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 any apologies for absence.

The following apologies for absence were received:-

Interim Corporate Director Social Services

Head of Democratic Services, Partnerships & Governance

To receive any declarations of interest or dispensations.

No declarations of interest or dispensations were raised.

To consider the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th June, 2023.

Consideration was given to the decisions of the Cabinet Meeting held on 7^th June, 2023.

RESOLVED that the decisions be received as a true record of proceedings.

To consider the decisions of the Special Cabinet meeting held on 21^st June, 2023.

Consideration was given to the decisions of the Special Cabinet Meeting held on 21^st June, 2023.

RESOLVED that the decisions be received as a true record of proceedings.

Consideration was given the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information contained therein be noted.

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

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Welsh Language Annual Report 2022/23, as published on 30th June 2023 be noted (Option 1).

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted, the  appropriate challenge to the financial outcomes in the report was provided and Cabinet noted the net use of specific reserves (Option 1).

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and

(a)the appropriate challenge was provided to the financial outcomes in the report;

(b)continued to support the appropriate financial control procedures agreed by Council; and

(c)noted the budgetary control and monitoring procedures in place within the Capital Team, to safeguard Authority funding (Option 1).

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and supported the proposed approach for developing the Strategic Equality Plan 2024/28 and Equality Objectives to be approved by Cabinet (Option 1).

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and a return to the existing Charter of Common Agreement arrangements be approved with the four TCCs, with a revised Charter for 2023/24 onwards to be presented for agreement at a future meeting (Option 1).

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

The Deputy Leader noted the consultation questions outlined in Appendix 2 and proposed that the word ‘feel’ in question 2 be amended to read ‘views’ as the consultation was seeking people’s views. The Deputy Leader also proposed an extra open question which would allow people to include any further comments they feel are relevant when responding to the consultation.

The Deputy Leader also suggested it would be useful when considering the consultation responses that we are aware of what capacity people are responding to the consultation. It was felt that a response from a housing or homelessness charity would be quite different from a landlord and potentially an RSL.

The proposals were supported and seconded by Cabinet Members.

RESOLVED accordingly.

FURTHER RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the details of the discretionary powers that Councils have relating to council tax premiums be noted, and it was agreed that a public consultation exercise be undertaken on proposals to introduce a council tax premium for long term empty properties and second homes within Blaenau Gwent. The proposed consultation questions are in Appendix 2 (Option 1).

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

RESOLVED that the report and approach be accepted and the revised Safeguarding in Education Policy as shown in Appendix 3 be agreed (Option 1).