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 23/07/2025

(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Chief Executive

Councillor Ian Williams to the Cabinet Member - Climate Change & the Environment

What pressure are Bridgend County Borough Council putting on SRS , NRW and WG to trace the source of pollution which is affecting our beaches and rivers (River Ogmore, Newton, Sandy Bay, Trecco and Rest Bay).Our residents are now exposed to this contamination on a regular basis and it’s causing various medical issues and this is totally unacceptable! It’s also having a negative impact on the economy of our county with residents seeking cleaner seas and beaches away from the beaches of Porthcawl.

Councillor Ian Spiller to the Cabinet Member - Regeneration, Economic Development & Housing

The town centre bollard on Queen Street has not been operational from Thursday 26th June to Tuesday 29th of July 2025, meaning that cars have been able to access the town centre in-spite of the traffic order during this period.

Can you please confirm during this period how many traffic related incidents involving have been reported and the nature of them between the hours of 10am and 6pm.

Planning Reform to level up the needs of communities with high volume developers.
This Council notes:

·       That the Welsh Government is currently considering proposals for planning reform in Wales.

·       The importance of the planning system in delivering sustainable development, affordable housing, and community infrastructure.

·       That Section 106 agreements, planning consents, and the quality and standards of new builds are central to maintaining public confidence in the planning system.

·       That poor delivery against agreed obligations, or poor standards in the quality of new homes, undermines trust and damages communities.
This Council believes:

·       That robust delivery of Section 106 agreements, planning consents, and consistently high standards in new housing developments is essential.

·       That where delivery of planning obligations has been poor, or where the quality and standards of new builds have been inadequate, this should be treated as a material consideration in determining future planning applications from the same developer or associated parties.

·       That serious and persistent offenders who repeatedly fail to meet obligations or quality standards should be placed on a register of poor performers and prohibited from bringing forward further development proposals for a defined period.

·       That planning reform in Wales must strengthen accountability and enforcement to ensure developers deliver on both commitments and quality.

This Council therefore resolves:

1.     To call on the Leader of the Council to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing, and to the First Minister of Wales, welcoming the Welsh Government’s work on planning reform and urging that it must include:

·       Stronger monitoring and enforcement of Section 106 agreements and planning consents.

·       A requirement for local planning authorities to consider both the track record of developers in delivering previous obligations and the quality of their completed developments as material planning considerations.

·       Greater powers for councils to refuse planning applications where developers have failed to honour commitments or where the standard of previous new builds has been poor.

·       The creation of a national register of poor-performing developers, with powers to prohibit serious and persistent offenders from undertaking new development for a number of years.

2.     To circulate this motion to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and to all local Members of the Senedd and Members of Parliament representing Bridgend County Borough, urging their support.

This Council notes:

·       BCBC employees are able to join the Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund, which, as part of the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP), manages over £3 billion on behalf of local government employees and retirees.

·       That current investments include holdings in fossil fuel companies, arms manufacturers, and multinational corporations accused of contributing to human rights violations or environmental degradation.

·       That Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds have a fiduciary duty to act in the best long-term interests of members, which includes managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks.

·       That numerous other public bodies, including city and county councils across the UK, have adopted Responsible Investment policies with stronger commitments to divest from harmful sectors and align with international human rights and climate goals.

·       That the Wales Pension Partnership has adopted a Responsible Investment policy but currently allows fund managers significant discretion over ethical criteria and sector exclusions.

This Council recognises the increasing pressures placed upon South Wales Police as a result of hosting major national and international events within Cardiff and the wider region.

Events such as major sporting fixtures, concerts, political summits, and cultural gatherings often require significant additional police presence, planning, and resources, with costs and operational pressures borne locally.

We further note that other UK city-regions notably  Belfast and Edinburgh are recognised by the Home Office as Capital City regions and  receive additional funding and support from the Home Office to reflect the unique policing demands associated with hosting high-profile events.

Currently, South Wales Police does not receive equivalent levels of support, despite facing comparable challenges and resource demands, such as. being the second highest area for Royal vists, Rugby and Cricket Interntional programmes and major concert venues.(TBC)
 
This Council therefore resolves to:

·       Formally call on the UK Government’s Home Office to recognise Cardiff as a City region in the same way as Belfast and Edinburgh for future funding.

·       Write to the Home Secretary and to relevant Welsh Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd, urging them to support the case for recognition of Cardiff as a city region and call for fair and  sustainable funding for South Wales Police.

·       Request a review of current Home Office funding formulas, to ensure fair and consistent support for all Wales police forces based on event load, city-region status, and policing pressures.

·       Invite the Chief Constable of South Wales Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner to present to the Council on the operational and financial impacts of major event policing and to discuss potential joint advocacy efforts.

We believe that a fair and equitable approach to policing resources is essential to maintain community safety, officer wellbeing, and public confidence, and to ensure that South Wales is not disadvantaged in comparison to other UK city-regions.
 

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.