Full Council

There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.

1. 1

   Apologies for Absence

   Minute

   Apologies received from Cllr J Jenkins Cllr J Davies and Cllr M Symonds

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   Cllr A Williams-Price declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5 related to their portfolio. Cllr G Lewis declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5 as an owner of an empty property.

3. 3

   Policing Strategy for Merthyr Tydfil

   Minute

   Presented by South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner E Wools. Following questions from members the Commissioners team confirmed; · Operation Sentinel uses the Cambridge Crime Harm Index, scoring offences within 300m² grids. Higher?harm areas are prioritised. · Engagement with elected members will be strengthened. · Parents are essential partners; engagement is already happening through school programmes. Older people’s vulnerabilities (online scams, VAWG, etc.) are part of victim?services expansion. · Investment in Safer Neighbourhood Teams (1 Sergeant + 6 PCs). Significant early results since January.Work also includes business partnerships and criminal justice coordination for sentencing and support. · Operation Clutch uses the following to reduce E Bike crime: CCTV and facial recognition Home visits Summons & ASB referrals Vehicle seizure and crushing Members thanked the team for the presentation and commended their work.

4. 4

   Minutes of meeting Wednesday, 14 January 2026 of Full Council

   Minute

   Approved as accurate.

   Papers: Minutes
5. 5

   Council Tax Premiums on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr A Williams-Price In response to members questions officers confirmed the following; · Additional software had to be purchased to accurately evaluate income generated from Council Tax premiums. · All Welsh authorities purchased similar software from the same provider. · Despite lower premium collection, revenue remains strong: • £595,000 collected last year • £525,000 collected by 31 Jan this year Recommendations as contained within the report were approved

   Papers: Committee Report, iia
6. 6

   Update to the Internet Acceptable Use Policy to include Artificial Intelligence (AI)

   Minute

   Contents of the report were noted.

   Papers: Committee Report, Background Paper
7. 7

   Trecatti Landfill Site Profit Share

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr A Williams-Price Following questions from members officers confirmed the following; · In 2024/25, two operators reached capacity, increasing usage of the Trecatti site. · Past allocations included community projects such as Citizens Advice and Merthyr Food Bank. Some years used for ward allocations, some for council tax support, depending on Council decisions. · The decision is not to approve specific spending, it is only about the principle of retaining the £427k centrally to mitigate SPF loss. Recommendations as contained within the report were approved.

   Papers: Committee Report
8. 8

   Corporate Risk Policy and Strategy

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr D Sammon Recommendations as contained within the report were approved

   Papers: Committee Report, Appendix 1
9. 9

   Democratic Services Committee Structure

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr D Sammon Recommendations as contained within the report were approved.

   Papers: Committee Report
10. 10

    Appointment of Director of Education

    Minute

    Presented by Cllr B Carter The recommendations as contained within the report were approved

    Papers: Committee Report
11. 11

    Petitions Received by the Authority

    Minute

    Contents of the report were noted.

    Papers: Committee Report
12. 12

    To deal with any other urgent business or correspondence

    Minute

    No other business was deemed urgent

13. 13

    To receive communications from Their Worship the Mayor

    Minute

    No communications were received

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.

• David Isaac, Vice-ChairLabourPresent
• Paula Layton, ChairDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Andrew Barry, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Anna Williams- Price, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Bill Smith, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Brent Carter, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Claire Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Clive Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Clive Tovey, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Darren Roberts, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• David Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Declan Sammon, Committee MemberDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Ernie Galsworthy, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gareth Lewis, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gareth Richards, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Geraint Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Gillian Preston, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Ian Thomas, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jamie Scriven, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Jeremy Davies, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• John Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Julia Jenkins, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Kevin Gibbs, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Lee Davies, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Lisa Mytton, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Louise Minett-Vokes, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Michelle Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Michelle Symonds, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Scott Thomas, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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