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 D. Davies, L. Parsons and the Interim Corporate Director of Social Services.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

Condolences were expressed to the family of Sally-Ann Evans, highly respected colleague and Council Solicitor. Sally-Ann had passed  away suddenly on 6^th October, 2023.

Tributes were paid to Sally-Ann and Members and officers  paid their respects with a minute’s silence.

To consider the report of the Interim Chief Executive.

Members considered the report of the Interim Chief Executive.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Council’s Self- Assessment 2022/23 be approved for publication on the Council’s website and shared with key partners as outlined in paragraph 2.42 of the statutory guidance i.e.:

Paragraph 2.42 - The self-assessment report must be published within four weeks of it being finalised in accordance with the Council’s agreed processes, and a copy should be made available to the Council’s corporate Governance and Audit Committee. The report should also be sent to:

§  The Auditor General for Wales

§  Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales

§  The Welsh Ministers

It was agreed that the following item would be considered at this juncture in the meeting:

Item No. 7 – South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee (The CJC) Appropriate Scrutiny Arrangements.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Community Services.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Community Services.

It was noted that a report detailing the work of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and CJC would be presented to Council in due course. An update would also be provided to Members in the form of a Member Briefing.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and Option 2 be endorsed, namely that:

(1)  The JOSC be appointed as the Joint Overview  and Scrutiny Committee for the CJC.

(2)  The Draft Terms of Reference for its functions in respect of the CJC, as attached at Appendix 1 be approved.

(3)  The cost of administering the JOSC for the CJC be noted and would be dealt with by a service level agreement between Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCTCBC) and the CJC, to be concluded in due course.

To consider the report of the Head of Democratic Services, Governance & Partnerships.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Democratic Services, Governance and Partnerships.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the findings of the Assurance Review be noted and the recommendations outlined below be agreed:

·       A Link Officer be identified within the Council to establish regular liaison meetings with Gwent Archives and Gwent Crematoria by the end of March 2024.

·       A Members Briefing be organised on the operations and services provided by the Gwent Archives and Gwent Crematoria by the end of March 2024.

·       All relevant strategic documents, annual business plan and accounts for Gwent Archives and Gwent Crematoria be included in the Forward Work Programme for the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee for 2024-25, and Council where relevant, at least twice a year.

·       The Terms of Reference be developed into a ‘governance toolkit’ for use by officers across the Council for providing assurance against existing companies and in the event of the establishment of any new ones by end March 2024.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The report of the Head of Organisational Development was submitted for consideration.

Appreciation was expressed to the Health & Safety Team for the considerable amount of work undertaken during the year and for the work undertaken to ensure the safe return  of pupils and staff to schools during the Covid period.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be approved, namely that the detailed Health & Safety Annual Review report be endorsed together with the recommended actions to mitigate areas of concern and risk.