Care for older and disabled people, children's services and safeguarding.
What councils do
Councils arrange care and support for older people, disabled adults and carers, protect children and adults at risk, and look after children in care. Much care is provided by private and charity providers the council pays.
Who decides
The Cabinet member for social services leads, and each council has a statutory Director of Social Services. Scrutiny committees examine how services are doing.
Having a say
Anyone can ask the council for an assessment of their care needs, or of their needs as a carer. If you're worried about someone's safety, contact the council's safeguarding team.
In numbers
Welsh councils plan to spend £1,045 per person on this in 2026-27.
It ranges from £918 in Monmouthshire to £1,337 in Ceredigion.
Children in care: 114 across Wales (2024-25).
Children in care who moved home three or more times: 8% across Wales (2024-25).
Children's assessments done on time: 85% across Wales (2024-25).
RESOLVED – T H A T having regard to the consultation responses and the
discussion at Statutory Licensing Committee, that the proposed Statement of
Licensing Principles for 2025-2028 detailed in the report and Appendix A be
approved and referred to Full Council for final approval.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the reference and discussions at the meeting.
C150 WELSH LANGUAGE STANDARDS ANNUAL MONITORING
REPORT 2023-24 (REF) –
The reference from Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee held on 19th
September, 2024 was presented.
The Cabinet Member said that there were interesting points raised at the meeting,
some of which had not arisen previously, e.g. there was insufficient school transport
for one Welsh Medium Primary school which was subsequently been raised with
Officers within the School transport Team.
Committee also discussed the difficulty in attracting and retaining Welsh speaking
teachers as there was a shortage of teachers able to teach through the medium of
Welsh across Wales, commenting that the Council should look to maximise the
opportunities to recruit and retain teaching staff and others with Welsh language
skills. The Cabinet Member said that the Vale of Glamorgan Council had applied for
and gained funding to train teachers whilst in school to work towards addressing the
issue.
The Committee referred a comment to Cabinet to consider a proposal that the Vale
of Glamorgan considers a bid to host the 2029 Urdd Eisteddfod in Barry which the
Cabinet Member was happy to support and had written to Officers accordingly. The
Leader said that the National Eisteddfod had not been held in the Vale of Glamorgan
since 2012 and had been hugely successful at that time and looked forward to
finding out if that bid would be possible.
RESOLVED – T H A T the comments and recommendations of the Learning and
Culture Scrutiny Committee held on 19th September, 2024 be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the reference and discussions at the meeting.
C151 ANNUAL CORPORATE SAFEGUARDING REPORT 2023-24
(REF) –
The reference from Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee held on 19th
September, 2024 was presented.
Committee discussed School Governors undertaking safeguarding training as not all
of them had completed the relevant Safeguarding modules which needed to be
addressed.
There was also discussion concerning how much staff time was spent implementing
safeguarding in schools with decisions taken as to how each case should be treated
or referred, including Home Office PREVENT training. The Cabinet Member said
that all staff were trained regularly on such matters to be aware of the different
issues and challenges faced by children and young people.
RESOLVED – T H A T the comments and recommendations of the Learning and
Culture Scrutiny Committee held on 19th September, 2024 be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the reference and discussions at the meeting.
C152 ANNUAL CORPORATE SAFEGUARDING REPORT 2023-24 (REF) –
The reference from Governance and Audit Committee held on 23rd September, 2024
was presented.
There was discussion concerning whether all Councillors were Disclosure and
Barring Service (DBS) checked and it was confirmed that all Councillors were
checked and any Councillor who had a responsibility or was on a Committee
concerning children and young people or vulnerable people had an Enhanced DBS
check. It was also asked if there was provision for DBS checks to be carried out on
a rolling basis.
Committee also discussed abuse in the home and whether some of the figures
quoted were specific to the Vale of Glamorgan or wider and whether figures were
comparable to other Local Authorities, which Officers were going to respond to.
Councillor Williams added that there was recognition at both Committees that it was
a Corporate safeguarding report and that both Members and staff had a duty to
report any issues regarding safeguarding, which the Leader agreed was vitally
important.
RESOLVED – T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee held
on 23rd September, 2024 be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the reference and discussions at the meeting.
C153 FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2025/26 TO 2029/30 (REF) –
The reference from the Extraordinary Corporate Performance and Resources
Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd October, 2024 was presented.
There had been discussion concerning the forecast funding gap of £9.392m for
2025/26 and that the figure was likely to grow due to emerging pressures. The
Leader said that further reports considering the matter would be coming to Cabinet in
the next month.
The Section 151 Officer commented that the Vale of Glamorgan was a relatively low-
funded Authority and had set a relatively low level of Council Tax compared to other
Local Authorities which was a challenge with increasing costs, e.g. private sector
rents.
Committee discussed wide-ranging potential areas of action and recommended that
Cabinet consider investment in spend to save projects and potential for a strategic
procurement function. The Leader said that with regards spend to save, that was an
area relative to the Reshaping agenda and the comment would be referred into that
process. Regarding the strategic procurement function, the Leader said that the
Council was currently in an arrangement with other Local Authorities for a shared
procurement service and would pass that comment to Ardal.
RESOLVED – T H A T the comments and recommendations from the Extraordinary
Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd October,
2024 be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the reference and discussions at the meeting.
C154 CLOSURE OF ACCOUNTS 2023/24 (REF) –
The reference from the Extraordinary Corporate Performance and Resources
Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd October, 2024 was presented.
Committee considered the year end revenue position and noted there being a
surplus of £2.08m at year end which was proposed to be transferred to reserves as
follows:
- Establish a new and temporary £2m reserve to offset Education Deficits in
2024/25 on a provisional basis whilst the Council worked with schools on
establishing a coordinated approach to tackling school deficits;
- The balance of £80k had been transferred to the General Fund.
The level of Useable Reserves had reduced in year although by less than had been
projected but some of those commitments had been slipped into 2024/25 in
accordance with Capital Expenditure slippage.
Committee asked Cabinet to consider the possibility of there being a dedicated
procurement officer for schools which would fit in with the financial support already
offered to schools, although procurement was now a matter being dealt with under a
joint agreement with Ardal. Officers would be asked to investigate the suggestion.
The financial position within schools was discussed and there was discussion and a
recommendation for further consideration to be given for Governing bodies to be
provided with further support and guidance regarding school budget deficits. The
Leader said that the school-based Finance Team did work with schools and would
be happy to assist Governing bodies, as well as other schools being able to offer
peer support.
Committee also asked for future closure of accounts reports to detail planned and
unplanned use of reserves more clearly, which the Head of Finance would look to
address in future reports.
RESOLVED – T H A T the comments and recommendations from the Extraordinary
Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd October,
2024 be noted, with detail passed to relevant Officers for consideration.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the reference and discussions at the meeting.
C155 CORPORATE PARENTING PANEL –
The minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel meeting held on 8th July, 2024 were
presented.
The Cabinet Member, who was the Chair of the Panel, said that the Corporate
Parenting Charter had been considered at the meeting. It had been agreed that a
future workshop be organised in November for the Panel to look in detail at how to
meet all the relevant requirements.
The Panel also considered the latest Children Looked After figures for the Vale of
Glamorgan.
Councillor Williams noted that the minutes had not yet been formally agreed by the
Panel who would consider them at the November meeting and any amendments
would be brought back to Cabinet or would be considered as agreed if no comments
were received.
RESOLVED – T H A T the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel meeting held
on 8th July, 2024 be noted, subject to consideration at the next Corporate Parenting
Panel in November 2024.
Reason for decision
In noting the minutes.
C156 CARDIFF BAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE –
The minutes of the Cardiff Bay Advisory Committee meeting held on 10th July, 2024
were presented.
The Cabinet Member, who was reappointed as the Chair of the Committee, said that
the Committee had discussed the Timetable of Meetings, navigational safety, a
general progress from the Harbour Authority and an update from Natural Resource
Wales on dissolved oxygen levels. There had been one minor pollution incident
which had been quickly resolved.
RESOLVED – T H A T the minutes of the Cardiff Bay Advisory Committee meeting
held on 10th July, 2024 be noted.
Reason for decision
In noting the minutes.
C157 APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNORS ADVISORY
PANEL (REF) –
The minutes of the Appointment of Local Authority Governors Advisory Panel
meeting held on 9th October, 2024 were presented.
The Cabinet Member was pleased to see how many people had been prepared to
put time and effort into supporting local schools as Governors. There were currently
only two vacancies yet to be appointed. The Leader acknowledged the commitment
that Governors made in needing to understand matters such as safeguarding,
finance, school performance and thanked all those who had volunteered to take on
those roles.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the minutes of the Appointment of Local Authority Governors
Advisory Panel meeting held on 9th October, 2024 be noted.
(2) T H A T the following appointments be made to the schools as set out below:
School No. of Vacancies Appointment
All Saints CiW 1 None – remains vacant*
Cadoxton Primary 1 D. Stolzenberg
Cogan Primary 1 C. Shillabeer
Colcot Primary 1 J.D. Rogers
Cowbridge Comp 2 S. Blackman and D. Farrell
Dinas Powys Primary 1 N. Meredith
Evenlode Primary 2 A. Thomas and K. Nolan
Gladstone Primary School 1 Councillor P. Drake
High Street Primary 1 L. Banks
Holton Primary 2 J. Scott and S. Pengelly**
Jenner Park Primary 1 E. Ryles
Llangan Primary 1 E. Thomas
Llandough Primary 1 Councillor G.D.D. Carroll
Llanfair Primary 2 S. Bonnar and N. Phillips
Oakfield Primary 2 L. Banks and C. Hunt**
Pencoedtre High School 1 D. Carter
Peterston S Ely Primary 1 S. Evans
Rhws Primary 1 J. Nixon
Romilly Primary 2 M. Kennedy and C.
Withycombe
South Point Primary 1 B. Millhausen
St Cyres Comprehensive 4 H. Evans; Councillor C.P.
Franks; S. Pengelly and S.
Dowling
St Illtyd Primary 1 M. Evans
St Nicholas CiW 1 C. Hunt
St Richard Gwyn 2 D. Carter
One appointment made, one
vacancy remains*
Sully Primary 1 E. Parker
Whitmore High School 2 Councillor N. Marshallsea and
Councillor E. Goodjohn
Y Bont-faen 1 M. Evans
Ysgol Bro Morganwg 5 D. Griffith; G. Evans; H.
Llewellyn-Morgan; R. A. Evans
and S. Evans
Ysgol Pen Y Garth 1 R. Griffiths
Ysgol Sant Baruc 2 S. Evans and O. Williams
Reasons for decisions
(1) In noting the minutes.
(2) To endorse the appointments to be made to the schools.
C158 DRAFT CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2025/26 AND INITIAL
CAPITAL PROGRAMME PROPOSALS 2025/26 TO 2029/30 (EL/PR) (SCRUTINY
– CORPORATE PERFORMANCE AND RESOURCES) –
The Leader presented the report to gain approval for the Initial Capital Programme
Proposals for 2025/26 to 2029/30 so that they may be submitted to Scrutiny
Committees for consultation and to set out the Draft Capital Investment Strategy for
Cabinet Members to consider.
The Leader said it was important to be aware and have a clear idea of the costs of
new schemes considering significant pressures in relation to price inflation of
materials and labour, but that money had been put aside from reserves for some
matters within the programme as well as consideration given to other potential
funding such as borrowing, grants or s106 contributions.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T Draft Capital Strategy 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.
(2) T H A T the Initial Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30 be endorsed.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To approve the Draft Capital Strategy for 2025/26.
(2) To consult Members on the Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30.
C159 REVISED HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE THREE YEAR RESURFACING
PLAN 2024 - 2027 (NBS) (SCRUTINY – ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report to advise Cabinet of the changes used to
identify priority locations for resurfacing works and to agree the plan for 2024 – 2027.
Councillor Wilson said it was important to remember that the highway included use
by cyclists and pedestrians as well as vehicles, including both roads and pavements.
He referred to Appendix B to the report concerning the new Highway Maintenance
Scoring Matrix which also included Active Travel routes as well as school / public
Transport routes.
There was £2.9M in the capital programme for 2024/25, for resurfacing and
treatment works such as surface dressing, micro asphalt treatment and footway
improvement works, as detailed in Appendices A-1 to A-4 to the report.
The Leader said it was important to look at the various criteria, how traffic affected
highways in different ways in different areas and looked forward to the discussion at
Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the revised Highway Maintenance Three Year
Resurfacing Plan 2024 – 2027, as attached at Appendix A – 1, 2, 3 and 4 be noted,
and the locations for resurfacing works be agreed in principle.
(2) T H A T the changes to the carriageway prioritisation scoring matrix to
incorporate active travel and cycle routes within the methodology be noted.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Director of Environment and
Housing Services to amend the Plan, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for
Neighbourhood and Building Services, if urgent highway resurfacing priorities were
identified.
(4) T H A T the matter be referred to Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny
Committee for consideration.
(5) T H A T subject to no comments that would affect the Plan as proposed being
received from the Scrutiny Committee, the Highway Maintenance Three Year
Resurfacing Plan 2024 - 2027 be agreed.
(6) T H A T where a location was listed on the Plan, the Council’s technical
officers within the Highway Maintenance team would prioritise the full extents,
however only partial areas may be completed, simply to ensure the best allocation of
budget and that any material of sound condition was not removed and replaced with
new.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To agree, the Highway Maintenance Three Year Resurfacing Plan 2024 –
2027, subject to its consideration by the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny
Committee.
(2) To ensure that areas impacting on Active Travel and routes used by cyclists,
were properly considered.
(3) To deal efficiently with changes to the Plan should other highway routes
deteriorate more rapidly than expected or constraints dictate that a change in priority
was required to ensure the most cost-effective use of the budget allocation.
(4) To ensure that the relevant Scrutiny Committee could consider the details of
the Highway Maintenance Three Year Resurfacing Plan 2024 – 2027, prior to it
being formally agreed.
(5) To enable the final Plan to be approved following its consideration by the
relevant Scrutiny Committee should no comments that affect the Plan as proposed,
be received.
(6) To ensure that the Highway Resurfacing budget (2024/25), was utilised as
efficiently as possible.
C160 CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF SUPPORTED
ACCOMMODATION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE VALE OF
GLAMORGAN (SCH) (SCRUTINY – HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL CARE) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report seeking authority to undertake a tender
process relating to the provision of the above services and sought delegated
authority to award the contract to the successful provider(s).
Councillor Williams gave thanks to all the staff involved in putting together the report
and for the work completed to be able to bring the matter forward for Cabinet to
consider as significant need had been identified in the Vale of Glamorgan and a lot
of work had been completed to put the matter forward for consideration. This was
echoed by fellow Cabinet Members.
The needs of the individuals within each of the three lots were quite different, hence
the need for the three different tenders.
The Leader said it was important work to avoid people in such circumstances feeling
alone at such a young age and important to be able to help them.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be authorised to undertake competitive tender
processes for the provision of shared temporary accommodation services for
vulnerable unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people, temporary
supported living accommodation for vulnerable children and young people, and
emergency supported lodgings for vulnerable young people in the Vale of
Glamorgan.
(2) T H A T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be authorised to award the contract(s) for those
services for an initial period of 5 (five) years with an option to extend for up to a
further 2 (two) years, following the completion of a tender process.
(3) T H A T the Monitoring Officer / Head of Legal Services and the Head of
Finance / Section 151 Officer in the Vale of Glamorgan Council be authorised to
execute a contract with the successful Provider(s).
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure that the Council provided shared temporary accommodation for
vulnerable unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people within the
Vale of Glamorgan in a cost-effective way that met the requirements of Welsh
Government UASC Guidance and the required standards of the Care Inspectorate
Wales (CIW).
(2) To ensure that the Council provided temporary supported living
accommodation and emergency supported lodging placements for vulnerable
children and young people within the Vale of Glamorgan in a cost-effective way that
met the requirements of Welsh Government Supported Living Guidance and the
required standards of the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
(3) To ensure that the Council met the requirements of its Contract Procedure
Rules and Financial Procedure Rules.
C161 SHARED REGULATORY SERVICES (SRS) - AMENDMENT TO THE
JOINT WORKING AGREEMENT (JWA) (CEERS) (SCRUTINY – HOMES AND
SAFE COMMUNITIES) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report which recommended and sought approval
for a change to the Joint Working Agreement between the partner Councils for the
provision of Regulatory Services. The change would see the addition of the Public
Health (Wales) Act 2017 to the list of functions delegated to the Shared Regulatory
Services (SRS) Joint Committee.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the proposed change to the Joint Working Agreement under a Deed
of Variation between the partner Councils for the provision of Regulatory Services be
endorsed and recommended the same to Full Council for consideration and
approval.
(2) T H A T the Monitoring Officer/Head of Legal and Democratic Services be
authorised to execute the required Deed of Variation reflecting the change when
approved by Full Council.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure that appropriate approvals were sought in relation to the proposed
change to the Joint Working Agreement through the addition of the Public Health
Wales Act 2017 to the list of functions delegated to the Joint Committee and
contained in Part 1 to Schedule 1 of the Shared Regulatory Services Joint Working
Agreement to be agreed by all three partner Councils.
(2) To enable the proper execution of the Deed of Variation to reflect the change
within the Joint Working Agreement on approval by Full Council.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the reference and report be noted on the
basis that the Directorate monitor the financial strain that may be placed on the
Authority if Welsh Government funding was reduced.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the reference from Cabinet of 18th July, 2024 and the
Annual Corporate Safeguarding Report 2023/24 be noted.
(2) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee in relation to
the Annual Corporate Safeguarding Report 2023/2024 be referred to Cabinet.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
(2) To advise Cabinet of the views of the Governance and Audit Committee.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the flexible retirement of T be agreed in accordance with the Council's
policy subject to no other circumstances arising in the interim whereby the
employment was to be terminated for a different reason.
24-09-19 Minutes and DN (KB)
No.
(2) T H A T the flexible retirement of T be agreed without a specified end date
providing no other circumstances arise in the interim whereby the employment was
to be terminated for a different reason.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To determine the flexible retirement application within the regulations and to
allow for eventualities that may not be known at this time.
(2) To achieve the necessary change to the employee's working hours, to assist
service continuity, provide appropriate support to assist the employee's transition to
retirement and to contribute to the work of Adult Services. To enable the reduction in
hours to commence after 30th September, 2024.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the flexible retirement of H be approved in accordance with the
Council's policy subject to no other circumstances arising in the interim whereby the
employment was to be terminated for a different reason.
(2) T H A T the flexible retirement of H be agreed without a specified end date
providing no other circumstances arise in the interim whereby the employment was
to be terminated for a different reason and to enable the reduction in hours to
commence after 30th September, 2024.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To determine the flexible retirement application within the regulations and to
allow for eventualities that may not be known at this time.
(2) To achieve the necessary change to the employee's working hours, to assist
service continuity, provide appropriate support to assist the employee's transition to
retirement and to contribute to the work of Adult Services Day Services Team.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the flexible retirement of W be agreed in accordance with the
Council's policy subject to no other circumstances arising in the interim whereby the
employment was to be terminated for a different reason.
(2) T H A T the flexible retirement of W be agreed without a specified end date
providing no other circumstances arise in the interim whereby the employment was
to be terminated for a different reason and to enable this reduction in hours to
commence after 31st March, 2025.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To determine the flexible retirement application within the regulations and to
allow for eventualities that may not be known at this time.
(2) To achieve the necessary change to the employee's working hours, to assist
service continuity, provide appropriate support to assist the employee's transition to
retirement and to contribute to the work of Adult Services.
24-09-19 Minutes and DN (KB)
No.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Quarter 4 position of the Corporate Risk Register as outlined in
Annex A to the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the proposed new Corporate Risk Register and Risk Management
Policy be endorsed.
(3) T H A T Cabinet be advised of the views of the Governance and Audit
Committee. The views being:
• That procurement should be included as a stand-alone risk.
• Cabinet be asked to reconsider the status of Project Zero and whether it
warranted a catastrophic status.
• For the Social Care risk to be assessed as to whether one overall risk is
appropriate.
• For further consideration around the definition of risk regarding cause and
effect as related to paragraph 2.1 of the new Policy.
Reason for decisions
(1-3) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the Council notes the importance of specialist support for
breast feeding and therefore resolves to ask the Healthy Living and Social Care
Scrutiny Committee to invite representatives of the Health Board to explain the
rationale for the decision and their future support for breast feeding and those
Members would then be able to make an informed decision on any
recommendations.
N.B. Councillor Lloyd-Selby was not present for the item following a declaration of
interest earlier in the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the updates to the Cabinet Quarterly Work Programme for April to
June 2024 attached at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed.
(2) T H A T the Cabinet Quarterly Work Programme July to September 2024
attached at Appendix 2 to the report be endorsed.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To monitor progress.
(2) To approve the Work Programme for July to September 2024.
C61 USE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S EMERGENCY POWERS (EL/PR)
(SCRUTINY – ALL) –
The Leader presented the report, the purpose of which was to notify Cabinet of the
exercising of Emergency Powers by the Chief Executive since the last report on 23rd
May, 2024.
Councillor Williams referred specifically to Paragraph 2.1(a) concerning the Western
Vale Wellbeing Hub for Older Adults and People Living with Dementia and
appreciated the use of emergency powers to enable Officers to act quickly to support
excellent provision.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Chief Executive's Emergency Powers be
noted.
Reasons for decisions
To inform Cabinet.
C62 RIGHTS OF WAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN (ROWIP) (DL/SP)
(SCRUTINY – ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION) –
The Deputy Leader presented the report, the purpose of which was to enable
Cabinet to consider and approve the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP).
The ROWIP was a live document and changes could be made as circumstances
demanded, for example, changes in legislation.
Councillor Williams had attended the Local Access Forum meeting where the
principles of the ROWIP, the network and various improvements had been
discussed. The changes to footpath accessibility in the Vale of Glamorgan had been
noted at that meeting, including wheelchair accessibility, which had a positive impact
for local residents and were a part of the ROWIP, though not stated explicitly as a
benefit.
The Leader said that another positive aspect was the availability of routes
electronically to be able to choose which routes were available and with much
improved direct access.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) attached as Appendix
A to the report be endorsed as the Council’s replacement version and its adoption in
principle agreed subject to consideration by the Environment and Regeneration
Scrutiny Committee.
(2) T H A T the ROWIP be referred to the Environment and Regeneration
Scrutiny Committee for its consideration.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Head of Sustainable
Development in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for
Sustainable Places to make typographical or other minor changes as necessary prior
to publication or during the life of the Plan should this become necessary.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure the Council fully discharged its statutory duty under the
Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 to review and publish every 10
years, its Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP), outlining how it proposed to
meet its Well-being and Improvement Objectives to maintain, improve and publicise
the rights of way network for the public.
(2) To ensure appropriate scrutiny of the report.
(3) To make typographical or other minor changes as necessary without the need
to seek Cabinet approval.
C63 UPDATE ON THE CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSAL TO
CREATE A WELSH MEDIUM SPECIALIST RESOURCE BASE AT YSGOL
GWAUN Y NANT FROM SEPTEMBER 2024 (EAWL) (SCRUTINY – LEARNING
AND CULTURE) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report, the purpose of which was to advise
Cabinet of the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken on the proposal to
create a Welsh Medium Specialist Resource Base at Ysgol Gwaun y Nant from
September 2024.
Some of the issues raised as part of the consultation and responses to those issues
were discussed in paragraphs 2.9 to 2.13 of the report.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the consultation document (attached at Appendix A to the report), the
Consultation Response report (attached at Appendix B to the report) and other
appendices included as part of the report, including the Community and Equality
Impact Assessments at Appendices C and D respectively, to create a Welsh Medium
Specialist Resource Base at Ysgol Gwaun y Nant from September 2024 be noted.
(2) T H A T the proposal to create a Welsh Medium Specialist Resource Base at
Ysgol Gwaun y Nant from September 2024 through the publication of the proposals
in the form of a statutory notice be approved.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To ensure that all relevant information was considered by Cabinet in reaching
a decision on whether to publish a statutory notice on the proposals.
(2) To ensure that there was capacity to provide integrated provision for pupils
with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition and those experiencing significant
social communication, interaction, or regulation difficulties, reflecting the Council’s
commitments to meeting the requirements of the Additional Learning Needs and
Education Tribunal Act 2018 (ALNET Act 2018) and in its 10 year Welsh in
Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy.
C64 WELSH LANGUAGE STANDARDS ANNUAL MONITORING
REPORT 2023-24 (EAWL) (SCRUTINY – LEARNING AND CULTURE AND
CORPORATE PERFORMANCE AND RESOURCES) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report, the purpose of which was to seek
approval for the Council’s Annual Welsh Monitoring Report and update on 5-year
Promotion Strategy.
Councillor Williams said he looked forward to the matter being discussed at the
relevant Scrutiny Committees.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Annual Welsh Monitoring Report for 2023-24 (attached at
Appendix 1 to the report) and Update on the Welsh Language Promotional Strategy
(attached at Appendix 2 to the report) be approved in principle, subject to
consideration by Learning and Culture and Corporate Performance and Resources
Scrutiny Committees.
(2) T H A T the report (and appendices) be referred to Learning and Culture and
Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committees for consideration and if
endorsed by the Committees, that the report be published.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To allow the Council to meet its reporting duty to the Welsh Commissioner as
part of the Welsh Language Standards.
(2) To enable Learning and Culture and Corporate Performance and Resources
Scrutiny Committees to consider the report (and appendices) prior to publication.
C65 PERMANENT TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER – SCHOOL STREET
CLOSURE DRYDEN ROAD, PENARTH (NBS) (SCRUTINY – ENVIRONMENT
AND REGENERATION) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report, the purpose of which was to agree to
make the experimental school street closure on Dryden Road for Fairfield Primary
School, Penarth a permanent order.
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) had been in place since April 2023
and gave Officers time to assess the success or otherwise of the pilot school street
closure as the first type of its kind in the Vale of Glamorgan. Feedback from
residents which had been positive was included in Paragraph 2.7 of the report as
well as Appendix D to the report. Appendix C to the report referred to vehicle
speeds and traffic volumes that were assessed prior to implementation and
monitored during the experimental school street closure, with very little traffic
entering at times of closure.
Councillor Birch, as a local ward Member, said that the experimental TRO had been
a popular move with parents. There continued to be issues with inconsiderate
parking which existed prior to the pilot but had been well received locally. Councillor
Wilson said that the other local ward Member, Councillor Buckley, had also been
supportive of the pilot.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T public notice be advertised for the Experimental Traffic Regulation
Order for a school street closure on Dryden Road, Penarth as detailed in Appendices
A and B to the report, to be made permanent.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Director of Environment and
Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and Building
Services to agree the final design and extent of the school street closure and that the
Monitoring Officer / Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to execute
any legal Orders to implement the Scheme.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To provide the necessary authority to the progress with the permanent Traffic
Regulation Order.
(2) To provide the necessary authority to ensure the scheme was implemented in
the most appropriate and efficient manner.
C66 RENEWAL OF PUBLIC SPACE PROTECTION ORDERS FOR THE
PREVENTION OF ALCOHOL RELATED ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR (NBS)
(SCRUTINY – ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report, the purpose of which was to ensure there
remained effective controls and management arrangements aimed at preventing
incidences of alcohol related anti-social behaviour in public places.
Councillor Wilson said that such Orders had been in place previously and required
renewal with minor variations to the existing Public Space Protection Orders
(PSPOs), in respect of the prevention of alcohol related Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).
Such Orders would not prohibit any alcohol consumption in the areas proposed but
provided a means of control should there be instances of anti-social behaviour.
Paragraph 2.12 of the report referred to the inclusion of Orders at twelve new sites
as a result of consultation and representations received from the public and Elected
Members. Survey responses were included within Appendix A which showed support
for such controls in the described areas for a further three years.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the proposal of renewing the existing Public Space Protection Orders
for controlled alcohol zones be agreed and the Orders referred to Full Council, for
consideration.
(2) T H A T the contents of the public consultation results and the inclusion of
new restricted areas be noted.
(3) T H A T the proposed additional areas as part of the renewal process be
agreed and incorporated into the Orders for consideration by Full Council.
(4) T H A T the resolutions of Cabinet as regards the report are referred to Full
Council for consideration.
(5) T H A T use of the urgency procedure set out at Section 15.14 of the
Council’s Constitution be agreed in respect of recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 4 to
allow the matter to be considered at Full Council on 15th July, 2024.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To assist the Council robustly manage alcohol related Anti-Social Behaviour
at its Resorts, Town centres and Public Open Spaces.
(2) To ensure the Council considered the views of the public and other
stakeholders and the Orders reflect current issues.
(3) To ensure the Council and Police had the appropriate powers to protect the
quality of lives of those who lived, worked and visited restricted areas and to permit
the majority of the law-abiding citizens to use and enjoy public spaces, safe from
anti-social behaviour.
(4) The introduction and renewal of Public Space Protection Orders was a matter
for determination by Full Council.
(5) To enable the Orders to be considered at the next available Full Council
meeting to ensure their prompt introduction if agreed.
C67 RENEWAL OF PUBLIC SPACE PROTECTION ORDERS - DOG
CONTROLS (NBS) (SCRUTINY – ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report, the purpose of which was to ensure there
remained effective controls and management arrangements in please, aimed at
improving the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners and reducing anti-social
behaviour associated with dogs and dog fouling.
Councillor Wilson said that such Orders had been in place previously and required
renewal with variations to the existing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), for
the purpose of dog controls.
Consultation had taken place on the matter and many of the responses received
were positive about the proposed Orders. Appendix A referred to 64% of the public
agreed with the proposal to retain all the existing dog controls in the Vale of
Glamorgan, strong agreement regarding the removal of faeces from all adopted
highways and footpaths and seasonal dog controls at Ogmore-by-Sea.
Councillor Wilson proposed an additional Recommendation to Cabinet to agree that
Llantwit Major Recreation Ground be added to the proposals to be considered at Full
Council, with enforcement subject to the agreement of Llantwit Major Town Council
who owned the land. Llantwit Major Councillors were in support of that area being
included in the proposals and agreement with Llantwit Major Town Council would
have to be sought prior to the matter being considered at Full Council on 15th July,
2024.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the proposal of renewing the existing Public Space Protection Orders
for dog controls be endorsed.
(2) T H A T the contents of the public consultation results be noted.
(3) T H A T the proposed new additional areas as part of the renewal process be
agreed and incorporated into the Orders for Full Council consideration.
(4) T H A T the resolutions of Cabinet in respect to the report be referred to Full
Council for consideration.
(5) T H A T use of the urgency procedure set out at Section 15.14 of the
Council’s Constitution be agreed in respect of resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 to allow the
matter to be considered at Full Council on 15th July, 2024.
(6) T H A T subject to formal agreement with Llantwit Major Town Council,
Llantwit Major Recreation Ground be added to the proposals for consideration at Full
Council, with enforcement subject to the agreement of Llantwit Major Town Council
who own the land.
Reasons for decisions
(1) So that the Council had robust Orders in place for dog controls on adopted
highways, footpaths, resorts/beaches, town centres, sports pitches and public open
spaces.
(2) To ensure the Council considered the views of the public and other
stakeholders and the Orders reflected current issues.
(3) To ensure the Council had appropriate powers to protect the quality of lives of
those who lived, worked and visited the Vale.
(4) The renewal and introduction of Public Space Protection Orders were a
matter for determination by Full Council.
(5) To ensure the Orders could be considered at the next Full Council meeting
and if agreed, promptly introduced following the meeting.
(6) To include Llantwit Major Recreation Ground to the proposals, with the
support of the local ward Members and agreement with Llantwit Majot Town Council.
C68 RE-COMMISSIONING OF THE PROVISION OF CHILDCARE FOR
FLYING START IN COLCOT, BARRY, VALE OF GLAMORGAN (SCH)
(SCRUTINY – HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL CARE) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report, the purpose of which was to seek
authority to re-commission an existing contract relating to the provision of childcare
for the Vale of Glamorgan Flying Start Programme within Colcot, Barry and delegate
authority to award the contract to the successful provider.
Councillor Williams said that although the report fell within the Social Care and
Health Portfolio that it was important to recognise the work undertaken with the
Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language as much of the work
was cross-Directorate. Although the programme provided services to children aged
0-3 and 2-3 years, it was important to recognise that there was also provision for
parents who were a part of the tendering process.
Councillor Birch welcomed the report and was pleased to see parental involvement
in the programme and actively involved in ongoing provision. The cluster of schools
in Barry were some of the most disadvantaged in the Vale of Glamorgan and the
programme would work towards improving the life chances of children.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be authorised to undertake a competitive tender
process for the provision of Flying Start services in Colcot, Barry.
(2) T H A T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be authorised to award the contract(s) for the
service for an initial period of two years with an option to extend for up to a further
two years, following the completion of the tender process.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer/Head of
Legal and Democratic Services to prepare, complete and execute a contract with the
successful bidder.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To enable the Directorate to undertake a tender process that would provide
Flying Start childcare within Colcot, Barry in a cost-effective way that met the
requirements of Welsh Government Flying Start Guidance and the required
standards of the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
(2) To ensure that the service was in place for the next two years with the
potential to extend it for a further two years if required.
(3). To ensure that the appropriate authority and documentation were in place to
complete the contract.
C69 CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF CHILDCARE FOR FLYING
START IN CADOXTON, BARRY, VALE OF GLAMORGAN (SCH) (SCRUTINY –
HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL CARE) –
The Cabinet Member presented the report which was similar to the previous agenda
item but focused on a different area, the purpose of which was to seek authority to
undertake a tender process relating to the provision of childcare for the Vale of
Glamorgan Flying Start Programme within the setting in the grounds of Cadoxton
Primary School in Barry and delegate authority to award the contract to the
successful provider.
Councillor Birch was pleased to endorse the report and said that Cadoxton Primary
School already had initiatives such as Bocs Bwyd and coffee mornings that had a
positive impact on families and actively involved parents and carers on aspects of
school life.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be authorised to undertake a competitive tender
process for the provision of Flying Start services in Cadoxton, Barry.
(2) T H A T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be authorised to award the contract(s) for the
service for an initial period of two years with an option to extend for up to a further
two years, following the completion of the tender process.
(3) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Monitoring Officer/Head of
Legal and Democratic Services to prepare, complete and execute a contract with the
successful bidder.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To enable the Directorate to undertake a tender process that would provide
Flying Start childcare within Cadoxton, Barry in a cost-effective way that met the
requirements of Welsh Government Flying Start Guidance and the required
standards of the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
(2) To ensure that the service was in place for the next two years with the
potential to extend it for a further two years if required.
(3) To ensure that the appropriate authority and documentation were in place to
complete the contract.
C70 VALE OF GLAMORGAN REPLACEMENT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
PLAN (RLDP) 2021-2036 PREFERRED STRATEGY INITIAL CONSULTATION
REPORT (CEERS) (SCRUTINY – ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION) –
The Leader presented the report on behalf of the Cabinet Member, the purpose of
which was to advise Cabinet of the issues raised through representations received
during the public consultation exercise undertaken between December 2023 and
February 2024 in respect of the Preferred Strategy for the Vale of Glamorgan
Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) 2021-2036.
The Preferred Strategy for the RLDP had been subject to a ten-week public
consultation between December 2023 and February 2024 and the report set out the
issues raised as part of that consultation and how the responses had been
considered within the report.
The Preferred Strategy set out how much growth would be accommodated in the
Vale of Glamorgan from 2021 to 2036 in terms of population, homes and jobs, with
growth met in the most sustainable locations which reduced the need to travel,
sought to co-locate housing with employment and locations well-served by public
transport.
Engagement on the Preferred Strategy took place a number of ways, including
online and in-person engagement sessions across the Vale of Glamorgan, as well as
sessions with Elected Members, Town and Community Councils and specific
stakeholder groups such as the 50+ Forum and Equalities Consultative Forum. In
total, over 3,000 representations were made from 857 individuals and organisations.
Notably there was a representation from Welsh Government stating that they
considered the Preferred Strategy to conform with the National Development
Framework: Future Wales, with the scale of growth being at an appropriate level for
the Vale of Glamorgan’s position within a national growth area. The spatial
distribution of that growth to sustainable locations was considered appropriate and in
line with national policy. Comments were made from other stakeholders that the
scale of development was too high, and others considered it to be too low.
The RLDP made provision for 8,679 new houses, compared to 10,400 in the current
adopted Local Development Plan (LDP). The RLDP level of growth was a median
level, with higher and lower gross scenarios being tested. The housing supply was
made up of new housing allocations, committed sites and allowance for unallocated
windfall sites.
The adopted LDP included housing allocations totalling over 8,000 new dwellings.
The RLDP Preferred Strategy showed a more modest allocation of up to 2,750 new
homes on new sites, or 32% of the provision, plus a further 2,600 homes on sites in
the adopted LDP that had been rolled forward.
Key sites in the RLDP were in parts of the Vale of Glamorgan with the highest levels
of affordable housing need and provided real opportunity to deliver homes for those
in housing need through Section 106 funding.
Most of the representations made during the consultation period were objections to
the key sites identified within the Preferred Strategy, with similar issues raised
across the five key sites including the impact of new development on the natural
environment and the ability of existing infrastructure to cope with increased demand.
The initial consultation report addressed those key points and set out the prepared
evidence in support of the Development Plan and addressed the concerns raised.
The consultation allowed for new sites to be submitted as part of a second call for
candidate sites, with 14 new sites submitted as part of the process, and 24 new sites
with amendments of boundary or use which would now be assessed to determine
their suitability for inclusion in the Deposit Plan.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Cabinet, having considered the report and all the issues and implications contained
therein
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the report be referred to Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny
Committee for their consideration. Should the Committee raise no further matters for
Cabinet consideration, the report be referred to a meeting of Full Council on 30th
September, 2024 for:
a) endorsement of the actions set out in the Initial Consultation Report;
b) approval of the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP)
Preferred Strategy as a basis for the ongoing preparation of the
Deposit RLDP.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To outline to Members the issues raised during the 10-week public
consultation exercise on the RLDP Preferred Strategy.
(2) To seek approval for the proposed changes to the Preferred Strategy as set
out in the Initial Consultation Report and to allow officers to progress with
preparation of the Deposit RLDP in accordance with the Council’s approved Delivery
Agreement.
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C167, 30th November, 2023 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE ROLES OF INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER REPRESENTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO THE CARDIFF AND VALE UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD AND THE NATIONAL JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL ADOPTION SERVICE AND FOSTER WALES (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C170, 30th November, 2023 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
No.
FINAL HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) BUDGET PROPOSALS 2024/25, RENT SETTING 2024/2025 AND HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT BUSINESS PLAN 2024/25 (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C196, 11th January, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
INITIAL BUDGET 2024/25 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2024/25 TO 2028/29 PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTATION (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C206, 18th January, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
DRAFT CAPITAL PROGRAMME PROPOSALS 2024/25 TO 2028/29 (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C207, 18th January, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
ACQUISITION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C222, 25th January, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
No.
VALE OF GLAMORGAN ENTERPRISE CENTRE (PART I) (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C224, 25th January, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
VALE OF GLAMORGAN ENTERPRISE CENTRE (PART II) (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C228, 25th January, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
DRAFT VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL ANNUAL DELIVERY PLAN 2024-25 (REF)
RESOLVED – T H A T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure (Cabinet Minute
No. C248, 22nd February, 2024 (as set out in Section 15.14.2(ii) of the Council’s
Constitution) be noted.
Reason for decision
The reporting of the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure is a requirement of the
Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the policy with regard to not granting any level of discount for
unoccupied dwellings that have remained so for 6 months agreed for 2023-24,
be agreed for 2024-25.
(2) T H A T the long term empty property premium of 100% be agreed for
the 2023-24 financial year and continue for such properties from 2024-25 that
remain so for the period up to (but not including) 24 months.
(3) T H A T from 1st April, 2024 a premium of 150% be introduced for long
term empty properties that have remained as such for a continuous period of
24 months or more.
(4) T H A T from 1st April, 2025 a premium of 200% be introduced for long
term empty properties that have remained as such for a continuous period of
36 months or more.
(5) T H A T the policy to introduce a premium of 100% on second homes
for the 2024-25 financial year be agreed and reaffirmed.
Reasons for decisions
(1) The Council was required to determine its policy on discounts in
relation to unoccupied dwellings as defined in classes A, B and C to the
Council Tax (Prescribed Class of Dwellings) (Wales) Regulations 1998 each
year.
(2&4) The Council was required to determine its policy regarding premiums in
respect of long-term empty properties as defined in Sections 12A and 12B of
the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as inserted by the Housing (Wales)
Act 2014.
No.
(3) Upon reviewing the implementation of the premium for long term empty
properties introduced from the start of 1st April 2023, it was felt that a straight
increase to the premium levels as previously proposed, may counteract the
intention of the policy, which was to bring long term empty properties back
into use, if the level of charges due hindered necessary works required to
make a dwelling habitable. As such it was felt that a stepped approach would
be more in keeping with the policy to ensure that persistent long term empty
properties were targeted.
(5) The Council was required to determine its policy regarding premiums in
respect of second homes as defined in Sections 12A and 12B of the Local
Government Finance Act1992 as inserted by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
CORPORATE FRAUD ENFORCEMENT POLICY (REF)
Cabinet had considered the report on 25th January, 2024 (Minute No. C220)
together with the reference from Governance and Audit Committee of
11th December, 2023 (Minute No. 636) and had referred the same to Council
for consideration and approval. Having regard to the contents of the report
and the previous discussions at the meeting earlier in the meeting in respect
of the report titled amendments to the Constitution, it was subsequently
RESOLVED – T H A T the report and the Officer Delegation Scheme and
relevant provisions within the current Constitution be updated to reflect the
changes referred to in the report and as considered earlier in the agenda
under the Amendments to the Constitution report.
Reason for decision
To update the Officer Delegation Scheme and relevant provisions within the
current Constitution to reflect the changes outlined within the report and as
considered under an earlier report in the agenda.
DRAFT VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL ANNUAL DELIVERY PLAN 2024-25 (REF)
Cabinet had considered the report on 22nd February, 2024 (Minute No. C248
refers) and had referred the same to Council for consideration and approval.
The Leader took the opportunity to remind Members that the initial draft had
been considered by Cabinet and the Scrutiny Committees with the amended
draft coming back to Cabinet and to the Corporate Performance and
Resources Scrutiny Committee. Members had stated that they had been
pleased with the way the report had been presented which demonstrated how
their feedback had been included, with Members also being able to easily see
where the changes had been made.
There being no further comments, it was
No.
RESOLVED – T H A T the draft Annual Delivery Plan 2024-25, as attached at
Appendix A to the report to Cabinet on 22nd February, 2024 (Minute No.
C248), be approved.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
DRAFT BUDGET 2024/25 AND MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2024/25 TO 2028/29 (REF)
The Leader advised that the proposals had been published at the end of the
previous week, prior to the availability of Welsh Government ‘s settlement
figures. There had been no changes to the overall settlement following that
announcement but there was additional detail regarding the Standard
Spending Assessment that was subsequently detailed in the supplementary
information that had been distributed to all Members and published online
prior to the Cabinet meeting on 29th February, 2024.
The Council faced significant financial pressures in excess of £38m initially
and had undertaken significant work to mitigate those pressures. As a result,
it had not been possible to fund pay awards in full and there were limited
resources to meet the full demands of care providers to fully meet
demographic growth and the complexity of services required.
A 3.4% increase in the grant received by the Council from Welsh Government
alongside the proposed 6.7% increase in Council Tax fell short of meeting the
additional costs.
There would be a further UK budget announcement on the same day the
report would be considered by Full Council, and it remained to be seen if
there would be any further funding made available for Local Government, but
it was not expected there would be any further matters for Council to consider
on 6th March.
Consultation on how to allocate the available resources had taken place,
including a 4-week public budget consultation, consideration by the five
Council Scrutiny Committees and the ‘Life in the Vale’ survey where residents
were asked for their views on what they expected from the Council, where
residents were supportive of the ambition to target resources to social care,
affordable housing and schools and less supportive of any Council Tax
increase and increase in discretionary charges by the rate of inflation.
Council Tax levels in the Vale of Glamorgan were below the Welsh average
and below the level of expected rises for many Authorities across Wales, with
10% or more having been proposed by some.
No.
There had been in-depth discussions at Scrutiny but no alternatives put
forward prior to consideration at Full Council, where it was difficult to take
proposals on board at that point and achieve a balanced budget as was the
legal requirement for the Authority to do, but there would be a full debate at
Full Council on the day.
The proposal concerning charging for toilets at coastal areas had been
removed as Members felt that was not something they could support and the
£5k saving would be found elsewhere. The next year’s £7.7m savings
programme was mostly tactical and looked at how to provide and deliver
services more effectively, along with some transformational initiatives, as
having another multi-million pound savings programme next year would be
challenging.
The Leader further commented that the Cabinet and officers had been
working on the budget since June 2023. In July 2023 Cabinet had referred
the Financial Strategy to all Scrutiny Committees and November had brought
the refreshed Medium Term Financial Plan. Christmas had been cancelled
for a lot of the officers and a number of Cabinet Members. The things that it
had hoped to do were no longer possible until the funding gap could be
reduced to a reasonable level. In January 2024 the draft budget was
presented to all Scrutiny Committees which were attended by the Cabinet
Members who had listened to the discussions. There were some things she
said that were unpalatable, not liked and had reluctantly been accepted but
one recommendation had been made which had been accepted by Cabinet
that the proposed charges to Coastal toilets be removed.
The budget this evening, she said, proposed for a balanced budget, which
was required to be delivered by 11th March, considerations for which had
included the money that the Council would receive from Council Tax and as
the Council wanted to continue to support bus services and not make car
parking charges on streets etc., a 6.7% Council Tax was being proposed.
The budget was also she said based on supporting the Council’s most
vulnerable.
In referring to the recent Living in the Vale Survey she said the top priority for
residents had been easy accessibility to care and health care, the second
priority the ability to buy or rent a good quality home. The cost of living crisis
had also not gone away, in the feedback received 60% of respondents said
that they had chosen not to put the heating on at times, and 44% of them said
that they could not pay an unexpected bill of £850, so if their boiler went that
would be it.
There were a number of pressures for the Council, pressures in terms of
demography not just numbers of people but the complexity and scale of need,
people's lives and lived experience were hugely diverse in the Vale and as a
result the need was hugely diverse. Since the pandemic the Council was
aware that older residents had become more isolated, more frail and required
more care. Young people were struggling with anxiety and there were
behavioural issues across the Vale with the Council having to consider a
No.
range of ways to meet such needs. Service redesigns were being considered
and looking for ways to do things more effectively. Reviews of the street
cleansing service, litter etc, would be undertaken as well as transformational
change. The Leader referred to other areas of good work that had taken
place, which had included reshaping of the Library services, Big Fresh was
also delivering not only Universal Free School Meals to primary children, but
also delivering a surplus that can be reinvested into schools. Income
generation was being considered as well as generating income from fees and
charges for non-statutory services. However although the financial position
was difficult the Council, through its proposed budget, was still delivering
many services.
The Leader also referred to other aspects of Council provision such as each
week 105 recycling rounds were out in the communities with each vehicle
collecting from 550 properties a day. As a result over 850 articulated lorries
full of material that could be sold or reused with this year forecasting income
of between £1.2m and £1.4m from processing recycling at the new recycling
facility. With the support of residents the Council had managed to deliver over
a 70% recycling outcome being one of the top in Wales, one of the top in the
UK and actually one of the top in Europe.
The Council also managed 30 Feature Parks, 21 Recreation Grounds, 13
Conservation Parks, 88 Play Areas and 9 Skateboard areas and has 38
football pitches, 13 mini football pitches alongside rugby pitches, cricket, etc
which are all still supported. Over the past 3 years the Council had delivered
over 177,000 meters of active travel shared use being pedestrian and cycling
paths. The Council offered child pedestrian training, delivered cycle shelters
in schools and bought bikes for schools. 20 Car Parks were owned and
controlled by the Vale with only two of the town centre car parks with a
charge. The Leader further advised that 52,567 square meters of
carriageway resurfacing had been undertaken in the year, 3,261 square
meters of footway improvements and surface water gullies had been
cleansed. The Leader concluded by stating that she would be happy to
circulate some of the information recognising that the Council was still
providing services. With regard to queries of measuring productivity that she
had heard being said at meetings, she questioned how did you choose or
measure how productive a care worker was, how did you look at productivity
when you've had a child with severe learning needs. The Council would
measure where it was appropriate to do so and she ended by presenting the
budget to Council which was duly seconded by Councillor Brooks who
reserved her right to speak later in the debate.
Councillor Carroll commenced by saying the Labour Council was asking
residents to pay more for less. He said Labour had failed to show leadership
and manage budgets properly and was therefore imposing cuts to services
and charging for things like garden waste collections. He drew attention to
the multi-million pound bus station and enquired as to how much this Authority
spent on diversity and inclusion. At the Healthy Living and Social Care
Scrutiny Committee meeting Councillor Cave had made perfectly reasonable
comments about the funding of bus services in the rural Vale but instead of
No.
addressing Councillor Cave's concerns, the Leader ‘s comments many
residents had told him they considered to be a smear with Councillor Cave
being accused of using inflammatory language. Perhaps he said the Leader
could enlighten Council as to what aspect of Councillor Cave's remarks were
considered inflammatory. He also referred to a recent report where the
Leader had stated the 2% cut in National Insurance contributions announced
in November by the Conservative UK Government was disappointing and that
she had confirmed that this Council opposed tax cuts for millions of working
people with he said his only assumption from those comments was that the
Leader would oppose further tax cuts that had been announced that day.
The 6.7% rise proposed he said fitted with his view of the Administration’s
attitude that residents should pay more. The rise proposed significantly
exceeded inflation with CPI currently standing at 4%. He felt the rise was not
necessary as the Council had tens of millions of pounds in usable reserves
including £10,177mn sat in the bank in the Council Fund as a percentage of
the Authority's Revenue budget. If the Authority was to consider a real terms
freeze in Council Tax and increase it in line with inflation at 4% it would cost
£2,505m but given the amount held in Reserves it would be possible to go
further than that and to cut Council Tax in real terms, which is what he said
the Council should do. A 3% rise would cost £3.435m which he said would be
below the rate of inflation. This real terms cut stood in stark contrast to the
6.7% rise proposed by Labour and would ease the pressures on working
people across the Vale, so on behalf of the Conservative Group he proposed
an amendment to the revenue budget which would transfer £3.435m from the
Council's General Fund balances to support the base budget and he urged all
Members to support the amendment.
Councillor Charles, in seconding the amendment, said the additional income
required by the Council could well be taken from Reserves which the
taxpayers of the Vale of Glamorgan had already contributed to. She said she
believed this could be the fairest way of raising the revenue instead of
increasing the pressure on every household. The budget management of the
Council had, in her view, been mismanaged by Labour backed up Llantwit
Firsts and the people of the Vale of Glamorgan deserved better.
Councillor Dr. Johnson, speaking to the amendment by Councillor Carroll
whilst reserving his right to speak later on the proposed budget, asked after
listening to the Conservatives uncosted amendment taking money out of the
Reserves if £3.5m was taken out of the Reserves did the Conservative Group
have any idea how to return it as it would obviously be using the exact same
£3.5m next year and the year after and then the Council would be left with
nothing in the Reserves. This was not the way to run a Council, stating that
unfortunately the Conservatives had created the problems that were before
the Council. In 2010 Britain's debt was £1 trillion and now it's £2.7 trillion so
this was quite a shambles. What sort of ridiculous regime increased or cut
one country's budget based on the spending of a government in another
country. Taking a look at public spending in its entirety there was more spent
per head in London than anywhere else. A little bit higher than in Scotland
and Northern Ireland. The spending per head in London, Scotland and
No.
Northern Ireland was 500 times higher annually almost 4%, even if Wales only
received funding on an equal footing with these three it would be richer to the
tune of £1.5 billion and this was the type of money which could transform the
Vale’s local services and ensure that the Council did not need to increase
Council Tax as has been suggested, but the we don't and this was leading to
difficult decisions for all of us. Of course in Scotland the SNP Government
had used part of the additional funding to freeze Council Tax realising the
impact of the economic storm for families, but here with the challenging
budget across Wales the ordinary people must pay more a lot more to
maintain even basic services. Councillor Dr. Johnson ended by saying that
he did not accept the figures presented by the Conservative Group which had
not been costed in either a sensible or responsible manner which could be
sustained.
Councillor Wilson commented that he thought the amendment was pretty
interesting, in that we would be looking at a 3% Council Tax increase at least
where as in previous years the Conservatives had suggested no increase.
He said that in his view the Conservative Group did not have the right to talk
about financial mismanagement as Councillor Dr. Johnson had rightly said,
we have got huge issues with our debt at the moment. Referring to 2008
where he said Labour helped out the banks and stopped people running out
of money at cash points, which had happened in other places like Cyprus.
We do not need any lessons from the Conservatives about financial
management he said as in his view they didn’t have a clue how to manage the
budget.
Councillor Godfrey commented that if people were quoting facts then they
should be correct and encapsulate the whole picture including the impact of
the Ukraine war and BREXIT and he felt it quite wrong if people were not
doing that.
Councillor Hodges, in response to Councillor Godfrey’s comments, said yes
the Ukraine war and Covid had a dramatic effect on balances as did Brexit but
he felt that there was plenty of other mismanagement going on as well.
Councillor Goodjohn considered that the amendment didn’t appear to be a
very tactical solution to the Council’s issues and enquired of Councillor Carroll
as to exactly what mismanagement of the budget issues there were in the
Revenue proposals. He also asked the Conservative Leader to consider that
taking from Reserves would quite frankly cause cash flow issues in the
Council and what he would propose do in such situations as if there were
cash flow issues in the Council people would have delays in getting vital
services which would impact on their lives, being people's real lives here in
the real world rather than some abstract idea. He also took the opportunity to
remind Council of the current 10% inflation rate.
Councillor Hodges, in drawing attention to Social Care costs, said if they were
not funded what would happen going forward further, commenting that the
NHS was already struggling because of mismanagement from the
Conservative Government and its finances stating that he could not support
No.
the amendment as it had not been fully costed and would mean a cut in
schools provision and social care.
Councillor John said he could not believe what he was hearing from the
Conservative Group referring to the months of discussion on the budget that
had already taken place and that it was a good job the Council had reserves.
He mentioned other Councils, in particular Monmouth Council, who he said
did not have any Reserves to help them and their Council Tax had gone up to
7.5%.
Councillor Franks, listening with interest to Councillor Carroll’s and the
Conservative Members’ comments, said he felt that they were basically
saying that apart from them no one else could financially manage the Council
and referred to the catastrophic failures of Conservative Councils in England.
The Leader, in response, said that in her view the amendment was completely
preposterous in view of the financial position facing the Council and that she
would be voting against the amendment.
Councillor Perry said it was a shame that as Elected Members elected by the
communities that there was a lack of togetherness. He said he applauded
attempts to get rid of Council Tax or severely change it as, in his view, a land
value tax would be much fairer. He said he would not be supporting the
amendment because he believed that his residents would rather not spend
money on new tyres and suspensions on their vehicles that they would rather
if there were Reserves fix the roads and fix the other services and stop relying
on volunteers to run services and stop cheering the minority getting wealthier
and wealthier and have a more equitable society.
Following a vote on the amendment the amendment was lost it being noted
12 were in favour, 38 against and one abstention.
Councillor Dr. Johnson, speaking on the substantive Motion, said it had been
interesting to hear the conversations taking place and that some people might
almost be surprised to hear that he sympathised with the Leader of the
Council in respect of the challenge before her, but that was why Plaid did not
accept the propaganda about the Council being a great Council because the
average person did not feel this. We as a Council needed to provide on
demand services which were quickly rising as a result of lack of investment in
preventative services. We needed to consider the relationship between the
people that we served and the funding. Welsh Government added extra
funding at the last minute and that increased £25m between the provisional
and the final settlement £600,000 through to the Revenue Grant and around
£500,000 through the introduction of the K Grant where we're expecting a loss
and furthermore additional funding in the Housing Support Grant last week.
How much was still unclear but the Council intended to keep Council Tax at
the same level rather than considering a cut like last year when we received
last minute funding which the Council put in its Reserves. This year we
considered our energy savings to be too tight and so the money needed to go
to the coffers for that rather than reducing Council Tax. There was no
No.
scrutiny, and he had been to all of the meetings, there was no scrutiny which
would change the minds of those deciding Council Taxes and setting aside
funding elsewhere in the budget. He had mentioned in the past how the
Council looked after its bank balance before considering the public's needs
and of course this year the figures before us showed some spend of the
Reserves of £51m which was almost a half. Let's see if this was true because
the same types of figures which were provided to us in the past had been
incorrect. But he said there were challenges nonetheless. The public had
seen a huge cost of living rise over the last years from energy costs, everyday
shopping costs and housing costs, including 12.5% over the last two years for
people in our Council houses. He understood that the budget was tight but
said what was the purpose of Welsh Government providing extra funding for
Councils in the final settlement if it was only put into Reserves.
A number of things he said concerned him, he didn’t like the idea of the
administrative fee for residents in parking permanent zones. Of course he
stated the Council could provide any service if it forced people to pay for it.
There was not enough money for fundamental core services for residents
although he accepted that the situation was a difficult one, as was the case for
all Councils, and he expressed his concern that the mix of cuts for Council’s
consideration and the increase in Council Tax stating that between the both of
them this was not acceptable and that he would be voting against the Motion.
Councillor Brooks said the reality was that more and more Councils were
being pushed to the financial brink. More Councils had issued a Section 114
Notice in the previous year than in the previous 30 years combined which she
said was quite astounding. Welsh Government had quite rightly put the
protection of public services at the front and centre of their budget, however
the Council could not get away from the fact that their funding had been cut
for the last 14 years from the Westminster Government leaving them with no
alternative but to reduce their transfer funding for Local Authorities. The cost
of living crisis came out as a significant issue in the recent survey with 42% of
the population citing easily accessible care and health care closely followed
by the buying or renting of good quality homes. These were the issues that
really mattered to people and their priorities she said and she stood by the
commitment to protect services which supported the Council’s most
vulnerable residents. However, in conclusion she said difficult decisions had
to be made to deliver a balanced and fair budget and she was pleased that
the Council had been able to protect supported bus services as she felt many
residents in rural and deprived communities relied on the bus services.
Councillor Franks commented that the Council had heard about potholes
being filled, a bit of resurfacing, grass being cut, road gullies being emptied,
which was basically the standard work of all Councils. However, what did
surprise him a little bit was the quick reference to support for Education. He
was not sure if he had misheard but that's what he thought he heard, but our
support for education has led to a disastrous situation in our schools, we've
also heard a mention about people's priorities that was good to be reminded,
but he didn't think we heard mention of the consultation with the public which,
if his memory served him right, did not support the proposed level of increase.
No.
He wondered why we had that omission. Whereas other facts were
highlighted, he considered there to be an element of cherry-picking. In the
previous year’s budget debate almost a year to the day, the Cabinet proposed
a £2m plus cut in schools with Cabinet being warned at that time that this
would have had a terrible impact on school budgets. This was disregarded by
Labour Members who, in his view he said, cheerfully dismissed such
warnings. The result had been over 20 schools now facing a deficit budget, of
these 19 apparently indicated that there was no prospect of recovery within 3
years, however since then he understood that the situation had worsened,
both in terms of the numbers of schools and the size of the deficits. He
therefore asked how can we and the public have any faith in this year's
budget process now seeing that this year's allocation to schools would
basically be following last year's allocation. What was the situation going to
be in a year's time for our schools? What was going to be the size of the
deficits? How many schools were going to be facing at least 3 years in the
red and to add to their problems he understood that schools were going to be
asked to pay for school crossing patrols and for elements of grass cutting?
We really do need to know what the impact would be on schools in 2024/25.
What would be the accumulated overspend and what was the anticipated
overspend in the following year and he welcomed comments from the Cabinet
Member for Education on these points.
Councillor Birch, advising that she would be unable to answer all of the points
at the meeting that evening, said that all of the schools that had budget
deficits had been assisted by the finance teams with schools unable to
recover their deficits within 3 years being offered plans to restructure the debt
that they had so that they could eventually balance their budgets. Going
forward she could not say what the deficits would be like in three years’ time,
rather she hoped that they would be balanced. Furthermore, Councillor Birch
added that all that had been said during the debate had been about the
difficulties of various events in the last few years and the toll that that had
taken on budgets everywhere, so schools were not going to be immune from
that. It was obvious that balancing budgets was going to be more difficult for
some schools than others.
In conclusion, the Leader referred to the number of times the budget process
had been considered by Cabinet and Scrutiny however she was disappointed
with the questions at Council when a lot of the discussion could have been
held at the Scrutiny Committee meetings over the year with suggestions being
put forward for consideration. In referring to the issues of diversity and
inclusion that had been commented on during the debate, the Leader drew
attention to the budget for Corporate Resources being only 5% of the overall
total. Having regard to Reserves she said the detail was contained within the
report although they had been rationalised. In referring to the comments
relating to the 2% cut in National Insurance the Leader mentioned that if one
was of retirement age they wouldn’t receive this cut.
The Leader subsequently took the opportunity to repeat her earlier comments
that the proposed budget was a budget to protect the most vulnerable and
moved the recommendations within the report.
No.
The motion moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Brooks was
subsequently voted upon.
A recorded vote took place on the recommendations as contained within the
reference and the report, as follows:-
Members For Against Abstain
Anne Asbrey x
Julie Aviet x
Gareth Ball x
Rhiannon Birch x
Bronwen Brooks x
Gillian Bruce x
Ian Buckley x
Lis Burnett x
Samantha Campbell x
George Carroll x
Christine Cave x
Charles Champion x
Janice Charles x
Millie Collins x
Marianne Cowpe x
Pamela Drake x
Vincent Driscoll
Anthony Ernest x
Robert Fisher x
Christopher Franks x
No.
Wendy Gilligan x
Russell Godfrey x
Emma Goodjohn x
Ewan Goodjohn x
Stephen Haines x
Howard Hamilton x
Sally Hanks x
William Hennessy x
Nic Hodges x
Catherine Iannucci x
Gwyn John x
Dr. Ian Johnson x
Susan Lloyd-Selby x
Julie Lynch-Wilson x
Kevin Mahoney x
Naomi Marshallsea x
Michael Morgan x
Jayne Norman x
Helen Payne x
Elliot Penn x
Sandra Perkes x
Ian Perry x
Joanna Protheroe x
Ruba Sivagnanam x
Carys Stallard x
No.
Neil Thomas x
Rhys Thomas x
Steffan Wiliam x
Margaret Wilkinson x
Eddie Williams x
Mark Wilson x
Nicholas Wood x
TOTAL 30 21
The vote being carried, it was
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T a Council Tax increase of 6.7% be approved.
(2) T H A T the Revenue budget for 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial
Plan 24/25 to 28/29 be approved.
(3) T H A T the fees and charges presented for approval in January 2024,
which stood unchanged following review by Scrutiny, be noted.
(4) T H A T the information provided in the supplemental report to Cabinet
th
on 29 February 2024 regarding updated Standard Spending Assessment
figures be endorsed.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Setting the annual rate of Council Tax was a key policy decision for
Council.
(2) Setting a balanced budget was a statutory responsibility and decision
for Full Council.
(3) To confirm fees and charges for 2024/25.
(4) Having regard to the supplemental information which provided Full
Council with the most up to date figures as part of its final budget
deliberations.
No.
CAPITAL STRATEGY 2024/25 AND FINAL CAPITAL PROGRAMME PROPOSALS 2024/25 TO 2028/29 (REF)
Cabinet had considered the report on 29th February, 2024 (Minute No. C261)
and had referred the same to Council for consideration and approval.
Appendix 1 to the report provided the Council's Capital Strategy for 2024/25.
The Capital Strategy provided a framework which outlined how capital
expenditure, capital financing and treasury management activity contributed to
the provision of corporate objectives, along with an overview of how
associated risk was managed and the implications for future financial
sustainability.
The report set out the Council’s proposed Final Capital Programme for the
period 2024/25 to 2028/29 at Appendix 2.
The Council was facing significant pressures in relation to price inflation and
the cost-of-living crisis which had seen increases in the costs of materials and
labour. This had had an impact on the current schemes within the Capital
Programme and the funding available to fund new schemes within the Capital
Programme.
The total value of capital schemes over the next five years was £387.582m
which included £25.376m for the Band B Sustainable Communities for
Learning Programme (excluding the pipeline schemes) and £205.775m for the
Housing Improvement Programme.
Since the Draft Capital Programme proposals report in January, a number of
changes had been made including the reprofile and allocation of
decarbonisation schemes, City Deal reprofile, slippage from the 2023/24
Capital Programme into the 2024/25 Capital Programme and the Llanmaes
match funding was no longer being removed from the five year proposals.
The detail of these changes was covered later in the report.
The Leader subsequently moved the recommendations in the report, which
were seconded by Councillor Brooks, and there being no dissent it was
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Capital Strategy 2024/25, as set out in Appendix 1 to the
report to Cabinet on 29th February, 2024 (Minute No. C261), be approved.
(2) T H A T the final Capital Programme for the years 2024/25 to 2028/29,
as set out in Appendix 2 to the report to Cabinet on 29th February, 2024
(Minute No. C261), be approved.
(3) T H A T the Chief Executive and the Head of Finance / Section 151
Officer, in consultation with the Executive Leader and Cabinet Member for
No.
Performance and Resources, be granted delegated authority to make
additions, deletions or transfers to or from the:
i. 2024/25 to 2028/29 Housing Improvement Programme as
appropriate.
ii. 2024/25 to 2028/29 Asset Renewal budgets as appropriate.
iii. S106 funded schemes subject to Member consultation as
required under the existing process.
iv. Energy Management Schemes
v. Building Strong Communities Fund schemes.
vi. Sustainable Communities for Learning Band B programme
(Previously 21st Century Schools schemes).
vii. Discretionary Adaption Grant Schemes.
viii. Vale Regeneration Schemes.
(4) T H A T the Chief Executive, Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer,
and Director of Learning and Skills in consultation with the Executive Leader
and Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources, be granted delegated
authority to increase the Capital Programme for the long term solution in
relation to the Successful Futures Centre at Pencoedtre High School when
the feasibility studies had been concluded. It being noted that £300k had
been ringfenced within reserves to carry out the scheme when feasibility
studies had been undertaken.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To approve the Capital Strategy for 2024/25.
(2) To set and approve future Capital Programmes to 2028/29.
(3) To enable the Housing Capital budget, Asset Renewal budgets, S106
schemes, Energy Management Schemes, Building Stronger Communities
Fund, Sustainable Communities for Learning Band B programme,
Discretionary Adaption Grant Schemes, and Vale Regeneration schemes to
be managed effectively.
(4) To enable the long term solution to the Successful Futures Centre at
Pencoedtre High School to proceed when the feasibility studies had been
concluded.
TREASURY MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2024/25 AND UPDATE 2023/24 (REF)
Cabinet had considered the report on 29th February, 2024 (Minute No. C262)
and had referred the same to Council for consideration and approval.
The interim report outlined the proposed 2024/25 Treasury Management
Strategy detailed in Appendix 1 and provided an update on the Council’s
Treasury Management operations for the period 1st April to 31st December,
No.
2023. All activities were in accordance with the Council’s approved strategy
on Treasury Management.
Total external borrowing as of 31st December, 2023 was £145.479m at an
average rate of 4.37%. New external borrowing totalling £5.000m was
undertaken during the first 9 months of 2023/24 at a rate of 4.38% with
utilised the special project rate for Housing Revenue Account schemes.
The Council invested with the Debt Management Deposit Facility, Local
Authorities, Treasury Bills, Money Market Funds together with Lloyds Bank
Call Accounts. Total investments as of 31st December, 2023 stood at
£50.495m at an average rate of 4.53% over the nine-month period.
The Council had to ensure that the Prudential Code was complied with, which
had been developed by CIPFA as a professional code of practice, last
updated in December 2021. To demonstrate that the Council had fulfilled
these objectives, the Code set out a list of Prudential and Treasury indicators
that should be calculated together with other factors that had to be
considered. These were included in Appendix 1 to the report as part of the
Strategy.
The Council also had a legal requirement to comply with the Welsh
Government Guidance on Investments and had taken this guidance into
consideration when developing the Strategy.
New borrowing in the period to 2028/29 was expected to be £184.377m for
new Capital Expenditure and a further £14.000m of borrowing to replace
maturing loans and reflect the Council’s reducing ability to internally borrow
over the period.
Capital expenditure when financed by long term debt incurred two elements of
cost, interest and repayment of the principal sum borrowed. The resources
the Council must put aside in each year to repay the principal sum borrowed
was known as Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) and the Council's policy
for the calculation was detailed in the report.
The Treasury Management Policy Statement for 2024/25 was attached at
Appendix 2 to the report.
The Leader, in referring to the recent training provided to all Members, and
indeed training that was provided each year, on the subject, commented that
she had found the training to be a really constructive training session which
had also been recorded for Members to view it online.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Treasury Management interim report for the period 1 st April
st
to 31 December, 2023 be approved.
No.
(2) T H A T the policy for making Minimum Revenue Provision in 2024/25
be approved.
(3) T H A T the proposed 2024/25 Treasury Management and Investment
Strategy be approved, including the following specific resolutions (as detailed
in Appendix 1 to the report to Cabinet on 29th February, 2024 [Minute No.
C262]):
• The Authorised Limit for External Debt be set at £240.969m for
2023/24, £271.200m for 2024/25, £303.939m for 2025/26 and
£336.893m for 2026/27.
• The Operational Boundary for External Debt be set at
£226.147m for 2023/24, £255.687 for 2024/25, £287.406m for
2025/26 and £320.338m for 2026/27.
• The Section 151 Officer be granted delegated authority within
the total Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary as
estimated for individual years to effect movement between the
separately agreed limits for borrowing and other long term
liabilities.
• An upper limit of £0m for 2023/24, £10m for 2024/25, £10m in
2025/26 and £10m in 2026/27 be set for total principal sums
invested for over 364 days.
• The amount of projected borrowing that was fixed rate maturing
in each period as a percentage of total projected borrowing that
was fixed rate for 2024/25 be set as:
Table 1 – Upper and lower Limits for fixed rate borrowing
Upper Lower
Limit Limit
Under 12 months 20% 0%
12 months and within 24 months 20% 0%
24 months and within 5 years 30% 0%
5 years and within 10 years 40% 0%
10 years and above 100% 0%
(4) T H A T Prudential Indicators set out in Appendix 1 to the report to
Cabinet on 29th February, 2024 (Minute No. C262) be approved.
(5) T H A T the Treasury Management Policy Statement set out in
Appendix 2 to the report to Cabinet on 29th February, 2024 (Minute No. C262)
be approved.
Reasons for decisions
(1) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the
meeting.
(2) To agree the basis of the Minimum Revenue Provision calculation for
2024/25.
No.
(3-5) In order for the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy
as prepared be approved as required by the Local Government Act 2003.
PAY POLICY 2024/25 (REF)
The Council had a statutory requirement under the Localism Act 2011 to
prepare a pay policy statement for the new financial year 2024/25. The
statement needed to be approved and published by 31st March, 2024. The
document provided a framework for ensuring that employees were rewarded
fairly and objectively, in accordance with the service needs of the Council and
that there was openness and transparency in relation to the process. It being
a straightforward report the Leader moved the recommendations which were
seconded by Councillor Brooks.
Prior to putting the recommendations to Full Council the Mayor asked if there
were any points of clarification required by Members from the Head of Human
Resources. There being no clarifications required and no further comments, it
was subsequently
RESOLVED – T H A T the Council’s Pay Policy as attached at Appendix A to
the report to Cabinet on 8th February, 2024 (Minute No C234) be approved.
Reason for decision
To respond to the legal requirement under the Localism Act 2011 and to
provide openness and accountability in relation to how the Council rewards its
staff.
N.B.
All Chief Officers, save for the Head of Human Resources, left the meeting
when this item was considered. The Head of Human Resources remained in
the meeting, until the matter was to be voted upon, in order to provide any
clarification required by Elected Members.
AGREED –
(1) T H A T the Head of Resource Management and Safeguarding be thanked
for a comprehensive presentation.
(2) T H A T further updates be presented to the Committee at the end of the
next financial year.
(3) T H A T the presentation provided at the meeting be forwarded to all
Members of the Committee.
RESOLVED – T H A T the following matter which the Chair had decided was urgent
for the reason given beneath the minute heading be considered.
APPLICATION FOR FLEXIBLE RETIREMENT - L (DSS) (EXEMPT INFORMATION – PARAGRAPHS 13 AND 14)
(Matter Which the Chair had decided was urgent by need of a decision
required before next Committee date)
Consideration was given to the application for flexible retirement in respect of the
above employee.
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting, it was
subsequently
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the flexible retirement of L be approved in accordance with the
Council's policy subject to no other circumstances arising in the interim whereby the
employment were to be terminated for a different reason.
(2) T H A T the flexible retirement of L be approved without a specified end date
providing no other circumstances arise in the interim whereby the employment were
to be terminated for a different reason.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To determine the flexible retirement application within the regulations and to
allow for eventualities that may not be known at this time.
(2) To achieve the necessary change to the employee's working hours, to assist
service continuity, provide appropriate support to assist the employee's transition to
retirement and to contribute to the work of Adult Services alongside Cardiff and Vale
University Health board colleagues.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the extension of the flexible retirement of W be approved in
accordance with the Council's policy subject to no other circumstances arising in the
interim whereby the employment was to be terminated for a different reason.
(2) T H A T the retirement of W from employment with the Council takes place on
or before 31st March, 2027 providing no other circumstances arise in the interim
whereby the employment was to be terminated or extended for a different reason.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To determine the flexible retirement application within the regulations and to
allow for eventualities that may not be known at this time.
(2) To achieve the necessary change to the employee's flexible retirement date,
to assist service continuity, provide appropriate support to assist the employee's
transition to retirement and to contribute to the work of the Social Services
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee be referred
to the Director of Social Services for consideration.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED – T H A T the contents of the report be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the assurances from the respective Directors regarding the action
be taken to address the Internal Audit recommendations made in 2021/22 which
had not yet been fully implemented be noted.
(2) T H A T the Director of Social Services and the Director of Corporate
Resources be advised to provide an update position in relation to Corporate
Safeguarding and cyber security at the meeting of the Governance and Audit
Committee scheduled for February 2024.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the flexible retirement of S. be in accordance with the Council’s
Policy be agreed, subject to no other circumstances arising in the interim whereby
the employment were to be terminated for a different reason.
(2) T H A T the flexible retirement of S. be agreed without a specified end date
providing no other circumstances arise in the interim whereby the employment
were to be terminated for a different reason.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To determine the flexible retirement application within the regulations and to
allow for eventualities that may not be known at this time.
(2) To achieve the necessary change to the employee’s working hours, to
assist service continuity, provide appropriate support to assist the employee’s
transition to retirement and to contribute to the work of Adult Services.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the status of the High and Medium recommendations contained
within the report be agreed.
(2) T H A T the relevant Directors / Heads of Service responsible for safeguarding
and cyber security be invited to attend the next meeting of the Governance and Audit
Committee in order to advise of the reasons for the delays in completed actions and
to outline what actions were in place in order to complete recommendations.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Quarter 4 position of corporate risks (April 2022 – March 2023) as
outlined in the risk Summary Report (Annex A) to the report be noted.
(2) T H A T the comments of the Governance and Audit Committee be referred to
Cabinet for endorsement at the meeting when Cabinet will consider a report on the
No.
Corporate Risk Register for Quarter 4, the comments of the Governance and Audit
Committee being:
• For consideration to be given to the removal of Brexit from the Risk
Register given that most impacts are incorporated under other themes
and Risks.
• For Cabinet and the Project Zero Board to give regard as to whether
Project Zero should be attributed a risk impact status of catastrophic,
given the seriousness of meeting challenges associated with
implementation. The Council should also not shy away from attributing
a catastrophic status.
• For further consideration to be given to the impact on the capacity on
Looked After Children residential care placements and new legislation
from Welsh Government, particularly in relation to private sector
providers and market fragility.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.