(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Members of the Cabinet

(iii) Chief Executive

 

Mayor

 

Following the suggestion of Officers and with the agreement of the chairperson the meeting of the Development Control Committee scheduled for the 29th of December will be moved to Thursday 5th January 2023, to avoid the Christmas/ New Year period. Members calendars will be updated accordingly to reflect this change of meeting date.

 

Both the Deputy Mayor and I are continuing to fulfil Civic responsibilities across the whole of the county Borough and beyond.

 

From visiting schools and colleges attending evening concerts and having the privilege of attending numerous awards ceremonies it certainly is a busy time.

 

But a time to be reminded that there are people within the County Borough of Bridgend who go well beyond the call of duty to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

 

Which brings me to a point that I would like to remind you all that the Nomination Process for Mayors Awards is now open. You should all have received an email message introducing the process and of course full details are also included on the BCBC web site. I look forward to the numerous applications.

 

Last weekend of course was a period of Remembrance where no doubt you all attended various Remembrance Services and Ceremonies across the County Borough.

 

Last Friday morning on your behalf I presented Great Western Railway with a poppy wreath that along with many others was conveyed to London. I was joined at the Railway Station by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, The Mayor of Bridgend Cllr Tim Woods, Deputy Leader of the Council Cllr Jane Gebbie, the Chief Executive Mark Shepherd and many other local dignitaries.

 

It was quite a sight to see one carriage full of poppy wreaths.

 

Of course, the Remembrance Parade at Bridgend Town was a solemn occasion that was well attended especially by current and ex-service personnel. The public attendance and participation were incredible. These large public numbers just illustrate the respect and deep sincerity that our communities have for our Armed Forces. I have no doubt this respect was replicated right across the County Borough of Bridgend.

 

Last weekend I was invited to a presentation at Wildmill Community Centre to focus on Bridgend's relationship with a war time submarine HMS URGE. The presentation was jointly given by Francis Dickinson the grandson of the submarines captain and Councillor Steve Bletsoe.

 

There were many families' descendants present including remarkably the daughter of the captain of the ship a lovely, charming lady who introduced herself as Bridget.

 

HMS URGE was adopted by the people of Bridgend but was sadly lost in April 1942 off the coast of Malta. All 44 crew members perished. The submarine had hit a German sea mine during special operations.

 

It was not until 2019 and nearly 80 years later was the ship was discovered at the bottom of the seabed.

 

It was a very moving experience speaking with family descendants some of which were visibly moved during and after the presentation.

 

They all were very appreciative of the warmth and hospitality provided to them within Bridgend.

 

Family members also attended and laid a wreath at the Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday.

 

Could I take this opportunity to thank Bridgend Town Council for supporting this event and in particular to Cllr Steve Bletsoe and his wife Cllr Freya Bletsoe for their personal contribution.

 

There is no doubt this support raised the profile of the County Borough of Bridgend.

 

And finally, I recently attended Castle Bingo here in Bridgend where I was presented with a cheque for £2000 for the Mayor’s Charity.

 

This will be placed into the fund to support those caught up in the dreadful situation in Ukraine.

 

Could I please thank all staff and members of Castle Bingo for this generous donation? Could I please also invite you to also make a donation?

Perhaps instead of sending a Christmas Card a small donation to the charity would be more than an equal substitute to celebrate the Festive Season.

 

I will shortly be reaching out to all members and officers within the Authority with an invitation to make that donation.

 

I would also like to bring members attention to the fact the that before we next meet, in a fortnights time on December 1st will be World AIDS Day.

World AIDS Day is a moment that we take time to reflect and remember on all those that we have lost to the HIV AIDS epidemic.

 

This year also marks 40 years since the creation of the Terrence Higgins Trust, named for Terry Higgins from Haverford West who was one of the first people to sadly die from AIDS in the UK. Terrence Higgins Trust works across the UK to support those living with HIV. Today, people living with HIV who are on effective treatment cannot pass on the virus and have a life expectance which is the same as anyone else.

 

However, many people living with HIV still face stigma due to outdated views. I welcome the work of the Welsh Government on stamping out this stigma as part of the HIV Action Plan for Wales.

 

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member – Social Services

 

Safeguarding Week 2022 is currently underway, and we have been working with partners under the banner of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Safeguarding Board to develop a programme of educational events and awareness-raising activities.

 

The theme for this year is ‘safeguarding our communities from exploitation’, and we are highlighting this through a range of online and face-to face events aimed at professionals, children, young people and communities throughout the region.

 

This will include the launch of all-new National Safeguarding Learning and Development Standards by Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services.

 

Closely aligned with the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, the standards set out future expectations around knowledge, skills, attitudes and values for anyone working with adults and children who may be at risk of abuse, harm or neglect.

 

As well as the new standards – which are a first for Wales - a full events programme has been produced covering the entire week. This is available to view at the Cwm Taf website, which I would encourage members to take a closer look at and also for members to take a peek at the Sexual Exploitation display as you enter the Civic building.

 

I would also like to advise members about the work of two very worthy charities.

 

Firstly, the local Bro Morgannwg Baby Loss Support Group has been supporting bereaved families for more than ten years now, meeting on the first Wednesday of every month at the Princess of Wales Hospital between 7pm and 9pm. 

 

The group is facilitated by two bereavement midwives and the meetings offer a safe, confidential environment where people can listen to the experiences of other bereaved mums, share their own experiences, and offer one another advice and support.

 

Secondly, the organisation CRY will be raising awareness of their work next week, and I would appreciate the support of all members, officers and members of the public which is very personal for me.

 

CRY, which stands for Cardiac Research In The Young, seeks to prevent cardiac deaths among young people by improving awareness, increasing the availability of screening, and supporting further research into the condition.

 

The charity also seeks to support people living with a cardiac condition as well as the family members of those who have not survived it.

 

CRY is currently supporting my daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren who are all at risk of having a major cardiac event. Genetic testing is currently underway with the support of the charity as is the portable defibrillator donated to the family for use in an obvious emergency.

 

Having felt the impact of such a traumatic event in our family, I feel it is vitally important that I use the political platforms available to me to highlight this specific charity following the death of my 19-year-old grandson in January 2020. It in no way eases the pain of the loss Justin, but it may assist other families by raising awareness to these particular issues and I acknowledge the assistance that they have provided for us unavailable with the NHS.

 

Both CRY and the Bro Morgannwg Baby Loss Support Group provide important services for the people of Bridgend County Borough.

 

They are both deserving of our support, and I hope that members will let their constituents know of their availability.

 

Anyone who would like to find out more can obtain further information by visiting the websites for both charities or by visiting the members lounge where I have left a raft of resources for their perusal.

 

Cabinet Member – Communities

 

I have some excellent news that I would like to share with Members.

 

Thanks to the efforts of local residents, Bridgend County Borough has once again exceeded Welsh Government targets for recycling waste and diverting it away from landfill.

 

Latest figures have confirmed that we have achieved a 72.6 per cent recycling rate. This means that in terms of performance, Bridgend County Borough has been ranked as the second best area in Wales, with only Pembrokeshire scoring slightly higher.

 

What’s more, we are one of just four local authorities who have not only passed the current recycling target of 64 per cent, but have already exceeded the forthcoming 2024-25 national target of 70 per cent.

 

This is a fantastic result. Each time Welsh Government raises the bar, local residents rise to the challenge to ensure that we are among the best in Wales, and I want to thank them for their ongoing commitment and participation.

 

I also want to thank the efforts of our dedicated staff and our waste partners, Kier.

 

As you know, Welsh Government has set a bold target to achieve zero waste in Wales by 2050 by moving to a circular economy which keeps resources in use.

 

Our collective efforts here in Bridgend County Borough are making a significant contribution towards delivering on this ambition.

 

Cabinet Member – Resources

 

I would like to ask Members to help spread awareness among local communities about Child Trust Funds.

 

Set up as a Government initiative for children born between the first of September 2002 and the second of January 2011, the scheme saw each child receive £250 to start a long-term savings account.

 

The funds within each account have remained untouchable until the children reach the age of eighteen.

 

As this is now coming to pass, HM Revenue and Customs have advised that thousands of matured Child Trust Funds have so far gone unclaimed.

 

This means that local eligible teenagers could potentially have savings waiting for them worth an average of £2,100.

 

An estimated 6.3 million Child Trust Fund accounts were set up while the scheme was in operation.

 

If a parent or guardian was unable to open one for a child, HMRC did it on the child’s behalf, so there is a very good chance that children born between those dates will be able to benefit from it now.

 

The easiest way to find out is to visit the GOV.UK website and fill in an online form that will identify where the funds are being held or, if the trust fund provider is already known, to simply enquire at your nearest local branch.

 

With many eligible teenagers preparing to leave school or start university, an apprenticeship or their first job, the Child Trust Fund could offer them a much-needed financial boost, and I hope members will help to spread the word.

 

Cabinet Member – Regeneration

 

Together with Cabinet colleagues, I was able to visit Maesteg Town Hall recently for a look at how the works there are progressing, and I am happy to report that we were hugely impressed by what we saw.

 

Contractors Knox and Wells are finalising the installation of a new ‘clear story’ roof which will link the existing building with the newly created extension to create a new public entrance.

 

This section of the development will house a new foyer, a public café and a changing places facility.

 

Also featuring new, flexible performance space and a unique mezzanine balcony complete with a bar and studio, it is certain to become one of the community focal points when the building work has been completed.

 

During the restoration of the 141-year-old Grade II listed structure, a number of historical features have been uncovered which have subsequently been preserved and brought back into use.

 

While accommodating this extra work has had a knock-on effect on the planned opening, we are confident that the revamped and refurbished town hall will be ready to open its doors again next summer.

 

Cabinet Member – Future Generations

 

Members recently received an update on how the council is working alongside local support organisations to identify ways in which we can work together to help communities meet the challenges of the cost of living crisis.

 

The council is co-ordinating the response locally and is continuing to develop an approach alongside its key partners.

 

Meetings have already taken place in the Ogmore Valley and Pencoed areas, and more are due to take place in Maesteg and Kenfig Hill. 

 

These meetings are specifically looking at how existing venues and events can adapt to become places where people feel a warm welcome and are supported during the winter months.

 

The meetings have proven to be a great opportunity for community leaders to find out about latest efforts and plans, and to make suggestions about how we can best work together to support local residents.

 

They have also been useful in avoiding the duplication of efforts - for example, in areas where food or warm banks may already be running – and for ensuring that local residents take full advantage of all existing support, ranging from community transport to school uniform grants.

 

The intention is to combine existing provision while developing new activities. For example, warm space grant money has been provided by Welsh Government, and once a formal offer has been made, the council will provide it to organisations who are supporting this provision within our local communities.

 

Awen have rolled out their own Warm Spaces project, encouraging people to spend more time in local libraries by offering a welcoming, comfortable environment with warm drinks and new activities.

 

Plans are also in place to develop this further by adding new sessions on arts, crafts and music to encourage greater participation.

 

As many residents are struggling for advice regarding energy, local job centres, BAVO and Employability Bridgend are holding events where local people can access advice and support.

 

At one of these events which was held recently in Maesteg Job Centre, participants were able to talk to key agencies such as Welsh Water about their circumstances and bills and were able to reduce some of their costs.

 

With the next planned event due to take place at Dyffryn Chapel in Caerau on Wednesday 30 November, a new cost of living webpage has been established on the council website which is designed to offer further advice and support, and to help keep people informed on latest developments and local events.

 

Accessing the right help at the right time can make a real difference to people who are struggling, and I hope that members will make use of these resources and encourage their constituents to take advantage of these free events.

 

Cabinet Member – Education

 

I would like to provide members with a brief update on the Welsh-medium childcare facility that we are establishing at Bettws.

 

As you know, this is one of three such hubs that we are establishing for the county borough, with a further three planned at Porthcawl, Bridgend and Blackmill as part of an overall £2.8 million investment into Welsh-medium childcare.

 

Built on the same site as the former Boys and Girls Club, the construction work has been largely completed, and we have now reached the point where we are preparing to showcase the facilities to potential providers on 22 and 23 November.

 

Designed to serve the Garw Valley and surrounding valleys gateway area, the Bettws hub will provide 16 Welsh-medium childcare places, plus six places for younger children aged up to two.

 

As the provision develops, it will offer out-of-school childcare provision and will operate for up to 51 or 52 weeks of the year.

 

We want the single-storey building to offer full day care from Monday to Friday, and it will feature new play space, quiet rooms, soft play facilities, an all-weather canopy, storage facilities, offices and a car parking area with room for seven vehicles.

 

The new hub will ably serve families throughout the Garw Valley who want their children to be educated through the medium of Welsh.

 

It also demonstrates our ongoing commitment towards increasing the number of local Welsh speakers while encouraging the Welsh language to prosper and grow.

 

Chief Executive

 

I have a very brief announcement for Members.

 

The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration is holding a national consultation on how the global pandemic should be remembered.

 

Some of the proposals so far have included setting appropriate dates for a national day of remembrance, suggestions on education for children, and marking key achievements such as the development of the vaccines and the contribution of volunteers.

 

We have been asked as a local authority for our thoughts on this, and I am compiling a response that can be sent back to the WLGA.

 

They will then formulate an official response to the commission which represents the views of Welsh local government.

 

I am sure that Members will have their own thoughts on how this could best be carried out, and that you may also want to consult with your constituents.

 

The deadline for the end of the consultation is Monday 5 December, so if you have any suggestions, please send them to me in advance of this date, and I will make sure they are included in our response to the WLGA.