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, J. Morgan, J.P., D. Woods, Interim Corporate Director of Social Services and the Chief Officer Commercial & Customer.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

The following declarations of interest were reported:

Item No. 5: NJC Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2022-2023 – Additional Annual Leave

-        Damien McCann - Interim Chief Executive

-        Lynn Phillips - Corporate Director of Education

-        Ellie Fry - Corporate Director of Regeneration & Community Services

-        Rhian Hayden - Chief Officer Resources

-        Andrea Jones - Head of Legal & Corporate Compliance

-        Andrea Prosser - Head of Organisational Development

-        Alison Hoskins - Head of Adult Services

-        Clive Rogers - Head of Community Services

-        Sarah King - Head of Democratic Services, Governance & Partnerships

-        Andrew Parker - Service Manager Policy & Partnerships

The Interim Chief Executive confirmed that following advice received from the Monitoring Officer, whilst above-named officers had declared an interest in respect of the above item they would be permitted to remain in the meeting.  However, should debate ensue those officers who had declared an interest would leave the meeting at the appropriate juncture, with the exception of the following officer who would remain in the meeting to answer any questions and clarify points raised:

-        Andrea Prosser – Head of Organisational Development

Congratulations

Congratulations were expressed to Gwendoline Moore who had been born in Tredegar but was now residing in Australia on celebrating her 111^th birthday.

RESOLVED that an appropriate letter be sent.

Condolences

Condolences were expressed to the family of former County Borough Councillor and Mayor Des Davies, who had sadly passed away.  Des had been a Councillor for the Cwm Ward for over 35 years and would be sorely missed.

Members and officers paid their respects with a minute’s silence.

An appropriate letter had been sent to the family.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that adjusting the pay outside of the NJC guidance be agreed for those who were on rota to work between 25^th December, 2022 and 2^nd January, 2023 and be paid as follows:

•        25^th December, 2022 – 2^nd January, 2023 pay to be at treble time with no lieu time allowance.

•        The 30^th December (classed as a normal working day) to be an exception and paid at double time with no lieu time allowance.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The following officers declared an interest in this item but remained in the meeting whilst it was considered:

-        Damien McCann - Interim Chief Executive

-        Lynn Phillips - Corporate Director of Education

-        Ellie Fry - Corporate Director of Regeneration & Community Services

-        Rhian Hayden - Chief Officer Resources

-        Andrea Jones - Head of Legal & Corporate Compliance

-        Andrea Prosser - Head of Organisational Development

-        Alison Hoskins - Head of Adult Services

-        Clive Rogers - Head of Community Services

-        Sarah King - Head of Democratic Services, Governance & Partnerships

-        Andrew Parker - Service Manager Policy & Partnerships

Members considered the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that an uplift of one day annual leave (pro rata for part time staff) for the Council’s JNC Chief Officers and Chief Executive be agreed.

To consider the report of the Service Manager Policy and Partnerships

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Policy & Partnerships.

It was noted that the Corporate and Performance Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the Strategy at it’s meeting on 15^th December, 2022.

It was unanimously

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2022-2027 be approved.

Due to the need to consider the following item as a matter of urgency, the Presiding Member has confirmed that the following matter can be considered under the Provisions of Paragraph 4(b), Section 100(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

REASON FOR URGENCY

To provide an update on the financial position of the Council and the financial challenges faced in setting its 2023/24 budget.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Due to the need to consider the following item as a matter of urgency, the Presiding Member confirmed that the following matter could be considered under the Provisions of Paragraph 4(b), Section 100(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 endorsed, namely;

·       the main assumptions used in the MTFS (section 5.1.2 of the report) be approved;

·       the forecast funding gap for the period of the MTFS (section 5.1.3 of the report) be noted; and

·       the continuing development of Bridging the Gap Strategic Business Reviews be noted.