(i) Mayor (or person presiding)
(ii) Members of the Cabinet
(iii) Chief Executive
Minutes:
The Mayor
The Mayor commenced by wishing everyone a good afternoon. He hoped that all those present were keeping safe and well and have been enjoying the early spring weather.
He announced that he had no engagements to update Members on but he did have an announcement for those present to note. Members will soon be receiving their annual related party transaction disclosure form. He reminded all Councillors that it was essential that they completed the form to declare any related party transactions for the financial year 2020-21, even if it was a nil return. The forms needed to be completed no earlier than 31 March 2021 and returned no later than Friday 9 April 2021.
A few days ago Councillor Altaf Hussain had a heart attack, but thankfully, after a few days in hospital, Councillor Hussain has now returned home where he is comfortable and recovering. The Mayor had contacted him and he was pleased to announce, that Councillor Hussain was feeling a lot better. The Mayor was sure, that Members and Officers would join him in wishing Councillor Hussain a full and speedy recovery back to good health.
Deputy Leader
The Deputy Leader advised that time was running out for EU citizens who are living in Bridgend County Borough, and who need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.
The scheme, which is part of the UK’s new post-Brexit immigration system, offers citizens of the 27 EU member states the right to keep living and working in the UK as they did when the country was part of the EU.
It is free to apply for, all but applications must be submitted by the deadline of 30 June, next.
So far, almost 2,000 applications have been processed in the County Borough. Of those, 1,370 have been granted settled status, and 570 have received pre-settled status.
These are people who are contributing to the communities in which they live, and we want them to be able to continue to live, work and access services here.
Members are asked to encourage all EU citizens living within their wards who have made their home in Bridgend County Borough to apply to the settlement scheme before the deadline.
More information on how they can do this is featured on the Council’s website
Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration
The Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration stated that colleagues may have seen the recent announcement from Education Minister Kirsty Williams, confirming that Welsh Government is to provide schools across Wales with an additional £72 million.
We are still waiting for Bridgend County Borough Council’s share of this to be confirmed, but the funding forms part of the overall recovery from the pandemic, and is intended to help schools as they seek to support learners.
It will enable the Recruit, Recover and Raise Standards programme to continue into the next academic year, and will provide extra learning resources and support for foundation phase learners across schools and childcare settings which provide early education.
The funding will also enable support to be targeted at learners in years 11, 12 and 13 as they transition into the next stage of their education.
Furthermore, it is intended to support trainee teachers by helping them to undertake their practical experience in the autumn, complete their qualifications, and move into full-time teaching.
After the major upheaval of this past year and the hard work of schools to minimise the impact upon children, this additional funding will support our efforts as we look towards whatever the ‘new normal’ will be.
He was sure that Members would join him in welcoming this additional funding from Welsh Government.
Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help
The Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help, advised that Members may be interested to know, that a new, innovative service for people experiencing mental health problems is being piloted in the centre of Bridgend.
This is deliberately designed to offer less formal early intervention based within a homely, relaxed non-clinical environment.
The emphasis is on making it welcoming and calm for the benefit of residents who are experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, isolation, domestic and family relationship issues, carer’s responsibilities, stress and other issues which may also be affecting their mental health and well-being.
Since opening just before Christmas, the out-of-hours service has received more than 100 referrals from across the area.
Access is through a referral process via professional health, social services or social care staffs, and the service even includes transportation by taxi to ensure safety and remove barriers to attendance.
It is provided by Mental Health Matters Wales and is delivered as part of a collaboration between the council, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, South Wales Police and other third sector service providers.
As this is the first pilot of its kind within the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area, it’s good to see that the feedback received so far has been positive, and she was sure that members will welcome this as a new, fundamental part of an extended network of mental health services in Bridgend County Borough.
Cabinet Member – Wellbeing and Future Generations
The Cabinet Member – Wellbeing and Future Generations advised that Officers from the Shared Regulatory Service were continuing to work with local businesses and carrying out checks to ensure that they are remaining compliant with all current lockdown requirements.
Now that Spring has arrived and the weather is starting to improve, people who purchase takeaway food and drink are being reminded that they should maintain social distancing at all times, and not consume alcohol in areas where a Public Space Protection Order is in place.
This follows recent issues experienced around the marina area in Porthcawl.
In an area where a Public Space Protection Order is in place, drinking alcohol or carrying it in an open container is prohibited.
Notices have been placed in designated areas to remind people of these rules, and officers from South Wales Police and the local authority will be conducting regular patrols.
The Shared Regulatory Services is also advising licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers in the county borough that a Welsh Government scheme offering free personal protection equipment has been extended.
The scheme, which provides eligible drivers with a pack featuring six months’ worth of PPE items, will now be available until 26th March.
Drivers can apply and find out more by visiting the Welsh Government website.
Cabinet Member – Communities
The Cabinet Member – Communities was sure that colleagues will have noted how people throughout Bridgend County Borough have embraced walking and cycling as a form of permitted exercise during the pandemic.
Over the last twelve months, we have seen shortages of bicycles in shops, and an increase in dog ownership as residents rediscover what is literally on their doorstep.
BCBC had a long track record of providing active travel routes in the county borough.
In July 2020, we secured a £3m grant from Welsh Government to improve cycle ways and footpaths, including £2.6m for the planned active travel route between Bridgend and Pencoed College.
Then in January this year, work began on the active travel route linking Pencoed with Pencoed College.
Last December, more than 900 people responded when we asked them to tell us about the barriers they face when making every day journeys on foot or by bike.
That had been used that feedback to put forward proposals on new active travel routes for the county borough, and launched the second phase of our consultation last week.
This is currently underway, and we are also encouraging people to tell us what additional improvements they might like to see.
The consultation will be available until Sunday 4 April, and details of how people can take part are available at the council’s website along with maps showing the existing and proposed routes.
He hoped that Members would encourage their constituents to take part, and let us know if the proposed routes will help them get around their local areas as a pedestrian or cyclist.
Chief Executive
The Chief Executive wished to share a very recent development with Members which, if successful, could prove to be the key that will unlock a major development site within the county borough.
As Members were aware, the former Budelpack COSi and Cooper Standard site on Ewenny Road Industrial Estate in Maesteg, which the Council part-owns, has been vacant for more than a decade.
This is despite a number of ongoing efforts at regeneration over the years, including site clearance, exploratory work and planning approval for one particular scheme, which ultimately did not proceed.
The truth of the matter is that the 20-acre site is largely unviable due to the considerable costs required to make the site ready for development.
Some major infrastructure work is necessary there, including the diversion of a historic mining drain and the need to backfill several mineshafts, and the cost of this runs into millions of pounds.
Now, thanks to our involvement with the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, the site is one of nine projects which have been shortlisted for funding as part of a £30 million viability gap fund.
We should soon know if our bid has been successful or not, but if approved (and we are confident that it will be) officers will work alongside the City Deal team to ensure that all key criteria can be met in order to secure the grant in full.
The Chief Executive stressed, that the Council have only been able to take advantage of this funding opportunity because of its ongoing involvement with the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal.
In the event that subsequent development takes place, proceeds from the sale of land will be reinvested back into the Llynfi Valley, with future plans including new facilities such as a park and ride, an enterprise hub and more.
He would share further details with Members, as soon as they became known.