(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Members of the Cabinet

(iii) Chief Executive

The Mayor

The Mayor announced that she had attended several carol services over Christmas, one of which the staff concert in the Council Chamber.  She thanked the all the staff involved in organising this very entertaining event and her Chaplain for attending to give a blessing.

The Mayor attended on New Year’s Day attended a “Man Hunt” in Pyle which is an annual event with the Three Counties Bloodhounds and was attended.

The Mayor also attended a performance of the Cinderella Pantomine in the Porthcawl Pavilion which was very enjoyable and along with the Town Mayor for Porthcawl Lorri Desmond Williams were presented with a cheque to be shared between their Charities.

The Mayor was honoured to represent the authority and light the candle at the Holocaust Memorial ceremony in Bridgend Sony Theatre.  This was a most moving and thought provoking event which included poetry read by pupils of our local comprehensive schools and an address by Eric Muranghwa Eugene MBE a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, who lost 35 of his family members during the atrocity.  She stated that it was it was very interesting to listen to his account of his life since coming to this country 20 years ago.  The Mayor also attended a second Holocaust Event in Cardiff City Hall and which was also very moving.

The Mayor also announced that she had attended a production of Phantom of the Opera in the Pavilion by Porthcawl Comprehensive school which was a delight and very professional.   She stated that an added surprise was that several of the pupils belong to the Bridgend Youth Theatre which is one of her chosen charities and she hoped that they would follow their dreams and go on to act and sing in Musical Theatre.  The Mayor and Consort were privileged to meet the cast, teachers and parents after the performance.  She thanked the cast and teachers and background staff for all of their hard work.

The Mayor announced that she had attended the Awards Ceremony for the Lord Lieutenant held in Pontypridd South Wales Conference Centre.  She also attended the MPCT Awards in the Cardiff City Stadium which included demonstrations, marching and giving out certificates.  The Mayor and Consort both enjoyed the Ceremony very much and she is very proud of the young men and women taking part, some of which have been accepted into the Armed Forces. 

The Mayor announced with sadness that former Councillor, Mrs Margaret Bertorelli passed away on Sunday morning.  She informed Council that Mrs Bertorelli both a Borough Councillor and a long serving Bridgend Town Councillor and former Deputy Town Mayor.  She stated that Mrs Bertorelli worked hard in her public life and serving as a Councillor was a very important part of her life.  The Council sends its condolences to her family at this sad time. 

All present stood in silence as mark of respect. 

The Mayor asked Councillor G Thomas to announce that Harry Morgan an 18 year old of Bryncethin RFC has received his first Wales rugby cap. 

Deputy Leader

The Deputy Leader informed Council that latest statistics have revealed that an incredible recycling increase of 68 per cent was collected over the Christmas and New Year period when compared with the previous year.

Cardboard, plastics, paper, food waste and other recyclable materials totalled a hefty 1,138 tonnes.  This represented an increase of 676 tonnes on 2016-17, while landfill waste saw a decrease of 29 per cent from 990 tonnes down to 704.  This had shown just how much of festive waste is recyclable, and he thanked everyone who had made such a fantastic effort.

He announced that now that residents have had a chance to get to grips with the new procedures, enforcement of the two-bag limit will begin.  Excess bags will be stickered, and reminders will be issued to households.

Officers will also visit homes where this is a persistent or recurring problem to offer support, and help them get to grips with the procedures.  In extreme cases, they will also issue fixed penalties, but this will only ever be a last resort when all other options have failed.  He stated that the Council and its partner want to work with households to increase recycling across the county borough, and the emphasis will remain firmly focused on this.  Local residents can find out more by visiting www.recycleforbridgend.wales

The Deputy Leader also announced that Member mentoring training will take place on Thursday 1 February at 4pm, and Members who need to attend have already been identified from political groups.  He reminded Members that there is an equalities and diversity session from Stonewall on 6 February at 4pm.  The pre-Council briefing on 28^th February will regard the Local Development Plan and it is hoped that all Members will attend this session.

The Deputy Leader informed Council that the Head of Democratic Services had recently circulated information about ICT training and he asked Members to contact him directly to make arrangements.

Finally, he requested that all Members ensure that they have completed the data protection and safeguarding e-learning modules.

Cabinet Member Communities

The Cabinet Member Communities announced that Members may be interested to hear that all streetlights within Bridgend County Borough are expected to be energy efficient LED models within the next couple of years. 

There are a total of 20,000 street lights in the county borough, 8,000 of which are already LED, and these use between 30 and 60 per cent less energy.  Plans are underway for upgrading the remaining 12,000.  He stated that the LED lights come with a 20 year life guarantee, and are relatively maintenance free.  As they are generally more directional and can light roads more efficiently, they will make it safer for drivers and pedestrians, and if required can also be dimmed at pre-set times to deliver further energy savings.

The Cabinet Member Communities informed Members that they may also have noticed that signage had been erected in and around Angel Street advising that work will soon begin.  This is part of a scheme to make Bridgend town centre even more bike-friendly, and will involve the extension of the national cycle route between Sarn and Bridgend so that it links up with the route that joins with Newbridge Fields, Broadlands, Cefn Glas and Laleston.  The footway through the Embassy car park area is to be widened and made safer, and higher railings will be installed along the Dunraven Place footbridge.  On Angel Street, the loading bay in front of the Civic Offices will become a larger disabled parking bay, and the location of the flag poles will be moved.  The riverside footway along Angel Street will be widened, the railings by the Water Street Bridge raised, and the pelican crossing at the junction of Water Street and Angel Street converted to a toucan crossing suitable for cyclists.  Signage will be installed along the route, and it was expected that the works will be completed by the end of March.

The Cabinet Member Communities informed Members that he had attended a meeting organised by Councillor Shaw of Pontycymer recently in which seven local and national organisations agreed to work together with residents of the Garw Valley to ensure that the popular community route remains open and suitable for use.  He stated that this was a significant development which could break a deadlock over the future of the route, which used to be maintained by Groundwork Bridgend before passing to the Garw Valley Heritage Railway Society.  A site visit is being organised so that necessary work can be identified, factsheets drawn up and a plan developed for managing undergrowth and wildlife.  He hoped that this would become an example of how organisations and local residents can work together for the good of the community. 

Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help announced that the caretaker’s house at Heronsbridge School had been converted into a new residential unit that provides all-year-round support for children and young people with complex needs.  This meant that for the first time, local children can be offered this service within the county borough instead of sending them elsewhere.  As well as offering children and young people greater stability and continuity, the new unit will save the authority money.  He stated that feedback so far had been terrific, and he was sure Members will agree that it is entirely fitting the unit has been named Harwood House in honour of the school’s former caretaker.

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help also announced that if  any Members are aware of constituents who have hearing difficulties, they may want to let them know that between 2.00 – 3.00pm every third Monday of the month, Action For Hearing Loss Cymru holds a drop-in session at Pencoed Library.  Each session is designed to help people get to grips with their NHS hearing aids and manage their hearing loss more effectively.  The sessions also offer help with tubing, minor repairs, cleaning, battery replacement, basic training on how to use and maintain equipment, details about other useful services, and much more.  More details are available at the Action For Hearing Loss Cymru website.

Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations announced that the power of sport has once again been used to help a group of young people make positive life choices thanks to the Get On track programme.  Provided in partnership with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, the scheme uses elite athletes as inspirational mentors.  The latest phase has seen Wales’ women’s rugby player Philippa Tuttiett and paralympian swimmer Liz Johnson guide fifteen young people over five weeks of various activities.

Participants have learned important social skills, gained First Aid qualifications, learned about nutrition and cookery, brushed up on interview and CV skills, and volunteered with the Steer Social Enterprise before running sports and activity sessions with pupils at Maesteg Comprehensive.

Bridgend became the first Welsh local authority to host the programme in 2016.  This was the third time the ‘Get on Track’ scheme has worked with young people since The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations was happy to confirm that within eight months of the first programme, nearly three quarters of all participants were in employment, education or training.  She stated that the scheme is very worthwhile and she hoped to see it continue and develop further. 

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations announced that volunteering can be a great way to improve mental well-being, stay active make new friends and get out and about, and Members may be interested in letting their constituents know about some opportunities that have recently arisen.  She stated that the Council’s countryside team are seeking volunteers to take part in woodland management events at local nature reserves next month on at Tremains Wood in Brackla on 2 February, and two at Frog Pond Wood in Pyle on 9 and 16 February.  She stated that more information is available from the team, and by visiting the Natural Neighbourhoods website to find out about other volunteering opportunities.

Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration informed Council that the  25^th consecutive annual report published by Estyn has highlighted five local schools from Bridgend County Borough as being case studies for best practice in Wales.  The report highlighted that Ysgol Cynwyd Sant plans exciting, creative learning activities to develop pupils’ literacy skills, while Brackla Primary makes families a key part of the learning process, leading to improved standards in literacy, numeracy and attendance across the school.

He informed Members that mathematical intervention at Oldcastle Primary has transformed the subject for the lowest-achieving learners, and has raised standards for all.  The school is also the first in Wales to use a new system to support pupils’ speech and language therapy, and has worked with businesses and universities to develop a week of science, technology, engineering and mathematics that has improved pupils’ aspirations and attainment. 

He stated that a review of the senior leadership team at Bryntirion Comprehensive has been highlighted for enabling the school to develop a strong strategic vision and direction, supported by the development of a strong middle leadership team and the creation of an inclusive ethos for students and staff alike.  He also informed Members that Heronsbridge has skilfully organised pupil participation opportunities to contribute to developing self-confidence and social skills, with many taking increased responsibility for themselves and their learning.

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration congratulated Sarah Davies, a teacher from Ysgol Bryn Castell, who has been selected to attend the ‘Teachers’ Institute‘ programme at the Houses of Parliament.  Designed to give people working in education from communities all around the UK a detailed understanding of the democratic process, the institute trains participants to become UK Parliament Teacher Ambassadors.  Sarah Davies was selected from more than 170 applicants to attend the training.  It presented an excellent opportunity to engage with young people about democracy, and he was sure that her pupils and fellow teachers will benefit from it on her return.

Chief Executive

The Chief executive updated Members about the latest situation regarding pay negotiations for 2018.  Discussions were being held nationally with trade unions and laying out the Councils’ position as an employer.  He stated that the pay award proposal that has been put forward particularly benefits staff who are between spinal column points six and nineteen. Increases range from 3.7 per cent to 9.1 per cent at the lower end of the scale, and two per cent for staff who are on spinal column point twenty or above.

He informed Members that Unison’s NJC Committee has voted to reject the offer, but has also stated that this is the best that can be achieved without substantial all-out strike action.  Unison is currently balloting members which will close on 8 March.  Unite’s National Industrial Sector Committee has voted unanimously to recommend that its members reject the offer, while GMB has advised their members that this is the best offer to be achieved by negotiation, and their ballot closes on 9 March.

The Chief Executive informed Council that the pay award is due to be implemented on 1 April 2018, and if the outcome of any of these three trade union ballots is to reject the offer, the Council will need to override its current spinal column point six, which is £7.78, and replace it with the new 1 April national minimum wage rate of £7.83.  He stated that a new pay spine is currently under development in order to accommodate the National Living Wage; this will also require negotiation with trade union colleagues at a national level.  He advised that a communication will be issued to staff later today to advise them of the situation, and more news would be brought as the situation develops.