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, M. Day, J. Holt, L. Parsons, J. Wilkins and the Chief Executive.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To receive.

Condolences

Condolences were expressed to:

-        Councillor Malcolm Cross and family on the sad passing of his brother-in-law.

-        The family of former County Borough Councillor Brian Inch on his sad passing.

Members and officers paid their respects with a one minute silence.

Congratulations

Congratulations were extended to:

-        Constance Jones of Brynithel who celebrated her 100^th birthday on 7^th February.

A letter of congratulations had been sent on behalf of the Council.

-        Parc Bryn Bach Running Club Ladies Team who were triumphant at the 120^th Welsh Cross Country Championships at Pembrey Country Park on 25th January.  The ladies won the team title and in doing so they not only became the first Blaenau Gwent team ever to win it (men or ladies) but were the first Gwent Club to win in 27 years. 

The win now qualifies the club to a trial race between English, Scottish and Northern Irish championship winners with the top two clubs going on to the European Club Championships in Portugal.

Retirements

Best wishes were expressed to long-serving officers Annie Plamer-Phillips, David Phillips, Ian Cole and Jane Engel on their retirements.

The Decision Book for the period October 2024 – March 2025 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 23^rd January, 2025.

Agreed.

To consider and if thought fit, approve the decisions of the meeting held on 11^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To consider and if thought fit, approve the decisions of the meeting held on 20^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To consider and if thought fit, approve the decisions of the meeting held on 6^th March, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the General Licensing Committee held on 21^st January, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Planning Committee held on 6^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the General Licensing Committee held on 18^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Planning Committee held on 6th March, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of Cabinet held on 15^th January, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of Special Cabinet held on 10^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of Cabinet held on 5^th March, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Place Scrutiny Committee held on 22^nd October, 2024.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Governance & Audit Committee held on 20^th November, 2024.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Corporate & Performance Scrutiny Committee held on 12^th December, 2024.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 7^th January, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of Place Scrutiny Committee held on 28^th January, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Corporate & Performance Scrutiny Committee held on 6^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To confirm the decisions of the Special Corporate & Performance Scrutiny Committee held on 7^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

To consider the report of the Ethics and Standards Committee held on 11^th February, 2025.

Agreed.

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 Corporate Director of Corporate Services.

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

Following a discussion, Members agreed that a briefing / position statement on the current status of the services operating as a result of the Quadripartite Railway Loan Agreement be requested.

It was unanimously,

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

-        the Annual Treasury Strategy Statement & Annual Investment Strategy & MRP Policy Statement for 2025/2026 financial year and the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators be approved.

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

The report of the Corporate Director of Corporate Services was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

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

·       Capital Strategy 2025/2026 attached at Appendix 1.

·       The Lease Policy & Procedure Document attached at Appendix A.

·       A reduction in the de-minimus limit for capital expenditure from £50,000 to £10,000 retrospectively applied to 1st April, 2023 (para 4.1.5 to 4.1.6 of the Capital Strategy).

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

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

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the Pay Policy Statement 2025/2026 be approved.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Corporate Services – on behalf of the Directors of Silent Valley Waste Services Limited.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Corporate Services – on behalf of Directors of Silent Valley Waste Services Limited.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the dissolution of Silent Valley Waste Services Ltd be noted.

To consider the report of the Service Manager – Neighbourhood Services.

Members considered the report of the Service Manager – Neighbourhood Services.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the following Options be endorsed:

Review of Green Waste Bag Charges

Option 1 - The charge to residents for green waste recycling bags be adopted on a permanent basis. The £2 charge would be included on the fees and charges register and increase in line with Council policy each year. The charge would continue to support the administration and delivery of the green waste bags to residents.

HWRC Reduced Opening

Option 1 – The decision implemented in June 2024 to trial the closure of the HWRCs for an additional day each during the week be given permanence.

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 support the delivery of flood defence / prevention works that will minimise the risk and impact of future flooding events upon vulnerable communities across Blaenau Gwent.

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

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 Corporate Director of Regeneration and Community Services.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and

-        the urgent decision made to award the contracts for flood defence works be noted and endorsed; and

-        that Council agreed to fund the works, totalling approximately £800,000. The final level of the Council’s resources required would be subject to the outcome of discussions with Wales Government.

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

The report of the Head of Legal & Corporate Compliance/Monitoring Officer was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that it was confirmed that the statutory duty imposed by the Act had been met.

To consider the attached report.

Consideration was given to the Presiding Member’s Annual Activities Report.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the activities and events attended by the Presiding Member for the period April 2024 – March 2025 be noted.

To consider the attached report.

Advisory Panel for Local Authority Governors

The following recommendations were made by the Panel on 12^th March, 2025 to appoint in principle:

Gerrin Walters - Tredegar Comprehensive School

Sarah Jones - Ystruth Primary School

Councillor Tommy Smith - St. Joseph’s RC Primary

                                          School

Francis Roy Lynch - Beaufort Hill Primary School

It was, thereupon, unanimously,

RESOLVED that the above appointments be endorsed.

Silent Valley Waste Services Limited – Company Board

Further to dissolution of Silent Valley Waste Services Ltd, it was noted that the appointment of Councillors Lisa Winnett and Tommy Smith as the Council’s nominated Directors on the Company Board had now ceased.

To consider the attached Motion.

Consideration was given to the above-named Motion.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the Council:

-        supported the campaign to devolve management of the Crown Estate and its assets in Wales to the Welsh Government; and

-        that funds raised be shared equitably between Welsh Local Authorities to support the needs of our communities.