Loading
There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.
Councillors: Rose Seabourne (Chair) Stuart Ashley Ron Burnett Nick Byrne Richard Clark (Deputy Leader) Lynda Clarkson Fiona Cross David Daniels Steven Evans Joanne Gauden Karl Gauden Elizabeth Haynes (left at 10.40 during Agenda Item 14) Jonathan Hollins Jon Horlor Nick Horler Anthony Hunt (Leader) Gaynor James Jon James Janet Jones Mark Jones (left at 12.06 during Agenda Item 21) Peter Jones Stuart Keyte Rosemary Matthews Susan Morgan Amanda Owen Norma Parrish Alan Slade Colette Thomas David Thomas (left at 12:20 during Agenda Item 21I) Jayne Watkins David Williams Lucy Williams Officers: Rachel Beale, PA to the Leader & Deputy Leader Niall Flack, Trainee Democratic & Member Services Officer Robert Green, Head of Financial Services Delyth Harries, Monitoring Officer Hayley Hawkins, Solicitor Catherine Joseph, Senior Corporate Improvement & Scrutiny Officer Dave Leech, Deputy Chief Executive & Strategic Director, Adults and Communities Andrew Lovegrove, Strategic Director Resources Paul Mckim, Interim Head of Economy & Place Daniel Morelli, Joint Assistant Director Public Protection & Environment Robert Murray, Principal Planner Dr Andrew Powles, Director of Education Dominique Redman, Team Leader Democratic and Member Services Andy Rothwell, Head of Learning & Achievement Duncan Smith, Planning Consultant Jason O’Brien, Strategic Director, Children and Family Services Stephen Vickers, Chief Executive Adrian Wilcock, Team Leader Planning, Policy & Implementation Claire Williams, Head of ALN Inclusion & Wellbeing Others: Mrs Kathryn Pegington, Chair of Governance & Audit Committee X3 Torfaen Canal Volunteering Group X3 Blaenavon Community Museum X1 Member of the press & public
2.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Catherine Bonera, Liam Cowles, Giles Davies, Caroline Price, Nicholas Simons, Chris Tew and Nathan Yeowell.
3.1 The Monitoring Officer advised that, due to the general nature of the reports, particularly those relating to Education Services which referenced a number of schools, Members were not required to declare an interest at the start of the meeting. However, if during discussion a Member wished to ask a question or participate in a debate regarding a specific school, they should consider declaring an interest at that point. There were no declarations of interest.
4.1 Council confirmed the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26 May 2026 as an accurate record of the meeting, subject to the typing error being amended in the Welsh version of the meetings to accurately reflect the time that Councillor Alfie Best joined the meeting.
5.1 Council confirmed the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26 May 2026 as an accurate record.
6.1 Council confirmed the minutes of the Council meeting held on 9 June 2026 as an accurate record.
7.1 Council noted the action sheet.
8.1 Councillor Nick Byrne presented a petition on behalf of Torfaen Resident, Ellis Davies, in relation to a Pump Track in Pontypool Park, as follows: ‘We, the undersigned, petition Torfaen County Borough Council to halt current plans to rebuild the skatepark at Pontypool Park and instead reallocate those funds to construct a modern, all-wheeled, tarmac pump track at a separate, dedicated site within the park.’ 8.2 Council referred the petition to the Executive Member Environment, for her to consider, respond and report back in due course.
9.1 There were no public questions.
10.1 The Leader: • Expressed condolences on the passing of former Two Locks Councillor Stuart Cameron, acknowledging his service as both an officer and councillor, and extended sympathies to his family and friends. • Extended condolences following the death of Chris Preston, husband of former Councillor Kelly Preston, who passed away after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. • Expressed sorrow at the passing of Ann Widdecombe and, noting that investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death were ongoing, extended best wishes and condolences to her friends and family. • Asked Council to observe a minute's silence in memory of those who had recently passed away. • Thanked all emergency service personnel and crews involved in tackling the wildfire above the valley and expressed support for those affected. • Welcomed the opening of the new 3G pitch at Cwmbran High School, highlighting that the facility had been delivered following representations made by the school's council pupils and would benefit both the school and the wider community. • Recognised the success of a number of recent community events, including Party in the Park, Cwmbran Big Event, Relay for Life, Pontnewydd Park Fun Day, the Mic Morris 10K and Crowfest. Thanks were extended to community councils, community groups and volunteers for their contribution to organising the events and strengthening local communities. • Congratulated Theodora Taylor, Meghan Willis and Dylan Broom of Torfaen Dolphins on their selection to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games and wished them every success. • Presented a Civic Award to the Torfaen Canal Volunteer Group in recognition of its 20th anniversary, acknowledging its significant achievements and valuable contribution over many years. • Welcomed Councillor Janet Jones, Richard Roynon, Laura Jones and Cyril Turner, representing Blaenavon Community Museum, who presented an updated Roll of Honour commemorating Blaenavon servicemen who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, including individuals not recorded in the original publication. 10.2 The Chief Executive informed council that Roger Allonby had been appointed as Joint Director Economy & Place, and he looked forward to Roger commencing his role in September.
11.1 Mrs Kathryn Pegington, Chair of Governance & Audit Committee presented the report which outlined the work of the Governance and Audit Committee for the 2025-26 municipal year. It was noted that the Committee met four times during the year, reviewed internal and external audit reports and monitored progress on recommendations. Members were advised that outstanding Statement of Accounts audit reports would be considered later in the year. The Committee also reviewed the Council's response to the Panel Performance Assessment, which confirmed that the Council was generally meeting its performance duties and identified five recommendations for improvement. Ms Peggington thanked officers and Democratic Services for their support, and the report was noted. 11.2 A question was raised regarding the delay in receiving the audit outcome for the 2024/25 Statement of Accounts, as referenced in paragraph 4.8 of the report. In response, it was explained that Audit Wales had raised a technical query relating to the historic treatment and valuation of assets within the Council's accounts. Officers are currently working with Audit Wales to provide additional information and evidence to address the issue, and the audit will continue once this process is complete. 11.3 The Executive Member, Corporate Governance & Resources welcomed the annual report and emphasised the importance of the Governance and Audit Committee's work, noting that its contribution often goes unnoticed. It was highlighted that presenting the report to Full Council each year helps raise awareness of the Committee's role. Particular appreciation was expressed for the commitment and hard work of the three lay members, whose independent perspective was recognised as a valuable part of the Committee's effectiveness. 11.4 Council unanimously agreed to note the work of the Governance and Audit Committee for the 2025-26 municipal year.
12.1 The Head of Financial Services outlined the report which detailed the activities of the treasury management function during 2025/26 and which fulfilled the requirements of the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities. In summary, he advised members that: • The Council's overall debt had reduced during the year, primarily due to lower levels of temporary borrowing, and that all borrowing remained on fixed interest rates, limiting exposure to interest rate fluctuations. • The Council continued to utilise internal borrowing to fund capital expenditure where appropriate, resulting in an under-borrowed position of approximately £8 million. • Borrowing from other local authorities had been used as a cost-effective alternative to long-term external borrowing, while £10 million had been invested with local authorities to maximise returns and maintain MIFID II status. • Investment performance remained positive, achieving a weighted average return of 4.6%, exceeding the relevant industry benchmark. • All prudential and treasury management indicators had been complied with during the year, with no breaches of the authorised limit or operational boundary for external debt. • Overall, the report concluded that treasury management activities had successfully managed cash flow requirements, maintained compliance with approved strategies and minimised borrowing costs during a period of higher interest rates. 12.2 The Leader thanked officers for their work in managing the Council's treasury activities and ensuring that Council funds were used effectively to maximise returns and minimise the burden on taxpayers. It was noted that prudent borrowing and investment decisions were essential in supporting the Council's significant revenue and capital budgets. Reference was made to the positive outcomes highlighted in the report, particularly the success in making surplus funds work efficiently while maintaining sound financial management. 12.3 Clarification was sought regarding the £3.74 million capital programme slippage into 2026/27, whether there was confidence that the funding would be utilised and whether further detail could be provided on its intended use. In response, it was explained that the slippage largely related to ongoing capital schemes and, as such, the expectation was that the funding would be spent during the current financial year or over the lifetime of multi-year projects. Examples included 3G pitch developments and the Asset Management Programme, with no immediate concerns identified regarding delivery. It was further noted that where schemes were supported by external grant funding, the main risk related to time limitations, however, proactive engagement with grant-awarding bodies helped manage any potential delays, and no significant issues had been encountered. 12.4 Council unanimously agreed to note: (i) The Treasury Management borrowing activity for 2025/26 in paragraph 3.1 of the report. (ii) The Treasury Management investment activity for 2025/26 in paragraph 3.2 of the report. (iii) The review of the Treasury Prudential Indicators in paragraph 3.3 of the report. (iv) The Capital Programme in paragraph 3.4 of the report.
13.1 The Head of Financial Services presented a revised five-year Capital Programme and sought Council approval for the addition of new schemes totalling £1.506 million to the programme. In summary, he commented as follows: • A reprofiling exercise had been undertaken on a number of multi-year schemes to ensure the programme more accurately reflected anticipated expenditure over the next five years. • Welsh Government had awarded the council additional General Capital Grant funding of just over £1.5 million during 2025/26, which was the principal reason for bringing the report to Council. • The proposed allocation of the additional grant funding was outlined, with investment targeted towards a range of priorities within the Neighbourhood and Environment Service area and aligned, where possible, with the Council's strategic objectives. • The reprofiling exercise had not changed the overall level of unallocated capital resources but had adjusted the years in which they were expected to be utilised. • Following the proposed allocations, the capital contingency for 2026/27 would reduce to approximately £240,000. This was considered sufficient to manage routine cost pressures, with flexibility available to reallocate resources across financial years if required. • Unallocated capital resources of just over £13 million remained available beyond 2026/27, providing capacity to respond to future priorities and emerging pressures. • The importance of securing external grant funding was highlighted as a means of supporting investment, reducing reliance on Council resources and limiting the need for external borrowing. • A revised Capital Programme summary was provided, reflecting the current updated position. 13.2 The Leader welcomed the report and highlighted the proposed allocation of the additional £1.5 million Welsh Government capital funding, noting that it reflected priorities shared by both the Council and local communities. Particular support was expressed for investment in areas such as road repairs, street cleansing, play area improvements, canal enhancements and cemetery provision. The Leader also reminded Members that unallocated capital resources should not be viewed as surplus funding, as the demand for investment across the Council continued to exceed the resources available. It was noted that future decisions regarding the allocation of these funds would involve challenging choices as the number of competing priorities remained greater than the funding available. 13.3 The proposed investment was welcomed, particularly the allocation towards cemetery improvements, and suggested that future scrutiny work should consider the impact of the additional funding provided through the capital programme. It was noted that monitoring the outcomes of investment in equipment and other priority areas would help Members assess the benefits and effectiveness of the additional resources. 13.4 Council unanimously agreed to approve the revised Capital Programme.
14.1 The Executive Member, Corporate Governance & Resources introduced the report, outlining the Council’s County Plan Delivery Plan End of Year Performance Update for 2025/26 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report) and outlined progress made delivering the Council’s commitments during the 2025/26 financial year. In summary, he commented as follows: • The report marked the completion of Year 4 of the Council’s five-year Delivery Plan, with progress continuing to be reported to Council twice yearly. • Overall progress was reported as excellent, with: - 61.3% of milestones completed or on target. - 21.4% experiencing some difficulties but with a clear route to recovery. - 8.8% identified as having more significant concerns. - One activity was discontinued during the year. • Key achievements highlighted included: - Completion of a £17 million new primary school, including a Flying Start and childcare facility, which has received positive feedback from Estyn. - Completion of a new 3G sports pitch at Llantarnam, including floodlighting, changing facilities, spectator stands and parking. - Introduction of a new sports facility booking system for residents and clubs. - Continued reduction in the number of looked after children, reflecting improved support and outcomes for children and families. - Delivery of nearly 400 play and respite sessions through the Torfaen Play Service. - More than 50% of new homes built during the year were affordable housing. - Successful environmental initiatives delivered through partnership working, including anti-litter and fly-tipping campaigns, community clean-up events and engagement with schools, sports clubs and local groups. • Areas rated amber or red continued to be closely monitored through the Council’s Executive Team and Policy Development Forum. • Amber and red ratings did not mean objectives will not be achieved, but that delivery may take longer than originally anticipated due to the challenging nature of the targets. 14.2 Councillor Sue Morgan, Executive Member Waste & Sustainability noted the strong performance against Objective 5, with no actions rated Amber or Red, reflecting successful delivery across the Council. Appreciation was expressed to staff for their contribution to this cross-cutting priority. While recognising the positive progress made locally and nationally, concern was also raised regarding the increasing pace and impact of climate change. She informed members that elected representatives from across Torfaen would be invited to attend a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing in September, aimed at raising awareness of climate and nature challenges and the collective actions required to address them. Support was also expressed for wider community screenings and calls for a national televised emergency briefing. 14.3 Councillor David Daniels, Executive Member Adult Services & Housing, expressed concern that the number of Public Protection Notices (PPNs) remained high across Gwent despite ongoing engagement with Gwent Police. He welcomed the decision by the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee to prioritise the issue through a joint scrutiny session involving local authorities and Gwent Police, with the aim of addressing the causes of inappropriate referrals and the impact on officer resources. 14.4 Further discussion ensued and in summary, the following points were noted: • Members felt that the report provided a comprehensive overview of performance. Concerns were highlighted in relation to housing support actions under Objective 3 (Tackling Inequality). It was noted that delivery in some areas was dependent on partner organisations and cautioned against attributing all delays solely to the Council. • The inclusion of public protection notices as a scrutiny priority was welcomed, and it was suggested that Customer Focused Services (Objective 9), where several actions remained Amber, should continue to be an area of focus for improvement. • Clarification was sought regarding the withdrawal of an objective to support 40 young people into entrepreneurial activities. Members were advised that the objective would be reintroduced in a revised format and incorporated within broader youth initiatives, including apprenticeship programmes. • The absence of data relating to NEETs was queried. Officers advised that the data was collected and published annually as a snapshot on 31 October, after which it would be verified and reported to Council at a later date. • With regards to any plans around improvements to reporting, officers advised that they were committed to continuous improvement and welcomed suggestions from Members and scrutiny. It was further noted that future reports would more clearly reflect activity and outcomes arising from The Deal, highlighting partnership working with communities, residents and stakeholders in delivering the County Plan and Marmot Council objectives. 14.5 Council unanimously agreed to note the progress made delivering the County Plan Delivery Plan 2025-26.
15.1 Dr Andrew Powles, Director of Education outlined the report which updated Council on the work of the education service which complemented scrutiny reports that had been provided over the last year. In summary, he commented as follows: • There had been good progress against the Education Improvement Plan, with strong performance across most objectives. • Key achievements included: - Improved school cluster working and leadership capacity, particularly within ALN services. - Strong financial management in schools, with a £5 million overall surplus and high school balances. - Continued improvements in school attendance, although levels remained below pre-pandemic figures. - Significant investment in school buildings, digital infrastructure and facilities. • Priority areas for further improvement included: - Managing growing demand for Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision. - Addressing rising NEET levels. - Planning for future specialist provision requirements. • A recent Estyn local authority visit provided positive feedback on attendance and ALN arrangements, with only minor recommendations for improvement. • School inspection outcomes were positive, with: - No schools requiring Estyn follow-up action since September 2025. - The Pupil Referral Unit being removed from a significant improvement category. - Schools receiving positive recognition for effective and inclusive practice. • There was ongoing work in relation to: - Safeguarding. - Capital investment and free school meals. - Energy efficiency projects in schools. - Increased investment in ALN support and specialist provision. • There was concerns around the increase in elective home education, with over 500 learners being educated at home, and officers confirmed that monitoring and support arrangements remained in place. • Coleg Gwent had been placed in an Estyn follow-up category and support was being provided to assist improvement. • Local authority governor vacancies were at their lowest level for many years, although parent and community governor vacancies remained. 15.2 Councillor Richard Clark, Executive Member, Children, Families & Education, highlighted the significant improvements made by the education service since its time in Estyn special measures, stressing that the focus had been on achieving continuous and sustainable improvement rather than a one-off inspection outcome. He stated that the service now had a strong understanding of its strengths and areas for development, with schools and partners playing a key role in driving improvement. He further stated that the authority's progress had been recognised externally, with other local authorities seeking its advice, examples of good practice identified by Estyn, and the PRU supporting other school leaders. While acknowledging that further work remained, he emphasised that continuous improvement was now embedded within the service. He thanked the education leadership team, staff, schools, partners and the Scrutiny Committee for their contribution to the transformational changes and commended the report to Council. 15.3 The Leader thanked the Cabinet Member, scrutiny, leadership and officers for their strong leadership in transforming the education service over the past five years. He highlighted the significant progress that had been achieved and the positive impact this had had for young people across the borough. He also thanked all councillors for consistently supporting education as the council’s top priority in budget decisions. While recognising that funding alone did not drive school improvement, he stated that the Council’s commitment to increasing school funding while keeping council tax low had been an important factor in the service’s improvement journey. 15.4 Discussion ensued, and the following points were noted: • Members welcomed the report and recognised the significant progress made within the education service, while noting the importance of maintaining a focus on continuous improvement, particularly in relation to Additional Learning Needs (ALN). • Questions were raised regarding staff wellbeing and professional development, including how leadership capacity within schools would continue to be developed. It was reported that schools were actively involved in improvement planning through a range of partnership forums and working groups, and that professional learning programmes were tailored to meet identified school needs. The need to improve governor engagement in professional learning was also acknowledged. • Members discussed increasing demand for ALN provision and sought assurance regarding future funding and the ability to meet learners' needs. Officers advised that work was underway to develop forecasting models to better predict future demand, identify gaps in provision and support strategic planning. Schools were also helping to shape professional learning programmes through regular engagement and feedback. • Concerns were raised about out-of-county placements. It was explained that these placements were often linked to areas where local provision was limited and that forecasting work would help identify opportunities to expand in-county provision and reduce reliance on external placements. • Elective Home Education (EHE) was discussed, with members highlighting the importance of supporting families and placing the child at the centre of decision-making. Officers reported that a new post had been created to support both EHE and ALN and that a multi-agency working group had been established to coordinate support for home-educated learners and their families. • Members highlighted the importance of timely identification and support for learners with additional needs, including dyslexia, autism and ADHD. Officers outlined ongoing investment in professional learning, including specialist training and sustainable "train the trainer" approaches to strengthen expertise within schools. • Concerns were also expressed regarding post-16 education provision and the number of learners accessing provision outside the county. • The discussion emphasised the importance of partnership working between the Council, schools, governors and officers, and members thanked officers and education staff for their professionalism, transparency and continued commitment to improving outcomes for learners. • The additional funding provided by the Council for ALN services was welcomed, and the importance of continued investment in supporting vulnerable learners was highlighted. • Members also welcomed the successful re-establishment of the Torfaen Association of School Governors, recognising its value in supporting governors, sharing good practice and informing service improvement. The reduction in governor vacancies was noted, alongside encouragement for further recruitment to governing bodies. 15.3 Council unanimously agreed to accept the report as an update of the progress made within education services.
16.1 The Team Leader, Planning, Policy & Implementation outlined the report which presented the Collaboration Agreement that will underpin and govern the formal arrangements that need to be agreed by the Councils in order to prepare and seek the adoption of a Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP). 16.2 Council unanimously agreed, that, subject to Blaenau Gwent Coucil formally confirming their decision to enter the Collaboration Agreement, to prepare a Joint Blaenau Gwent/Torfaen Local Development Plan, to:- 1. Approve the terms of reference (including the composition) of the Joint Planning Policy Panel as set out in Appendix 1. 2. Approve the appointment of seven Members of the Council to serve on the Joint Planning Policy Panel, namely Cllrs Stuart Ashley, Lynda Clarkson, Steven Evans, David Williams, Elizabeth Haynes, Janet Jones, Alan Slade. 3. Authorise the Monitoring Officer to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to reflect the establishment of the Joint Planning Policy Panel. 4. Authorise the Joint Chief Planning Officer and Chief Legal Officer to agree and conclude all necessary agreements relating to the collaboration between the Councils to deliver the Joint Local Development Plan.
17.1 The Principal Planner outlined the report seeking Council approval to undertake a 6 week public consultation on the Draft Delivery Agreement (DA) for preparing the Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) (2026-2041), attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 17.2 Council unanimously agreed to: 1. approve the draft Blaenau Gwent & Torfaen Joint Local Development Plan Delivery Agreement (2026-2041) attached at Appendix 1 to the report for formal public consultation for 6 weeks; 2. note that Officers will present a further report including all comments received as part of the consultation along with a revised final Delivery Agreement for consideration by both Councils before submission to the Welsh Government for agreement and publication thereafter (estimated December 2026); and 3. agree to delegate to the Torfaen Team Leader - Planning Policy & Implementation, any final minor amendments / corrections to the draft Joint Local Development Plan Delivery Agreement (2026-2041) prior to formal public consultation.
18.1 The Monitoring Officer outlined the report seeking Council approval to adopt a Joint Scrutiny Protocol for undertaking joint scrutiny across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent federated councils and to make the necessary changes to the constitution to enable scrutiny committees to convene. 18.2 Council unanimously agreed, subject to approval by Blaenau Gwent Council, to: - Adopt the Joint Scrutiny Protocol (attached as Appendix 1 to the report), and - Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer (in consultation with the Members Constitution Working Party) to make the necessary changes to the Council’s Constitution.
19.1 The Monitoring Officer outlined the report informing members of revisions to the political balance of the Council as a result of changes listed in the body of the report, and sought agreement to the updated political balance until AGM in May 2027 or until further changes are required. 19.2 Councillor David Thomas proposed an amendment to replace Councillor Alan Slade with Councillor Jonathan Hollins on Adults and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee. 19.3 Council unanimously agreed/agreed with the majority voting in favour to: - the change in political balance and to adopt the political balance calculations attached at Appendix A to the report. - appoint members to serve on the committees affected by the changes as shown in Appendix B to the report and to agree the change proposed by Cllr Thomas .
Before proposing the following motion, Cllr Stuart Keyte acknowledged the work already undertaken by the Council, officers and staff to address fly-tipping across the borough. He emphasised that the motion was not intended as criticism of existing efforts, but as an opportunity to refocus, review and strengthen the Council’s commitment to tackling fly-tipping. He highlighted fly-tipping as a significant issue affecting communities throughout Torfaen and expressed the hope that the motion would be supported in the spirit in which it was presented. Cllr Stuart Keyte proposed the following motion: ‘This Council notes: 1. That fly-tipping continues to blight communities across Torfaen, damaging the environment, attracting vermin, creating public health risks and imposing significant financial costs on local taxpayers through clean-up and enforcement. 2. That residents consistently identify fly-tipping as one of their principal environmental concerns and are increasingly frustrated by repeat offending and the perceived lack of effective enforcement. 3. That communities including Trevethin have experienced persistent and well documented incidents of fly-tipping and environmental crime. 4. That a number of Welsh local authorities, including Caerphilly County Borough Council, have successfully utilised fixed CCTV, mobile CCTV and covert trail cameras at known hotspots to identify offenders, secure prosecutions and deter future offending. 5. That the Welsh Government has supported measures to strengthen local authority enforcement against fly-tipping, including the use of surveillance technology where appropriate. 6. That tackling fly-tipping requires a balanced approach combining robust enforcement, effective surveillance, accessible waste disposal facilities and public education. This Council therefore resolves to: 1. Request that the Executive Member and relevant officers undertake an urgent review of the Council's current fly-tipping strategy and enforcement arrangements. 2. Produce a borough-wide assessment identifying persistent fly-tipping hotspots and evaluate each location for the suitability of fixed CCTV, mobile CCTV or covert trail cameras. 3. Investigate and pursue all available Welsh Government grants, funding opportunities and partnership initiatives to support enhanced enforcement activity 4. Prioritise the deployment of CCTV and/or covert trail cameras at the highest risk locations, including recognised hotspots such as Trevethin, where operationally appropriate and legally compliant. 5. Report back to Full Council within six months detailing: • Current fly-tipping statistics and trends. • The annual financial cost of removing fly-tipped waste. • The number of investigations undertaken. • The number of Fixed Penalty Notices issued. • The number of successful prosecutions over the previous three years. • The effectiveness of current enforcement measures. • Recommendations for strengthening enforcement and reducing repeat offending. 6. Review whether improvements can be made to household waste collection arrangements, Household Waste Recycling Centre accessibility and public information to make lawful waste disposal easier and reduce incentives for illegal dumping. 7. Launch a borough-wide public awareness campaign highlighting the penalties for fly-tipping, encouraging residents to report offenders and promoting responsible waste disposal’. The motion was seconded. The motion was debated with members supporting the intention of the motion and recognising fly-tipping as a significant issue affecting communities across the borough. Reference was made to the proactive work already undertaken by the Council, including the use of surveillance measures and enforcement activity to identify offenders. It was noted that a considerable proportion of fly-tipping occurred on private land, where responsibility for clearing waste rested with the landowner. As a result, members highlighted the importance of improving communication and engagement with landowners to support the timely removal of waste. Members also drew attention to fly-tipping issues associated with housing association land and the challenges this could create for local communities. The potential value of a member seminar on fly-tipping was also highlighted to provide an update on current arrangements, responsibilities and available enforcement powers. Councillor Amanda Owen thanked Councillor Stuart Keyte for highlighting the issue of fly-tipping and acknowledged its significant impact on local communities. She also recognised the hard work already undertaken by Council officers and enforcement teams, and emphasised the importance of enforcement, regulation, education, partnership working and community engagement in tackling environmental crime. She noted that many of the actions proposed within the motion were already being delivered through the Council’s existing Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy (2021-2026). Examples cited included the ongoing review of the current strategy, the monitoring of fly-tipping hotspots, the use of surveillance cameras, partnership working with organisations such as Welsh Government and Keep Wales Tidy, the collection and monitoring of enforcement data, the provision of accessible waste and recycling services, and public awareness campaigns highlighting successful enforcement action. Therefore, Councillor Owen proposed the following amendment: Under ‘This Council therefore resolves to’ replace points 1-7 with the following: 1. Continue to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing litter & fly tipping strategy. 2. Develop the updated strategy for 2027 - 2031, that will reflect the current challenges, emerging opportunities, technological developments and best practice from across Wales and the wider UK. 3. Consult with Elected Members, partner organisations and the wider public on the proposed revised strategy. 4. Ensure implementation and delivery of the revised strategy is subject to ongoing scrutiny and challenge through the Economy & Environment overview and scrutiny committee. The amendment was seconded. Councillor Keyte accepted the proposed amendment. Council unanimously agreed to the amendment and the amendment was carried. Council unanimously agreed the substantive motion as proposed by Cllr Owen .
21.1 Member questions with replies are set out in Appendix A to these minutes.
15.1 Council unanimously agreed to note the Cabinet Decisions.
16.1 The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 10.00am.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.