Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 2 – Cardiff Capital Region City Deal

       i.          County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE - Personal “ Appointed by the Council to sit on the CCRCD Cabinet.”

      ii.          County Borough Councillor R Bevan – Personal - Appointed by the Council as the Scrutiny Member on the CCRCD Joint Scrutiny Committee and I was elected as the Vice Chair of the Committee for this Municipal Year”.

    iii.          County Borough Councillor J Turner – Personal - Appointed by the Council as the Reserve Scrutiny Member on the CCRCD Joint Scrutiny Committee.

    iv.          County Borough Councillor W Owen – Personal – I am a Business Owner

Agenda Item 7 – Notice of Motion

     v.          County Borough Councillor S Bradwick – Personal – I provide financial support to families and to animal rescue centres within Ukraine.

To receive a PowerPoint presentation from the Director of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (CCRCD) providing Members with:

·       An update on the work of the CCRCD, and its wider priorities and impact to date.

·       An overview of the transition to a Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) and the wider governance arrangements

Through the aid of a Powerpoint presentation the Director of the Cardiff Capital Regional City Deal (CCRCD) provided Members with an update on the work of the CCRCD, and its wider priorities and impact to date As part of the presentation Members were also provided with an overview of the transition to a Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) and the wider governance arrangements.

As part of the presentation Members were provided with details of the regional challenges and the plans in place to address such challenges, the role of the CCRCD and funding as well as the achievements witnessed to date.

The Director continued by providing detail of the CCR activity delivered within Rhondda Cynon Taf, referencing infrastructures such as Metro Plus and Port Transport Hub, the Discovery Gateways as well as Cluster development opportunities. Further detail of the successful Zip World model was provided to Members, before the Director reflected on the next steps for the County Borough.

The presentation concluded by outlining the move to a Corporate Joint Committee and the benefits of a regional approach for RCT and the next steps involved for such an approach.

The Leader commented on the large amount of work conducted by CCRD, reflecting on previous concerns that the partnership would only benefit Cardiff and took the opportunity to highlight the numerous projects delivered upon within RCT County Borough, referencing the ‘Evergreen Fund’, ‘Zip World’, Housing Investment and both Regional transport and strategic development funds. The Leader commented on the opportunities of Long Term Investment through the CCRCD and the employment opportunities provided.

The Leader referenced the move to Corporate Joint Committees confirming that more joint working would be needed and going forward all Authorities would be represented on the Boards and Panels within.

On behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, County Borough Councillor D Grehan spoke of the hope highlighted within the presentation and the realisation and fruition of this hope in the future.  The Member commented on the ‘jargon’ terminology within the presentation and also spoke of concerns in relation to any potential impact on individual Local Development Plans of each of the Authorities in relation to the developments being taken forward by the CCRCD.

The Director responded by advising of the funding opportunities being delivered within the Authority to assist in building its resilience and hope, highlighting the ‘recycled fund’ opportunities. The Director confirmed that the work of the CCRCD would not interfere or encroach on individual Authorities LDPs but was an opportunity to stitch local plans together, through close working relationship with Council Officers.

County Borough Councillor Powell spoke positively of the presentation and the opportunities highlighted within.

The Councils Joint Scrutiny Committee Member, County Borough Councillor R Bevan commented on the infrastructure and regional planning opportunities to which the Director responded advising of the building blocks for providing an excellent welsh economy.

One Member queried the upskilling and fast tracking opportunities available, specifically addressing electric vehicle motor technicians.  The Director confirmed that currently there were not the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the virtual Council Meeting held on the 17^th January 2024.

The Council RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 17^th January 2024 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

There were no announcements provided at 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:

There were no statements provided at the meeting.

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.)

1.     Question from County Borough Councillor Sheryl Evans to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE

“ Will the Cabinet Member make a statement on the recent awarding of Welsh Government funding under the Resilient Roads and Local Transport Fund?”

Response of Councillor A. Morgan OBE

The Leader commented on the success of the Council in acquiring significant sums of funding over recent years, with almost £10m secured through the Resilient Roads Grant alone over the last four years. It was advised that such funding had allowed a number of targeted flood resilience road schemes to be carried out to remedy some of the drainage issues that affect stretches of the highways network throughout the main arterial routes of the County.

Details of the funding secured were provided were Members were advised of the receipt of £1m from the Resilient Roads Fund for 2023/24 which is supporting the development of 13 projects to alleviate the effects of flooding and climate change to the transportation network.  In addition, the Council also secured £400k from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund.  £200k of this funding was allocated for bus priority enhancements, this includes bus stop improvement works, bus shelters and raised kerbs on the Aberdare and Pontypridd local routes.  The Leader concluded by advising of the £200k funding which was allocated for utilisation on further feasibility works for the Cynon Gateway North and Llantrisant Link Road schemes as a result of the Welsh Government’s Road Review report in 2023.

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor Sheryl Evans:

“Can you confirm the schemes that have been delivered in the Aberaman ward (North and South).”

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE:

The Leader advised of the projects that had been delivered within the Aberaman Ward (including historical boundaries) over the last 4 years, which totalled  6 individual schemes (as listed below):

· Lewis Street – Design Stage – Highway drainage Upgrade

· Jones Street – Construction – Highway Drainage Upgrade

· Bronallt Terrace Phase 3 – Construction Highway Culvert Upgrade

· Glenboi – Construction – Highway drainage upgrade works

· Maes Y Ffynon/Cardiff Road – Highway Culvert Upgrade

· A4059 – Aberdare – Asda R/A – Construction – Upgrade Highway drainage and overland flow measures.

2.     The Presiding Member advised that due to apologies being received from County Borough Councillor J Edwards, the second question listed had fallen.

3.     Question from County Borough Councillor S Rees to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE

“Can the Leader provide an update on the progress on the delivery of the Labour Group’s manifesto commitments?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE

The Leader referenced the Labour Groups 20 core commitments to the residents of RCT in advance of the local elections in 2022 and commented on the progress made so far, with a number of these commitments already delivered, and those not delivered remaining very much in progress.

Members were advised that in respect of the commitment to fund 10  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

The Service Director Democratic Services & Communication advised that following reflection on the Council Business listed for the March Council meeting, the invitation to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board had been rescheduled to the April meeting, to allow appropriate consideration of the item.

In conclusion, the Service Director Democratic Services & Communication confirmed that there would be an induction opportunity for all Members to attend and view the new facilities at LlysCadwyn in Pontypridd. With regards to hybrid meetings, these would be undertaken on an incremental basis with a view to the next Council meeting in March being held as a hybrid meeting.

To consider the Notice of Motion which has been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1 of the Constitution.

To consider the under-mentioned Notice of Motion standing in the names of County Borough Councillors S. Emanuel, R. Williams, L. Addiscott, M. D. Ashford, J. Barton, D. R. Bevan, J. Bonetto, S. Bradwick, J. Brencher, G. Caple, J. Cook, A. Crimmings, S. J. Davies, R. Davis, A. J. Dennis, V. Dunn, E. L. Dunning, J. Edwards, J. A. Elliott, L. Ellis, R. Evans, A. S. Fox, B. Harris, S. Hickman, G. Holmes, G. Hopkins, W. Hughes, G. Jones, G. O. Jones, R. R. Lewis, W. Lewis, C. Leyshon, M. Maohoub, C. Middle, A. Morgan, N. H. Morgan, S. Morgans, M. A. Norris, D. Owen-Jones, D. Parkin, S. Powderhill, C. Preedy, S. Rees, A. Roberts, J. Smith, G. Stacey, L. A. Tomkinson, W. Treeby, J. Turner, G. L. Warren, K. Webb, M. Webber, D. Williams, G. E. Williams, T. Williams, R. Yeo.

On 24th February 2022, Russian forces that had massed along the border with Ukraine launched a full-scale invasion, marking the biggest attack on a European country since the Second World War.

The invasion, justified by Vladimir Putin as an attempt to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, has seen millions displaced and hundreds of thousands injured or killed – either in combat or through the devastating air strikes on civilian areas.

As innocent Ukrainian people were forced to flee their homes, Wales and RCT (along with may other countries) welcomed those seeking refuge with open arms and supported them as they tried to adjust to their new lives.

Now, with the War in Ukraine marking its second anniversary and the conflict still raging as Ukraine fights to retain its sovereignty, this Council therefore:

•         Condemns the continued aggression of the Russian invaders.

•         Reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

•         Commends the efforts of those residents of RCT who welcomed those fleeing the conflict into their homes and also to those who provided support to others who have sought sanctuary.

In accordance with the Council’s Rules of Procedure 12.7, the mover of the motion moved an alteration to the Motion to include additional text as set out underlined below:

inclusion of the wording, false premise” and noting the typographical error of may to ‘many’.

The altered motion would then read:

On 24^th February 2022, Russian forces that had massed along the border with Ukraine launched a full-scale invasion, marking the biggest attack on a European country since the Second World War.

The invasion, justified by Vladimir Putin, on a false premise, as an attempt to “de-Nazify” Ukraine, has seen millions displaced and hundreds of thousands injured or killed – either in combat or through the devastating air strikes on civilian areas.

As innocent Ukrainian people were forced to flee their homes, Wales and RCT (along with many other countries) welcomed those seeking refuge with open arms and supported them as they tried to adjust to their new lives.

Now, with the War in Ukraine marking its second anniversary and the conflict still raging as Ukraine fights to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.