To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest from Members/Officers in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008. 

All Chief Officers present declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda item. 6 and left the meeting whilst this item was being considered. The Officers that remained in the meeting, were the presenting Officer from Human Resources and Organisational Development and Democratic Services Officers.

(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Members of the Cabinet

(iii) Chief Executive

The Mayor

The Mayor commenced by wishing everyone a good afternoon. He hoped that all those present were keeping safe and well and have been enjoying the early spring weather.

He announced that he had no engagements to update Members on but he did have an announcement for those present to note.  Members will soon be receiving their annual related party transaction disclosure form. He reminded all Councillors that it was essential that they completed the form to declare any related party transactions for the financial year 2020-21, even if it was a nil return. The forms needed to be completed no earlier than 31 March 2021 and returned no later than Friday 9 April 2021.

A few days ago Councillor Altaf Hussain had a heart attack, but thankfully, after a few days in hospital, Councillor Hussain has now returned home where he is comfortable and recovering. The Mayor had contacted him and he was pleased to announce, that Councillor Hussain was feeling a lot better. The Mayor was sure, that Members and Officers would join him in wishing Councillor Hussain a full and speedy recovery back to good health.

Deputy Leader

The Deputy Leader advised that time was running out for EU citizens who are living in Bridgend County Borough, and who need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

The scheme, which is part of the UK’s new post-Brexit immigration system, offers citizens of the 27 EU member states the right to keep living and working in the UK as they did when the country was part of the EU.

It is free to apply for, all but applications must be submitted by the deadline of 30 June, next.

So far, almost 2,000 applications have been processed in the County Borough. Of those, 1,370 have been granted settled status, and 570 have received pre-settled status.

These are people who are contributing to the communities in which they live, and we want them to be able to continue to live, work and access services here.

Members are asked to encourage all EU citizens living within their wards who have made their home in Bridgend County Borough to apply to the settlement scheme before the deadline.

More information on how they can do this is featured on the Council’s website

Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration

The Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration stated that colleagues may have seen the recent announcement from Education Minister Kirsty Williams, confirming that Welsh Government is to provide schools across Wales with an additional £72 million.

We are still waiting for Bridgend County Borough Council’s share of this to be confirmed, but the funding forms part of the overall recovery from the pandemic, and is intended to help schools as they seek to support learners.

It will enable the Recruit, Recover and Raise Standards programme to continue into the next academic year, and will provide extra learning resources and support for foundation phase learners across schools and childcare settings which provide early education.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 514.

The Leader wished to share a brief update on matters relating to the pandemic.

Members will have noted the fantastic news yesterday that more than a million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have now been administered across Wales.

In the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, more than 160,000 people have now received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine throughout the region.

For Bridgend County Borough, this breaks down as more than 46,000 residents.

The health board remains optimistic that it will have delivered one or more doses of the vaccine to the 120,000 residents within priority group’s five to nine by mid-April.

To support this, a referral form was published earlier this week at the Welsh Government website which unpaid carers can use to apply for an appointment.

To recap where we are with the rollout of the vaccination, all residents and staff within care homes have been offered their first dose of the vaccine, and mobile vaccination teams are currently revisiting the homes to offer a second dose.

People aged 80 and over have received their first dose via their local GP, and are being contacted to come back for their second dose.

Frontline health workers have received their first dose at hospital vaccination centres, and second doses are currently underway.

Frontline social care workers have also received their first dose, this time at community vaccination centres, and their second dose is being arranged.

People aged 75 and over have received their first dose via GP surgeries, and are being contacted with details of the second dose.

People aged 70 and over have attended community vaccination centres and are receiving details about their appointments for the second dose.

People who received shielding letters have had their first dose, and GP surgeries are contacting them to arrange their second dose.

People aged 65 and over are currently being vaccinated with their first dose through local GP surgeries, and this is ongoing.

GPs have started contacting people aged 16 to 64 who have underlying health conditions to arrange for their first dose of the vaccine.

Letters will soon be issued inviting people aged 60 and over to attend a community vaccination centre for their first dose.

This will be followed with letters to people aged 55 and over, and then people aged 50 and over. Both of these groups will be asked to attend community vaccination centres.

As he earlier, unpaid carers have been asked to submit a form at the Welsh Government website to arrange an appointment for their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Younger adults with learning disabilities, including those in care homes and supported living settings, are also being vaccinated as part of priority group six.

People with learning disabilities living in registered care homes are being vaccinated by the mobile testing teams, and adults with learning disabilities living in supported living will either be vaccinated in their home or at their local GP practice, whichever best suits the individual.

Elsewhere, the community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 515.

We were delighted that, in the wake of the Brackla Hill feasibility study, Cabinet members of Bridgend County Borough Council have publically recognised the value of green spaces to the wellbeing of their residents and communities. Cllr David has recognised “the value of that public open green space to the community of Brackla”, Cllr Smith has acknowledged that his “disposition has always been preserving open spaces” and Cllr Burnett has even gone so far as to say that “the extensive work that has been carried out will ensure the preservation of Brackla Hill as a green open space.”

Article 11.01 of the Council’s Constitution permits the Council to undertake joint arrangements with other bodies in the interests of promoting well-being, these being powers granted by the Local Government Act 2000.

In recognition of these powers, the vital role green spaces play in our emotional and physical well-being, particularly in the height of a global pandemic, and BCBC’s current commitment to not develop on Brackla Hill, does the Cabinet Member agree to follow through with Cllr Burnet’s promise to preserve Brackla Hill as a green open space and immediately begin the process of working with Fields in Trust to legally protect both Brackla Hill and the green open space at Channel View and Foxfields through a Deed of Dedication?

Question by Mr. A Drury

We were delighted that, in the wake of the Brackla Hill feasibility study, Cabinet members of Bridgend County Borough Council have publically recognised the value of green spaces to the wellbeing of their residents and communities. The Leader has recognised “the value of that public open green space to the community of Brackla”, The Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration has acknowledged that his “disposition has always been preserving open spaces” and the Cabinet member – Social Services and Early Help, has even gone so far as to say that “the extensive work that has been carried out will ensure the preservation of Brackla Hill as a green open space.” Article 11.01 of the Council’s Constitution permits the Council to undertake joint arrangements with other bodies in the interests of promoting well-being, these being powers granted by the Local Government Act 2000.

In recognition of these powers, the vital role green spaces play in our emotional and physical well-being, particularly in the height of a global pandemic, and BCBC’s current commitment to not develop on Brackla Hill, does the Cabinet Member – Communities agree to follow through with the Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help’s promise, to preserve Brackla Hill as a green open space and immediately begin the process of working with Fields in Trust to legally protect both Brackla Hill and the green open space at Channel View and Foxfields through a Deed of Dedication?

Response by Cabinet Member – Communities

The Council has recently made a commitment to preserve Brackla Hill as a green open space, as it fully recognises the value of open space to the emotional and physical wellbeing of its residents and communities.

This open space will be afforded protection thorough the Bridgend Local Development Plan (LDP) as it is the principal strategic land use planning document that guides future development within the County Borough.  It is also the principle consideration in the determination of planning applications, as planning law requires that the planning decisions must take into account the provision of the development plan.

The Brackla Hill area is already protected in the current LDP and is specifically allocated under Policy COM13(5) – Provision of Accessible Natural Greenspace (including public open space) as well as a number of other key open spaces within the County Borough.  Any development on these areas of land will potentially depart from the development plan and would be resisted in planning terms.

The draft replacement LDP is due to be published later this year and will include allocated accessible open space provision based on up to date evidence and open space audits.  The plan will be open for public consultation and any comments taken into consideration before the plan is scrutinised by an outside Planning Inspector with a view to eventual adoption in 2022.  The provision and importance of open space within communities is outlined in national planning policy i.e. Future Wales 2040 and Planning Policy Wales both of which are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 516.

The Group Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development presented a report on behalf of the Chief Executive, the purpose of which, was to seek Council approval for the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/2022.  This was in response to legislative requirements and to provide openness and accountability in relation to how the Council rewards its staff.

She explained that the Council had a statutory requirement under the Localism Act 2011, Section 38(1) to prepare a Pay Policy Statement for the new financial year 2021/2022. This Statement needs to be approved and published by 31 March 2021.

The Pay Policy Statement provided the framework for decision making on pay, and in particular decision making on senior pay.

The Group Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development referred Members to the updated Pay Policy Statement for approval, attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

This had been produced in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011, which required all local authorities to develop and make public their policy on all aspects of Chief Officer remuneration. In order to achieve further transparency, reference has been included to the pay of other relevant groups within the policy statement.

Since its introduction on 1 April 2012, the Pay Policy had developed to take account of relevant guidance, legislation and changes to the Council’s senior management structure over recent years. The pay structure relating to this group of staff was at Appendix B to the report, within the Pay Policy, which had also been presented to Council for noting.

The Group Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development then gave an update on paragraph 6.8 of the attached Appendix in respect of the homeworking allowance and paragraph 8, pay relativities, for Members information.

A Member asked whether or not the Pay Policy captured employer’s mileage claims and what protocols were in place within the Authority, in order to ensure that such claims were both accurate and legitimately made.

The Group Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development advised that the Pay Policy did not go into any detail with regards to employer travelling expenses. However, there was both guidance and checks and balances in place, in order to ensure that these were completed accurately. Guidance regarding this was also available through on-line expenses system she added. Should a fraudulent claim be made and identified, then this would be taken further with the employee and their manager, explained the Group Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development.

In terms of any future proposals regarding Job Evaluation and/or Redundancy processes, a Member recognised that some employees had been disadvantaged when compared with others, particularly this last year since the pandemic and home working, in that they had no option but to commit more time to home care management commitments, whether this be for children or older family members. He sought reassurance that these employees would not be disadvantaged in any way, when it came to the Authority looking at potential cases for redundancy, etc.

The Group  ...  view the full minutes text for item 517.

The Corporate Director – Communities and the Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change submitted a joint report, the purpose of which, was to:

·          update Council on the development of the Bridgend Town Heat Network Project;

·          seek approval for the inclusion of a budget of £3.4m within the capital programme for the project;

·          seek approval for a loan of £1.821m to be made from the Council to the proposed Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). 

The Corporate Director – Communities commenced, by advising that Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) initially started looking at the opportunities for the development of heat networks in Bridgend County Borough in 2012, with drivers for the projects identified as decarbonisation, economic and social reasons, as expanded upon in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

The Bridgend Town Heat Network Project is included as a project within the BCBC Smart Energy Plan (SEP) (approved by Cabinet in February 2019). This Plan details the projects that BCBC will participate in during the period 2019 – 2025. This proposes to test various technologies, consumer propositions and business models, to provide a pathway to the decarbonisation of Bridgend County Borough. It was also a key contributor to the Welsh Government’s decarbonisation strategy (published March 2019) “Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales”.

She continued by stating that the Bridgend Town Heat Network Project proposed to deliver heat (via a gas combined heat and power engine located within the Bridgend Life Centre) to the Bridgend Life Centre, Civic Offices and the Bridgend Bowls Hall. The project would also provide electricity to the Life Centre, Civic Offices and Bowls Hall.

A capital grant application had been made to UK Government via its Heat Network Investment Programme (HNIP) in April 2019. This had been approved in December 2019 for: (i) £1,000,000 capital investment towards the construction of the heat network; and (ii) £241,000 for pre-construction activities.

The Corporate Director – Communities continued further, by stating that at its meeting of 19 January 2021, Cabinet approved the continued delivery of the Bridgend Town District Heat Network project. Progression of the scheme involved certain financial decisions. One was to note that the Treasury Management Strategy will need to be revised to enable the Council to make a loan of £1.821 million to the SPV; that this was to be reflected in the draft Treasury Management Strategy 2021-22 that was presented to the Audit Committee on 28 January 2021 and then subsequently to Council for approval in February 2021.

She added that, Cabinet had also agreed that a report be taken to Council, recommending that the capital programme be amended to include the Bridgend Town District Heat Network project and that Council agrees the loan to the SPV, subject to approval to changes to the Treasury Management Strategy. As Members were aware, Council had since approved this at its previous Budget meeting.

The Corporate Director – Communities, stated that Cabinet approved the procurement of a Design Build Operate Maintain contractor for the Bridgend District Heat Network by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 518.

The Corporate Director – Communities submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to seek Members approval to adopt SPG16 - Educational Facilities and Residential Development as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to the Bridgend Local Development Plan (LDP).

He stated that Members will be well aware that the Council has a duty to ensure that good quality educational facilities are available to the children and young people of the County Borough. This was a key objective of both the Corporate Plan and the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

The development of new housing in the County Borough, places existing education facilities under increased pressure, he explained.

SPG16 was a key tool in alleviating that pressure, by providing advice and guidance in relation to the circumstances in which the Council may justifiably seek financial contributions towards the provision of educational facilities.

In summary the SPG sets out:

•           The National and local Planning Policy context and legislation;

•           The Council’s own policy and practice relating to education;

•           Guidance notes explaining the circumstances, mechanisms for calculating the likely contributions;

•           Examples of how this is done; and

•           Guidance on how the policy will be administered.

In terms of the current situation, the Strategic Planning Team Leader advised, that the Council already has an SPG16, which had successfully generated millions of pounds towards school projects. However, the current version was adopted in 2010 and in recent times, officers have found that the level of contributions being generated was failing to keep up with the cost of modern construction practices. So a small working group was therefore formed, in order to undertake a formal review and produce an updated draft, and on the 16th January 2020, members of the Development Control Committee approved the draft version of the SPG as the basis for public consultation.

A 6-week period of consultation was held between 21 February and 3 April 2020, with the consultation advertised in the manner described in paragraph 4.2 of the report.

By the end of the consultation period seven representations were received on the draft SPG. These representations were summarised in Appendix 1 to the report.

On 21st January 2021, the Development Control Committee considered all of the representations and agreed the changes to be made to the document, in light of the comments received. These are now incorporated as amendments to the SPG attached at Appendix 2 (to the report).

Members would note from the bullet points at paragraph 4.4, that the proposed amendments are limited to relatively simple points of clarification, which reflected the amount of work that went into the draft SPG, from the outset. The Strategic Planning Team Leader acknowledged the input of the School Modernisation team and that of Cllr Amanda Williams, who both gave valuable contributions to the review and production of the draft SPG and ensured that Members had a voice in the process.

The Strategic Planning Team Leader then concluded the report, by referring to its relation to the Wellbeing of Future  ...  view the full minutes text for item 519.

The Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change presented a report, the purpose of which, was to inform Council of the requirement for Members to formally declare any related party transactions for the financial year 2020-21, by completing the declaration attached at Appendix A to the report, even if it is a nil return, and that this must be completed no earlier than 31 March 2021 and returned by no later Friday 9 April 2021.

She advised that the requirement to declare related party transactions was not new within the Statement of Accounts. Audit Wales scrutinise these returns closely as part of their audit of the Statement of Accounts and have recommended that, the Council should:-

•  formally remind all Councillors of the importance of completing and submitting their annual related-party return by the deadline set by the Finance Department; and

• ensure that any outstanding related party returns are always pursued promptly.”

The report therefore informed Members of the requirement to complete the declaration attached at Appendix A, with reference to the guidance attached at Appendix B by Friday 9 April 2021. It was very important added the Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change, that the form was completed as at 31 March 2021 and covered the full financial year or period for which the individual was a Member of the Council. Members should note that a copy of this declaration would be emailed separately to their BCBC email, address for completion and return.

In response to a Members question, the Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change, confirmed that copies returned with a typed Members signature would be accepted.

She also confirmed in response to a further question, that Members who were involved in Sub-Contracting to Contractors for the Council, should also disclose this on the form, as should they disclose close family members who were providing the same, or a similar service.

In terms of the management of grants that BCBC had completed as a distribution element for Welsh Government, these should also be disclosed on the form, she added.

RESOLVED:                              That Council notes the requirement for  Members to:

(1) Formally declare any related party transactions for the financial year   2020-21.

(2) Complete and date the return no earlier than 31 March 2021.

(3) Submit the return by Friday 9 April 2021.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report, to advise Council of the Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales in respect of the level and range of remuneration the Authority must make available to its elected members for the 2021/22 municipal year. 

This was the thirteenth Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (the Panel), and the tenth published under the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).  The Measure extended the responsibilities of the Panel and its powers under Section 142 to decide (prescribe) payments to members of relevant authorities.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed, that representatives of the Panel held consultation meetings on their proposals, which was attended by the Authority’s Head of Democratic Services.  The Panel had acknowledged each of the 39 responses to the consultation on the draft report and answered all the queries that were raised in respect of this.

The Panel’s Determinations for 2021/22, were shown at Annex 1 of the Annual Report (from page 51 onwards). 

She explained, that the Basic Salary in 2021/22 for elected members of principal councils shall be £14,368 with effect from 1st April 2021 (Determination 1). This salary shall be paid by each principal authority to each of its elected members unless any individual member opts personally and in writing to receive a lower amount. Adjustments in recent years have been in keeping with the Panel’s principle that its determinations should be affordable and acceptable.  This principle is maintained in the increase for 2021/22 in the basic salary elected members of £150. 

The senior salary levels in 2021-22 for members of principal councils shall be as set out in Table 3, page 14 of the Annual Report (Appendix 1 refers).  The Panel considered that the leadership and executive roles carry the greatest individual accountability and that size of population remains a major factor in influencing levels of responsibility and the use of the population groups has therefore been retained. 

The Salary for the Leader and Deputy Leader has been based on the population of the County Borough (100,000 to 200,000).  The Leader is entitled to receive £49,974 and the Deputy Leader £35,320. Cabinet Members will be entitled to receive a senior salary of £30,773.

Where Chairs of Committees are remunerated, they will be paid a salary of £23,161. The Panel had re-iterated that it is a matter for individual authorities to determine which Chairs are paid.  At its Annual Meeting in May 2020 Council determined that the Chairpersons be remunerated of the Committees, as shown in paragraph 4.2.4 of the report.

The Panel had determined that Council must make a senior salary of £23,161 available to the leader of the largest opposition group. 

In terms of Civic salaries, Councils have strongly expressed to the Panel that Elected Members do not wish to make any choices that require Councils themselves to choose and match the level of activity or duties of a specific member to a given range of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 521.

Councillor Altaf Hussain to the Leader

In Wales, 60% of the adult population and 1 in 8 children age 4-5 years are overweight or obese and each year this figure is increasing. There is consistent evidence that obesity (excess weight) is associated with an increased COVID-19 risk in addition to the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases which themselves increase the risk of complications in someone who contracts COVID-19. Knowing that excess weight is one of the few preventable risk factors for COVID-19, could the Leader let us know what measures he is taking to help those residents who are living with overweight or obesity to lose weight in a sustainable manner, together with interventions to prevent weight gain and reduce risk of COVID-19 in our Borough?

Councillor Tim Thomas to the Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help

Compared with other local authorities, how well do children in care do at school, both academically and in terms of other achievements?

Councillor Matthew Voisey to the Leader

why is this Labour administration discriminating against some key workers, by not allowing those in the private sector access to childcare provisions during this current lockdown, considering these are the very workers the Labour party claims to look after, part time workers and those on or near minimum wage?

Councillor Altaf Hussain to the Leader

In Wales, 60% of the adult population and 1 in 8 children age 4-5 years are overweight or obese and each year this figure is increasing. There is consistent evidence that obesity (excess weight) is associated with an increased COVID-19 risk in addition to the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases which themselves increase the risk of complications in someone who contracts COVID-19. Knowing that excess weight is one of the few preventable risk factors for COVID-19, could the Leader let us know what measures he is taking to help those residents who are living with overweight or obesity to lose weight in a sustainable manner, together with interventions to prevent weight gain and reduce risk of COVID-19 in our Borough?

Response

There is no doubt that the pandemic has served to highlight the detrimental impact of such a virus on more vulnerable groups and people with higher levels of risks that can often be associated with poor lifestyle and behaviours.  The National Survey for Wales in 2019-2020 identified that amongst adults:

18% of the population were smoking

19% of the population were drinking more than the weekly guidelines

Only 25% had eaten five portions of fruit or veg the day before

53% were active for 150 minutes or more per week

10% followed fewer than 2 healthy behaviours

61% of the adult population were overweight or obese (including 25% obese).

In terms of childhood obesity Bridgend Council is an active partner with Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board and is part of a network that is focused on preventing childhood obesity across the health board footprint.  A whole system event involving many stakeholders took place prior to the pandemic and will support work going forward.  Bridgend is supportive of a collective effort to tackle childhood obesity to improve the wellbeing of young people and our communities.  The National Child Measurement survey is one of the tools that is used to track the physical wellbeing of children.  In the most recent publication of data, Bridgend was slightly below the Welsh average of children classed as obese at 11.9% compared to RCT at 14.4% and Merthyr at 15.6%).

Supporting people to be of a healthy weight remains a public health priority and the Council has a role in maintaining or enhancing the wellbeing of local people and our communities.  The evidence confirms that obesity increases the risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease and it is important that people have opportunities, information and support to sustainably manage their weight. This will be beneficial to combatting the negative impact of Covid 19 but potentially other communicable diseases or chronic conditions also.  Welsh Government identify from learning and insight gained during the first phase of the pandemic that existing inequalities and issues around food insecurity may have been exacerbated.

In February 2020, Welsh Government launched its Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales strategy with a related delivery plan to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 522.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency. 

None.