To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received the following Members:-

Councillor R Penhale-Thomas

Councillor PW Jenkins

Councillor P Gwilliam

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

None.

To receive for approval the Minutes of 19/03/2018

RESOLVED:              That the minutes of the meeting of the Town & Community   Council Forum dated 19/03/2018 be approved as a true and accurate record

To receive a presentation from representatives of Welsh Government on the subject of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of Town and Community Councillors

The Chairperson invited to the meeting Mr. L Jones, from Welsh Government, and Ms. S. Willey and Mr. G. Owens from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, in order to give a Presentation on the above topic.

The Presentation covered the following:-

Community and Town Council Groupings

The Panel believed that the wide variation in Community and Town Council size, means the responsibilities and accountabilities of Councillors must also vary.

Councillors managing income of expenditure of £1m and those delivering significant services, including those perhaps delegated from Principal Councils, are operating in a much more complex environment than a Council, with an annual budget of less than £30k.

The Panel examined a range of measures we could use as the basis for grouping Community and Town Councils to reflect these differences.

We concluded that using income or expenditure figures better reflects the activity levels of a Council than population ratios or precepts which the Panel found did not always correlate to income or expenditure.

Reflecting on consultation feedback on the draft Annual Report, the Panel has formed 3 groups of Community and Town Councils on the basis of the level of income or expenditure, whichever is the highest, in the previous financial year.

It was also easier for Councils to understand which group they belong to ie:-

Community/Town Council Group           Income or Expenditure in 2017-18 of

           A                                                     £200k and above

           B                                                     £30k - £199,999k

           C                                                     Below £30k

The Officers from the IRWP then went on to talk about various Determinations made as follows:-

Determination 44

Community and town councils in Groups A and B must make available a payment to each of their members of £150 per year for costs incurred in respect of telephone usage, information technology, consumables etc.

Determination 45

Community and town councils in Group C are authorised to make available a payment to each of their members of £150 per year for costs incurred in respect of telephone usage, information technology, consumables etc.

Determination 46

Community and town councils in Group A must make available an annual payment of £500 each to a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 members in recognition of specific responsibilities. This is in addition to the £150 payment for costs and expenses.

Determination 47

Community and town councils in Groups B or C are authorised to make an annual payment of £500 each to up to 5 members in recognition of specific responsibilities. This is in addition to the £150 payment for costs and expenses if that is claimed.

Determination 48

Community and town councils are authorised to make payments to each of their members in respect of travel costs for attending approved duties. Such payments must be the actual costs of travel by public transport or the HMRC mileage allowances as set out in the annual report.

Determination 49

If a community or town council resolves that a particular duty requires an overnight stay, it may authorise reimbursement of subsistence expenses to its members at the maximum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 163.

Report To be accompanied by a presentation from Planning Officers

The Corporate Director – Communities submitted a report, that outlined the stages undertaken to date in progressing the Replacement Bridgend Local Development Plan (2018-2033), with this focusing on:

• The Bridgend Local Development Plan (2013) Review Report (Appendix 1 to the report). This document sets out the proposed extent of likely changes the existing LDP (2006-2021) and seeks to confirm the revision procedure to be followed in preparing a replacement LDP. It is proposed that the Replacement LDP will cover a plan period up to 2033, which is the end of a 15 year plan period that will commence in 2018; and
• Bridgend Replacement Local Development Plan Delivery Agreement (Appendix 2 to the report). The Delivery Agreement sets out how and when the local community and other stakeholders can contribute to the preparation of the Replacement Plan and a timetable for its preparation. It is proposed that the Replacement LDP will cover a plan period up to 2033

Both the Review Report (for the existing LDP (2013)) and the Delivery Agreement for the replacement LDP will be submitted to Welsh Government before the end of June 2018, after being agreed by Council.

The report was accompanied by a power point Presentation given by the Development Planning Team Leader, who was accompanied by the Group Manager Development.

The Presentation covered the following areas:

1.    What is an LDP – A high level Strategy allocating land use throughout the County Borough. This will portray the key objectives of this, Public Service obligations and Wellbeing plans. The LDP will account for sustainable development and sustainable growth provision.

2.    The Council will monitor the LDP for performance purposes, and it is required to be reviewed every 4 years.

The LDP helps enhance and deliver/create the following:-

·         Hew homes/Affordable Housing

·         Employment

·         Town Centres

·         Regeneration

·         Environment

·         Green Infrastructure

·         Education provision

·         Preventing inappropriate development

·         Sustainability

·         Future Generations

All aspects of the Plan will need to be assessed to consider if they remain sound. This will include:-

1.    The LDP’s Vision

2.    Its Objectives

3.    Spatial Strategy

4.    Policies and Designations

The full Review will follow exactly the same preparation process and stages as the original adopted LDP.

Changes to the LDP will be informed by:-

• Significant findings and concerns identified in the 3 AMR’s that have been published since the Plan was adopted;
• Any significant contextual changes (such as National, Regional or local conditions and circumstances);
• New evidence;

The next part of the Presentation covered all the stages associated with the progression of the LDP, including the timetable for these. It would culminate with the LDP being adopted in August/September 2021.

It was explained that a number of key stakeholders would be involved in the Review Report, with ‘targeted engagement’ taking place with stakeholders etc. Examples of these were, the general public, Welsh Government, Home Builders Federation, Natural Resources Wales, CADW, Welsh Water and Town/Community Councils.

Key issues of the LDP would be satisfying the new Wellbeing and Future Generations Act (and to deliver the objectives of this);  ...  view the full minutes text for item 164.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 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.