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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd February 2026 as an accurate record.
RESOLVED: 1. To acknowledge the progress made to date towards achieving the objectives of the RCT HDRC Business Plan as reported to Cabinet on the 29th April 2024.
RESOLVED: 1. To review and, if appropriate, amend the Budget Strategy which they wish to recommend to Council on the 4th March 2026. (Note: the report would not be subject to the Council’s call-in process as it would be presented to Full Council for approval at its meeting on 4th March 2026.)
RESOLVED: 1. To review and propose the attached three-year capital programme at Appendix A of the report to Council on 4th March 2026 which includes: o A proposed allocation of resources as detailed in paragraph 5 of the report; o Proposed investment priorities as detailed in paragraph 6.2 of the report; o The Council’s core capital programme; o The Council’s total capital programme including additional non core funding. (Note: the report would not be subject to the Council’s call-in process as it would be presented to Full Council for approval at its meeting on 4th March 2026.)
RESOLVED: 1. To note the details of the Revaluation, the TRR scheme and the new multipliers; 2. To note the removal of the RLH Scheme; 3. To adopt the new Food and Drink Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme (FDHRR); and 4. To approve the continuation and revisions to the Council’s local Business Rate Reduction Scheme for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the constructive review undertaken by a working group of the Town and Community Council’s in partnership with the Council, a process which was endorsed by One Voice Wales; 2. To note the current position in relation to the adoption of the revised Charter by the Town and Community Councils of RCT; and 3. To formally adopt the Charter as attached at Appendix A to the report.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd February 2026 as an accurate record.
The Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd February 2026 as an accurate record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To acknowledge the progress made to date towards achieving the objectives of the RCT HDRC Business Plan as reported to Cabinet on the 29th April 2024.
The Head of the Health Determinants Research Collaboration updated Cabinet on the progress to date in establishing the Rhondda Cynon Taf Health Determinants Research Collaboration (RCT HDRC) and embedding evidence informed decision making across the Council. The Cabinet Member for Communities (Culture, Leisure and Tourism) took the opportunity to thank the officer for the roport and congratulated the team for the positive feedback received, which was detailed at section 5.3 of the report, and for the UK wide interest into the approaches of the RCT HDRC. The Cabinet Member emphasised the importance of research and evidence and strongly agreed with the need to improve health inequalities. It was recognised that this was an area in which would require continuous work. The Cabinet Member concluded by acknowledging the extensive officer commitment for the project and stated that time would be needed for such projects to be embedded. The Cabinet Member for Social Care (Children’s Services) admitted that she initially found it difficult to understand how the work of the HDRC could assist the Council in its work, in particular thinking how it would correlate with planning. However, in her former role as Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, the Cabinet Member spoke of the period of over proliferation of take aways within Town centres and explained that through working with HDRC, links were formed with other Local Authorities, who, through research had found mechanism for managing the situation. The Cabinet Member felt that this was a positive and clear example of how research had assisted the Council to move forward. The Cabinet Member added that preventative spend was another good example of the use of the evidence pie e.g. MAGU, which she described as a valuable piece of work within Children Services. The Cabinet RESOLVED: 1. To acknowledge the progress made to date towards achieving the objectives of the RCT HDRC Business Plan as reported to Cabinet on the 29th April 2024.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To review and, if appropriate, amend the Budget Strategy which they wish to recommend to Council on the 4th March 2026. (Note: the report would not be subject to the Council’s call-in process as it would be presented to Full Council for approval at its meeting on 4th March 2026.)
The Deputy Chief Executive and Group Director of Corporate Services presented to Cabinet the draft budget strategy for consideration and amendment as necessary prior to recommendation to Council at the meeting on 4th March 2026. (Note: A late letter from Pontypridd BID was circulated to Cabinet Members for consideration prior to the meeting.) The Leader thanked the Group Director for the work undertaken in bringing together the proposed Budget Strategy, which he was happy to support. In terms of the fees and charges relating to town centre car parking, the Leader was supportive of the original proposal brought forward by officers and supported by Cabinet Members. In terms of the proposed Council Tax rise of 4%, the Leader stated that, based on information currently available, this would be one of the lowest increases in Wales. The Leader was thankful that there were no major cuts to services within the proposed budget, compared to the position of previous years and that services would be protected. The Leader spoke of the lobbying to Welsh Government by the 22 Local Authorities and the various political parties, which had worked together to achieve the better-than-expected settlement. He also noted that Welsh Government had received an increase in funds from the UK Government rather than a budget freeze or just a 1% increase, which was predicted. In terms of the three priority areas of funding (schools, social care and environmental services), the Leader noted that these were the public’s highest priorities from phase one of the budget engagement process. The Cabinet Member for Resources (Corporate Resources & Service Improvement) also took the opportunity to thank officers for their work and commitment to bringing forward a balanced budget. The Cabinet Member felt that there was a lot of positives to be celebrated within the proposed budget and was supportive of recommending it to the next meeting of the Council. The Leader sought clarity with Members before putting the proposed budget to a vote, that they would be supporting the Cabinet Members’ proposals in relation to the car parking fees and charges, to which they agreed. The Leader stated that it was the correct process to consult on the proposals put forward by the Non-Majority Group Elected Members but emphasised that it is ultimately the public’s views on the matter which must be considered. The Leader referenced a late letter received from the Pontypridd Bid, which supported the Cabinet’s position on the parking proposals. The Cabinet RESOLVED: 1. To review and, if appropriate, amend the Budget Strategy which they wish to recommend to Council on the 4th March 2026. (Note: the report would not be subject to the Council’s call-in process as it would be presented to Full Council for approval at its meeting on 4th March 2026.)
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To review and propose the attached three-year capital programme at Appendix A of the report to Council on 4th March 2026 which includes: o A proposed allocation of resources as detailed in paragraph 5 of the report; o Proposed investment priorities as detailed in paragraph 6.2 of the report; o The Council’s core capital programme; o The Council’s total capital programme including additional non core funding. (Note: the report would not be subject to the Council’s call-in process as it would be presented to Full Council for approval at its meeting on 4th March 2026.)
The Deputy Chief Executive and Group Director of Corporate Resources provided Cabinet with a proposed three-year capital programme for 2026/27 to 2028/29 that if acceptable, would be presented to Council at the meeting on 4th March 2026 for approval. The Leader thanked the Group Director for bringing forward the report, which he was happy to recommend to Council. Referring to the table at section 6 of the draft report to Council, the Leader welcomed the additional funding which would be invested into the key areas, in line with the priorities of both the administration and the Council’s Corporate Plan. The investment would mean improvements to the locality, such as schools, parks and highways; along with generating and sustaining jobs in the local community. The Leader noted the ambitious and significant level of investment (£190.553M) over the next 3 years and stated that the number would hopefully increase in the coming weeks, depending on the approval of several grant applications to Welsh Government, including transport and flood alleviation bids. The Leader was pleased to note that the maintenance backlog within the Council had decreased from almost 16% over a decade ago, to approximately 6% in current times. The Cabinet Member for Resources (Corporate Resources & Service Improvement) welcomed the report, commenting that the investment was vital for the local economy. The Cabinet Member was pleased to note the investment was both in crucial areas such as highway infrastructure but also in areas which provide residents with joy and a better quality of life. The Cabinet RESOLVED: 1. To review and propose the attached three-year capital programme at Appendix A of the report to Council on 4th March 2026 which includes: o A proposed allocation of resources as detailed in paragraph 5 of the report; o Proposed investment priorities as detailed in paragraph 6.2 of the report; o The Council’s core capital programme; o The Council’s total capital programme including additional non core funding. (Note: the report would not be subject to the Council’s call-in process as it would be presented to Full Council for approval at its meeting on 4th March 2026.)
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To note the details of the Revaluation, the TRR scheme and the new multipliers; 2. To note the removal of the RLH Scheme; 3. To adopt the new Food and Drink Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme (FDHRR); and 4. To approve the continuation and revisions to the Council’s local Business Rate Reduction Scheme for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
The Head of Revenues and Benefits presented the report to Cabinet, which included: - Details of the 2026 Revaluation and Transitional Rate Relief (TRR) Scheme; - Details of the new differential multipliers; - Confirmation of the end of the temporary Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rate Relief Scheme (RLH); - Details of the new Welsh Government Food and Drink Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme for 2026/27; and - Details of the Council’s local Business Rate Reduction Scheme. The Leader thanked the officer for the report. The Leader was spoke of the Council’s local discretionary relief scheme, which he believed RCT to be the only Local Authority in Wales to be providing. The Leader was supportive of the continuation of the relief scheme and the uplift from a maximum of £500 per qualifying business to an increased maximum of £625 in 2026/27 and £750 in 2027/28. It was felt that this had come at a timely point, in terms of the changes to the Government’s relief schemes, which will have an impact on businesses. The Leader asked if when the Council sends out its NDR bills, a letter could be included to provide information to businesses on the application process for the Council’s relief scheme and the Welsh Government’s one-year targeted relief scheme, which seeks to provide a further year of relief (15%) for food and drink hospitality properties, including pubs, restaurants and live music venues. The officer confirmed that alongside the NDR bills, businesses would receive an application form for the Welsh Government scheme and a letter with information on the changes and the local rate relief scheme. The Leader added that the Council’s communication team would play a significant role in informing businesses of the changes and available schemes that they may qualify for. The Cabinet Member for Resources (Corporate Resources and Service Improvement) was proud of the Council’s local rate relief support for town centres and emphasised the importance of town centres within the community. The Cabinet RESOLVED: 1. To note the details of the Revaluation, the TRR scheme and the new multipliers; 2. To note the removal of the RLH Scheme; 3. To adopt the new Food and Drink Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme (FDHRR); and 4. To approve the continuation and revisions to the Council’s local Business Rate Reduction Scheme for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 1. To note the constructive review undertaken by a working group of the Town and Community Council’s in partnership with the Council, a process which was endorsed by One Voice Wales; 2. To note the current position in relation to the adoption of the revised Charter by the Town and Community Councils of RCT; and 3. To formally adopt the Charter as attached at Appendix A to the report.
The Service Director of Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communication advised Cabinet Members of the revisions made to the ‘Shared Community Charter’ following original agreement at Council on the 12th January, 2011. The Cabinet Member for Resources (Customer, Digital and Estates) was supportive of the recommendations contained within the report, which she commented would strengthen partnership work and create a more sustainable RCT. The Cabinet Member was pleased to note that RCT Council had been the first to take the lead with the new model charter, developed between the WLGA and One Voice Wales; and that the plan had been co-produced with Community Councils, supporting the ambitions in the Involvement Strategy. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing also voiced his support for the recommendations contained within the report and commented that he looked forward to seeing the work move forward. The Cabinet RESOLVED: 1. To note the constructive review undertaken by a working group of the Town and Community Council’s in partnership with the Council, a process which was endorsed by One Voice Wales; 2. To note the current position in relation to the adoption of the revised Charter by the Town and Community Councils of RCT; and 3. To formally adopt the Charter as attached at Appendix A to the report.
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