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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend, CF31 4WB

Contact: Mr Mark Anthony Galvin  Senior Democratic Services Officer - Committees

Items
No. Item

171.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence from Members. 

 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members/Clerks to Town/Community Councils:-

 

Councillor B Jones

Councillor RE Young

Councillor M Clarke

Councillor N Mackay

A Harris

A Wilkes

 

172.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

None.

 

173.

Approval of Minutes pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To receive for approval the Minutes of 27/11/2018

 

Minutes:

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.

 

174.

The Future role of the Community and Town Council sector in Wales pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To be accompanied by a Presentation from the Head of Local Government Partnerships, Welsh Government.

Minutes:

The Leader and Chairperson welcomed to the meeting Claire Germain, Head of Local Government Partnerships, Welsh Government (WG), in order that she could give a power point presentation on the above topic.

 

The presentation included the following slides:-

 

Commissioning a Review

 

Independent review set-up in 2017 to consider the future role of Community and Town Councils. 

 

Cross-party Panel, with wider expertise/experience drawn in.

 

Given 12 months to:

 

·        Explore the potential role of local government below Local Authority Councils, drawing on best practice;

·        Define the most appropriate model(s)/structure(s) to deliver this role;

·        Consider how these models and structures should be applied across Wales. This will include consideration of any situations in which they would not be necessary or appropriate.

 

Undertaking the Review

 

Involved extensive engagement and evidence gathering, including:

 

  1. Regular Panel meetings including taking evidence;
  2. Wide range of oral and written evidence from stakeholders – gathering as many vies as possible through a range of engagement activity;
  3. Consideration of wider evidence (data, reports, research, etc);
  4. Newsletters updating on progress and opportunities to engage.

 

Findings and Recommendations

 

The Panel set out views on:

 

·       What Community and Town Councils are;

·       What Community and Town Councils do;

·       How Community and Town Councils do it;

·       How Community and Town Councils are held to account

 

Final report submitted in October 2018.

 

Continuing the conversation

 

Written statement issued on 31 November 2018, setting out Welsh Government’s policy approach:

 

1.     Encouraging and enabling change to happen naturally;

2.     Providing an element of choice about how far, and how fast, a Council decides to move;

3.     Creating an environment for Councils to expand their activities where they feel they could/should

 

Welsh Government Areas for Action

 

Areas where we can, and will, take action immediately and areas that require further consideration and consultation

 

Theme

 

Clarifying the role of the sector:

 

Immediate action

 

Undertake a campaign to:

 

  • Confirm important role of sector;
  • Raise awareness of the work of Town/Community Councils (including in areas that don’t have them);
  • Raise awareness of the benefits of establishing new Town/Community Councils;
  • Encourage Town/Community Councils to reflect on what is required locally, in terms of the kinds of services they could deliver.

 

Further consideration

 

1.      Alongside raising awareness of the benefits of establishing new Town/Community Councils, explore other models which could provide a focus for communities in urban areas;

2.      Consider further the usefulness of a ‘placed base services’ distinction, the appetite for change and the pace that it could be sustained;

3.      Consider consulting on the merits of retaining (dual hatted’ Councillors

 

Increasing democracy and participation:

 

Immediate action

 

  • Use existing powers to ensure Community Reviews are conducted on a regular basis;
  • Establish a better understanding of use of social media by Town/Community Councils, to engage their community and facilitate sharing of good practice;
  • Undertake a campaign to encourage more people to stand for election.

 

Further consideration

 

  1. Consider and potentially consult on the need for a comprehensive review of Town/Community Council boundaries, recognising any action in future would require a different legislative vehicle;
  2. Consider whether to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 174.

175.

The Bridgend Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) Candidate Site Register pdf icon PDF 280 KB

Minutes:

The Corporate Director – Communities presented a report, the purpose of which, was to inform the Forum of the register of Candidate Sites (attached at Appendix 1) which have been received from interested parties following a call for such sites to be submitted between 14 September 2018 and 9 November 2018.

 

The Development Planning Team Leader advised that the Bridgend Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) is a high level strategy which must be prepared by the Council. The LDP sets out in land-use terms all the priorities and objectives of the Corporate Plan. The future Replacement LDP will be required to express in land-use terms the wellbeing objectives and priorities of the Bridgend Public Services Board’s Wellbeing

Plan.

 

The call for sites was advertised as was detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report and by the closing date of 9 November 2018, 172 sites had been duly submitted and collated into a ‘Candidate Site Register’ appended to the report.

 

The report detailed the next steps in terms of process of this document.

 

The Development Planning Team Leader stressed to Members, that it is important to reiterate at this stage that the publication of any site in this Candidate Site Register does not confirm any status or suggestion that it will be taken forward for inclusion within pre-deposit proposals or the deposit LDP nor does it imply any preference of the Local Planning Authority regarding its merits. This includes any sites submitted by internal

Departments of the Council.

 

He also emphasised that this register is not a public consultation document but rather it is a factual compilation of the sites which have been submitted.

 

Paragraph 4.8 of the report gave information as to the methods by which the Development Planning Team has publicised and made the register available.

 

The Development Planning Team Leader advised that the cost of the Replacement LDP would be met from the Development Planning budget and carried out by Development Planning staff with expert advice and evidence procured from consultants and through collaboration with neighbouring authorities as required.

 

The Group Manager – Planning and Development Services confirmed that all Town and Community Councils would be visited and from time to time updated as part of the LDP process going forward.

 

RESOLVED:                        The Town and Community Council Forum noted the report and the contents of the Candidate Site Register.

176.

Bridgend Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) 2018-2033, Draft Vision and Objectives, Growth and Spatial Options pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Development Planning Manager presented a report to the Development Control Committee on the draft vision and objectives, growth and spatial strategy options for the Bridgend Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP).

 

He explained that the 3 technical reports (attached as appendices A, B and C to the covering report) provided background information in respect of the draft vision and objectives, growth options and spatial strategy options proposed for the Replacement LDP.

 

It is intended that these technical reports will inform the ongoing pre-deposit engagement and participation in and also inform the preparation of the preferred strategy and subsequent stages of plan preparation:

 

            Technical Report 1: Draft Vision and Objectives (attached as Appendix A);

            Technical Report 2: Draft Strategic Growth Options (attached as Appendix B);

            Technical Report 3: Draft Spatial Strategy Options (attached as Appendix C).

 

The next sections of the report, outlined executive summaries of the above Technical Reports, and the Development Planning Manager gave a resume of the key points of each for the benefit of Members.

 

The Development Planning Manager then gave a power point presentation, which gave further information on this topic as follows:-

 

Bridgend County Borough will continue to be transformed to become a sustainable, safe, healthy and inclusive network of communities comprising strong, interdependent, connected and cohesive settlements that can offer people:

 

·       The best start in life by providing effective learning environments to secure the best possible outcomes for learners;

·       Provide opportunities to reduce social and economic inequalities;

·       An improved quality of life and a healthy environment for all people living, working, visiting and relaxing in the area.

 

The revised LDP Vision would be delivered through 4 Strategic Objectives, ie:-

 

  1. To create High Quality Sustainable Places (Placemaking).
  2. To create Active, Healthy, Cohesive and Social communities
  3. To create Productive and Enterprising Places.
  4. To Protect and Enhance our Distinctive and Natural Places.

 

The LDP when fully established, would assist the following:-

 

  • Increase Sustainability
  • Create new, affordable homes
  • Support future generations
  • Assist employment opportunities
  • Assist the viability of our town centres
  • Help the environment
  • Give regeneration opportunities
  • Enhance green infrastructures
  • Support Education
  • Prevent inappropriate development

 

There were three growth options that were being looked at, and these were classified as High, Medium and Low, and Officers explained that the Medium growth option was the preferred one. Some of the key points of this option were:-

 

Background

 

       Looked at past birth, death and migration trends

       Translated into households, dwellings and jobs

       Analysed a range of different scenarios to
arrive at three growth options

       Underpin the Local Development Plan

 

Mid Growth Option; +505 dwellings, +266 jobs

 

       Welsh Government Projection Plus Mid-Year Estimates

       Trends from 2011/12 - 2016/17, akin to build rate

       Higher net migration flows

       Younger age profile, growth in 35-44 age category

       Job creation through skilled workforce

 

Recommend Mid Growth Option (for the following reasons)

 

       Sustainable growth levels to secure investment

       Established working households attracted

       Employers enticed by young, skilled workforce

       Secure integrated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.

177.

Urgent Items

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. 

 

 

 

Minutes:

None.

 

 

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