Agenda item

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

S. Bradwick, M. Forey, L. M. Adams, J. Barton, D. R. Bevan, H. Boggis, J. Bonetto, J. Brencher, A. Calvert, G. Caple, A. Crimmings, A. Davies-Jones, L. De- Vet, J. Edwards, J. Elliott, S. Evans, G. Jones, M. Fidler Jones, A. Fox, E. George, M. Griffiths, J. Harries, G. Holmes, G. Hopkins, R. Lewis, W. Lewis, C. Leyshon, A. Morgan, S. Morgans, M. A. Norris, D. Owen-Jones, S. Pickering, S. Powell, S. Rees, A. Roberts, J. Rosser, G. Stacey, M. Tegg, G. Thomas, W. Treeby, R. K. Turner, M. Webber, D. Williams, R. Williams, T. Williams,  R. Yeo

Banks should be an essential service in our communities, giving residents convenient access to their finances and allowing them to take care of their affairs.  They are often situated in the heart of our town centres, in close proximity to other vital facilities and shops.

The notice that Barclays are intending to close their branch at Victoria Square in Aberdare in March 2022 is the latest (potential) withdrawal of financial services from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf and, should the plans go ahead, will have a detrimental impact, not just to our residents in accessing facilities, but also to the vibrancy of our town centres. The Council has worked hard to make our town centres attractive and welcoming hubs of the communities they serve, especially after the exceptional difficulties faced by local traders over the past 18 months.

Aberdare has already seen NatWest and HSBC withdraw their services from the town, whilst Treforest, Treorchy, Porth and Mountain Ash are among the other areas to have also seen banks close over recent years.

The assurances provided by Barclays that Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd are the closest services will be scant consolation to many, with both journeys taking between 40 and 50 minutes each way.

This Council wishes to record its opposition to the closure of Barclays Bank in Aberdare and resolves to:

·       Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Head of Corporate Relations Wales and West and the Chief Executive of Barclays Bank to call for the plans to be reconsidered.

·       Requests that the Council seeks to ensure that the social benefits of maintaining a local banking presence in our communities forms part of our future relationships with the banking sector.

The following Notice of Motion was received standing in the names of: S. Bradwick, M. Forey, L. M. Adams, J. Barton, D. R. Bevan, H. Boggis, J. Bonetto, J. Brencher, A. Calvert, G. Caple, A. Crimmings, A. Davies-Jones, L. De- Vet, J. Edwards, J. Elliott, S. Evans, G. Jones, M. Fidler Jones, A. Fox, E. George, M. Griffiths, J. Harries, G. Holmes, G. Hopkins, R. Lewis, W. Lewis, C. Leyshon, A. Morgan, S. Morgans, M. A. Norris, D. Owen-Jones, S. Pickering, S. Powell, S. Rees, A. Roberts, J. Rosser, G. Stacey, M. Tegg, G. Thomas, W. Treeby, R. K. Turner, M. Webber, D. Williams, R. Williams, T. Williams,  R. Yeo

Banks should be an essential service in our communities, giving residents convenient access to their finances and allowing them to take care of their affairs.  They are often situated in the heart of our town centres, in close proximity to other vital facilities and shops.

The notice that Barclays are intending to close their branch at Victoria Square in Aberdare in March 2022 is the latest (potential) withdrawal of financial services from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf and, should the plans go ahead, will have a detrimental impact, not just to our residents in accessing facilities, but also to the vibrancy of our town centres. The Council has worked hard to make our town centres attractive and welcoming hubs of the communities they serve, especially after the exceptional difficulties faced by local traders over the past 18 months.

Aberdare has already seen NatWest and HSBC withdraw their services from the town, whilst Treforest, Treorchy, Porth and Mountain Ash are among the other areas to have also seen banks close over recent years.

The assurances provided by Barclays that Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd are the closest services will be scant consolation to many, with both journeys taking between 40 and 50 minutes each way.

This Council wishes to record its opposition to the closure of Barclays Bank in Aberdare and resolves to:

·       Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Head of Corporate Relations Wales and West and the Chief Executive of Barclays Bank to call for the plans to be reconsidered.

·       Requests that the Council seeks to ensure that the social benefits of maintaining a local banking presence in our communities forms part of our future relationships with the banking sector.

At the meeting the Chair announced that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.4.1 the following amendment to the Notice of Motion had been received from County Borough Councillors P. Jarman, A. Cox, J. Williams, D. Grehan, G. Davies, J. Davies, J. Cullwick, K. Morgan, L. Jones, E. Stephens, S. Rees-Owen, M. Weaver, E. Webster, A. Chapman, S. Evans, H. Fychan and E. Griffiths.

The amended motion read:

Banks should be an essential service in our communities, giving residents convenient access to their finances and allowing them to take care of their affairs.  They are often situated in the heart of our town centres, in close proximity to other vital facilities and shops.

The notice that Barclays are intending to close their branch at Victoria Square in Aberdare in March 2022 is the latest (potential) withdrawal of financial services from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf and, should the plans go ahead, will have a detrimental impact, not just to our residents in accessing facilities, but also to the vibrancy of our town centres. The Council has worked hard to make our town centres attractive and welcoming hubs of the communities they serve, especially after the exceptional difficulties faced by local traders over the past 18 months.

Aberdare has already seen NatWest, The Co-operative Bank and HSBC withdraw their services from the town, whilst Treforest, Treorchy, Porth and Mountain Ash are among the other areas to have also seen banks close over recent years.

The assurances provided by Barclays that Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd are the closest services will be scant consolation to many, with both journeys taking between 40 and 50 minutes each way.

This Council wishes to record its opposition to the closure of Barclays Bank in Aberdare and resolves to:

·       Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Head of Corporate Relations Wales and West and the Chief Executive of Barclays Bank to call for the plans to be reconsidered.

·       Requests that a joint report from the Chief Executive, the 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer be brought forward to Council addressing all matters relating to consideration of an option of changing our Bankers from Barclays.

·       Requests that the Council seeks to ensure that the social benefits of maintaining a local banking presence in our communities forms part of our future relationships with the banking sector.

·       To note the Welsh Government’s announcement to develop and launch a new Community Bank of Wales headquartered in Wales, This Council further calls on Welsh Government to accelerate the establishment and roll out of Banc Cambria which aims to open High Street Branches in towns throughout Wales.

(Note: At this point during the proceedings and in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following personal declarations were made pertaining to the Notice of Motion:

·       County Borough Councillor A Morgan: “ I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor G P Thomas: “ I bank with at the Aberdare branch of Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor G Hughes: “ I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       Cunty Borough Councillor Sheryl Evans: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor E George: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor D Grehan: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor G R Davies: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor G Jones: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor J Bonetto: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor D R Bevan: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor G Caple: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor P Howe: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

·       County Borough Councillor A Crimmings: “I bank with Barclays Bank”

During discussions, and in respect of the amendment to the Notice of Motion, the Leader of the Council read the following statement in response to a query regarding the Council’s procurement processes in relation to Barclays Bank:

“We have a contractual relationship with Barclays to provide corporate banking services to the Council. The Contract does not include any provisions associated with mandating local branches.

·       There are currently no issues in respect of delivering this Contract that could instigate these events.

·       The Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules mandate that Contracting Authorities conduct their procurement processes with openness, fairness and transparency. In the event that the Council tenders this contract in the future, it would not be lawful to blacklist or be seen to influence a contractual relationship on grounds and matters which are outside of the contractual provisions / services.

• Any future review of the Council’s banker will need to be undertaken with openness, fairness and transparency, and in compliance with the principles provided within the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules”.

There followed further discussion and in accordance with the Council’s Rules of Procedure 12.7, a vote was taken in respect of the amendment to the Notice of Motion and it was RESOLVED not to adopt the amendment.

(Note:The Plaid Cymru Group present wished to have it recorded as voting in favour of the amendment  to the Notice of Motion: County Borough Councillors P Jarman, A Cox, J Cullwick, G R Davies, S Evans, H Fychan, D Grehan, E Griffiths, L Jones, E Webster and J Williams).

Following discussion in respect of the substantive motion and in accordance with the Council Rules of Procedure 12.7, it was RESOLVED to adopt the substantive motion.