Agenda and minutes

Introductions were made by the Group Leaders present:-

County Borough Councillor A Morgan (Labour Group)

County Borough Councillor P Jarman (Plaid Cymru Group)

County Borough Councillor M Powell (RCT Independent Group)

County Borough Councillor J James (Conservative Group)

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 made pertaining to the agenda:

Agenda item 8 - Council Tax Reduction Scheme

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 E Stephens – “I work for the Department of Work and Pensions which is referred to within the report”

As a mark of respect for all those who had lost their lives to Covid-19, Members undertook a minute’s silence.

·       The Leader announced the sad loss of a third member of council staff through Covid and sympathieswere passed to all the family Members.

·       County Borough Councillor P Jarman paid tribute to all the families who have lost loved ones during the Pandemic. She also paid tribute to the late former County Borough Councillor T Benney who represented Mountain Ash West and was elected to Council in shadow in 1995. In 1999 he was re elected and became Cabinet Member for Housing and was successful in reviewing the remodelling of Penrhys in the Rhondda and Fern Hill in Mountain Ash.

·    County Borough Councillor W Jones praised one of his residents, 11-year-old Seren Lewis-Dawe who following cancer treatment to a family member committed to raising £3,300 for Velindre by running 65 miles in all weather during December 2020. She has also been made a Junior Ambassador for Velindre.

·    County Borough Councillor M Powell also paid his tribute to the former Councillor T Benney. He acknowledged fellow Councillor P Howe who has won 4 first prizes for ‘Best Comedy’ entitled ‘Bryn Coombes’ and has been a finalist in another 4 awards.

·    It was also announced that Mr Gio Isingrini, newly retired, received an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list

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

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 11^th November 2020.

The Council RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 11^th November 2020 as an accurate reflection of the meeting subject to the reference to the A470 being corrected.

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 the Council’s new text alert system which will notify Members of any urgent or significant matters such as inclement weather or flooding, has been set up. He advised that this message has alerted Members of the recent bad weather warnings. He urged any Members who have yet to provide an up-to-date mobile number to do so through Members Services.

To receive Members questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.2.

(N.B a maximum of 20 minutes shall be allowed for questions on notice.)

Question from County Borough Councillor J. Brencher to the Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, County Borough Councillor J. Rosser:

“What support is being provided to schools in RCT to enable and facilitate remote learning?”

Response from Councillor J Rosser:

“Councillor Rosser explained that the Council has supported all schools throughout the pandemic by encouraging them to access the Welsh Government Hwb platform which provides a comprehensive package of blended learning. Some examples of good practice have been identified by many RCT Schools such as Ysgol Garth Olwg and Ysgol Cwm Rhondda. The Director of Education convenes regular meetings with Head Teachers and Governor Bodies to provide developments. Presentations on blended learning have been provided to Head Teachers. Learning guidance was provided in preparation of the return of learners to school and guidance documentation for blended and professional learning have been provided by the Central South Consortium. Improvement partners have supported individual schools in brokering school to school support to develop processes to deliver online teaching. Councillor Rosser advised that in November 2020 RCT local authority underwent a Estyn review of the work in supporting learning communities in schools and has recently received a very positive Estyn Report which highlights the strong communication between service areas and the collaboration with other  directorates and the drive and determination by schools and leaders to address the educational challenges during the pandemic”

There was no supplementary question.

Question from County Borough Councillor M Griffiths to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“Can the Leader update on what representations are being made by this Local Authority and the WLGA to the UK Government regarding the forthcoming Budget in March?” 

Response of Councillor A Morgan:

“The Leader of the Council stated that local government have played a critical role in the fight against covid through its positive and flexible staff responses and adaptation of services and therefore local government should be protected in future budget rounds. The Leader advised that the provisional settlement for the Welsh Government is 3.8% for this local authority which is a positive outcome. With regards to the Budget, which is being held on Wednesday, the 3^rd March, a number of additional investments, other than core service investment into areas such as social care, have been set out in collaboration with the LGA. The Leader advised that discussions have been ongoing with Welsh Government and the LGA regarding a number of areas such as capital infrastructure and the need to consider another round of investment in this area particularly coming out of lockdown to stimulate the local economy. Another area of concern is the pay freeze, unless staff are in the lower pay scale where they will receive a £250 uplift, will have an impact on staff who have made additional efforts during the lockdown. the local authority is making representations to the UK Government to fund a national pay rise.”

Supplementary Question from Councillor M Griffiths:

“With unemployment set to rise to 7.5%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

The Service Director Democratic Services & Communications provided an update in respect of the Council Work Programme 2020/21. He advised that an invitation had been extended to the UBI RCT to attend the February Council meeting and the State of the County Borough Debate will also be tabled, with further details to follow. Members were also advised that Trivallis have made representations to brief Members on their engagement arrangements through a pre council session in February or March 2021.

In response to a query in relation to the forthcoming council agendas, the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications advised that there will be a need to report back to Committee the nominations of the Freedom of the Borough together with a number of other recommendations.

He also confirmed that the Chief Executive of the Cardiff City Capital Region would bring forward a presentation to this council before the end of this Municipal Year as agreed in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

To receive a position statement in respect of the Coronavirus in the County Borough.

The Group Director Children & Community Services presented an update in respect of the Coronavirus in RCT with the aid of a power point presentation which covered the following key information: -

Ø  Confirmed Cases of Covid 19 per 100,000 population in the previous 7 days

Ø  Confirmed Cases of Covid 19 per 100,000 population in the previous 7 days by Local Authority

Ø  Trends in 7-day cumulative Covid infection rates per 100,00 in CTM

Ø  Daily Test Positivity of Covid in CTM

Ø  Covid Local Area Surveillance

Ø  Welsh Government Delivery Expectations

Ø  Priority Groups for Coronavirus (Covid 19) Vaccination

Ø  Headlines: Progress to the 17^th January 2021

Ø  Operational Delivery Considerations

Ø  Next 4 weeks through to Mid-February

Following the update, each of the Group Leaders were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Councillor A Morgan, Leader of the Council and Leader of the Labour Group

Councillor Morgan advised that there mass vaccination centres in Abercynon and in the Rhondda with plans for an another two to open by the end of January 2021. The mass vaccination programme is a huge undertaking to ensure residents receive two vaccinations and confirmed that the council would be offering its support to the GP’s surgeries with staff being trained as vaccinators. The Council is working help identify suitable venues for the mass vaccination programme as some local surgeries are small and unable to accommodate larger numbers of residents and as such some GP surgeries are teaming up to work from a vaccination centres such as the Cynon Valleys Bowls Centre.

The Leader advised that the Health Board would be delivering 20,000 vaccines this week and following discussions with the Chief Executive of the NHS in Wales he could confirm that that all Adult Care Homes, staff and clients would be vaccinated by the end of January 2021. Furthermore the plan to complete the vaccination of the priority Groups 1-4 by mid-February was on course.

Councillor P Jarman (Group Leader, Plaid Cymru Group)

Councillor Jarman extended her thanks to all the NHS staff and those in the care sector and council staff for their support and to all the volunteers who have volunteered their services to make a difference to people’s lives.

How many deaths have there been from Covid-19 have been recorded in RCT so far in the Pandemic?

How is the vaccinee allocated to individual GP Practices, is it determined by Cwm Taf or Welsh Government? It appears that some surgeries are not receiving the level of vaccine based on the size of their patients’ roll.

Who is responsible for the prioritising the patients, is it being done alphabetically?

Will the Bowls Centre in Mountain Ash be identified as a mass vaccination venue?

Councillor Jarman referred to the effect of Covid as she felt there had not been a debate or discussion around this. Despite the hard work of the Director of Education, Teachers and support staff to deliver online teaching some schools are better resourced than others. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

To receive a report from the Director of Financial & Digital Services

The Director of Finance and Digital Services referred Members to his report which provided them with information in respect of the 2021/2022 Provisional Local Government Settlement, announced on the 22^nd December 2020 and initial comments on its likely implications for the delivery of Council services.

The Director provided Members with the headline data from the settlement advising that the overall increase in Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) funding for 2021/22 (of unhypothecated funding) at an all Wales level, after adjusting for transfers is 3.8% (+£172M).

Members were advised that the settlement figures for 2021/22 amounts to an increase of 3.8% which equates to the average all Wales increase. Settlement figures across Wales range from 2.0% to 5.6%. No ‘floor’ protection has been included for 2021/22.

Members were informed that the Council’s base budget does not include the cost implications arising as a direct consequence of the pandemic which are currently and are anticipated to continue to be supported separately by Welsh Government.

The Director advised Members that the combined effects of the updates on the budget gap are shown in table 4 and the remaining budget gap of £4.057M. In conclusion, he reported that Cabinet will consider its draft budget strategy which will be consulted upon in the second phase of budget consultation before being considered by Council in March.

Members welcomed the Provisional 2021/22 Local Government Settlement, announced by Welsh Government and following discussion whereby the Director responded to a number of queries such as the Council’s new ways of working which do form part of the work to identify the efficiency requirements,

it was RESOLVED:

1.    To note the Provisional 2021/22 Local Government Settlement, announced by the Minister for Housing and Local Government on the 22^nd December 2020;

     2.   To note that the Final 2021/22 Local Government Settlement is expected during early March 2021; and

     3.   To note the approach to budget consultation for 2021/22 as already determined. 

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

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

In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules 17.2(a), the Service Director of Democratic Services and Communications reported on the urgent decisions that were taken forward through key delegated decision during the period October – December 2020 and it was RESOLVED to note the information contained within the report.

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

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

1. Recognises the distressing fact that 30% of children in Wales live in poverty and yet just 13% are entitled to free school meals This is mainly because the remaining 17% of children live in low paid households that takes them just over the present eligibility criteria.
2. Notes that England and Scotland have universal infant FSMs with all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils eligible, which is not the case in Wales.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to cost, budget and provide as a matter of urgency, the extension of FSMs to all children who live in poverty in Wales but are excluded from entitlement under the present eligibility criteria.
4. Agrees that no child should go hungry and that this should be a step towards the aim of rolling out universal FSMs to all children in Wales as called for by various groups in Wales, including Child Poverty Action Group and the People’s Assembly

To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of:

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

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

1. Recognises the distressing fact that 30% of children in Wales live in poverty and yet just 13% are entitled to free school meals This is mainly because the remaining 17% of children live in low paid households that takes them just over the present eligibility criteria.
2. Notes that England and Scotland have universal infant FSMs with all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils eligible, which is not the case in Wales.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to cost, budget and provide as a matter of urgency, the extension of FSMs to all children who live in poverty in Wales but are excluded from entitlement under the present eligibility criteria.
4. Agrees that no child should go hungry and that this should be a step towards the aim of rolling out universal FSMs to all children in Wales as called for by various groups in Wales, including Child Poverty Action Group and the People’s Assembly

Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to adopt the Notice of Motion.

(Note: County Borough Councillor J James abstained from voting on the matter).

To consider any items which the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered as a matter ofurgency.