Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
Resolved: That the Directors annual report for Social Services 2023/24 be noted and endorsed.
Resolved: · That Cllr Dan Thomas be removed as a member of the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee. · That Cllr Heath Davies be appointed as a member of the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee.
Resolved: That having due regard to the integrated impact assessment: (a) Members approved the proposed draft of the Contract Procedure Rules included at Appendix 1 of the circulated report for implementation on the 28th February 2025; (b) That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice to make any amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules included at Appendix 1 to meet statutory obligations only. (c) That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to update the Constitution of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to include these new rules.
Resolved: That the following arrangements be approved, (a) Councillor Wayne Carpenter be Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (b) Councillor Alan Lockyer be Deputy Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Resolved: That the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 be approved for publication on the Council’s website.
The Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting. It was with sadness that the Mayor informed Council of the death of former Councillor Adam McGrath, who represented the Cimla ward from 2017 to 2022 and former Councillor Eddie Jones, who represented the Glynneath ward from 2012 to 2017. The Mayor also announced the death of the fathers of Councillor Nia Jenkins and Councillor Kirsty Morris.
The Leader Councillor S. Hunt addressed Council. The Leader went on to inform Council of positive developments relating to Tata Steel. The first being the approved planning permission of the development of a £1.25 billion-pound Electric Arc Furnace in Port Talbot, partly funded by the UK and Welsh Government. The scheme is expected to produce over 300 million tonnes of steel. The second being a new steel strategy worth £2.5 billion pound through the National Wealth Fund which the Leader welcomed. Finally the Leader went on to inform Council of the SWITTCH project which is a growth and regeneration initiative and in partnership with Swansea University. The purpose of the initiative is to reduce carbon emissions during steel production. The outlook of the project is to support 100 jobs in the area along with producing over £87 million pounds to the local economy. The Mayor went on to thank Officers for all their hard work and commitment in obtaining the bid.
The following interest was declared in relation to Agenda item 10 – Pay Policy Statement 2025/26. The Chief Executive on behalf of all Officers present declared an interest and withdrew from the meeting for that item only. The Head of People and Organisational Development and the Democratic Services Officer remained in the meeting.
Resolved: That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 8th January 2025 be approved as a true and accurate record.
There were none.
Decision as recorded
Resolved: That the Directors annual report for Social Services 2023/24 be noted and endorsed.
The Director of Social Services, Health and Housing provided Council with an overview to the circulated report. The Director went on to point out that the year had seen some significant achievements along with substantial challenges, which can be found within the report. Continued support to fore fill statutory duties was asked of Council Members. The Director acknowledged that the document was large in size. Members went on to thank the Director and staff for the report especially amid the continued challenges faced across Social Services. The Deputy Leader was pleased to support the Directors report, highlighting the positives gained but also the challenges faced. Resolved: That the Directors annual report for Social Services 2023/24 be noted and endorsed.
Decision as recorded
Resolved: · That Cllr Dan Thomas be removed as a member of the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee. · That Cllr Heath Davies be appointed as a member of the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee.
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services provided Council with a brief overview to the circulated report. Resolved: · That Cllr Dan Thomas be removed as a member of the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee. · That Cllr Heath Davies be appointed as a member of the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee.
Decision as recorded
Resolved: That having due regard to the integrated impact assessment: (a) Members approved the proposed draft of the Contract Procedure Rules included at Appendix 1 of the circulated report for implementation on the 28th February 2025; (b) That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice to make any amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules included at Appendix 1 to meet statutory obligations only. (c) That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to update the Constitution of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to include these new rules.
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services provided an overview to Council of the circulated report. Members reviewed the contract procedure rules and highlighted inferences. It was agreed to add a clause to Section 1.1 of the Rules, that being, ‘The Council shall ensure that a named Senior Officer is identified prior to embarking on any of the processes identified in these Contract Procedure Rules and shall have responsibility for overseeing all aspects of contract management and delivery’. Resolved: That having due regard to the integrated impact assessment: (a) Members approved the proposed draft of the Contract Procedure Rules included at Appendix 1 of the circulated report for implementation on the 28th February 2025; (b) That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice to make any amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules included at Appendix 1 to meet statutory obligations only. (c) That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to update the Constitution of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to include these new rules.
Decision as recorded
Resolved: That the following arrangements be approved, (a) Councillor Wayne Carpenter be Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (b) Councillor Alan Lockyer be Deputy Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services provided an overview to the circulated report. Resolved: That the following arrangements be approved, (a) Councillor Wayne Carpenter be Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (b) Councillor Alan Lockyer be Deputy Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Decision as recorded
Resolved: That the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 be approved for publication on the Council’s website.
At this point, Officers re-affirmed their interest and withdrew from the meeting. The Head of People and Organisational Development and the Democratic Services Officer remained in the meeting. The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice introduced the report and explained it was a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 for the Council to produce a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year as detailed in the circulated report. The Cabinet Member outlined the continuing reduction in the gap between the lowest and highest paid officers giving an example to the Chief Executive and Senior Officers wages from 2012 until the present day. Resolved: That the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 be approved for publication on the Council’s website.
None received.
No questions with Notice, under Rule 9.2 of the Council’s Procedure Rules were received.
No urgent items 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.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.