• Agenda and minutes
  • Agenda and minutes

    Venue: Virtual

    Contact: Julia Nicholls -  (07385 086814)

    Media

    Items
    No. Item

    15.

    Apologies

    Minutes:

    An apology of absence was received from County Borough Councillors S Belzak, A Davies-Jones, M Fidler Jones, K L Jones, J James, M Griffiths, S Pickering, S Rees-Owen, M Tegg, R K Turner, J Williams and C Willis.

    16.

    Welcome to New Members

    Minutes:

    The Presiding Member extended a welcome to the two new Members of the Council County Borough Councillors S Trask and R Williams.

    17.

    Declaration of Interest

    To receive disclosures of personal interests from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

     

    1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest;and

    2.     Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when theyleave.

    Minutes:

    In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declarations of interest were made pertaining to the agenda:

     

    Agenda Item 2

    Financing of the 21st Century Schools Capital Programme Using Prudential Borrowing

     

    Ø  County Borough Councillor P Jarman referred to her dispensation granted by the Standards Committee on 29th November 2019 providing the member “dispensation to speak and vote on all matters for the duration and adoption of the 2021-22 Budget process in her capacity as Leader of the Opposition”

     

    Ø  County Borough Councillor R. Williams – “My daughter attends YG Rhydywaun School”

     

     

    18.

    Council Procedure Rule 15.1

    Minutes:

    The Deputy Leader moved the suspension of Council Procedure Rule 15.1 which states that a matter would be decided by a simple majority of those Members voting and present in the room at the time the question was put in order to facilitate the smooth running of the virtual meeting.

     

    Following consideration of the matter it was RESOLVED to suspend Council Procedure Rule 15.1

     

     

    The Service Director Democratic Services & Communications provided the numbers in attendance for each of the Political Groups as follows:-

     

    Labour Group– 38 members

    Plaid Cymru Group – 14 members

    Conservative Group – 2 member

    RCT Independent Group – 4 members

     

    19.

    Financing of the 21st Century Schools Capital Programme Using Prudential Borrowing pdf icon PDF 130 KB

    To consider the report of the Director of Finance & Digital services.

     

    Minutes:

    The Director of Finance & Digital Services presented his report which sought Council’s approval for a capital investment of £12.135M to increase the capacity and improve the educational facilities at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun. The report also sought agreement to finance the project through the Welsh Government’s (WG) 21st Century Schools Band B grant, and to fund the Council’s contribution from Council borrowing using its powers under the Prudential Code.

     

    Following discussion, it was RESOLVED:

     

    1.     To agree to the inclusion in the capital programme of a new teaching block at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun at a total cost of £12.135M.

     

    2.     To agree that the net capital cost to the Council of£4.247M is funded through borrowing, using the Council’s powers under the Prudential Code, with the annual revenue cost of £0.159Mbeing met from savings from previous school reorganisations.

     

    (Note: The Conservative Group abstained from voting on the matter)

     

    20.

    WAIVER OF SIX MONTH COUNCILLOR ATTENDANCE RULE pdf icon PDF 103 KB

    To receive the joint report of the Director of Legal Services and Service Director of Democratic Services & Communication.

     

    Minutes:

    Through his joint report with the Director of Legal Services, the Service Director Democratic Services & Communication requested that Council consider granting permission for absence from all Council and Committee meetings to Councillor Clayton Willis due to his current ill health. The permission for absence, in accordance with section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, would be for a period of up to six months ending on the 26th November 2021 or until Councillor Willis resumes attendance,

     

    The Service Director advised that communication has been maintained with Councillor Willis’s family and with his Group Leader, following which it has been deemed appropriate to seek the permission of council for the six-month rule.

     

    Following discussion and a request that Council’s best wishes are sent to Councillor

    Willis’s family, it was RESOLVED that permission for absence from all Council

    and Committee meetings be granted to Councillor Clayton Willis due to his

    current ill-health for a period of up to six months ending on 26th November 2021, or

    until he resumes attendance if that is sooner, in accordance with section 85 of the

    Local Government Act 1972.

     

    (Note: the RCT Independent Group wished to abstain from voting on the matter but wished to extend their best wishes to Councillor C Willis and his family).

    21.

    Diversity in Democracy pdf icon PDF 124 KB

    To receive the report of the Service Director, Democratic Services & Communication.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    In his report, the Service Director Democratic Services & Communication presented

    the WLGA Council ‘Diversity in Democracy’ report which outlines the work undertaken

    by the WLGA Cross Party Working Group on Diversity in Local Democracy. The

    Service Director advised that the proposals are supported by all WLGA Group Leaders which seek the support of all councils within Wales to endorse the principles within the declaration which are aimed at increasing participation and widening the diversity of candidates for the 2022 Elections.

    The Service Director also advised of the work undertaken by the Diversity Working

    Group of the Council’s Democratic Services Committee and the interim report which

    Committee had recently adopted. The report sets out the actions the Democratic

    Services will progress next year to support the diversity of candidates and of the

    provision required, through political groups, to realise the ambitions within the

    interim report and the WLGA declaration.

     

    The Service Director extended his thanks to Ms Emma Wilkins for producing the detailed interim report.

     

    In conclusion, the Service Director advised that if Council supports the WLGA declaration to become a ‘Diverse Council’ this evening, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council would be the first Council to do so.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Council Business and the Council’s Equalities & Diversity Champion praised the report and work of the WLGA led by Co-Chair - Cllr Mary Sherwood, WLGA spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty, City and County of Swansea and Co-Chair - Cllr Susan Elsmore, WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-poverty, Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health and Well-being, Cardiff Council. The Cabinet Member also thanked members of the Democratic Services Committee for their contributions to the interim report and to the diversity agenda which resonates with the work the council has been looking to achieve for a number of years.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Council Business welcomed and acknowledged the importance of supporting the WLGA diversity declaration and the recommendations of the Democratic Services Committee which would promote diversity within the council.

     

    Through her discussions particularly around the data set within the interim report of the Democratic Services Working Group, the Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group commented on the missed opportunity to recently appoint a female Chair to the Democratic Services Committee and a female Chair of the Democratic Services Working Group the need for the Council to improve its ratio of female to male Committee Chairs. The Opposition Leader wished to formally correct the name of Councillor E Stephens within the report.

     

    Through further discussion, the Council’s positive approach to the promotion of the Welsh language was acknowledged. Further comment on the importance of all Members being treated equally regardless of their age, gender and background was made and the importance of committing to and measuring the outcomes to arise from the recommendations within the Diversity report.

     

    The Chair of the Diversity Working Groupwas pleased to present the interim report and support the diversity declaration to be taken forward by the Council. The Chair commented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.