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 24/06/2026

(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Chief Executive

Councillor Tim Thomas to the Cabinet Member Education

How is this authority supporting armed forces veterans?

Councillor Ian Williams to the Cabinet Member Communities & The Environment

Bridgend Town Centre was pedestrianised in 2004 and TRO put in place making it a moving traffic offence for any vehicle to enter the town centre unless for the purpose of loading or unloading.

Towards the end of 2017 a planning application was received by BCBC for a 7 space Car Park within the conservation area of Bridgend Town Centre and this was given planning consent on 9th January 2018 .. there were no objections from highways and the officers report reads …

Given that to date, no objection has been raised by the Transportation, Policy and

Development Section, the proposal is considered to be acceptable from a highway safety perspective and is therefore considered to be compliant with Policy PLA11 of the Local Development Plan .

Contrary to a senior Planning Officer now stating it was a car park for residents prior to the 2004 Pedestrianisation I would just like to dispute that as it was in fact the loading bay for Mothercare and other stores in that block on Caroline Street.

There were no Planning Conditions included in the Planning Consent and no permits have ever been issued for patrons of the car park.

Given that a possible 14,000 journeys have been made in and out of the pedestrian area of Queen Street, Dunraven Place and Market Street by vehicles using the car park in the 8.5 years since allowing vehicles to access the town centre which is in direct contravention of the Traffic Regulation Order but with no objections from highways on safety grounds so in light of this latest information I am asking why some (unspecified) vehicles are allowed to enter the pedestrianised area and other vehicles belonging to the general public aren’t when they are using the same highway that was deemed to be unsafe because of insufficient kerb height and highway safety?

Councillor Tim Thomas

'Notice of Motion: Protection of Sports Pitches and Playgrounds (Dog Control)

This Council notes that:

•           Bridgend County Borough Council is currently reviewing its Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) regarding dog control to ensure public spaces remain safe and clean.

•           A recent severe incident at Pandy Park involving a Tondu RFC player resulted in emergency hospitalisation and intensive medical treatment due to an infection caused by dog faeces left on a marked sports pitch.

•           Similar ongoing issues with dog fouling on sports pitches and children's play areas present significant health risks, including severe bacterial infections and toxocariasis, particularly to children and sports participants.

This Council believes that:

•           While the vast majority of dog owners are responsible, the actions of a small minority place an unacceptable health and safety risk on sports clubs, young people, and the wider community.

•           To protect dedicated sports and play facilities while still accommodating the needs of local pet owners, clearer and stricter boundaries regarding dog restraint and fouling are required on active recreational spaces.

This Council resolves to:

1.         Amend the proposed PSPO to mandate that dogs must be kept on a lead at all times when walked near playgrounds and sports pitches, and are strictly prohibited from fouling, within all council-owned enclosed children's playgrounds and marked sports pitches.

2.         Launch a pilot project at Pandy Park to establish a clearly designated, securely fenced "free-run" area where responsible dog owners can safely exercise their dogs off-lead, balancing the needs of sports clubs and pet owners.

3.         Review the success of the Pandy Park pilot after 12 months to assess whether dedicated off-lead areas should be rolled out to other parks across the county borough alongside these targeted restrictions.

Councillor Freya Bletsoe

In Wales, the Small Business Rate Relief system is administered by Welsh Government through devolved powers. Here in Wales, if your business operates from a property that has a Rateable Value upto £6,000 the businesses are eligible to receive 100% relief. If it has a Rateable Value between £6,001 and £12,000, that relief is tapered from 100% down to 0%. Finally, if the Rateable Value is over £12,000 then there is no Business Rate Relief available under this specific scheme.

However, if you operated that same business in England, you could claim a 100% Business Rate Relief for a Rateable Value of the property up to £12,000 and it is then tapered relief from 100% to 0% for Rateable Values between £12,001 and £15,000.

This disparity between England and Wales is a contributing factor as to why our High Street and small businesses in our County are struggling. Taxation currently being paid to Welsh Government could be paying for wages for additional staff members, for investing in new stock or even paying our hard-working shop keepers and small businesses owners an actual living wage for the hard work they put into running their companies.  Information from the Department of Work and Pensions stats show that from self-employed  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

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.