Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

         Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E. Jones, J. Thomas, D. Wilkshire, D. Woods, Interim Chief Executive and the Head of Organisational Development

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations received.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To receive.

There were no announcements reported at this meeting.

The Decision Book for the period June - September 2023 was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the decisions be approved and confirmed as a true record of proceedings.

To consider and if thought fit, approve the decisions of the meeting held on 20^th July, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Planning Committee held on 7^th September, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 19^th July, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Special Cabinet meeting held on 4^th September, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Place Scrutiny Committtee held on 20^th June, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Corporate and Performance Scrutiny Committee held on 22nd June, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Special Corporate & Performance Scrutiny Committee held on 5^th July, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 12^th July, 2023.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 18^th July, 2023.

Agreed.

To receive the Action Sheet.

The Action Sheet arising from the meeting held on 20^th July, 2023 was submitted.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the information contained therein be noted.

To receive questions, if any, from Members.

There were no questions submitted by Members.

To receive questions, if any, from the public.

There were no questions submitted by members of the public.

To consider the report of the Head of Legal & Corporate Compliance/Monitoring Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Legal and Corporate Compliance (Monitoring Officer), whereupon:

Paragraph 4.2/Page 31 - The Policy Framework – Housing Strategy

The Head of Legal and Corporate Compliance reported that whilst it had originally been proposed to remove the reference to the Housing Strategy from the Constitution, following further consideration and consultation with the Cabinet Member, it had been agreed that the Housing Strategy would remain within the Policy Framework as per the 2022 version of the Constitution.

It was, thereupon, unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing amendment, that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed namely that, thesuggested amendments be approvedand incorporatedinto the existing Constitution.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Members considered the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Following a discussion, it was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed namely that, the treasury management activity undertaken during the 2022/23 financial year be noted and the record of performance and compliance achieved during the year be accepted.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Members considered the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Following a lengthy discussion, it was proposed that:

-        In respect of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) that both options 2 and 3 be agreed, subject to a further report detailing a full cost benefit analysis, the impact on budget, the community and those that benefited from DFGs (whilst ensuring the adaptions were available for those that did not have the means to pay) together with the pace at which requests could be responded to.

-        A further cross-party discussion take place on the whole of capital programme.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that capital resources be allocated to the identified priority schemes / projects detailed in the report i.e.

Highways Improvement Works – Option 2 be endorsed i.e., the allocation of £500,000 for 2023/2024.

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG’s) – Options 2 & 3 be endorsed i.e., that the capital allocation be increased to £400,000 per annum (for 2023/24 &2024/25) and consideration be given to reinstating the means test element to the application process.

Community Asset Transfers, Empty Homes Grants, Glyncoed School – Storm Drainage Line, Pen-y-Cwm School (old site) demolition and Play Areas– Option 2 be endorsed and funding for the estimated amounts be allocated as follows:

-        Community Asset Transfers - £140,000

-        Empty Homes Grants - £100,000

-        Glyncoed School Storm Drainage Line - £100,000

-        Pen-y-Cwm School (Old Site) Demolition - £200,000

-        Play Areas - £50,000

Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale – Demolition – Funding of £500,000 be allocated from current resources.

To consider the report of the Team Manager – Street Scene.

Consideration was given to the report of the Team Manager – Street Scene.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed i.e., that the adoption of the Highways Asset Maintenance Plan (HAMP) 2023-2028 be supported.

To consider the report of the Interim Corporate Director of Social Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Interim Corporate Director of Social Services.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed i.e., that the Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2022/2023 be approved for publication.

To consider the report of the Interim Corporate Director of Education.

Members considered the report of the Interim Corporate Director of Education.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed namely that the following be accepted:

·       the Objections report, with evidence from the Statutory Notice (Appendix 1) and grants approval to proceed to the implementation stage; and

·       The full business case (Appendix 2) in relation to the implementation of the resources bases from September 2023 onwards.

To consider the attached report.

Advisory Panel for Local Authority Governors

The following recommendations were made by the Panel on 13^th September, 2023 to appoint in principle:

Willowtown Primary School – Sian Barrett

Ystruth Primary School – Melanie Rogers

Cwm Primary School – Natalie Marshall

Coed-y-Garn Primary School – Joan Price

Brynmawr Foundation School – Gail Watkins

It was, thereupon, unanimously,

RESOLVED that the above appointments be endorsed.

Town/Community Councils Liaison Committee

RESOLVED that the Town/Community Councils Liaison Committee be established with the following membership:

Leader / Cabinet Member – Corporate Overview & Performance (Chair)

Deputy Leader/ Cabinet Member – Place & Environment

Cabinet Member – Place & Regeneration and Economic Development

Cabinet Member – People & Education

Cabinet Member – People & Social Services