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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Forward Work Programme for the meeting on 23rd February, 2026 be agreed (Option 1).
RESOLVED that approval be granted for 2 Members to attend.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted, and Cabinet i.Agree to reduce the quorum of the Joint Committee to 40%, with at least 3 regional areas represented; and ii.Authorise the entry into and signing of the Deed of Variation to enable this. Agreeing this proposal will enable the Joint Committee to meet and undertake its functions on behalf of Blaenau Gwent Local Authority thus enabling the oversight by it of the collaborative arrangements for adoption and fostering services.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted, and Cabinet is informed of the Council’s performance with regard to complaints made to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. (The report has been referred to the Governance and Audit Committee with assurance that the process for the monitoring of complaints is robust and the performance information provided reflects these practices). (Option1)
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Corporate Safeguarding Policy 2025-2028 be formally adopted. (Option 1)
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support the attached policy to enable the Authority to continue to deliver the discretionary forms of assistance contained therein with the finances made available from the Authority or that may become available from other sources. (Option 1)
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support Option 1, namely:- The establishment of a stakeholder working group/forum. To set the parameters of a Medium Impact Campaign (appendix 2 of the report). With the parameters set the Stakeholder Forum Members can input their thoughts and suggestions based on their local knowledge and experiences. The LEQ Officer acting as the Forum Lead Officer can manage and control the threshold of the campaign design within the parameter’s guidelines set by Members. The medium impact campaign allows for flexible progression to be considered. Should the initial campaign not result in the desired outcome, then this option allows the flexibility to consider progressing to option 2, a more hard-hitting campaign (refer to 3.2 of the report). Should the initial campaign be successful then it can either be continued or be followed by a softer “ask” or “thank you” campaign. The forums final campaign designs be submitted to Joint Executive Management Team for consideration and approval before being launched.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support Option 1, namely: · Note the delivery of the town centre Placemaking plans to · date. · Re-agree the approach to develop one key project in each town placemaking plan, subject to available funding. · Agree the Placemaking Wales Charter principles in the planning, design and management of new and existing places across the area.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet approve Option 1, the Sirhowy Valley area.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and; i. Cabinet approve Blaenau Gwent Council joining the Gwent Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme as a member organisation; and ii. Cabinet to consider and approve the review and refresh of the new Breastfeeding At Work section of the Maternity Policy.
No requests for simultaneous translation service were received.
Apologies for absence were reported for Councillor S.Edmunds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families.
No declarations of interest and dispensations were reported.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
The decisions of Cabinet held on 24th November, 2025 were submitted. RESOLVED that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Forward Work Programme for the meeting on 23rd February, 2026 be agreed (Option 1).
Consideration was given to the report of the Scrutiny and Democratic Officer. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Forward Work Programme for the meeting on 23rd February, 2026 be agreed (Option 1).
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that approval be granted for 2 Members to attend.
Due to the need to consider the following item as a matter of urgency, the Leader of the Council 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. The National Consortium for Societal Resilience [UK+] 24th February 2026 – 25th February 2026 - Manchester RESOLVED that approval be granted for 2 Members to attend.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted, and Cabinet i.Agree to reduce the quorum of the Joint Committee to 40%, with at least 3 regional areas represented; and ii.Authorise the entry into and signing of the Deed of Variation to enable this. Agreeing this proposal will enable the Joint Committee to meet and undertake its functions on behalf of Blaenau Gwent Local Authority thus enabling the oversight by it of the collaborative arrangements for adoption and fostering services.
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Legal and Corporate Compliance/Monitoring Officer. RESOLVED that the report be accepted, and Cabinet i.Agree to reduce the quorum of the Joint Committee to 40%, with at least 3 regional areas represented; and ii.Authorise the entry into and signing of the Deed of Variation to enable this. Agreeing this proposal will enable the Joint Committee to meet and undertake its functions on behalf of Blaenau Gwent Local Authority thus enabling the oversight by it of the collaborative arrangements for adoption and fostering services.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted, and Cabinet is informed of the Council’s performance with regard to complaints made to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. (The report has been referred to the Governance and Audit Committee with assurance that the process for the monitoring of complaints is robust and the performance information provided reflects these practices). (Option1)
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Legal and Corporate Compliance/Monitoring Officer. RESOLVED that the report be accepted, and Cabinet is informed of the Council’s performance with regard to complaints made to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. (The report has been referred to the Governance and Audit Committee with assurance that the process for the monitoring of complaints is robust and the performance information provided reflects these practices). (Option1)
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Corporate Safeguarding Policy 2025-2028 be formally adopted. (Option 1)
Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director Children Young People & Families. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Corporate Safeguarding Policy 2025-2028 be formally adopted. (Option 1)
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support the attached policy to enable the Authority to continue to deliver the discretionary forms of assistance contained therein with the finances made available from the Authority or that may become available from other sources. (Option 1)
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Communities and Wellbeing. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support the attached policy to enable the Authority to continue to deliver the discretionary forms of assistance contained therein with the finances made available from the Authority or that may become available from other sources. (Option 1)
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support Option 1, namely:- The establishment of a stakeholder working group/forum. To set the parameters of a Medium Impact Campaign (appendix 2 of the report). With the parameters set the Stakeholder Forum Members can input their thoughts and suggestions based on their local knowledge and experiences. The LEQ Officer acting as the Forum Lead Officer can manage and control the threshold of the campaign design within the parameter’s guidelines set by Members. The medium impact campaign allows for flexible progression to be considered. Should the initial campaign not result in the desired outcome, then this option allows the flexibility to consider progressing to option 2, a more hard-hitting campaign (refer to 3.2 of the report). Should the initial campaign be successful then it can either be continued or be followed by a softer “ask” or “thank you” campaign. The forums final campaign designs be submitted to Joint Executive Management Team for consideration and approval before being launched.
Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Neighbourhood Services. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support Option 1, namely:- The establishment of a stakeholder working group/forum. To set the parameters of a Medium Impact Campaign (appendix 2 of the report). With the parameters set the Stakeholder Forum Members can input their thoughts and suggestions based on their local knowledge and experiences. The LEQ Officer acting as the Forum Lead Officer can manage and control the threshold of the campaign design within the parameter’s guidelines set by Members. The medium impact campaign allows for flexible progression to be considered. Should the initial campaign not result in the desired outcome, then this option allows the flexibility to consider progressing to option 2, a more hard-hitting campaign (refer to 3.2 of the report). Should the initial campaign be successful then it can either be continued or be followed by a softer “ask” or “thank you” campaign. The forums final campaign designs be submitted to Joint Executive Management Team for consideration and approval before being launched.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support Option 1, namely: · Note the delivery of the town centre Placemaking plans to · date. · Re-agree the approach to develop one key project in each town placemaking plan, subject to available funding. · Agree the Placemaking Wales Charter principles in the planning, design and management of new and existing places across the area.
Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Joint Director Economy and Place. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support Option 1, namely: · Note the delivery of the town centre Placemaking plans to · date. · Re-agree the approach to develop one key project in each town placemaking plan, subject to available funding. · Agree the Placemaking Wales Charter principles in the planning, design and management of new and existing places across the area.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet approve Option 1, the Sirhowy Valley area.
Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Joint Director Economy and Place. The Cabinet Member for Economy & Place confirmed that the report had been considered at a special meeting of the Economic Development & Environmental Management Scrutiny Committee on the 5th January, 2026. The Options were debated and it was agreed that the three Options would be ranked in order of preference of the Scrutiny Committee. The Options were submitted to UK Government, and during the remainder of last week a number of meetings and discussions had taken place with UK Government Officials. At the invitation of the Cabinet Member the Acting Joint Director Economy & Place reported that following the Scrutiny Committee, Officers engaged with UK Government Officials to discuss in detail each of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee. Following these discussions, written confirmation was received from UK Government that the preferred Option of the Scrutiny Committee, namely the County Borough wide option, together with the Heads of the Valleys option, which was the second recommendation of the Scrutiny Committee, would not be compliant if they were formally submitted as our preferred neighbourhood area. However, the third Option of the Scrutiny Committee, namely the Sirhowy Valley area would be compliant against the criteria, and if submitted to UK Government as our formal bid, they would be minded to consider that as a compliant bid. The Acting Director stated that as the deadline for submission of the bid was last Friday, and following informal discussions with Cabinet, a bid was submitted to UK Government for the Sirhowy Valley Neighbourhood Area, and the outcome of that decision was awaited. The Leader thanked the Acting Director for the update. He said there was widespread disappointment across Blaenau Gwent, as clearly there were areas of deprivation across the three Valleys, and Members quite rightly wanted the opportunity to share the investment. However, the Leader said he hoped that the Scrutiny Committee would support the update, as Cabinet had indicated that they would support the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation, but it was fundamental that this investment was not lost. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet approve Option 1, the Sirhowy Valley area.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and; i. Cabinet approve Blaenau Gwent Council joining the Gwent Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme as a member organisation; and ii. Cabinet to consider and approve the review and refresh of the new Breastfeeding At Work section of the Maternity Policy.
Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Children’s Services, and the Professional Lead for Strategic Partnerships. RESOLVED that the report be accepted and; i. Cabinet approve Blaenau Gwent Council joining the Gwent Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme as a member organisation; and ii. Cabinet to consider and approve the review and refresh of the new Breastfeeding At Work section of the Maternity Policy.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
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