Agenda and draft minutes

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

Note:

1.    Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter 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 a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd March 2020.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd March 2020 as an accurate reflection.

To receive verbal updates from the relevant officers in respect of the Council’s recovery response to date and future service planning.

The Leader informed the Steering Group that he would be meeting with the First Minister on Thursday afternoon to push forward any arising actions from the meetings.

The following updates were provided by Council Officers and Key Partners in respect of the major weather incident ‘Storm Dennis’:

Highways, Infrastructure and Frontline Services

·         There was approximately £44M worth of damage to infrastructure and it would likely increase once all formal inspections had been undertaken;

·         The vast majority of properties had been cleaned, with the odd few still arising;

·         Additional vehicles had been released to support with the food package deliveries;

·         There were issues with residents not being at home to receive the deliveries and as such, officers would contact them in advance of re-delivering; and

·         To date, the tipping cost was £150,000 and rising.

Businesses

·         398 businesses had been confirmed as having flood damage; 277 of which were microbusinesses;

·         229 hardship funds had been processed;

·         15 skips had been provided in Treforest Industrial Estate;

·         Footfall figures had improved in Pontypridd town centre;

·         The Welsh Government had announced the release of £2.5M emergency funding to support businesses severely impacted by floods. The Council were awaiting further information on the process and whether the fund would be available for uninsured businesses; and

·         In respect of the Council’s grant funding support for property renovation, 199 households had been identified as a priority; 54 of which, were without insurance. The houses were in the process of being surveyed to support the residents back into their homes as soon as possible.

Housing

·         748 residential properties had been verified as having flood damage;

·         37 households had been placed in temporary accommodation but 28 had since been placed with family or given a six month tenancy;

·         There were 78 open homeless cases, which officers were working to support;

·         To date, 299 food packages had been delivered with 500 more ready to be delivered in the coming week;

·         Donations were naturally slowing down;

·         The mobile libraries had, again, visited various community venues, in partnership with RCT Citizens Advice and the Council’s Community for Work team at the communities; and

·         Of those offered Meals on Wheels provision, 6 had taken up the offer to date.

Pontypridd BID and Pontypridd Town Council

·         The introduction of a park and ride facility for the town centre would be welcomed, which Pontypridd Town Council would help the Council with the costs; and

·         An event to promote Pontypridd as ‘open for business’ would be welcomed to increase footfall within the town centre.

Treforest Business

·         The bridge had been inspected and was safe for foot traffic. A detailed inspection would be carried out shortly;

·         Contamination had been identified across the estate and the drying out process had commenced; and

·         The businesses sought guidance on the Leader’s recent decision taken to issue businesses with 3 month local relief (Credit) for the payment of Non Domestic Rates (NDR).

Natural Resources Wales

·         There had been no river flooding in RCT over the weekend, but there had been areas with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To receive notification of the Urgent Decision taken by the Leader of the Council in respect of immediate local relief (credit) for the payment of Non Domestic Rates (NDR).

The Steering Group RESOLVED to note the Urgent Decision taken by the Leader of the Council.