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:
Minutes:
Statements of the Leader of the County Borough, County Borough Councillor A Morgan in respect of Flooding and the Pension Fund:
Statement – Pension Fund
The Leader advised that the RCT Pension Fund has always invested its assets in a responsible way and engages with companies as part of ensuring an orderly carbon transition. This has already resulted in ongoing reductions in the Council’s fossil fuel holdings and the establishment of disinvestment principles.
The Leader announced that as part of the Council’s climate change goals he has approached officers to work with the Pension Committee to review options for setting a target for disinvesting its remaining Pension Fund investments away from fossil fuel extraction.
The Leader concluded that he would like to see this by 2030, although some local authorities are setting targets ahead of that, but he recognised that there are responsibilities which the Council has to the Pension Fund and that we do co-invest with the other Funds across Wales. In conclusion, the Leader assured Members that the Council is taking its responsibilities seriously and plans to disinvest will be set out in the coming months.
Statement – Flooding
Councillor Morgan advised that the Council currently has 52 project stages in the design stage and he provided information on a number of those:
• In Upper Bronallt Terrace, Abercwmboi, there is a Flood Alleviation scheme which commenced over a week ago on site with an estimated value of £720k
· In Treorchy Phase 1of the flood scheme is commencing next week with an estimated value of £605k
· Cae Felin Parc West (Culvert Relining scheme) in Hirwaun which is due to commence in August with an estimated value of £165k
· Glenboi Pumping Station in Mountain Ash –the tender has returned with an estimated value of £1.3m
· Bryntail Road and Masefield Way in Rhydyfelin with an estimated value of £250k
·
Structural lining of culverts in Pentre with an
estimated value of £175k
· Investing in flood alleviation and drainage is also a priority for the Council - £26.3m Capital Programme for Highways, Transportation and Strategic Projects in 2022/23.
· In addition, more than £6.5m is secured from Welsh Government for Storm Dennis-related works and damage this year. Demolition work at Castle Inn Bridge in Treforest has commenced. The leader confirmed that a further profile will be submitted to Welsh Government.
· Almost £500k has been secured through the Resilient Roads schemes, small scale projects which will protect roads and key bus routes. Many of the road flooding projects will also protect homes and properties. A further £3.3 million in additional funding has been secured for flood schemes and will cover many smaller schemes and upgrades to culverts, watercourses and ditches.
• A further £7m has been spent since Storm Dennis on coal tips, largely on phases 1-3 of the Tylorstown tip. Work has also been carried out with Welsh Government and The Coal Authority to secure works to stabilise the privately owned Wattstown Standard Tip.
· The Council is working with contractors on the next phase of the Tylorstown land slip with the contract to be confirmed and let over the summer evaluation, advanced works to improve the access roads in the Winter with the main engineering work commencing in 2023, weather dependent with WG covering the funding for the work
· Huge amount of work being carried out to determine what needs to be done to alleviate flooding, new emergency room and refresh the Council’s emergency plan and will continue to form a significant part of the Council’s budget.
· The Leader advised that should there be a further Storm Dennis event, significant flooding would still occur across the county borough. The modelling work needs to be completed with a full system analysis through the Taff, Cynon and the Rhondda by NRW to determine what work needs to be carried out in the future. Further lobbying will need to be carried out for further investment from NRW and WG to better protect our communities from river flooding.
· A further update will be provided in the Autumn.