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Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Mark Anthony Galvin  Senior Democratic Services Officer - Committees

Items
No. Item

224.

Declarations of Interest

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. 

 

 

Minutes:

The Head of Legal and Regulatory Services and Monitoring Officer gave the following advice to Members in respect of an agenda some Members may  have an interest in later in the meeting (i.e. Agenda Item 10), as follows:-

 

Members who are in the pension fund will have a personal interest in this item. However, under the Code of Conduct if that interest arises from their membership of the fund through their Councillor salaries they would not have a prejudicial interest. This exemption applies to them personally and would not apply to any interest they had as a result of family being part of the pension fund. It was for each Member to consider their own individual circumstances, she concluded.

 

The following declaration of interest was made:-

 

Councillor RM James Agenda Item 8 personal interest in that his wife worked for the Wales Audit Office.

 

The following declarations of interest were made in respect of Agenda Item 10:-

 

Councillor PJ White personal interest.

 

Councillor DBF White prejudicial interest as his wife was in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor DG Howells personal interest, as well as a prejudicial interest as a representative Member of WDA.

 

Councillor P Davies personal interest.

 

Councillor HJ David prejudicial interest in that close family relatives are in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor HM Williams personal interest.

 

Councillor CE Smith personal interest as well as a prejudicial interest due to a close family member being a beneficiary member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor S Baldwin personal and prejudicial interest.

 

Councillor MJ Kearn prejudicial interest as a close family Member was in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor G Thomas prejudicial interest as a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor KJ Watts prejudicial interest.

 

Councillor RM Shaw personal interest.

 

Councillor N Clarke personal and prejudicial interest.

 

Councillor MC Voisey personal interest.

 

Councillor N Burnett personal interest as a close family relative is a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor M Jones personal as a recipient of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor T Beedle prejudicial interest as a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor A Williams personal and prejudicial interest as a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor D Patel personal interest as a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor MC Clarke personal interest as he has paid into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor S Aspey personal interest as he is a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor T Thomas personal interest as he had previously paid into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor J Gebbie personal interest.

 

Councillor R Penhale-Thomas prejudicial interest as his husband was in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Councillor R Collins prejudicial interest as his wife was a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

Those Members above who had declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 10, advised that they would leave the meeting whilst this item was being considered.

 

225.

Approval of Minutes pdf icon PDF 144 KB

To receive for approval the minutes of 19/09/18

 

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:                    That the Minutes of a meeting of Council dated 19 September 2018, be approved as a true and accurate record.

226.

To receive announcements from:

(i)  Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Members of the Cabinet

(iii) Chief Executive

(iv) Monitoring Officer

 

Minutes:

Mayor

 

The Mayor extended his congratulations are due to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Bridgend Extrication Team. The team recently retained their title of the very best in the UK for the sixth time. The team fought off strong competition from teams across the country at a Challenge event in Cardiff Bay which was hosted by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.  He gave a big thank you to all involved for their continued dedication and hard work.

 

He had a busy period since the last Council meeting, with Judy and he having carried out 28 official engagements, which had been varied, different and very enjoyable. He especially mentioned:

 

  • Mrs Catherine Powell’s 100th Birthday at Oakland’s Residential care home Bridgend, she has only recently moved from her home in Penprysg Pencoed
  • We attended the 60th Wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs Lewis of Nantyffyllon.
  • The opening of Brynmenyn School by the First Minister Carwyn Jones was well attended by Members,’this is the fifth new school to open in five years and demonstrates the authority’s ongoing commitment to first class education.
  • After the last Council meeting we had the pleasure of raising the RAF ensign to celebrate 100 years since their formation.  I would like to thank all who attended to help us commemorate this important milestone.
  • We attended KPC’s Macmillan coffee morning and a Rotary Club Charity lunch in aid of the Tenovus Closer to Home appeal which raised over £7,000 for this excellent cause.
  • The Interfaith Seminar and dinner at City Hall Cardiff was an excellent evening and a great chance to meet people from all faiths and backgrounds.
  • The Annual Bridgend Business Forum awards held at the Coed–y-Mwstwr were another highlight and I will be visiting all the winners to offer congratulations in person, meet their staff and see the work that they do.
  • My Mayoral Civic service was well attended and he thanked all the officers who took part for their hard work in making the event a such a success.
  • Congratulations to the Bridgend Cancer Research shop who celebrated their 25th Birthday, the shop and its dedicated band of volunteers have raised over £1.8 million pounds during that period. 
  • We were honoured to be invited to the presentation of the British Empire Medal to Mr. John Berry in recognition of his lifetime’s work for the YMCA.  I was also delighted to invite Mr. Roger Hudd into the civic offices to receive his BEM for all his hard work over the years in respect of various charities.

 

To conclude the Mayor reminded all male Councillors that after the meeting today there will be a photo opportunity in support of the White Ribbon Campaign. Members should have already received an email to this effect from Councillor David White who is our White Ribbon Champion and it would be nice if as many male Councillors as possible could participate to show our support and commitment to this important initiative he concluded. 

 

Deputy Leader

 

The Deputy Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 226.

227.

To receive the report of the Leader

Minutes:

The Leader reminded all members that Darren Mepham was leaving the authority in the New Year to take up a new role as Chief Executive of Barnett and Southgate further education college in north London.

 

He took the opportunity to offer Darren his congratulations. The Authority had made significant progress in the six years that he had been employed here, and it had faced some of the most challenging circumstances this Council has ever seen.

 

This has included developments with the change in health board, working through difficult financial challenges to deliver a balanced budget and sound finances, achieving further collaboration with our neighbouring councils like the shared regulatory services, radical changes to streamline the managements of all directorate including establishing a new directorate which has brought together the majority of our corporate services and of course he has reduced senior management costs by over a third.

 

Darren would be with BCBC for the next three months and will continue to play a hands-on leading role in that time. As an authority, we would be seeking to appoint a permanent replacement to the post as soon as possible, and he had been, and would be speaking further with Cabinet colleagues and group leaders about the interim arrangements required to put in place.

 

Darren will be here for two more Council meetings between now and starting his new role so today wasn’t a time to say goodbye.

 

We have a very capable and skilled senior management team in place who between them have decades of experience, and the Leader was very confident that our ambitious programmes will all continue to move forward.

 

Welsh Government has confirmed that EU funding of £1.5m is to be invested in Porthcawl’s all-new water sports centre at Rest Bay. The funding is being made available as part of Welsh Government’s new Tourism Attractor Destination programme, which has been launched by Visit Wales to create 13 must-see tourist destinations. The water sports centre will be one of these, and is designed to appeal to water sports enthusiasts throughout South Wales and beyond. Work has started, and a ‘selfie board’ has been erected on fencing placed around the building site to minimise the visual impact of the works, and demonstrate our efforts to ensure Porthcawl continues to thrive and grow as one of Wales’s premier coastal resorts.

 

The Leader announced that he was delighted to attend the official opening of the all-new Brynmenyn Primary School by the First Minister last week. The £9m school is just one of the latest to be delivered as part of our flagship 21st Century school modernisation programme, and follows hot on the heels of the official opening of the new Betws Primary.

 

The former premises located at Bryn Road was more than a hundred years old, and could not expand due to being surrounded by common land.

 

The new school is twice the size and offers a nursery, 14 large classrooms equipped with modern learning technology, state-of-the-art educational facilities and more than  ...  view the full minutes text for item 227.

228.

Annual Report 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive presented a report the purpose of which, was to present the Council’s Annual Report 2017-18 (attached at Appendix A) for Council to consider and approve.

 

He began his submission by advising that it was a legal requirement for Council to publish an assessment of its performance for the previous financial year, prior to 31 October.

 

The Plan had defined 38 commitments to deliver the three well-being objectives and identified 53 outcome-focused indicators for the financial year 2017-28.

 

The aim/objective of the Plan was to gauge how well the Council performed in 2017-18, using success measures and other fact based evidence.

 

Paragraph 4.2 of the report, confirmed that the Council performed well during the above period, with of the 37 commitments taken forward, the Council carried out to completion 29 of these (nearly 79%) with a further 6 (16%) being mostly completed. The Chief Executive confirmed that these were well in hand to complete, and he gave reasons why these had not to date been fully completed.

 

The Corporate Plan identified 53 indicators to measure success and 51 indicators had been collected for the year. Of those with a target, he advised that the Council met or exceeded the target for nearly 69%, with a further 10% missing the target marginally. Detailed information about the Council’s performance against its commitments and targets was included in Appendix A to the report.

 

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Annual Report also provided a summary of budgets for the year, regulators’ findings, themes that underpin our work and an overview of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

 

He concluded his submission, by confirming that once approved, the Annual Report will be published on the Council’s website and shared with stakeholders. Hard copies of the report would also be produced and placed in the Council’s public libraries.

 

The Leader reiterated the words of the Chief Executive, adding that the 6 commitments currently showing as uncompleted would be completed at the earliest possible opportunity and applauded work undertaken to date, such as for example, the Bridges into Work Scheme and the Kerrigan Project.

 

A Member also added that it would be welcomed if all Members had the opportunity of receiving the Presentation with regard to the ‘Get on Track Programme’ given previously to some Members and Officers by Jodie Coupland, a former pupil of Ysgol Bryn Castell School.

 

This programme was explained within the penultimate paragraph on page 36 of the Appendix. Members felt that this would be worthwhile. 

 

RESOLVED:                    That Council approved the Annual Report 2017-18, attached at Appendix A to the covering report.  

229.

Treasury Management – Half Year Report 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 624 KB

Minutes:

The Interim Head of Finance and S151 Officer submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to comply with the requirement of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice (the Code), to provide an overview of treasury activities as part of a mid-year review. The report also provided a summary of the Treasury Management activities from 1 April to 30 September 2018 and reports on the projected Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators for 2018-19.

 

The report was based on the Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) for 2018-19 which was approved by Council on 28 February 2018.

 

She explained that CIPFA published new editions of Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice and the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities in late December 2017, however, the TMS 2018-19 (and therefore this report) have been produced using the 2011 Codes due to the timing of the changes and there was still some information which had yet to be published when the TMS was produced.

 

 In March 2018, the Welsh Government also published an amendment to the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Wales) Regulations which enables the Council to invest in certain instruments which were previously treated as capital expenditure (for example Money Market Funds) without the potential revenue cost of Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) and without the proceeds from sale being considered a capital receipt.

 

The Council’s external debt and investment position for 1 April to 30 September 2018 was shown in table 1 within the report, and more detail was provided in section 4.3 of the report, the Borrowing Strategy and Outturn and section 4.4 which explained the Investment Strategy and Outturn.

 

For Members information the Bank Rate started the financial year at 0.50% and remained at that rate until 2 August 2018, when the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee increased the rate by 0.25% to 0.75%. The current forecast is that there will be a further 0.25% increase in the Bank Rate by March 2019 reaching 1% by the end of 2018-19.

 

The key points to note in the report, were:

 

The total gross external debt outstanding 30 September 2018 £117.52m made up of:

 

·         The £96.87m borrowing made up of :

 

·         £77.62m relating to long term Public Works Loan Board at fixed rates (average rate 4.70%)

 

·         £19.25m with a maturity date of 2054 relating to Lender’s Option Borrower’s Option loans which may be re-scheduled in advance of the maturity date (average rate 4.65%)

 

The Council would take the option to repay the LOBO loans at no cost if it had the opportunity to do so in the future.

 

Following advice from TM Advisers Arlingclose, the Interim Head of Finance and S151 Officer confirmed that the Council approached the LOBO’s lender for potential repayment options in 2017-18. However, the premium was deemed too excessive to action, but the Council would take the option to repay these loans at no cost if it has the opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 229.

230.

Information Report for Noting pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Legal and Regulatory Services submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to inform Council of the Information Report for noting which had been published since its last scheduled meeting.

 

The Information Report in question, was detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report and was entitled ‘Wales Audit Office – Overview and Scrutiny – Fit for the Future?’

 

The Head of Legal and Regulatory Services confirmed that a report on this topic had previously been considered and debated by Members of the Audit Committee and the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

RESOLVED:                    That Council acknowledged the publication of the document listed in the report.

231.

To receive the following Questions to the Executive:

Question to the Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration from Councillor T Thomas

 

Will the Cabinet Member make a statement on the take up of Welsh A Levels across schools in the County Borough.

 

Question to the Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help from Councillor A Hussain

 

The number of people living with hearing loss in Wales is 575,500 and this number is rising as the population ages and we live longer. I don’t have the number of people we have with hearing loss here in Bridgend County. 

 

Action on Hearing Loss Cymru in their recent report have recommended that, I quote “Local Authorities should review their provision and access arrangements for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, ensuring they are meeting their duties under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act. Particular attention should be given to:

 

·         the first point of contact/access,

·         the assessment process,

·         the system for issuing assistive equipment and

·         the provision of information/advice/guidance throughout.”

 

Keeping in mind the above recommendation suggested by Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, Could the Cabinet Member let the Council know how we are supporting people with hearing loss here in our County?

 

Minutes:

Question to the Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration from Cllr T Thomas

 

‘Will the Cabinet Member make a statement on the take-up of Welsh A Levels across schools in the County Borough?’

 

Response

 

Welsh (1st Language) A level

 

In 2017, 10 students from Bridgend schools sat an A level in Welsh 1st Language.  Across Wales, in 2017, 214 students sat an A level in Welsh 1st Language.  Therefore, 5% of all A level Welsh 1st Language entries from schools across Wales in 2017 came from Bridgend. This represents a similar entry to 2016 compared to a 13% decline across Wales since 2015.

 

The percentage of Bridgend pupils achieving A*-E grades matches the all-Wales average.  The percentage of Bridgend pupils achieving A*-C grades was above the all-Wales average in 2015 but below in 2016 and 2017. The number of students sitting A level Welsh 1st Language in 2018 will at least match the number of entries in 2016.

 

Across Wales, the numbers of pupils studying A level Welsh 1st Language fell from 280 in 2015 to 214 in 2017. Similarly, the numbers of pupils studying AS level Welsh 1st Language fell from 280 in 2014 to 218 in 2017.

 

2.  Welsh (2nd Language) A level

 

In 2017, 29 students from Bridgend schools sat an A level in Welsh 2nd Language. Across Wales, in 2017, 242 students sat an A level in Welsh 2nd Language. Therefore, 12% of all A level Welsh 2nd Language entries from schools across Wales in 2017 came from Bridgend. This represents a 4% increase from 2016.

 

The percentage of Bridgend pupils achieving A*-C grades was well above the all-Wales average. The percentage of Bridgend pupils achieving A*-E grades was just below the all-Wales average. Only one student failed to secure a ‘pass’. The number of students sitting A level Welsh 2nd Language in 2018 will at least match the number of entries in 2015 and 2016.

 

Across Wales, the numbers of pupils studying A level Welsh fell from 272 in 2015 to 242 in 2017. Similarly, the numbers of pupils studying AS level Welsh 2nd Language fell from 354 in 2014 to 298 in 2017.

 

Welsh Government has decided to discontinue short course GCSE Welsh 2nd Language and now all students in key stage 4 study full course GCSE Welsh 2nd Language.  There are therefore large numbers studying Welsh up to GCSE but this is not translating into numbers for A level.  Schools in Bridgend are reporting that, if anything, the numbers opting for AS Welsh 2nd Language have declined since full course GCSE Welsh was made compulsory.

 

3.  Curriculum offer

 

Welsh 2nd Language at AS and A level is timetabled within the collaborative timetable option blocks in the common curriculum offer that is accessible to all students across Bridgend. 

 

Welsh 2nd Language AS/A levels are currently delivered by Bryntirion Comprehensive School but is also available at Archbishop McGrath  ...  view the full minutes text for item 231.

232.

Notice of Motion Proposed by Councillor Tim Thomas

Council acknowledges:

 

The damaging impact that increased levels of gasses within the atmosphere is having on the environment and the part it is playing in adverse climate change. Council further acknowledges that international cooperation is required to hold the immediate impact on our climate.

 

Council welcomes:

 

The UK and Welsh government’s commitment to tackling climate change with initiatives to limit global warming, and its acceptance that the use of fossil fuels is a major contributory factor in rising world temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Council notes that during the financial year 2016/17, the Rhondda Cynon Taff Pension Fund, which administers pension arrangements on behalf of Bridgend County Borough Council, invested a percentage of indirect pooled funds in fossil fuels.

 

This council calls on the Rhondda Cynon Taff Pension Fund to start making an ordered withdrawal of such investments at the earliest opportunity.

 

Minutes:

Following an introductory speech, the Notice of Motion below was proposed by the above mentioned Member:-

 

That Council acknowledges:

 

The damaging impact that increased levels of gasses within the atmosphere is having on the environment and the part it is playing in adverse climate change. Council further acknowledges that international cooperation is required to hold the immediate impact on our climate.

 

“That Council welcomes:

 

The UK and Welsh government’s commitment to tackling climate change with initiatives to limit global warming, and its acceptance that the use of fossil fuels is a major contributory factor in rising world temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Council notes that during the financial year 2016/17, the Rhondda Cynon Taff Pension Fund, which administers pension arrangements on behalf of Bridgend County Borough Council, invested a percentage of indirect pooled funds in fossil fuels.

 

This council calls on the Rhondda Cynon Taff Pension Fund to start making an ordered withdrawal of such investments at the earliest opportunity.”

 

Members debated this item and due to there being a difference of opinion from the floor on whether or not the Motion should be supported by the Council, an electronic vote was taken on whether or not there should be a recorded vote on the proposal, the result of which was as follows:-

 

For                       Against                        Abstentions              Did not Vote

 

19                           15                                      0                               15

 

A recorded vote was then undertaken on the above Notice of Motion, the result of which was as follows:-

 

Members names to be put in after they have been translated and before the minutes go out with the agenda for the next meeting

 

For                       Against                      Abstentions             

 

10                            24                                     0

 

It was noted that the remaining Members present either did not vote or had withdrawn from the meeting for this item, due to the declaration of interest they had made in this earlier in the meeting.

 

RESOLVED:                        That it be noted that the above Notice of Motion by way of a majority decision was not carried/supported.                              

Recorded Vote
TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
Notice of Motion Motion Rejected
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • 233.

    Urgent Items

    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. 

     

     

    Minutes:

    None.

    234.

    Exclusion of the Public

    The Report relating to the following item is not for publication as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12  of Part 4, and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

     

    If following the application of the public interest test the Committee resolves pursuant to the Act to consider this item in private, the public will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration.

     

     

     

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:                That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as it contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

     

                                         Following the application of the public interest test it was resolved that pursuant to the Act referred to above, to consider the under-mentioned item in private with the public being excluded from the meeting as it would involve the disclosure of exempt information as stated above.

     

    235.

    VER and Redundancy Package

     

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