Agenda item

Question from County Borough Councillor A. S. Fox to the Deputy Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor M. Webber:

“How does this Council support its local Armed Forces community?”

Response from County Borough Councillor M Webber:

“Councillor Webber advised that RCT is the first Council in Wales to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant which is a voluntary statement of mutual support between the armed forces and the civilian communities and pledges to recognise the dual respect between the Council partner agencies and our Armed Forces personnel and their families. In 2019 RCT Council launched its Veteran Advice Service for the Armed Forces community by the Armed Forces Liaison Officer (AFLOW) which provides awareness raising sessions to staff and ensures the best level of support is offered. The Council offers discounted burial fees to serving and retired armed forces community who reside in the County Borough. The Council has worked closely on the Aberdare War Memorial, the Llantrisant War Memorial, Gilfach Goch Memorial and held discussions regarding Tonypandy, Penrhiwceiber and Cwmparc War Memorials. This year the Council has bid successfully for funding from the Armed Forces Covenant fund for the Veterans Connect Project to help maintain contact between veterans and their families through digital technology which reduces social isolation.

Future work will include a report to Cabinet regarding overcoming barriers to civilian employment which may introduce a guaranteed interview scheme for armed forces service personnel leavers, reservist veterans and their spouses if they meet the vacancy essential criteria.

In conclusion, the Deputy Leader advised that her own personal involvement has included supporting the War Memorial projects, Valleys Veterans Groups with their projects and breakfast clubs, giving evidence to the Commons Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill, supporting Veterans through lockdown and is the WLGA Armed Forces Spokesperson.

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor A S Fox

“Councillor Fox stated that the community of Penrhiwceiber are committed to paying tribute to the members of the armed forces community and asked if the Deputy Leader can provide an update on the work to restore the memorial clock”

Response from County Borough Councillor M Webber

“Councillor Webber confirmed that she has visited the War Memorial in Penrhiwceiber and advised that the Memorial clock is Listed but added that the Council has been in touch with Cadw. Although there are few clock experts available, an architect’s report and expert advice on the clock have been collated and sent to Cadw. The Council has applied for a level of funding from the War Memorial Fund towards the clock repair and the Deputy Leader gave a commitment that the clock will be restored.”

Question from County Borough Councillor E Webster to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan:

"What happens when a major river defence wall in the borough is in danger of collapse, but there is no identifiable owner with riparian rights?"

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“The Leader responded that the Flood Water Act Management Act 2010 identifies the appropriate risk management authority in dealing with any flood issues. RCT Council is the Lead Flood Risk Authority with direct responsibility for flood risk to ordinary water courses, surface water flooding it is Natural Resources Wales (NRW) who are responsible for main rivers and risk of river flooding. In the first instance referrals would be made to NRW who would identify whether the assets were theirs and if there was a riparian issue”

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor E Webster:

“The river defence wall is a continuous structure which runs from the Barracks in Pentre through Treorchy up to Ynyswen. Parts are the responsibility of this authority, other parts are that of private residents and business and others like Swn yr Afon are not the responsibility of anyone. The wall is showing signs of age and the failure at Swn Yr Afon during Storm Dennis is a sign of that. The sink hole has grown to over 30 feet which is a concern to the residents. NRW claim that this breach has a low risk of flooding to residents, but they haven’t considered the damage should it fall into the river. There’s a similar sink hole at the top end of Treorchy and many areas on the wall where it has eroded. It is such an important defence, what assurances can this Council give to residents that this wall is safe and will you work with NRW to undertake a condition survey of the wall in its entirety?”

 Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“Councillor Morgan advised that NRW do not class this wall as a flood defence. The Council is carrying out extensive surveys to all council owned river walls where there has been scour and undertaking any necessary works. The section of land where there is a sink hole isn’t in anyone’s ownership at present and is unregistered land and NRW state that the sinkhole does not cause a risk, and is not a river flood asset so it is riparian ownership in which case it is for the residents to discuss with their own insurance companies to see if there is a risk to their properties and gardens. The Leader added that miles of river walls within RCT are in private ownership and the Council’s responsibility is to use emergency powers or to serve notices on adjacent landowners to take action. In conclusion, the Leader gave a commitment that he would discuss this particular wall with NRW in further detail”

Question from County Borough Councillor K Morgan to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan:

“Will the Member make a statement on the Highways Infrastructure in the village of Hirwaun please”.

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“The Leader advised the following schemes and spending on highways infrastructure as follows:

Almost a £1m on infrastructure over the past 10 years, £150,000 on footways, £400,000 on structures, 21 Capital schemes completed to date such as Station Road Bridge refurbishment and footway repairs and a number of street lighting upgrades over the years.”

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor K Morgan:

“Councillor K Morgan stated that previous requests for a traffic management review and a scheme to address the issues that residents experience have been met with the funding needed for review design, prioritisation of funding, review design, the start of the Heads of the Valleys dualling works has further exacerbated the existing road safety issues including very large freight vehicles using our streets as a rat run to avoid the queues on the Heads of the Valley plus the inevitable official diversions. Councillor Morgan had hoped for a proactive approach to mitigate the effects on the village such as weight limits similar to Llwydcoed.

What steps will the council take over the next few years to ensure Hirwaun will have some of the gain not all of the pain?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“Councillor Morgan advised that it is the responsibility of the highway developers to look at the mitigation measures but he assured the Member that he would raise the issues with the Highway Officers to liaise with the development company taking forward the A465 dualling to highlight some of the concerns raised and see if further discussions are needed with Welsh Government and the A465 delivery partners.”

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

“Has the Leader, through this Council or the WLGA, received any update on the implementation of the U.K. Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, which is supposed to be replacing EU Structural Funds?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“Councillor Morgan advised that through the WLGA and as individual local authorities lobbying has been undertaken to ensure that the benefits of the European Revenue and Capital funding are maintained. The Community Renewal Fund is available, and a number of bids have been submitted (totalling £40m). The Leader added that he, along with other Leaders had provided evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee about the Levelling Up Fund where a consistent message had been relayed that although the funding is welcome, a rapid increase in the quantum over the coming years would be necessary. The Leader advised that the message from UK Government regarding the involvement of Welsh Government had been unclear. The Leader stressed the importance of local communities benefitting from the funding”

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor M Griffiths:

“Is the levelling up fund no more than a ‘slush fund’ for the Tory MP’s who benefitted from it a few months ago?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:

“The Leader of the Council confirmed that he had a positive meeting with Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, about the importance of areas like RCT securing the Levelling Up funding. He hoped the quantum of funding would be increased”