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 H. Cunningham, J. P. Morgan, J. Thomas and D. Woods.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

The following declarations of interest were reported:

Item No. 5: The Renting Homes (Fees etc.) (Wales) Act 2019;   

                    authorisation of Rent Smart Wales to undertake

                    enforcement action in Blaenau Gwent

-        Councillors M. Cross and J. C. Morgan

The Monitoring Officer advised that the above-named Members could remain in the meeting whilst this item was considered and were able to take part in any debate that may ensue and any subsequent vote (if required) in respect of this item of business.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

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

It was, thereupon unanimously,

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

-        Council Tax Resolution detailed below, be approved.

-        Statutory budget requirement of £184,942,156 be approved.

-        Use of the specific reserves identified totalling £1.5m (paragraph 5.1.16 of the report) be approved.

5.1.2 The Council agreed at its meeting on 27^th February, 2024, a Council Tax increase of 4.95% for the 2024/2025 financial year.  As a result, the Blaenau Gwent Council element of the full council tax charge would be:-

5.1.3 At its meeting in December 2023 the Council agreed the Council Tax base for tax setting purposes be 20,936.36 for 2024/25, this being the total number of chargeable dwellings in each area adjusted for a number of items e.g., discounts payable, multiplied by the assumed collection rate of 95.5%.

5.1.4 In addition, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount of its Council Tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate were:

5.1.5  The above representing the number of chargeable dwellings to which the Town & Community Council’s precept would apply.

5.1.7 That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2024/2025 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and sections 47 and 49 of the Local Government Act 1988 (as amended):

To consider the report of the Service Manager Public Protection.

Councillor M. Cross and J. C. Morgan declared an interest in this item and remained in the meeting whilst it was considered.

The report of the Service Manager – Public Protection was submitted for consideration.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that Cardiff Council, as the Single Licensing Authority for Wales (Rent Smart Wales) be authorised to exercise the functions of an enforcement authority, in relation to Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s area, for the purposes of the Renting homes (Fees etc) (Wales) Act 2019, including, without limitation, taking enforcement activity and bringing criminal proceedings pursuant to section 19 of that Act.

To receive and consider the following report which in the opinion of the proper officer is an exempt item taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reason for the decision for the exemption is available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

To receive and consider the following report which in the opinion of the proper officer was an exempt item taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reason for the decision for the exemption was available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

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

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

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

Councillor J. Millard joined the meeting at this juncture.

The Chair of the Corporate & Performance Scrutiny Committee advised that the report had been considered at a Special Committee the previous day and Members in recognising the short timescale in which to progress the proposal had endorsed Option 2, subject to the following additional recommendation:

-        That delegated power be granted to officers to negotiate up to an agreed maximum value.

RESOLVED accordingly.

Upon a vote being taken, it was unanimously,

FURTHER RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report which contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) be accepted and Option 2 be endorsed, namely:

-        The opportunity highlighted in the business case be progressed; and

-        delegated power be granted to officers to negotiate up to an agreed  maximum value.