(1)   Cabinet Member - Resources

       The Cabinet Member - Resources announced the following pre-Council presentation:-

       Date                                 Subject

       15 October 2014              Support for Transgender People in Bridgend

       He also announced the following Member Development sessions:-

       Date                                 Subject

19 September 2014        Social Services and Wellbeing Act.

21 October 2014              Budget Workshop

The Cabinet Member - Resources informed Council that it was intended to publish all annual reports on the Council’s website by the 30 September 2014 and he requested Members to return their completed report as soon as possible in order that they be formatted ready for publication.  To date 60% of reports had been returned and Members were requested to contact the Democratic Services Team should they require any assistance.

The Cabinet Member - Resources also announced that the Equalities Cabinet Committee had requested that all elected Members update their personal equalities data.  This information will help to get a better understanding of the diversity of Elected Members and improve equality and diversity training.  An e:mail would be sent to Members shortly with guidance on how to make any amendments to the details that were currently being held.

(2)   Cabinet Member - Communities

The Cabinet Member - Communities welcomed and introduced to Council Mr Zac Shell who had recently commenced his employment with the Council as Head of Neighbourhood Services.

The Cabinet Member - Communities informed Council that the Council’s Regeneration Team in partnership with Maesteg Town Council had been successful in securing funding by the Welsh Government to support the development of a Town Centre Partnership and support a three year action plan for Maesteg Town Centre.  Funding of £100k would be used to develop initiatives including and events programme in the newly refurbished market, a bespoke marketing and promotions plan.  Town Centre signage strategy helps support the traders to develop digital business initiatives.

The Cabinet Member - Communities also informed Council of a celebration of the completion of the Bridgend Town Centre convergence project would take place this Friday in Elder Lane.  Dignitaries and guests from Bridgend will help unveil a commemorative plaque and help launch the new regeneration projects and initiatives for the Town Centre.  The event will re-launch the

Bridgend Town Heritage initiative as well as introduce the Vibrant and Viable Places Project and the Bridgend Business Improvement District. Information Boards would also be on display all day and all Members were invited to Elder Lane to find out more.

The Cabinet Member - Communities also informed Members that the Feastival will return to Bridgend Town Centre on the 26 and 27 September 2014.  Food festival was now in its fourth year offering over 50 stalls selling food, drink and craft.  New to Bridgend this year was the Champagne Tent sponsored by HRT and run by Nolton Corner, which are two new businesses in the town centre.  Bridgend Town Council will be providing children’s activities in Carnegie House.  Young farmers and Bridgend College as well as local restaurants would be providing cooking demonstrations and there would be the creation of a 10 foot potato dragon.  

(3)   Cabinet Member - Children and Young People

       The Cabinet Member - Children and Young People informed Members that they would have been shocked by the news from Rotherham.  He reassured Members that the Council has robust child protection procedures and effective inter agency practice in place and he had asked that a public report is made to Cabinet on how the Council responds to child sexual exploitation in Bridgend.  He stated that the Head of Safeguarding and Family Support is preparing a comprehensive report and would also be organising a briefing session for Members on Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Cabinet Member - Children and Young People informed Members that the Health and Wellbeing Centre at Griffin Park, Porthcawl had been re-launched.  The facility which is run by the Youth Service is designed to offer targeted help to vulnerable young people aged 11 to 25 deal with important issues such as substance misuse, sexual and physical health, wellbeing and includes activities such as a weekly Saturday morning Breakfast Club.

                   The Cabinet Member - Children and Young People informed Council that in response to the planned industrial action on the 14 October 2014, the Young Carers Conference had been moved to the 7 October 2014 taking place at the Heronston Hotel between 10.30am to 1.00pm.  He stated that Members are very welcome to join professionals to learn more about how caring for a parent or a sibling impacts on a child’s life and how everyone can work together to better support young carers.

                   The Cabinet Member - Children and Young People informed Members that in the summer, Newcastle Higher Community Council unveiled mosaics to commemorate the Centenary of the start of the First World War in Aberkenfig Square.  Each of the three mosaics were designed with the help of pupils from each of the three local schools, Tondu Primary, St, Roberts and Penyfai.  Together with the Mayor and Assembly Member Janice Gregory, he was very impressed by the outcome of the children’s work and he recommended it for viewing.

                   He also announced that Bridgend had another platinum awarded Eco School in Bryncethin Primary  which had achieved the Platinum Award, the highest possible, making a total of seven Bridgend schools flying the flag.

                   He also congratulated Garth Primary School in the Llynfi Valley on becoming the latest school in Bridgend to Invest to Achieve Investors in Families status.  He stated that pupils can only realise their full potential if there was support

                   from parents and families.  It was an important goal and milestone for a school to work closely with families and the work to be recognised with Investors in Families Status.

                   The Cabinet Member - Children and Young People congratulated Coychurch Primary School and Blaengarw Primary School for their very positive Estyn Inspection reports.

                   He congratulated Heronsbridge School, a truly inspirational school which supported children with the most complex needs, which had been recognised with top marks being awarded and an excellent rating for current performance and prospects for improvement.