To receive apologies for absence from Members.

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.   

To receive for approval the minutes of 28/02/2024

(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Members of the Cabinet

(iii) Chief Executive

Question from Councillor T Thomas to the Cabinet Member – Climate Change and the Environment

What progress has the Cabinet Member made in improving children's playing parks in the County Borough?

Question from Councillor S Bletsoe to the Cabinet Member – Housing, Planning and Regeneration

The Bridgend Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan was released in December 2021, stating that “The plan identifies a series of ambitious and deliverable projects. To achieve the overall vision and regenerate Bridgend Town Centre over the next 10 years”.

We are now 28 months since the Bridgend Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan was released and it details a number of short, mid and long term deliverable projects that it hopes to achieve.

In the Cabinet Members opinion, which of the of these projects will be delivered in the 10-year lifespan of the masterplan.

1)     Motion for Debate: Towards a more sustainable and resilient system of local government funding

That this Council:

•           Notes that there has been a major sustained failure to properly fund local government;

•           Notes that Bridgend County Borough Council’s future budget position is challenging, and that further significant budget reductions will be highly likely over the course of the medium term financial strategy which will have a negative impact on the provision of core services and the wellbeing of our residents;

•           Calls on central government to implement a fairer and simplified funding formula which ends the series of ad hoc one-year settlements and ring-fenced competitive bidding;

•           Calls on central government to consider the viability of moving towards a more sustainable and resilient system of local government funding which:

(1)       redistributes funds between local authorities more closely in line with an assessment of need; and

(2)        assigns a fixed percentage of national tax revenues to local authorities.

•           Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a formalised standing Commission to act as a liaison between local and central government to consider any developing central government policies which would affect local government competencies and ensure that all national legislative commitments are fully funded.

2)     Notice of Motion: Protected Characteristics for Care Experienced   People

Bridgend County Borough Council acknowledges that the Children and Young People’s Education Committee established by the Senedd Welsh Parliament recommended that care experience becomes a protected characteristic in UK legislation and has signed up to the Corporate Parenting Charter in Wales which the Welsh Government has recently published inviting other public sectors organisations to become a Corporate Parent for care experienced children and young people in Wales. This motion further extends Bridgend County Borough Council’s commitment to care experienced children and young people to the principles, priorities and promises enshrined within the Bridgend Corporate Parenting Strategy.

This council recognises that:

• Care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives;

• Despite the resilience of many care experienced people, society too often does not take their needs into account;

• Care experienced people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships, employment and in the criminal justice system;

• Care experienced people may encounter inconsistent support in different geographical areas;

• As corporate parents, councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority;

• As corporate parents Bridgend County Borough Council will commit to acting as mentors, hearing the voices of care experienced children and young people and to consider their needs in any aspect of council work;

• Councillors will be champions of the children in our care and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society;

This Council therefore resolves:

• That it recognises that care experienced people are a group who are likely to face discrimination;

• That it recognises that Bridgend County Borough Council have a  ...  view the full agenda text for item 13.

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.