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 26/06/2018.

RESOLVED:                    That the Minutes of a meeting of the Town and Community Council Forum dated 27 November 2018, be approved as a true and accurate record.

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.

Derbyn datganiadau o ddiddordeb personol a rhagfarnol (os o gwbl) gan Aelodau / Swyddogion yn unol â darpariaethau'r Cod Ymddygiad Aelodau a fabwysiadwyd gan y Cyngor o 1 Medi 2008.

The Interim Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer presented a report, in order to provide Members with an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan.

By way of background information, she explained that the draft MTFS which had been submitted to Cabinet on 20 November 2018 (attached at Appendix A to the report)had been significantly guided by the Council’s revised priorities of, Supporting a Successful Economy, Helping People to be more Self-Reliant and Making Smarter Use of Resources.

She referred to the Budget Narrative, which aimed to articulate the continued and significant investment in public services that the Council will make going forward. It also set out how the Council aims to change particular areas of service delivery and the financial consequences of this.

This Appendix then gave a financial overview, following which the Interim Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer gave a resume of how much budget is allocated to each of its key service areas of follows:-

·      Education

·      Social Care and Early Help

·      Public Realm

·      Supporting the Economy

·      Other Services

The Interim Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer confirmed that the Council’s MTFS was set within the context of UK economic and public expenditure plans, Welsh Government’s priorities and legislative programme.

She explained about the Welsh Government’s draft budget announced by the Finance Secretary on 2 October 2018, and how this affected local authorities in Wales including BCBC. Since then Central Government in its Autumn budget on 29 October, confirmed that Welsh Government will receive an extra £550m over the years 2018-19 to 2020-21.

The next section of the report’s attachment, advised what the above settlements meant for this Authority, which reflected for 2019-20 an overall reduction of £1.616m or -0.84%. Welsh Government also indicated that the settlement contained an additional £20m to ease pressures on Social Services. If this was also taken into account, the real position for Bridgend was a reduction of -1.3% or £2.5m. The settlement also included £2.5m floor funding to ensure that no Authority has to manage with a reduction of greater than 1% to its Revenue Support Grant next year.

Overall the provisional settlement was in line with the -1.5% “most likely” assumption that is contained within the Council’s original MTFS 2019-20, but it did not recognise a number of new pressures that the Council will have to meet.

The next section of the Appendix, outlined reasons why there was a need to combat financial pressures the Council have to face in the coming year, by having to consider an increase of 5.4% in Council Tax.

Paragraph 4.11 of the Appendix then showed in Table 1, a comparison of budget against projected outturn at 30 September 2019, that reflected a net underspend of £2.551m.

Table 2 in paragraph 4.17 of the Appendix, showed details of an MTFS proposal supported by Budget Reductions Contingency Reserve in 2018-19, which was in the sum of £200k for MREC.

The Appendix then gave an outline of the MTFS forecast for the next 4  ...  view the full minutes text for item 167.

To receive for approval the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee Name

I dderbyn am gymeradwyaeth y Cofnodion cyfarfod y previous meeting of the Committee Name

The Partnership Co-ordinator presented a report on behalf of the Chief Executive, the purpose of which, was to seek nominations from the Town and Community Council Forum, for a representative to join the Bridgend Public Services Board (PSB) Assets Sub-Board.

The Partnership Co-ordinator referred to paragraph 4.1 of the report where it outlined the current member organisations that comprised the PSB and paragraph 4.2 which advised, that following the publication of the Wellbeing Plan the PSB developed its partnership delivery structure. This structure consisted of five delivery boards, including the already established (statutory) Community Safety Partnership. The added delivery boards were Children, Young People and Families, Bridgend Learning Partnership, Wellbeing and Bridgend Assets.

She proceeded by confirming that the Bridgend Assets Sub-Board was responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the Wellbeing Objective ‘Healthy Choices in a Healthy Environment.’ This objective (and the Sub-Board) focussed on the Bridgend County as a ‘place’ and on the strengths and challenges of individual communities.

The Partnership Co-ordinator continued, by stating that Bridgend PSB recognised the important role Town and Community Councils play in improving the well-being of Bridgend. She added that the PSB would welcome greater representation and support from the Town and Community Council Forum in delivering the Wellbeing Plan, by inviting a representative to join the Bridgend Assets Sub-Board.

Appendix 1 to the report contained the Bridgend Wellbeing Plan, and this clearly set out how the wellbeing objectives contributed to the 7 wellbeing goals outlined in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015.

The plan outlined how the PSB will act in accordance with the sustainable development principle by ensuring that by meeting the needs of the present, they do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This would be achieved through the 5 ways of working which are evidenced throughout the Bridgend Wellbeing Plan.

Members felt that it would be advantageous to have two Members on the Bridgend Assets Sub-Board as opposed to the recommended one, and further considered that this should be in the form of one Town Council Member of the Forum and one Community Council Member.

Following nominations being made, duly seconded and carried unanimously by way of ascent, it was

RECOMMENDED:             That Councillors S Baldwin and JP Blundell be nominated by the Town and Community Council Forum to sit as Members of the Forum on the Bridgend Assets Sub-Board. 

The Corporate Director – Communities submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to initiate debate with Town and Community Councils (TCCs) and gauge appetite for collaborative working with Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC).

By way of background information, the Chairperson of Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 3 who presented the report, confirmed that it has been highlighted that BCBC should work closer in partnership with TCCs in a bid to maintain community services that are at risk of future budget cuts and to ensure the best services and outcomes for the citizens of Bridgend.

On 22 October 2018 he confirmed that Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 3 received a report (attached at Appendix A), that detailed the outcome of the Independent Review Panel in relation to TCCs and the impact the implementation the recommendations would have on BCBC.

Several comments and recommendations were made by Members at the above Committee meeting (see Appendix B to the report), which included the suggestion for the submission of the report, along with the outcomes of the meeting to the Town and Community Council Forum.

The Chairperson of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 3, then picked out some salient points contained in the reports Appendices, such as for example:-

·        That Bridgend had 100% coverage of TCCs which compared favourably with neighbouring authorities;

·        A total precept of £2.5m had been generated by TCCs in the Bridgend County Borough in 2018/19;

·        He felt that attendance levels needed to improve at future meetings of the Forum, particularly by nominated representatives of TCCs;

·        The possibility of the Town and Community Council Forum meeting more frequently than quarterly, in order to ensure momentum and consistent monitoring of any future collaborative work between the two tiers of Authority; and

·        Detailing the number of CAT projects either completed or in the process of being considered

·        The comments and recommendations made by Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 3 at its meeting on 22 October 2018, on the topic of ‘Collaboration with Town and Community Councils.’

The Chairperson advised that Welsh Government had undertaken a review of the role provided by Town/Community Councils, and through the suggestion of a Member, he felt that it would be advantageous if a representative from Welsh Government be invited to the next/a future meeting of the Forum, to explain to Members the outcomes of the review so conducted.

He referred Members to page 97/overleaf of the report and of the services and amenities currently being provided by TCCs which were considerable in the support of respective communities. In addition to what had already been done, this section of the report confirmed that a total of 71 TCCs confirmed their intention to take on services in the next 12 months, for example, maintenance of playing fields/village greens/other open space, public conveniences, village halls/community centres and playgrounds/areas and play equipment.

A Member felt also that skills of TCC Clerks was important, as well as TCCs taking on work collectively through providing services through joint funding and pooling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 169.

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.