unions and all relevant Stakeholders with the overarching objective to return Leisure Services back under the control of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.  A full report on the results of the Consultation to be presented at Full Council no later than 11 January 2023. 

Notice of Motion – Safer and Cleaner Streets

Councillor D Jones referred the Council to the Notice of Motion as detailed at Item Five of the agenda in relation to Safer and Cleaner Streets and read out the Motion in full.

This Motion was then seconded by Councillor B Carter.

Questions were then raised by Members on the Notice and were responded to by Members.

The Monitoring Officer also give advice on procedure and legislation.

A Member then made a suggestion for an amendment to the Motion but this amendment was not accepted by the Members who had submitted the Motion.

Considerable debate then ensued on the Motion.

A vote was then taken on the Motion that the Council:

(a)    Implement a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to include the enforcement of penalties for Dog Fouling etc

(b)    Reinstate the Dog Warden Post

(c)    Take a tougher approach to Fly Tipping which includes the Removal Enforcement and Penalties for Fly Tipping on privately owned land

(d)    Remove all Charges for Pest Control Services to residents of the County Borough

The Vote was tied – Fifteen for and Fifteen against.

The Mayor then gave his Casting Vote against the Motion and therefore the Motion fell.

Notice of Motion – Playgrounds and Parks

Councillor D Jones referred the Council to the Notice of Motion as detailed at Item Six of the agenda in relation to Playgrounds and Parks and read out the Motion in full.

The Motion was then seconded by Councillor G Lewis.

Questions were then raised by Members on the Notice and were responded to by Members.

Considerable debate then ensued on the Motion.

A Vote was then taken on Motion that the Council:

Proposes the implementation of a Structured Plan to ensure that all Playgrounds in all Eleven Electoral Wards are either Updated, Renewed or Replaced by the end of 2026 / 27 Financial Year.

The Vote was tied – Fifteen For and Fifteen against.

The Mayor then gave his Casting Vote against the Motion and therefore the Motion fell.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The Council’s Risk Management Strategy / Policy (Appendix 1) be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Social Services

Resolved that:

(a)    The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and Associated Action Plan be approved for submission and for publication

(b)    Updates on progress against the recommendations within the Associated Action Plan be reported annually to Elected Members be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Social Services

Resolved that:

(a)    The 2022 Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA) and Annual Play Action Plan as required under Section 11 of the Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010 and Play Sufficiency (Wales) Regulations 2012 be approved and submitted to Welsh Government

(b)    Updates on progress against the recommendations within the Associated Action Plan to be reported annually to Elected Members be approved.

To receive report of the Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The report for Information be received.

Remote Attendance

A Member requested clarification regarding being on Camera whilst taking part in a Committee Meeting remotely on Teams.

The Monitoring Officer referred to the announcement that she had made at the start of the Meeting and read out this again for clarification but that she would further clarify this matter to everyone in writing.

Armed Forces – Bronze Award

Councillor A Barry advised the Council that Cyfarthfa High School had been awarded the Armed Forces – Friendly Schools Cymru – Bronze award and extended his congratulations to the School.

Summer of Sporting Success for the County Borough

Merthyr Tydfil Cricket Club

The Mayor extended his Congratulations to Merthyr Tydfil Cricket Club on winning Division 2 and gaining promotion to Division 1.

Commonwealth Games

The Mayor extended his Congratulations to all the residents who had made the Commonwealth Games such a triumph.

Boxing

The Mayor also wished Gavin Gwynne the best of luck when he defends his British and Commonwealth Lightweight titles later this month.

In order for the following to be considered in private, it is suggested that the public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved that:

The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive report of the Deputy Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The report for Information be received.