Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee held on the 18th November 2025 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
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 (subject to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft Budget Strategy Report at its meeting on the 2nd February 2026).
RESOLVED to note the appointments of the Director of Education & Inclusion Services and Director of Adult Services.
RESOLVED to note the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix A) and Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations included within the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix B).
RESOLVED to approve the draft Work Programme for the meetings advised upon.
In accordance with the code of conduct no declarations were made pertaining to the agenda.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee held on the 18th November 2025 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee held on the 18th November 2025 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
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 (subject to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft Budget Strategy Report at its meeting on the 2nd February 2026).
BUDGET CONSULTATION 2026/27 (PHASE 2) The Director - Financial Services and Transformation provided Members, via a PowerPoint presentation, with key information on the Council’s phase 2 budget consultation process covering the following areas: Ø Introduction – 2026/27 Draft Revenue Budget Strategy; Ø The Council’s Current Financial Position (2025/26); Ø Phase 1 Budget Consultation – Headlines; Ø Final Local Government Settlement 2026/27 – Headlines / Implications For Rhondda Cynon Taf; Ø Cabinet Proposed Budget Strategy 2026/27; and Ø Next Steps and Key Dates. The Chair commented on feedback received from consultees as part of phase 1 of the budget consultation process and noted that 82% of respondents either agreed or strongly agree to continue to make social services a high priority for investment, which is a view supported by the Cabinet. The Chair also noted that the on-going delivery of efficiency savings is becoming increasing difficult to achieve each year. In respect of efficiency savings, a Member fed back that the delivery of efficiency savings can only be taken so far before it starts to impact on service delivery and noted that the protection of staff and services must remain at the forefront of considerations. As part of the update, the Committee were requested to provide their feedback and observations on Cabinet’s proposed 2026/27 Revenue Budget Strategy. Council Tax On balance, Members of the Committee considered the proposed Council Tax increase of 4.00% (excluding Community Council and Police precepts) as reasonable, taking into account the budget gap of £6.4M and it likely to be one of the lowest increases across Wales. Members commented on the importance of setting Council Tax at a level that would support maintaining Council services and jobs and acknowledged the importance of affordability for residents, as a higher increase may be met with frustration and negativity. Members also commented on the importance of clearly communicating the agreed position with the wider public. The Chair highlighted the challenges when setting the level of Council Tax, ensuing it is reasonable for residents and at the same time supporting the many Council services that meet the needs of residents across Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Chair also highlighted the proactive and successful approach taken by the Leader of the Council over a number of years that has supported keeping Council Tax levels as low as possible. Schools Budget Members acknowledged the advantages the proposal to allocate additional funding to cover, in full, all pressures in schools would bring in terms of protecting jobs and being able to maintain the school-based services provided to the most vulnerable children and families. One Member noted the Council’s approach to prioritise funding for schools and education at a time when funding and investment for both teaching and support staff is required to help alleviate the pressures currently experienced by staff due to, for example, increased class sizes. Members welcomed the additional £1M to enhance capacity across additional learning needs (ALN) and special school provision which they considered a ‘significant investment’. In respect of ALN, Members sought clarification as to whether the overall increase in funding for schools includes the additional resources provided by Welsh Government for ALNCos. The Director, Financial Services and Transformation confirmed that the ALNCo funding provided by Welsh Government in the final local government settlement does form part of the overall funding increase for schools, this amounting to £323k for Rhondda Cynon Taf for the 2026/27 financial year and has been ring-fenced for schools. Efficiencies Members provided feedback on the Council pursuing the identified efficiency savings for next year with one Member emphasising the importance for each efficiency proposal to be considered in detail to understand the impact. Another Member fed back that opportunities to deliver further efficiencies are becoming increasingly difficult to deliver without impacting on jobs. The Chair referred to the Council’s successful Apprenticeship and Graduate Programmes that provide the opportunity for the Council to ‘grow its own’ and emphasised that the Council recognise its staff as its greatest asset. The Chair also referred to the delivery of budget reduction measures without any detrimental impact on front line services and acknowledged that they are becoming increasingly difficult to deliver. The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services echoed the sentiments that Council staff have been proactive and are best placed to identify efficiency savings within their own service areas such as the ‘Learning to Swim’ initiative and associated income generation opportunities, adding that good collaboration exists between staff, managers and the Executive. A Member thanked the Chair and Cabinet Member for their comments regarding valuing staff as often they can feel they are not listened to and added that there has been a clear commitment in this regard under the current Administration. Another Member commented on the practicalities of delivering the proposed efficiencies and asked how this process will be undertaken. The Director of Financial Services and Transformation provided an overview of the ongoing programme of work in place, that included an assessment of saving opportunities and review arrangements by the Senior Leadership Team, and noted examples of the proposed savings to provide assurance to the Committee that adverse impacts on frontline service delivery can be mitigated. Fees and Charges As part of considering the proposed changes to fees and charges that will raise £412,000 of additional income in a full year, Members were advised that an alternative proposal from the Non-Majority Group of Members had been received in respect of car parking charges, and this detail had been included as part of the consultation process. Members highlighted the proposed increases specifically in relation to Meals on Wheels and non-residential care services, noting general concerns for adult social care nationally across Wales and also reducing numbers of people using the Meals on Wheels service in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Members also highlighted the need to carefully balance generating additional income versus it not having a detriment impact on services, and referenced the Council’s Leisure for Life provision and the potential for the Council to price itself out of the market as customers could look to move to other providers. One Member commented on the car parking fee increasing by 40p (for the long stay provision) which equates to a 25% increase and referenced staff members who are agile workers and are unable to maximise the benefits of paying for a monthly parking permit due to their working arrangements. The Member went on to highlight that in such cases, where a staff member pays by direct debit, this will equate to £23 per month, which is not cost effective. A Member also emphasised the impact car parking fees could have on town centre footfall and suggested a freeze on car parking fees for a year to benefit staff who work within the town centres. The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services fed back that Leisure for Life membership numbers are at one of their highest levels, at over 11,000 members, noting the wide range of quality provision on offer, the availability of experienced staff and full transparency on the charges in place. The Director, Financial Services and Transformation noted the points raised and explained that with regard to non-residential care charges, these are subject to a means tested financial assessment to determine whether service users have the financial means to contribute to the cost of their care and, if so, the level of contribution to be made and also noted that the current maximum charge per week is £100 as set by Welsh Government. In respect of the Meals on Wheels Service, the Director referred to the need for prices to contribute to covering rising food costs to help ensure the delivery of the much-valued service and noted that the proposed meal price within Rhondda Cynon Taf for 2026/27 would continue to be lower than neighbouring local authorities. Local Business Rate Reduction Scheme Members had no specific feedback to relay with the proposed increased level of financial support to qualifying businesses for 2026/27 via the Council’s Local Business Rate Reduction Scheme and welcomed the support to local businesses. Reserves Members had no concerns on the use of Transitional Funding to fund the remaining budget gap. Following conclusion of the discussions the Committee 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 (subject to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft Budget Strategy Report at its meeting on the 2nd February 2026).
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to note the appointments of the Director of Education & Inclusion Services and Director of Adult Services.
The Director of Human Resources provided a verbal update in relation to recent appointments to the Senior Management Structure of the Council. He advised that Dr Marium Haque has been appointed to the post of Director of Education & Inclusion Services, subject to the necessary employment clearances and Mrs. Beth May has been appointed as Director of Adult Services for 12 months effective from the 6th April 2026. Members of the Committee noted that both appointments had been ratified by Full Council at the meeting held on the 28th January 2026. It was RESOLVED to note the appointments of the Director of Education & Inclusion Services and Director of Adult Services.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to note the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix A) and Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations included within the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix B).
The Service Director Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications presented his report which served to provide the Committee with a copy of the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report along with the Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations made by the Panel. The Service Director advised that the report had been considered by Full Council on the 28th January 2026. The Service Director summarised the Panel’s conclusions, following the Panel Performance Assessment (PPA) which had been undertaken between 7th and 10th October 2025, which concluded that the Council ‘is a good, well run and ambitious Council, focused on improving the lives of its citizens’. The Service Director added that the conclusions represent a strong message of endorsement, that ‘the Council demonstrated that it has a strong track record of delivery underpinned by an ethos of continuous improvement. The Council is working to better understand the impact and outcomes of its work, moving from a service-focused approach to one which is person-centred, and which will help to deliver its ambition to strengthen communities’ resilience’. The Service Director advised that the Panel recognised that strong corporate financial planning and management functions are already in place as well as identifying that the Council invests in its staff and is valued by its partners and stakeholders. He commented that the Panel recognised the challenges ahead, as the Council takes the next steps in achieving the ambitions of its Corporate Plan but praised it for its early identification and response to budget pressures. The Panel noted that Schools have been prioritised, with full funding of identified pressures with a £1B invested across all schools. The Service Director confirmed the endorsement that the Council has a ‘well supported scrutiny and assurance functions’ and ‘that scrutiny is taken seriously and there is an appropriate balance between pre and post scrutiny of decisions with some work to support policy development also undertaken’. There was also positive feedback in respect of the Council’s investment in its procurement functions ensuring as much as possible the Council spends its monies locally to support the local economy and how the Council is embedding those key considerations in terms of social value alongside some of the net zero priorities. In terms of areas for improvement, the Service Director referred Committee to the relevant sections within the report which set out the improvement opportunities for the Council which include continuing to demonstrate impact and outcomes for its communities and communicating that effectively as well as developing community resilience, recognising that it is important in terms of public sector financing the Council adapts its services for the future. The Service Director commented that the PPA concluded that the Council does fulfil its functions in line with the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, particularly its performance functions and the Council’s response to the recommendations are set out in the Appendices attached to the report. The Chair commented on the overall positive comments resulting from the PPA and the enlightening experience having been assessed by the Panel. The Chair added that the resulting report demonstrated that the Council engages positively with its Trade Union colleagues, likewise the good collaboration between Members, Cabinet and Senior Officers. The Chair reflected on the response of the Panel to the Schools Investment Programme and Capital Programme which are to be applauded. Members of the Committee agreed and commented on the positive Panel Performance Assessment of the Council. It was RESOLVED to note the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix A) and Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations included within the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix B).
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to approve the draft Work Programme for the meetings advised upon.
The Service Director, Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications presented for Members’ comment and approval, the forward Work Programme on the proposed list of matters requiring consideration by the Committee for future meetings. The Service Director clarified that in respect of the RCTCBC Employment Practices, as set out in the Work Programme, a discussion on the new Workers’ Rights Bill had taken place at the recent council meeting resulting in a request for a report to be brought forward, at the next available opportunity, to set out the implications of the Bill and the timelines in respect of delivery. The Service Director welcomed suggestions and feedback from members on any additional items to be included in the forward work programme. He acknowledged the request from Mr C Jones, GMB, for an additional item in respect of the Charter, specifically that the JCC Nationally is looking to engage with the local Joint Consultative Committees in respect of examples of good practice. It was RESOLVED to approve the draft Work Programme for the meetings advised upon.
In conclusion and as this was the last Joint Consultative Committee the Leader of the Council, Councillor A Morgan OBE would attend, the Chair wished to place on record her sincere thanks to him for his considerable contribution as Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and of the WLGA, with his reputation extending further. As Chair, she was sure that members of the Committee would like to join her in extending their thanks to the Leader for his contribution over many years to local government.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.