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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 20 October 2025 as a true and accurate record of the meeting
RESOLVED to: Consider the progress against the actions with regards to implementing the statutory Welsh Language Promotion Strategy Action Plan 2022-2027 and propose any recommendations for service areas.
RESOLVED to: 1. Scrutinise the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 30th September 2025 (Quarter 2). 2. Consider whether they wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
RESOLVED to: • Note the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix A) • Note that the Final Report, the Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations and recommendations from the Governance and Audit Committee, as deemed appropriate, will be presented to a future meeting of Full Council and thereafter published in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct the following declarations were made pertaining to the agenda: Councillor J Edwards declared an interest in item 4 “My employer is named in the report”
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the 20 October 2025 as a true and accurate record of the meeting
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the 20 October 2025 as a true and accurate record of the meeting
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: Consider the progress against the actions with regards to implementing the statutory Welsh Language Promotion Strategy Action Plan 2022-2027 and propose any recommendations for service areas.
The Service Director Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications presented the report to advise the Members of the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2022-2027 Action Plan Update 2025-2026 (and to seek the Committee’s views, comments and recommendations in respect of progress against the actions. Members were advised that the 2022-2027 Action Plan is Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s second action plan to support the delivery of its Welsh Language Promotion Strategy, being a continuation of the first action plan (2016-2021). The aim of the second action plan is to build on the work done by the Council and its partners to promote and facilitate the language over the period of the first five-year plan. Members welcomed the detail of the strategy and recognised the positive progress in promoting the Welsh Language across the Authority. In response to questions about measuring targets and success officers explained that while good practice was evident across services, data collection had been inconsistent. Work during the current strategy period had therefore focused on engaging service areas to establish datasets, with the intention that future reports would include clearer, more measurable targets linked to outcomes. Members asked how Welsh Language Impact Assessments were influencing decision making in the Council. Officers advised that the impact assessments were embedded within the corporate decision-making process and considered regularly by senior officers and Cabinet. However, officers acknowledged that there was further scope to revisit assessments after implementation in order to better understand longer term impacts and strengthen learning. Members raised concerns about workforce pressures and capacity including how bilingual service delivery could be continued without creating additional financial pressures. The Officer responded that the Council’s approach focussed on upskilling the workforce and embedding Welsh Language Skills within existing roles wherever possible, rather than creating additional posts. A Member questioned how effectively activity was aligned across organisations such as health, education and the third sector. Officers confirmed that partnership working was central to delivery of the strategy, although alignment could be challenging due to differing statutory responsibilities. The Officer continued that engagement with partners was ongoing and discussed joint working and shared initiatives. Members also questioned if the use of Welsh language following education was evident in the community and workplaces. Officers advised that community level use of the language was increasing and that work was underway to map Welsh language groups, events and participation. Further data collection was planned to better capture the full impact over time. Members raised concerns of the availability of specialist Welsh language teachers, particularly post 16. Officers advised that forthcoming national reforms, including the Welsh language and Education Act, which aimed to strengthen Welsh language provision and ensure that all learners achieved an agreed level of Welsh language competence, supported by wider workforce planning at a national level. Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to: Consider the progress against the actions with regards to implementing the statutory Welsh Language Promotion Strategy Action Plan 2022-2027 and propose any recommendations for service areas.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 1. Scrutinise the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 30th September 2025 (Quarter 2). 2. Consider whether they wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
The Director Financial Services and Transformation presented the report to Members on the Quarter 2 Performance Report to 30th September 2025 for revenue and capital budget performance; Treasury Management prudential indicators; Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness and Council strategic risks; and Corporate Plan well-being objective action plans (including performance indicators and investment). Following conclusion of the presentation of the report, the Chair opened for Members comments and questions. Members discussed workforce pressures, particularly in frontline services, and asked how sickness absence was affecting service delivery. Officers advised that pressures were highest in social care services which was reflective of the challenging nature of the work. Sickness absence was linked to stress, mental health and muscular skeletal issues. Robust absence management arrangements were in place, supported by occupational health and temporary staffing where necessary to maintain frontline service delivery, although this did create additional cost pressures. The Chair reminded Members of previous discussions regarding a potential deeper dive into workforce matters, to be explored in the new year subject to capacity and timing. In relation to pressures in children’s and adult social services, Members queried whether these were becoming embedded within the baseline budget. The Officer responded that pressures were driven by sustained demand, complexity of need and national policy changes. Some costs were likely to remain ongoing, although work continued with Welsh Government to ensure funding aligned more closely with statutory requirements. Members emphasised the importance of anti -poverty work, early intervention and prevention and asked hoe the Council could create capacity to shift activity upstream. The Officer acknowledged the challenge and explained that a targeted approach was being taken, using one off reserves and external funding where possible to build preventative capacity without impacting frontline services. Members queried the reported underspend within Cwm Taf Youth Offending Service. The Officer clarified that this reflected one off income in the current year and did not indicate reduced activity or demand within the service. In respect of the Capital Programme, Members asked whether there were any risky or delayed projects. Officers confirmed that the programme was actively managed over a number of years. Most schemes were in track, although some regeneration projects had experienced slippage due to planning or external factors. He reassured that these were actively being monitored and managed. Members referenced the social housing and regeneration in Mid-Rhondda and officers confirmed that investment in housing, regeneration and infrastructure in the area formed part of the wider capital and regeneration programme. Following conclusion of the Committee’s discussions the Chair thanked officers for the comprehensive report and it was RESOLVED to: 1. Scrutinise the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 30th September 2025 (Quarter 2). 2. Consider whether they wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: • Note the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix A) • Note that the Final Report, the Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations and recommendations from the Governance and Audit Committee, as deemed appropriate, will be presented to a future meeting of Full Council and thereafter published in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee were provided with a copy of the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report along with the Council’s draft response to the areas for improvement / recommendations made by the Panel for information Members RESOLVED to: • Note the Panel Performance Assessment Final Report (Appendix A) • Note that the Final Report, the Council’s response to the areas for improvement / recommendations and recommendations from the Governance and Audit Committee, as deemed appropriate, will be presented to a future meeting of Full Council and thereafter published in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
None
The Chair thanked all officers for the breadth of the reports received and stated it was pleasing to see the great work taking place around the Welsh Language Strategy.
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.
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