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 A Barry Declared his Interest in Item 4 – Efficiencies 2023/24: Council Tax Premiums Consultation Results and Item 5 – Council Tax Premium on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings as he has a second property.

Councillor L Davies Declared his Interest in Item 4 – Efficiencies 2023/24: Council Tax Premiums Consultation Results and Item 5 – Council Tax Premium on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings as he owns a second home.

Councillor C Tovey Declared his Interest in Item 4 – Efficiencies 2023/24: Council Tax Premiums Consultation Results and Item 5 – Council Tax Premium on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings as he owns a second home.

Councillor I Thomas Declared his Interest in Item 5 – Council Tax Premium on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings and Item 6 – Budget Requirement and Council Tax 2023/24 – State of the Council Debate as he is a Member of Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Council and has Dispensation to Speak and Vote.

Councillor M Colbran Declared his Interest in Item 10 – Sustainable Communities for Learning – Updated Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) as he is a Governor of Greenfield Special School 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 Full Council Meeting held 8 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 27 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 1 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held 8 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Combined Governance and Audit Committee / Joint Scrutiny Committee held 13 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 27 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 15 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Planning Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 15 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Neighbourhood Services, Countryside and Planning Scrutiny Committee held 30 January 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Corporate Support and Resources Scrutiny Committee held 31 January 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

Resolved that:

The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 28 February 2023 be accepted as a correct record.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

Resolved that:

The results of the Consultation be received.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Declarations of Interest

Councillor A Barry, Councillor L Davies and Councillor C Tovey having Declared their Interest in this item left the Meeting for the consideration of this item.

Resolved that:

(a)    The charging of a 100% Council Tax Premium on Section 12(A) long-term empty properties that have been empty in excess of twelve months with effect from 1^st April 2023 be approved

(b)    The charging of a 100% Council Tax Premium on Section 12(B) periodically occupied properties (Second Homes) with effect from 1^st April 2024 be approved

(c)    The creation of a new Recovery Inspector / Premium Officer post be approved.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor G Thomas Leader of the Council addressed the Council and thanked Officers, Members and Staff of the Council.

The Leader also advised that a full copy of his address would be made available on the Website.

Councillor G Thomas then referred the Council to the ‘Budget Requirement and Council Tax 2023/24 – State of the Council Debate’ report.

Councillor G Thomas then moved the recommendations detailed at Paragraph 2.0 the report and was seconded by Councillor A Barry.

Questions were then raised by the Members on the report and were responded to in detail by the Cabinet Members and the Officers.

A Recorded Vote on the item was then requested.

The Monitoring Officer advised that support from five Members was required for a Recorded Vote.

Comments were then made by Members on the report.

The Mayor referred to the difficult decisions that had to be made and proposed that the Meeting be Suspended for ten minutes to afford the opportunity for Groups to have a discussion.

Breakout Rooms were then made available for the Groups and the Meeting was Suspended from 7.35 until 7.45.

The Monitoring Officers then requested a show of hands in relation to the request for a Recorded Vote and confirmed that the number had been met and a Recorded Vote would be undertaken.

A Recorded Vote was then taken on Recommendations 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 as contained within the report:

Due to the Vote being tied the Mayor gave his Casting Vote For the recommendations.

Therefore the Motion was carried.

Resolved that:

(a)    The Council Tax increase of 4.7% for 2023/24 (‘Band D’ of £1,828.34) for the County Borough Council be approved

(b)    The Budget Requirement of £152.654 Million for 2023/24 (Net Revenue Budget) be approved

(c)    The Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 to 2026/27 (including the Capital Strategy Report 2023/24 and Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24) be approved

(d)    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

(e)    The Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2023/24 as detailed in Paragraph 8.4 of the report be approved

(f)     The Chief Finance Officer’s comments relating to the robustness of the estimates and adequacy of reserve be noted.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

Councillor A Barry referred the Council to the ‘Council Tax Resolution 2023/24’ report and moved the recommendations detailed at Paragraph 2.0 of the report and was seconded by Councillor G Thomas.

Comments were then made by the Members on the report.

A Recorded Vote on the item was then requested.

The Monitoring Officer advised that support from five Members was required for a Recorded Vote and requested a show of hands for the Recorded Vote and confirmed that the number had been met and a Recorded Vote would be undertaken.

A Recorded Vote was then taken on Recommendations 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 as contained within the report:

Due to the Vote being tied the Mayor gave his Casting Vote For the recommendations.

Therefore the Motion was Carried.

Resolved that:

(a)    The formal Statutory Council Tax resolutions 2023/24 as outlined in Appendix 1 and summarised in Paragraph 5.1 of the report be noted and approved

(b)    The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales approved precept for 2023/24 of £6,040,911 for the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council area be noted

(c)    The Bedlinog and Trelewis Community Council approved precept for 2023/24 of £38,985 for the Community Council area be noted

(d)    The Welsh Government 2023/24 Non Domestic Rate for Wales of 53.5 pence in the £ be noted.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Social Services

This item was deferred.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

This item was deferred.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Education

Resolved that:

(a)    The inclusion of a new build Greenfield Special School in the Local Authority’s updated Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Strategic Outline Programme be approved

(b)    The Local Authority’s match funded commitment to deliver the Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Programme 2023/24 to 2028/29 as detailed in Section 6 of the report be approved.

Councillor I Thomas advised that he had not heard all the debate and therefore did not vote on the recommendations.

The Mayor advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.

International Women’s Day

The Mayor advised that today was International Women’s Day which is a global event celebrating the Social, Economic, Cultural and Political achievements of Women.