1.    Proposed by Councillor J Gebbie

This Council recognises the important role that Health Visitors play in supporting babies, children and families, and notes the ongoing dispute involving Health Visitors represented by Unite the Union.

Health Visiting is a vital preventative public health service. Health Visitors play a crucial role in early intervention, identifying health and developmental needs, supporting parents and families, safeguarding children, and helping to reduce health inequalities.

This Council is concerned about the potential impact that the ongoing dispute, together with wider workforce pressures, may be having on the delivery of Health Visiting services across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, which covers Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.

Information obtained through a Freedom of Information request indicates a significant change in the recorded delivery of Healthy Child Wales Programme contacts.  In March, April, and May 2025, 6,140 Healthy Child Wales contacts were completed.  In the corresponding three months of 2026, the number of contacts recorded as completed by Band 6 Health Visitors was 909, against 23,592 contacts identified as due during that period.

The Council recognises that a range of factors may contribute to this position and does not seek to attribute causation without the full evidence. However, the scale of the gap highlights the importance of understanding how Health Visiting functions are currently being delivered, and how any unmet need is being identified and addressed.

The potential consequences of reduced Health Visiting provision are significant. Health Visiting forms an important part of the preventative health and social care system and contributes to:

·                the early identification of health and developmental needs;

·                safeguarding and the protection of children;

·                prevention and early intervention;

·                support for parents and families;

·                tackling health inequalities; and

·                effective partnership working between Health Visiting services, local    authority social services and other agencies supporting children and families.

This Council recognises that public services across Wales continue to face significant workforce and financial pressures. It also recognises the challenges that can arise when capacity issues affect the ability of organisations to deliver essential services and statutory functions.

When Bridgend County Borough Council experienced significant workforce challenges within Children's Services, additional support and resources were put in place to help maintain service delivery and protect outcomes for children and families. This Council believes that the same principle should apply where concerns arise regarding the capacity of other essential public services.

Children and families should not be adversely affected by unresolved workforce issues or capacity pressures within key frontline services.

This Council therefore:

1.                  Recognises the contribution made by Health Visitors across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area and supports efforts to secure a fair and sustainable resolution to the ongoing dispute.

2.                  Notes with concern the reported gap between Healthy Child Wales Programme contacts identified as due and those recorded as completed by Band 6 Health Visitors.

3.                  Calls upon Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to provide assurance to Bridgend County Borough Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council regarding how Health Visiting functions are currently being discharged across the three local authority areas.

4.                  Requests that the Health Board sets out how children and families who may not have received scheduled Health Visiting contacts are being identified, assessed and followed up, and how any resulting unmet need is being addressed.

5.                  Calls upon the Chief Executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board to continue efforts to resolve the dispute and to ensure that sufficient workforce capacity is available to support the effective delivery of Health Visiting services.

6.                  Calls upon the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to work with the Health Board and other relevant partners in support of a timely resolution to the dispute and the long-term sustainability of Health Visiting services.

7.                  Encourages continued engagement between Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and the three local authorities to understand and address any impact on safeguarding, early intervention, social care demand and health inequalities.

8.                  Requests that the Leader of the Council writes to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Chief Executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board setting out the Council's concerns and seeking a response on the actions being taken to support and sustain Health Visiting provision.

This Council believes that Health Visiting is a fundamental part of the preventative public health system. Where concerns arise regarding service capacity and delivery, it is essential that partner organisations work together to protect services, support the workforce and ensure that children, families and communities receive the support they need.

2.    Proposed by Councillor M Jones

Reopening of the Garw Valley Cycle Path

Council notes:

1. The Garw Valley Cycle Path is a significant active travel and recreational route linking Bryngarw Country Park with Parc Calon, a popular visitor destination located at the foot of Mynydd Carn in Blaengarw.

2. The route passes through the communities of Llangeinor, Llwst, Pontyrhyl, Pontycymmer and Blaengarw, providing residents and visitors with access to the valley’s natural environment, heritage, leisure facilities and tourism attractions.

3. The path follows the former railway corridor that historically served the Garw Valley coalfield and has, for many years, provided permitted public access for walking, cycling and other recreational activities.

4. Parc Calon and the wider Garw Valley attract visitors from across Bridgend County Borough and beyond, contributing to community wellbeing, sustainable tourism, local economic activity and active travel opportunities.

5. The section of route between Llangeinor and Pontycymmer, approximately 2.5 kilometres in length, remains closed by Network Rail due to concerns regarding the condition of bridges, structures and sections of the route requiring investment and remedial works.

6. The continued closure has severed a key strategic route within the valley, restricting access for residents, reducing opportunities for active travel and impacting the visitor economy.

7. Discussions between relevant stakeholders have identified that no single organisation can deliver the necessary works independently and that a collaborative funding and delivery solution is required.

Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Formally call upon the UK Government, Welsh Government, The Crown Estate and Network Rail to establish a joint partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council to secure the reopening of the Garw Valley Cycle Path as a matter of priority.

2.    Request that Network Rail publish a detailed assessment of the works required, including estimated costs, timescales and delivery options, to enable meaningful funding discussions and project planning.

3.    Seek the creation of a multi-agency funding package to meet the costs of remediation, restoration and future maintenance of the route, recognising its value as an active travel, tourism and community asset.

4.    Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, the Chief Executive of Network Rail and the Chief Executive of The Crown Estate requesting their direct engagement in securing a long-term solution.

5.    Request that a progress report be brought back to Council within six months outlining discussions undertaken, funding opportunities identified and a proposed pathway towards reopening the route.

6.    Reaffirm this Council’s commitment to protecting and enhancing active travel infrastructure, public access routes and tourism assets across Bridgend County Borough.

Council further believes that the reopening of the Garw Valley Cycle Path would deliver substantial benefits for public health, sustainable transport, community connectivity, environmental wellbeing and the local economy, and should therefore be treated as a strategic priority for all relevant partners.