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 02/04/2025, 09/04/2025 and 14/05/2025

(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Chief Executive

Councillor Colin Davies to the Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services

Earlier this year, the Cabinet member for Education gave an announcement in relation to concerns raised regarding knife crime and safety in BCBC Schools.

He announced that he would set up a Special Task Group involving a range of Stakeholders to discuss and address this extremely serious issue.

Therefore, can the Cabinet member for Education update Council on the progress that has been made to date?

Councillor Martin Williams to the Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services

In light of the reported closure of St Claire's school in Porthcawl what contact has BCBC had with management at the school to ascertain the likely impact/pressure that the closure will put upon this authority's schools? What is that impact and what support will be offered to pupils and parents during this extremely worrying time.

Councillor Tim Thomas to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing

Since the year 2008, how many Section 106 Agreements have:

1.         Taken longer than 5 years to finalise on receipt of application.

2.         Taken longer than 10 years to finalise on receipt of application.

3.         Remain incomplete or outstanding on receipt of application, above and  beyond 10 years.

I move that the Council notes the Employment Rights Bill 2024 is a bill that will update and strengthen employment rights in the UK

Measures being introduced in the bill include.

Ban exploitative zero hours contracts by introducing rights to guaranteed hours.

End unscrupulous “fire and rehire” practices by considering any dismissals for failure to agree a change of contract as automatically unfair

Provide a day one right to protection from unfair dismissal.

Make entitlements to paternity leave from day one of employment.

Introduce a new right to unpaid bereavement leave allowing employees to take from leave from work to grieve the loss of a loved one.

Strengthen employers’ duty to prevent sexual harassment of their employees by requiring them to take all reasonable preventative steps

Improve access to Statutory sick pay by removing the lower earnings limit and removing the three-day waiting period.

The list above is not exhaustive, and the bill includes a raft of measures designed to increase productivity, raise living standards and create opportunities for all.

This council believes:

That the measures contained in the bill represent the biggest upgrade in employment rights in a generation and that once the bill is passed that the working and family lives of the residents of Bridgend will be significantly improved

This council resolves to:

Write to the UK government on behalf of Bridgend residents supporting the measures contained in the bill.’

This council recognises the challenges we face in recruiting operatives to cut grass following the decision to bring it in house and the impact it is having on our communities.

Under the One Council ethos of working collaboratively we therefore resolve to ask the cabinet to consider contacting all town & community councils at the earliest opportunity and offer to pay them to carry out the service in their areas as an interim measure if they are willing and able.

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. 

The report relating to the following item is not for publication as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

If following the application of the public interest test that the Panel resolves pursuant to the Act to consider this item in private, the public will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration.