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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 approved and confirmed as a true record of proceedings.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the progress made against the Corporate Plan Annual Performance Report 2025/2026 be noted.
RESOLVED that having considered the content of the report, ensuring it was consistent with Members knowledge and understanding of the wider issues affecting the Council, the report be accepted and the Head of Democratic Services Annual Report 2025/2026 be approved.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that: · the Elected Member Social Media Policy 2026 be approved; and · the approved policy be implemented and reviewed in accordance with the review arrangements set out within the policy. Councillor Jonathan Millard requested that his name be recorded against the decision to approve the policy.
RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the Elected Member Safety Guide 2026 be approved.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the action plan be approved.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the publication of the Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2025/2026 be approved.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and - the Gwent Regional Partnership Board Annual Report 2025/26 and the progress made in delivering integrated regional priorities across health, social care, housing, the third sector and wider partners be noted; and - the continued participation in regional partnership arrangements be endorsed and the role of the RPB in supporting statutory duties, strengthening prevention and early intervention, improving access to community-based support and responding collectively to shared system pressures across Gwent be recognised.
RESOLVED that the above appointments be endorsed. The following appointment was verbally reported: Gwent Archives Joint Committee RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Adults & Communities be appointed to replace the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families on the above Joint Committee.
It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.
Apologies for absence were received from: - Councillors M. Cross, M. Day, J. Gardner, E. Jones, J. Morgan, J.P., G. Thomas, S. Thomas and H. Trollope - Joint Director of Neighbourhoods & Environment - Director of Transformation & Delivery
There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.
Condolences Condolences were expressed to: - The family of Peter Nickles, former Council employee on his sad passing. - Councillor Malcolm Day and his family on the sad passing of his wife, Gill. - The family of former Councillor Barrie Sutton who had sadly passed away. Members and officers paid their respects with a one minute silence. Congratulations Congratulations were expressed to: - Owain Dando on becoming the Welsh Lawn Bowls Open Singles Champion 2026. Owain was a member of RTB Ebbw Vale Bowls Club. - The daughter of Council officer Paul Samuel – 15 year old Gracie-Rae Edwards who had been selected to represent Wales at the 2026 WBC MuayThai European Championships in Sardinia, Italy during mid-October. - 5 year old Chester Crump from Cwm who had become the EMX Sparks British Motocross Champion in the e12 class and was also runner up in the e2 class during his first season of racing.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the decisions be approved and confirmed as a true record of proceedings.
The Decision Book for the period June - September 2026 was submitted for consideration. It was unanimously, RESOLVED that the decisions be approved and confirmed as a true record of proceedings.
The following question was received from Councillor Sonia Behr and was responded to by Councillor Tommy Smith, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood & Environment Services. Question: Following the recent wildfires throughout Blaenau Gwent, residents expressed serious concerns about the lack of firebreaks, unmanaged undergrowth, branches overhanging their homes and an absence of publicly available evacuation plans. Would the Council confirm what preparations were being made ahead of next summer to protect communities across Blaenau Gwent, especially where housing directly adjoined moorland, woodland and other areas at heightened risk of wildfire and particularly, in populations where one in three households had no car. Response: The wildfires this summer were extremely serious and the Leader and Deputy Leader, along with other councillors had a very stressful August with fires breaking out and, in some cases, reigniting around communities. This also became a much wider issue with serious wildfires across parts of the U.K. and in countries throughout Europe and beyond. It was clear that we need to learn from what happened locally and make sure that we were prepared as possible for future periods of prolonged hot and dry weather. The Deputy Leader took the opportunity to thank the fire service, all emergency services, the military that were deployed, the commoners, farmers, Welsh Government agencies, council staff and most importantly, local residents who had supported the response. Council officers had been fully involved in the multi-agency response and a formal debrief was now taking place. This would look at that work, the improvements needed and the further preventative action that may be required ahead of next summer. This included the management of vegetation and trees on council owned land but also working closely with other land owners because large areas of moorland and woodland was not in council ownership. Emergency planning would form part of that work, including how communities were warned and informed and how vulnerable residents were supported, particularly, in areas where evacuation could be more difficult. To sum up, the priority was very clear - protecting homes where possible but above all protecting lives. Additionally, to take the lessons learned from this summer and use them to strengthen preparations for next year. Supplementary Question: How would this be resourced i.e. how much had been set aside in the budget to cover this work? Response: These details would form part of the response as outlined above and this included plans to look at resources going forward. Further information would become available as the plans progressed including looking at what happened this year and the preparations that were to be made for next year.
There were no questions submitted by members of the public.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the progress made against the Corporate Plan Annual Performance Report 2025/2026 be noted.
Members considered the report of the Head of Governance and Assurance/Statutory Head of Democratic Services. It was unanimously, RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the progress made against the Corporate Plan Annual Performance Report 2025/2026 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that having considered the content of the report, ensuring it was consistent with Members knowledge and understanding of the wider issues affecting the Council, the report be accepted and the Head of Democratic Services Annual Report 2025/2026 be approved.
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Governance and Assurance/Statutory Head of Democratic Services. It was unanimously, RESOLVED that having considered the content of the report, ensuring it was consistent with Members knowledge and understanding of the wider issues affecting the Council, the report be accepted and the Head of Democratic Services Annual Report 2025/2026 be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that: · the Elected Member Social Media Policy 2026 be approved; and · the approved policy be implemented and reviewed in accordance with the review arrangements set out within the policy. Councillor Jonathan Millard requested that his name be recorded against the decision to approve the policy.
Members considered the report of the Head of Governance and Assurance/Statutory Head of Democratic Services. Following a lengthy discussion it was, RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that: · the Elected Member Social Media Policy 2026 be approved; and · the approved policy be implemented and reviewed in accordance with the review arrangements set out within the policy. Councillor Jonathan Millard requested that his name be recorded against the decision to approve the policy.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the Elected Member Safety Guide 2026 be approved.
The report of the Head of Governance and Assurance/Statutory Head of Democratic Services was submitted for consideration. A discussion ensued when the Joint Chief Executive proposed that a Member Working Group be established to collectively explore and consider all the available options for addressing the approach taken for personal safety, thus ensuring they remain fit for purpose for the future. This would be an opportunity for Members to directly influence the decision making in this area, helping ensure that appropriate arrangements were in place in order that Members felt fully supported going forward. It was unanimously, RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the Elected Member Safety Guide 2026 be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the action plan be approved.
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Governance & Assurance. It was unanimously, RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the action plan be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the publication of the Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2025/2026 be approved.
The report of the Deputy Chief Executive/Strategic Director Children, Young People & Families was submitted for consideration. It was unanimously, RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 1 be endorsed, namely that the publication of the Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2025/2026 be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and - the Gwent Regional Partnership Board Annual Report 2025/26 and the progress made in delivering integrated regional priorities across health, social care, housing, the third sector and wider partners be noted; and - the continued participation in regional partnership arrangements be endorsed and the role of the RPB in supporting statutory duties, strengthening prevention and early intervention, improving access to community-based support and responding collectively to shared system pressures across Gwent be recognised.
Consideration was given to the joint Officers’ report. It was unanimously, RESOLVED that the report be accepted and - the Gwent Regional Partnership Board Annual Report 2025/26 and the progress made in delivering integrated regional priorities across health, social care, housing, the third sector and wider partners be noted; and - the continued participation in regional partnership arrangements be endorsed and the role of the RPB in supporting statutory duties, strengthening prevention and early intervention, improving access to community-based support and responding collectively to shared system pressures across Gwent be recognised.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the above appointments be endorsed. The following appointment was verbally reported: Gwent Archives Joint Committee RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Adults & Communities be appointed to replace the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families on the above Joint Committee.
Consideration was given to:- Advisory Panel for Local Authority Governors The following recommendations were made by the Panel on 2nd September, 2026 to appoint in principle: - Councillor Ellen Jones – Deighton Primary School - Kenneith Jones – Coed-y-Garn Primary School It was, thereupon, unanimously, RESOLVED that the above appointments be endorsed. The following appointment was verbally reported: Gwent Archives Joint Committee RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Adults & Communities be appointed to replace the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families on the above Joint Committee.
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.
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.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.