I am sure that Members will have noted recent news coverage highlighting latest developments in the efforts to establish a £250m adventure resort in the upper Afan Valley.

With outline planning consent already in place from Neath Port Talbot Council, the authority was asked to approve a reserved matters application covering issues such as access, layout, landscaping, scale and appearance.

This is of course all taking place outside of Bridgend County Borough, but as it is close to our border, it will also have a knock-on effect in terms of employment, access, traffic, future investment and more.

In addition to the construction jobs that will be generated, developer Wildfox Resorts has estimated that the resort will employ approximately 1,000 people and will incorporate a 50-bed hotel, spa and restaurant, 570 lodges and facilities for biking and hiking.

We will be seeking to share in and capitalise upon the benefits that this ambitious project may offer, and with expectations high that work could begin on site next year, we will be keeping a very close eye upon its development.

In other news, a local couple have won a prestigious national Fostering Excellence Award for their hard work and dedication towards fostering children and young people across Bridgend County Borough.

Pete and Becky Walsh were presented with the ‘Jon and Kathy Broad Special Recognition Award’ at the Fostering Network’s recent annual ceremony, which was held at Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre.

The couple had been nominated by Bernadette Guy at Foster Wales Bridgend and were described as being ‘exceptional foster carers who always remain focused on what is best for the children in their care’.

The couple, who are currently caring for a child with complex health needs, often have to attend hospital appointments which can be a hundred miles from home and are well known for supporting other carers and maintaining a positive, can-do attitude. I am sure that Members will want to join me in congratulating Pete and Becky, and to thank them for their inspirational dedication and hard work.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer can do so by visiting the Foster Wales Bridgend website.

Finally, at the last meeting of Council, you may recall that a member queried the figure used to describe the monthly rough sleeper statistics that are reported to Welsh Government.

Because of the transient nature of rough sleepers, this total can change rapidly, sometimes on a daily basis, as people may have shifting patterns of moving between accommodation and rough sleeping, or even moving in and out of different local authority areas.

For Bridgend County Borough, figures on rough sleepers are collected throughout the month and verified by a multi-agency Homeless Cell which features third sector agencies as well as other partners.

The data they provide is analysed at the end of the month to identify the core group of regular rough sleepers at the end of that period.

This figure is then reported to Welsh Government to provide them with an overview of how many people are still sleeping rough at the end of the reporting period.

With this in mind, the most recent data provided by the Homeless Cell confirmed that the monthly figure for the end of October was 10.

It is also worth reminding members that anyone can report someone whom they suspect to be a rough sleeper by sending details to the Streetlink website so that the local council and homelessness agencies can offer appropriate support.

We are continuing to provide a wide range of services to keep homeless people warm and safe.

On that note, I hope that members are also encouraging their constituents to check their eligibility for the Welsh Government Winter Fuel Scheme.

This enables eligible households to claim a one-off £200 cash payment towards paying their winter fuel bills.

It is being offered in addition to both the Energy Bill rebate and the Winter Fuel Payment that is normally paid to pensioners.

Applications for the grant will close in February 2023, so there is still time for anyone who has yet to apply to do so.

Full details, including eligibility criteria, are available at the council website.