Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors, H Boggis, J Edwards, E George, E Griffiths, G Hughes, J James (MS), R Lewis, M Powell, S M Powell, M Tegg and R Turner.

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.

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

Agenda Item 6- Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund 2020/21 Statement of Accounts and External Audit Report

Agenda Item 7 - Wales Pension Partnership (WPP) - Inter Authority Agreement

Ø  Councillor A Crimmings- ““I pay into the Local Authority Pension Scheme via my Council allowance and via Coleg y Cymoedd pension scheme”

Ø  Councillor A Roberts –““I am a member of the local authority pension scheme and so is my son who works for the Authority”

Ø  Councillor D Owen-Jones –““I am a member of the local authority pension scheme”

Ø  Councillor S Bradwick –““I am the chairman of South Wales Fire & Rescue Service Pension Board and RCT Council has a service level agreement with SWFRS to provide this service  for our firefighters pensions” 

Ø  Councillor S Bradwick-“I have a pension from RCT and I pay now into the pension scheme as an Elected Member “

Ø  Councillor L Jones – ““I am a member of the local authority pension scheme”

Ø  Councillor G Caple –““I am in receipt of a pension from the LGPS and I am also a Member of the Pension Fund Committee”

Ø  Councillor D R Bevan –“I have two family members, one in receipt of a council pension and one is a member of the Pension Scheme. I am a member of the local authority Pension Scheme”

Agenda item 11B – Notice of Motion

Ø  Councillor L M Adams – “Four members of my family are serving in the Armed Forces”

Ø  Councillor A S Fox (on behalf of ward member Councillor R Williams) announced that two groups in Penrhiwceiber have been awarded the High Sheriff of Glamorgan award, Lee Gardens Paddling Pool and St. Winifred’s Church. Both have been recognised for their community and outreach work and projects they have undertaken (especially during covid) which have made lives a little better for many families. Some of the projects include, tackling holiday hunger, tackling period poverty, supporting new mothers’ groups and holding weekly arts and crafts sessions for children. They have supported over 50 families each week with food essentials during covid which has been invaluable. Councillor Fox requested that a letter of congratulations is sent on behalf of the Mayor to the groups.

Ø  Councillor W Jones wished to congratulate Blaencwm Chapel on achieving a Green Flag from Keep Wales Tidy for their community garden. They also run a Foodbank from the Church and the ‘Pay as You Feel’ café where residents can pay as little as they like if they are struggling to afford food. Councillor Jones also wished to congratulate Councillor G Davies and his wife who run the café.

Ø  Councillor G R Davies announced that ‘Welcome to Our Woods’ weekly Woodland Therapy sessions have received the British, NHS Forest Award 2021 for Pioneering Use Of Green Spaces by Healthcare Professionals. Woodland Therapy was born 3yrs ago as part of the ‘Be Active RCT’ and the National Lottery Funded, ‘Create Your Space’ project. It’s gone from strength to strength and become sustainable with many participants now volunteers and welcoming in new people. The main component of the sessions is relaxation through mindfulness in nature. Councillor G R Davies asked if a letter can be sent from the Mayor to congratulate the group on its achievements.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 20^th October 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 20^th October 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

In accordance with Open Government Council Meeting Procedure Rule 2, to receive any statements from the Leader of the Council and/or statements from Cabinet Portfolio Holders:

The Leader of the Council advised that following a decision taken by Cabinet the Real Living Wage has been extended to adult independent sector social care providers to provide older people residential and nursing care, supported living, extra care and home care and personal assistants providing care and support through direct payments. He added that the Council has already taken steps to introduce the Real Living Wage for home care provided by the independent sector through the Council’s framework contract arrangements as well as to its own in-house staff.

With the Real Living Wage being implemented from the 1^st December 2021 no employee working within social care for RCT Council will earn less than £9.50 per hour which will increase to £9.90 per hour from the 1^st April 2022. The Leader confirmed that the Council is looking to bring that increased hourly rate forward and a further update will be reported to Cabinet and Council in the New Year to confirm the implementation date.

The Leader advised that discussions are ongoing with Welsh Government regarding

the Real Living Wage, to ensure a sustainable workforce for care and support at home

and in residential and nursing care. The introduction of the Real Living Wage across

this workforce will assist with the recruitment and retention challenges currently being

faced within the local authority as with many others across Wales.

Question from County Borough Councillor R. Williams to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, County Borough Councillor C Leyshon:

“Will the Cabinet Member please make a statement on this year’s Santa Appeal and outline what role Members can play in supporting the initiative?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A. Morgan:

Councillor C Leyshon advised that the Santa Appeal, organised by the Council, is a long-standing appeal that supports families who are known to Children’s services who are not looked after. Where the Council works specifically with one child in a family and there are other siblings in the household, they will also be supported. Councillor Leyshon added that the success of the Appeal is reliant on the generosity of the public, local businesses, as well as the Elected Members and Council staff.

Councillor Leyshon acknowledged that this year has been particularly challenging for families with the Universal Credit uplift ending along with increasing costs of energy and fuel. She thanked Members for their help to ensure that hundreds of children are able to have a gift on Christmas Day. Councillor Leyshon advised that Members can assist by promoting the appeal within their wards via their own social media accounts and to encourage local residents and businesses to become involved in the appeal by pledging to purchase a gift for a child or young person.

There was no supplementary question

Question from County Borough Councillor M Forey to the Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Housing, County Borough Councillor D R Bevan:

“How is the Council supporting our town centres to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, both in the immediate future and over the longer term?”

Response from County Borough Councillor D R Bevan:

Councillor D R Bevan announced that a range of initiatives and measures already introduced will continue and develop in the future such as the £460,000 of direct grant support to help businesses adapt to new trading conditions, such as outdoor spaces, with support from WG. More than 80 businesses have received this support, including smaller town centres such as Abercynon and Treherbert.

Councillor D R Bevan advised that the Council’s own Enterprise Investment Fund has been repurposed to make it more flexible and for businesses to be able to take advantage of the fund during the Covid recovery period.  A new £35m business grant support scheme for post Covid recovery launched across Wales yesterday and will be delivered by the Council. He added that work with the RCT BIDs and Chambers of Trade, including a ‘Shop Local’ marketing campaign, has allowed each of the key towns, Pontypridd, Treorchy and Aberdare to help market themselves.

Councillor Bevan explained that a healthy pipeline of projects for town centre properties is coming forward for development including initiatives to increase footfall and local spend in towns, taking advantage of new sources of funding such as the UK Levelling Up Fund. Councillor Bevan referred to the Porth Transport Hub which will allow greater access into the town using bus and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

The Service Director Democratic Services & Communications advised that the next Council meeting to be held on the 15^th December would be undertaken through a hybrid approach. He added that training will be available to all Members through an ‘open door session’ should they wish to drop in and attend the sessions in the Council Chamber. Two items will be considered at the next Full Council meeting:

Ø  The RCT draft Diversity Pledge

Ø  Two Annual Reports 2020/21 (Democratic Services Committee and Audit Committee)

To receive the report of the Director of Finance & Digital Services.

Mr M Jones, Audit Wales presented Members with the report on the Statement of Accounts for the Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund 2020-21 commenting that the full report and associated appendices are attached for Members’ information. Further, Mr Jones wished to acknowledge that there is little to report and no amendments to bring to Members’ attention, adding that is testimony to the efficiency of the Finance Service within RCT Council.

The Director of Finance & Digital Services advised that the accounts were duly prepared by early July 2021 and passed through the audit process, all financial statements are unaffected and the fund value of just under £4.5 billion. The Director assured Council in its role as the administering authority to the fund that robust governance arrangements are in place, including the Pension Fund Committee and RCT Pension Board.

Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to:

(a)  Approve and note the Statement of Accounts for the Rhondda Cynon Taf Pension Fund (Appendix 1), and associated Letter of Representation (Appendix 2); and

(b)  Note the outcome of the 12^th July 2021 Governance and Audit Committee meeting as required by the Local Government Measure (paragraph 8.2).

To receive the report of the Director of Finance & Digital Services.

In presenting his report, the Director of Finance & Digital Services set out the details

of proposed amendments to the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP) Inter Authority

Agreement (IAA). 

The Director advised that in 2017 Council agreed to the establishment of the Wales

Pension Partnership Investment Pooling Arrangements which was governed by an

Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) and decision making within in a Joint Governance

Committee (JGC). He added that all eight Pension Funds in Wales are part of this

collaboration which was in response to UK Government mandated pooling

requirements for pension fund investments. Since establishing the pension

partnership, 68% of the Wales Pension Fund aggregate investments have

transferred into the WPP sub funds to the value of £14.6 billion.

The Director explained that it is proposed that the inter authority agreement is now

Updated to allow further tranches of investment asset classes  and to enable a non

voting co-opted scheme member representative be appointed to the JGC, in addition

to other minor updates to reflect operational working arrangements.

Following consideration, it was RESOLVED to note and agree the proposed amendments as set out at paragraph 5 within the report and at Appendix 1.

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

In accordance with the requirements of both the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management the Director of Finance and Digital Services provided Members with information on the Council’s Treasury Management activity during the first six months of 2021/22 and Prudential and Treasury Indicators for the same period.

The Director advised that there has been an increase in the borrowing requirement this year albeit no long- term borrowing has been taken in the first half of the year. Capital charges are estimated to be on budget at the mid-year point. The Council remains under borrowed as compared to its underlying need to borrow or capital financing requirements by £150M and are well within the operational boundary and authorised limit. He reported that average cash balances for the first half of the year were just over £20M with a very low return on short term investments emphasising the current strategy of minimising cash balances and maintaining an under-borrowing position.

In conclusion, the Director of Finance and Digital Services advised that the Council has been compliant with all indicators and limits.

Following a discussion, it was RESOLVED to approve the content of the report.

To receive the report of the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications.

The Service Director presented his report to advise and seek Members’ approval in respect of the recommendations of the Freedom of the Borough Working Group, chaired by the Mayor which met on the 10^th May 2021 and 11^th October 2021.

The Service Director advised that the recommendations of the Freedom of the

Borough Working Group include awarding the accolade of Freedom of the

County Borough to Mr Neil Jenkins in recognition of his outstanding contribution to rugby and the National team and to key workers in recognition of their efforts during the pandemic. With regards to the second recommendation, the Service Director advised that the Working Group (comprising of the Mayor, Deputy Leader and Leaders of the Political Groups) propose that the honour is awarded by way of a free public event, subject to agreement by Full Council, the arrangements to progress in the Summer of 2022 and for the event to be as accessible as possible.

Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to support the recommendations of the Freedom of the Borough Working Group in awarding the accolade of Freedom of the County Borough to:

     1.          Neil Jenkins (before the end of the Municipal Year 2021/22)

      2.         Key Workers (the free and accessible event to be organised in the next  Municipal Year 2022/23)

To receive report of the Director of Public Health, Protection & Community Services.

The Director of Public Health, Protection & Community Services presented her report which outlined the revised Statement of Principles, under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 (i.e. the local policy statement for the management of gambling activity within the boundary of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council), for the period 2022 – 2025 in accordance with statutory requirements.

Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to:

1.     Approve the revisions to the policy, which had been considered and endorsed by both the Licensing Committee on 14th September 2021 and subsequently by Cabinet on 18^th October 2021; and

2.     Adopt the revised Statement of Principles in line with statutory requirements.

A.     To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of Councillor L Hooper, S Trask and J James: 

“The aspiration of home ownership is a natural instinct for many individuals and families across Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, and it is an aspiration this Council endeavours to support.  

For many individuals and families, the aspiration of owning their own home looks increasingly difficult to achieve due to rising house prices and a shortage of properties. One major contributor to this is the increasing tendency of housing developers to engage in a practice which is commonly referred to as ‘land-banking’, whereby the developer succeeds in securing planning permission but does not deliver upon the proposed development.  

This is an issue that affects the whole United Kingdom and in this County Borough alone could explain as many as 4,517 properties that were granted between 2012/13 and 2019/20 but have yet to be built.  

Though there are a multitude of factors that can explain why a successful housing application isn’t delivered upon, it is clear that a great many of these are as a result of the practice of ‘land-banking’.  

As well as preventing many of our residents in making the first step on to the housing ladder, it can also erode the trust of residents in the planning system when ‘brownfield’ sites are being ‘land-banked’ by developers - putting pressure on the Local Development Plan to propose new sites for housing allocations that may be less suitable for such development.  

Therefore, this Council resolves: 

-That the Leader of the Council writes to the Welsh Minister for Climate Change (whose portfolio includes housing) asking that Local Authorities in Wales are given the power to levy council tax charges on incomplete applications that have failed to materialise after an agreed timeframe set by the local authorities. 

 -To ask council officers to bring forward a report to Full Council in the New Year, setting out what actions can be taken in the short-term to reduce the impact of this harmful practice”.

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A.    To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of Councillors G. Davies, P Jarman, E, Webster, D. Grehan, E. Stephens, L. Jones, J. Williams, A. Cox, S. Evans, A. Chapman, S. Rees-Owen, M. Weaver, J. Davies, J. Cullwick, K. Morgan, H. Fychan and E. Griffiths.

“This Council expresses concern at the policy of the UK government to recruit 16-year-olds into the army. The UK government is the only country in NATO or Europe to do this.

This policy has adverse consequences for recruits of 16 and 17 years of age.   Evidence shows that: -

1)     They are twice as likely to be killed in active service than older recruits.

2)    They are more likely to suffer mental health problem such as PTSD, and depression.

3)    They are more likely to have alcohol and drug related addictions

4)    They are more likely to commit suicide.

5)    28% fail to complete the basic training.

The policy has  ...  view the full agenda text for item 93.

11A   The following Notice of Motion was received standing in the names of Councillors L Hooper, S Trask and J James: 

“The aspiration of home ownership is a natural instinct for many individuals and families across Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, and it is an aspiration this Council endeavours to support.  

For many individuals and families, the aspiration of owning their own home looks increasingly difficult to achieve due to rising house prices and a shortage of properties. One major contributor to this is the increasing tendency of housing developers to engage in a practice which is commonly referred to as ‘land-banking’, whereby the developer succeeds in securing planning permission but does not deliver upon the proposed development.  

This is an issue that affects the whole United Kingdom and in this County Borough alone could explain as many as 4,517 properties that were granted between 2012/13 and 2019/20 but have yet to be built.  

Though there are a multitude of factors that can explain why a successful housing application isn’t delivered upon, it is clear that a great many of these are as a result of the practice of ‘land-banking’.  

As well as preventing many of our residents in making the first step on to the housing ladder, it can also erode the trust of residents in the planning system when ‘brownfield’ sites are being ‘land-banked’ by developers - putting pressure on the Local Development Plan to propose new sites for housing allocations that may be less suitable for such development.  

Therefore, this Council resolves: 

-That the Leader of the Council writes to the Welsh Minister for Climate Change (whose portfolio includes housing) asking that Local Authorities in Wales are given the power to levy council tax charges on incomplete applications that have failed to materialise after an agreed timeframe set by the local authorities. 

 -To ask council officers to bring forward a report to Full Council in the New Year, setting out what actions can be taken in the short-term to reduce the impact of this harmful practice”.

Following consideration, it was RESOLVED not to adopt the Notice of Motion.

(Note: The following Members of the Conservative Group County Borough Councillors L Hooper and S Trask as well as the Independent Member County Borough Councillor S Belzak wished to have it recorded as voting in favour of the Notice of Motion).

11B   The following Notice of Motion was received standing in the names of Councillors

G. Davies, P Jarman, E, Webster, D. Grehan, E. Stephens, L. Jones, J. Williams, A. Cox, S. Evans, A. Chapman, S. Rees-Owen, M. Weaver, J. Davies, J. Cullwick, K. Morgan, H. Fychan and E. Griffiths.

“This Council expresses concern at the policy of the UK government to recruit 16-year-olds into the army. The UK government is the only country in NATO or Europe to do this.

This policy has adverse consequences for recruits of 16 and 17 years of age.   Evidence shows that: -

1)     They are twice as likely to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.