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RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on the 19th November 2025, 15th December 2025 and 7th January 2026.
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider and approve the proposed revisions to the Education and Inclusion, Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity and Community Services Scrutiny Work Programmes as set out within paragraph 5 of the report. 2.2 Note that the proposed revisions arise from unforeseen and time critical circumstances and are intended to ensure the continued effective and timely operation of scrutiny. 2.3 Agree that the revised Work Programmes be published and that the relevant Cabinet Members and officers be notified accordingly.
RESOLVED: To provide feedback on the draft 2026/2027 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of phase 2 of the Council’s 2026/2027 Budget Consultation (Following Cabinet’s consideration and approval of the draft Budget Strategy Report at its meeting on the 2nd January 2026).
RESOLVED to scrutinise the assessment of current HMO standards and inspection regime in ensuring health & safety compliance
In accordance with the code of conduct Councillor Sera Evans declared a personal interest in item 4 “My employer is named in the report”
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on the 19th November 2025, 15th December 2025 and 7th January 2026.
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on the 19th November 2025, 15th December 2025 and 7th January 2026.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider and approve the proposed revisions to the Education and Inclusion, Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity and Community Services Scrutiny Work Programmes as set out within paragraph 5 of the report. 2.2 Note that the proposed revisions arise from unforeseen and time critical circumstances and are intended to ensure the continued effective and timely operation of scrutiny. 2.3 Agree that the revised Work Programmes be published and that the relevant Cabinet Members and officers be notified accordingly.
The Service Director Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications presented the report to Members to seek approval from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the proposed revisions to the Education and Inclusion and Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for the remainder of the 2025-2026 Municipal Year Members were advised that the proposed revisions were required as they reflect exceptional circumstances and provide a response that allows scrutiny to focus on priority matters where Member input can add the greatest value The respective Chairs of the thematic Scrutiny Committees gave their support of the proposals. Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider and approve the proposed revisions to the Education and Inclusion, Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity and Community Services Scrutiny Work Programmes as set out within paragraph 5 of the report. 2.2 Note that the proposed revisions arise from unforeseen and time critical circumstances and are intended to ensure the continued effective and timely operation of scrutiny. 2.3 Agree that the revised Work Programmes be published and that the relevant Cabinet Members and officers be notified accordingly.
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RESOLVED: To provide feedback on the draft 2026/2027 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of phase 2 of the Council’s 2026/2027 Budget Consultation (Following Cabinet’s consideration and approval of the draft Budget Strategy Report at its meeting on the 2nd January 2026).
The Service Director Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications presented the report to Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide feedback on the draft 2026/2027 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of the second phase of the Council’s 2026/2027 Budget Consultation The Director - Financial Services & Transformation gave a presentation to Members which outlined the Council’s draft 2026/27 Revenue Budget Strategy, reflecting the final local government settlement and feedback from Phase 1 consultation. The presentation outlined Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s draft 2026/27 Revenue Budget Strategy, highlighting the authority’s financial position, findings from Phase 1 consultation, and the impact of the +4.5% local government settlement, before setting out Cabinet’s proposals including a 4% Council Tax rise, full funding of school pressures with an additional £1m for ALN, £6.335m in efficiency savings, a general 5% rise in fees and charges with specified exceptions, enhanced business rate relief, and use of transitional funding to close the remaining gap, alongside details of the Phase 2 consultation approach and forthcoming decision?making Consultation Response Members noted that the consultation received approximately 350 responses and questioned whether this represented an increase or decrease compared to previous years. Members sought clarity on how feedback was collected and whether the Council can consider alternative methods of engagement. The Director responded that responses were collected through face-to-face engagement, social media and an online survey. He advised this was lower than previous years though reassured Members that the Council continued to undertake a broad range of engagement activity, including targeted engagement though youth participation and other networks. Members highlighted that residents had indicated strong support for maintaining frontline services but simultaneously expressed opposition to increases in council Tax. Members recognised that this was likely influenced by cost-of-living pressures and affordability concerns. Members questioned whether the current engagement methods were sufficient, particularly given the budget decisions impacted all residents. One Member asked whether more innovative approaches could be used to encourage participation, noting that the Council was frequently criticised for poor engagement. The Director confirmed that the Council remained committed to engagement and highlighted that consultation should not be viewed as limited to a six-week window. He stated there was value in engaging with stakeholders throughout the year to build awareness. He also referenced the strong links with schools and youth engagement, noting the enthusiasm of children attending the chamber and seeing how the Council’s democratic process works. The Service Director Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications acknowledged that some feedback appeared to be strongly driven by specific issues, whilst other responses reflected broader concerns around the overall budget position and pressures facing residents. He also referenced the feedback generated through social media and highlighted the importance of ensuring that consultation feedback was considered proportionately. The Service Director also acknowledged that the Council had undertaken significant consultations in recent years on major service changes, which may have influenced public engagement levels and the nature of responses received. The Chair suggested that engagement could be strengthened through partnership working with voluntary sector organisations and local community assets where people may feel comfortable participating in conversation-based engagement, rather than formal surveys. Council Tax Members acknowledged that no one wished to see increases in Council Tax, particularly when residents are continuing to experience cost of living pressures. However, Members recognised that an increase was necessary to maintain services and achieve a balanced budget. One member expressed that the proposed 4% increase appeared fair and proportionate when compacted with other Welsh local authorities where significantly higher increases were being considered and stated that the Council had historically maintained relatively low Council Tax increases. A Member queried the implications if the Council were to propose a lower than 4% increase and asked how the 4% proposal compared with other Welsh local authority proposals. The Director responded that the Council was likely to remain in the lower quarter across Wales in terms of council Tax increases. He advised that every 1% reduction in Council Tax equated to approximately £1.1million of lost funding, which would require alternative measures to balance the budget. Members whilst cautious, generally accepted the proposal, recognising the difficult financial context and the ongoing pressures on Council services. Whilst there was no appetite to increase Council Tax during a period of continued cost of living pressures, Members acknowledged that an uplift was necessary in order to protect frontline services. Members noted that residents often expect services to be maintained or improved with no increase to Council tax and highlighted the need for clear communication to the public regarding the financial impact facing the Council. A Member queried whether the proposed budget strategy enabled the Council to develop and deliver a meaningful transformation, including digital transformation and wider service redesign. The member emphasised that the Council could not “stand still” and highlighted that there were opportunities to modernise and streamline services, particularly where current processes were overly bureaucratic and difficult for residents to navigate. The Member referred to the recent work of the Child Poverty Working Group where is had been identified that vulnerable residents often faced the greatest burden when accessing services and that transformation should be focused on improving access and simplifying systems to reduce the barriers of “access” to the Council. In response, the Director confirmed that the Council had an established transformation plan which focused on prevention, community resilience, customer experience and the efficient use of resources. He explained that the budget strategy was to ensure that required savings could be delivered without causing disproportionate impact on frontline services, while retaining the capacity required to drive the transformation. He also noted the importance of shifting resources from reactive to preventative services, recognising that this would require medium to long term planning and may involve using some one-off resources to support transition. Reference was also made to the Council’s developing digital strategy and the potential role of emerging technology, including artificial intelligence, in supporting more modern and efficient service delivery. Schools Budget The Chair welcomed the additional investment, particularly in relation to ALN, noting its importance and the pressures being experienced across schools and partner organisations. A Member queried whether there remained any risks to schools despite the additional funding being proposed, particularly in the context of increasing demand pressures and rising costs. The Director acknowledged that whilst the uplift was intended to reflect inflationary pressures and provide additional support (including ALN), schools would continue to face ongoing financial pressures, and the position would remain challenges across the Borough. The Director emphasised that the Council would continue to monitor school budget positions closely, alongside wider workforce pressures to ensure emerging risks could be identified and managed appropriately. A Member strongly supported the additional £1million for ALN capacity, nothing that ALN pressures were a significant issue and had been discussed in other Committees at length. A member stated that the ALN reform programme had been previously described as “cost neutral” by Welsh Government, but this was not the case. The Member highlighted the number of pupils requiring ALN support and the significant staff time required which was placing pressure on school budgets and capacity. The Member therefore suggested the Council should feedback to Welsh Government that ALN was not cost neutral and required greater national funding support. Use of Reserves Members did not oppose the Council maintaining adequate reserves, but highlighted that the use of reserves remained a sensitive area. Members noted the importance of ensuring that the use of reserves was communicated clearly to residents, particularly when residents were being consulted on Council Tax increases and potential saving proposals. Fees and Charges A Member commended the team for narrowing the budget gap significantly compared to previous year, noting that in earlier years the Council had been facing gaps of tens of millions. The Member stated that they agreed with the overall approach to fees and charges but made specific alternative suggestion relating to bulky waste charges, noting that if the proposal was £23, it may be more sensible to increase it to £25 for simplicity. In discussing the proposed increase in fly tipping charges, A Member queried whether the maximum penalty level of £150 should be imposed in order to strengthen the deterrence to fly tip and increase income and enforcement. Members highlighted the importance of continuing to support town centres and recognised the value of the Lido in Pontypridd as a key community and visitor facility. A Member raised concerns that the Lido is widely used by visitors from outside the County Borough, noting that it is described as the “National Lido for Wales”. It was suggested that consideration should be given to whether a different approach could be applied for non RCT residents, or whether additional external funding should be sought to reflect the wider regional and national benefit of the facility. The Director advised that this issue could be captured through the consultation process and considered further as part of the final proposals. Local Business Rates / Non-Domestic Rates Members acknowledged the importance of supporting local businesses, particularly small and independent traders. Members expressed concern that increases in non-domestic rates could have a disproportionate impact on businesses already operating with narrow margins, particularly within town centre and high street locations. Members noted that local businesses are key contributors to community wellbeing and economic resilience, and that additional financial pressures could risk business closures, reduced business opportunities and further decline in town centres. Members sought reassurance that the Council’s approach to business rates would be fair and transparent, and that appropriate reliefs, exemptions, and support mechanisms would be promoted effectively to ensure businesses were able to access assistance available. The Director advised that Welsh Government relief arrangements and changes to non-domestic rates system had been reflected within the proposals, and that the Council would continue to ensure businesses were supported to access the relief schemes available. He further advised that the Council would continue to communicate the changes and signpost businesses to the appropriate support and guidance to minimise uncertainty. Use of Transitional Funding Members were reassured that the budget gap had been significantly reduced but remained mindful that consultation outcomes and final decisions could impact the overall position. Following consideration of the report and presentation it was RESOLVED: To provide feedback on the draft 2026/2027 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of phase 2 of the Council’s 2026/2027 Budget Consultation (Following Cabinet’s consideration and approval of the draft Budget Strategy Report at its meeting on the 2nd January 2026).
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RESOLVED to scrutinise the assessment of current HMO standards and inspection regime in ensuring health & safety compliance
The Environmental Protection & Housing Standards Manager presented the report to allow members to scrutinise the assessment of current Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) standards and inspection regime in ensuring health & safety compliance. The report provided an assessment of the current Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) standards and inspection regime in Rhondda Cynon Taf, outlining the legislative framework, the operation of the countywide Additional Licensing Scheme, and evidence demonstrating its impact on improving housing conditions, fire safety and management standards across the sector. It highlighted that 531 HMOs are currently licensed, with proactive inspection, enforcement and partnership work used to ensure compliance, and noted that recent reviews show both the continued need for regulation and the effectiveness of licensing in addressing hazards and preventing deterioration in property standards. Members referenced comparisons with other local authorities, noting that some areas appeared to apply enhanced standards. Reference was made to Swansea, where Members commented that higher space standards may have been introduced. Members questioned whether the Council could adopt stronger local standards, particularly around space and accommodation requirements, to ensure tenants have acceptable living conditions. Officers confirmed that comparisons had previously been undertaken and that RCT’s licensing conditions were comparable to , or higher than other Local Authorities. Officers also advised that statutory minimum space requirements are set nationally, and that there is limited flexibility within the licensing regime itself to apply enhanced standards, though this could potentially be explored further through planning policy and supplementary guidance. The Committee raised concerns about absent landlord and sought clarification on how the Council ensures appropriate management arrangements are in place. Members asked that local management structures are required and how compliance is checked, particularly where landlords do not live locally. Officers advised that management arrangements form part of the licensing application process and landlords must demonstrate that they have appropriate arrangements in place, including agents, contractors and keyholders for emergency access and repairs. Officers stated that checks and balances are embedded in the application process to prevent situations where HMOs are left unmanaged. A Member asked what the true cost of administering and enforcing the licensing scheme is, noting that the costs presented in the report did not appear to fully reflect the staffing and resource time involved. It was suggested that the full cost to the local authority may be significantly higher when the officer time and associated activity is considered. Officers acknowledged that processing applications can be resource intensive and highlighted that the Council had introduced a discounted fee approach to encourage landlords to achieve compliance more quickly, helping to reduce the resource burden and improve efficiency. Officers also advised that compliance levels would be reviewed as part of future evaluations to the scheme. Members queried the relationship between planning and licensing and emphasised that HMOs are increasingly coming forward as long term accommodation rather than just student housing, and Members highlighted that the Planning and Development Committee has spent significant time considering HMOs. Concerns were raised that some properties can meet planning requirements but still fail to meet practical accommodation standards in relation to kitchen and shared facilities size. Members commented that the process sometimes feels disjointed and questioned whether licensing could take place earlier in the process to avoid unsuitable applications progressing through planning. Officers confirmed that licensing and planning are separate but that there is close working between the teams. Officers explained that any suspected unlicensed HMOs are directed towards the appropriate planning route and planning colleagues are also notified of any new HMO applications. The Committee requested that a report be brought to a future committee meeting specifically focussing on HMO Planning standards and the effectiveness of planning controls. Members also discussed the need to strengthen supplementary planning guidance (SPG), to provide clearer standards and stronger policy grounds to support planning decisions. Members raised concerns regarding the Graig area, noting that the nature of the local community has changed and that issues commonly associated with HMOs, were increasing. Officers advised that the Graig area is subject to planning controls and SPG thresholds, and noted that there are different HMO thresholds within and outside the Treforest area. It was acknowledged that if the density of HMOs in certain areas is increasing, planning thresholds and SPG may need review. The Committee raised concerns regarding refuse storage, waste management, and the impact of HMOs on neighbourhood cleanliness. Members highlighted issues of refuse, poor presentation of waste for collection and associated anti-social behaviour. Officers advised that the licensing regime includes requirements relating to management standards, including refuse storage and disposal arrangements. Officers added that housing and licensing teams work closely with waste services to address localised issues, and referenced recent operational improvements, including the timing of waste checks before and after collection to ensure compliance and reduce environmental impact. Members expressed significant concern regarding the adequacy of shared facilities in HMOs, particularly where properties are being used for long-term residents rather than short-term student occupation. Questions were raised around whether the current licensing regime sufficiently reflects the increased pressure placed on kitchens, bathrooms and communal facilities where occupants may be living independently for longer periods. Members also raised concerns about the minimum bedroom space standard (6.5m²), describing it as inadequate and potentially harmful to tenant wellbeing. Members stated that some applications appeared to be designed to meet minimum space requirements exactly, which created concern with Members. Officers reassured Members that inspections are undertaken to verify conditions on site and that licensing checks cover standards irrespective of the type of tenant occupying the property. Members sought reassurance regarding fire safety and compliance with fire regulations. Officers outlined that fire safety is a key component of licensing requirements and that standards are higher in HMOs than in standard residential accommodation. Officers explained that requirements include enhanced detection, fire precautions and compliance with relevant legislation. It was also highlighted that conditions relating to fire safety had been updated to reflect changes introduced through the Building Safety Act, including the requirement for responsible persons to undertake fire safety risk assessments. A Member requested that additional information and data be circulated to Members outside the meeting to support their understanding and scrutiny of the issues, particularly around standards and compliance. Officers noted the request and indicated that further information could be shared following the meeting. Members discussed the need to build public confidence in the HMO regime, particularly among residents who experience negative community impacts. Officers explained that the licensing scheme is subject to periodic review and includes a public consultation element to capture views from tenants, residents and owner occupiers. Officers acknowledged that tenant engagement in consultations has historically been limited and stated that work is ongoing to improve this, including seeking greater tenant involvement to ensure a balanced evidence base alongside landlord feedback. Officers advised that future scheme reviews will provide further opportunities to strengthen engagement and build public confidence in the Council’s regulatory approach. RESOLVED to scrutinise the assessment of current HMO standards and inspection regime in ensuring health & safety compliance
None
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