Cabinet

The Cabinet is due to consider 17 reports on 11 March 2025. The minutes for this meeting have not been published, so no decisions are recorded here. The reports propose extending the vehicle maintenance arrangement with South Wales Police, adopting a business rates relief scheme, and recommending a £1.2 million capital budget for council vehicles.

1. Treasury management report: cash, loans and investments to December 2024

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   As at 31 December 2024 the council had £99.38 million of long-term borrowing and a net debt of £71.55 million. The report says the council may need to borrow up to £34 million in 2025-26, and the average interest rate on its debt was 4.69%.

   Based on the minutes, Treasury Management Cover Report Q3 24-25, Apprendix A Treasury Management Report Q3 24-25

2. Business rates relief for retail, leisure and hospitality 2025-26

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The Welsh Government funds the relief and has estimated £3.3 million towards it, plus £15,909 to run the scheme. Each business can claim no more than £110,000 across Wales, and the council estimates that about 779 ratepayers in the borough could benefit. The council has no discretion over the scheme's details.

   Based on the minutes, Retail Leisure Hospitality Rates Relief Report 2025-26 Final Version

3. Temporary accommodation for homeless households

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The council has a legal duty to provide temporary accommodation under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. Demand has risen, and the report says 80% of households in temporary accommodation in January 2025 were single people. The Welsh Government grant for this work fell from £2.067 million in 2022-23 to £914,848 in 2024-25, and the report warns that other providers could challenge the decision.

   Based on the minutes, Temporary Accommodation March 2025 Draft 4 (Final)

4. Adult accommodation-based services review and Shared Lives extension

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Shared Lives places adults to live in a host family's home, mainly people with learning disabilities. The current partnership agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan Council expires in March 2025, and the report says an extension is the most cost-effective option. The council would also move to the same banding system for host carers, which the report says could reduce placement costs to the council.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report 11 March 25 - ASC Accommodation Based Service Review - (v1.4 FINAL), APPENDIX A - Adult Social Care Accom Based Services Review Delivery Plan 2025-2028

5. Daytime opportunities review and remodelling

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Day services help adults with learning disabilities and older people with frailty to build skills, keep friendships and give carers a break. In August 2024 the council's in-house day services supported 201 people, and the report says demand is rising as the population grows and ages. An independent review by the Alder consultancy in 2023 also informed the work.

   Based on the minutes, ASC Day Opportunities Remodelling

6. Health and social care memorandum of understanding with Cwm Taf Morgannwg

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The region's population aged 65 and over is growing, especially people over 85. The memorandum would support a shared model of integrated health and social care, and the report says it has no direct financial implications. The new regional agreement would replace the council's existing Section 33 agreement with the health board, a legal arrangement that lets councils and health boards share resources.

   Based on the minutes, Health and Social Care Regional Memorandum of Understanding

7. Future school improvement and regional professional learning

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The changes follow the Welsh Government's Middle Tier Review, which reorganises how support is delivered to schools. A new national professional learning body is due to start in September 2025.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Future Local School Improvement and Regional Professional Learning Arrangements 110325 v1.0

8. Coety Primary School extension: new implementation date

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The planned start date can no longer be met because of earlier staffing problems in the project team, which have now been resolved. The school's governing body has no objection.

   Based on the minutes, 20250311 Cabinet Coety Primary School Extension - Modify Implementation Date v1.0

9. Estyn inspection outcomes for Bridgend schools, autumn term 2024

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   This is an information report, so no decision is sought. Estyn, the schools inspectorate for Wales, carried out core inspections of six schools and interim visits to five more. Caerau Primary School was removed from special measures, a formal Estyn category for schools that need urgent improvement.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Estyn School Inspection Reports (Autumn Term 2024) Summary 110325 v1.0

10. Revised rules for buying goods and services

    Decided

    The minutes record no decision on this item.

    Why

    The Procurement Act 2023 took effect on 24 February 2025 and replaces the old procurement rules. The report says the changes are largely needed to match the new law, including more published notices. It also adds a new exemption for some care contracts and a waiver for urgent grant spending.

    Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report - Revised CPRs and amendments to Schemes of Delegation - Finance Approved KW, Appendix 1 - revised draft CPRs

11. Forward work programmes for Cabinet, Council and scrutiny

    Decided

    The minutes record no decision on this item.

    Why

    The programme lists items planned for Cabinet, Council and scrutiny committees over six months, which the report says gives more time for scrutiny before decisions. The change follows a recommendation from Audit Wales, the public audit body for Wales, to extend the programme from four to six months.

    Based on the minutes, FWP Report, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App1 Cabinet, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App 2 Council, Overview and Subject Scrutiny Forward Work Programme - 1 Mar 25 - 31 Aug 25 App 3

12. Draft Retail and Commercial Development Supplementary Planning Guidance

    Decided

    The minutes record no decision on this item.

    Why

    This guidance adds detail to the council's Replacement Local Development Plan, adopted in March 2024, on shops and town centre uses. It aims to keep town, district and local centres viable under the 'Town Centre First' policy of Welsh planning rules. Once adopted, it will be a material consideration in planning decisions, so planning officers and councillors must take it into account.

    Based on the minutes, Cabinet Committee Report - Retail and Commercial Development SPG, Draft Retail and Commercial Development SPG

13. Joint vehicle maintenance with South Wales Police: one-year extension

    Decided

    The minutes record no decision on this item.

    Why

    The first 10-year term ends in March 2025. The report says the council's charging model has failed to recover its costs for several years, and it struggles to recruit heavy goods vehicle technicians. Changes to vehicle types, including electric vehicles, could also change the space the workshop needs, so a one-year extension allows a review first.

    Based on the minutes, JVM Cabinet Report final

14. Fleet replacement: £1.2 million capital budget

    Decided

    The minutes record no decision on this item.

    Why

    Capital funding for replacements was reallocated to the waste service fleet in June 2024, so replacement stopped. The report says this is causing reliability problems and extra hire costs. The repayments are already in departmental budgets, so the approval does not need new revenue money.

    Based on the minutes, Fleet report Final) cabinet

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Apologies for Absence

   Minute

   Apologies for absence were received from xxxxxxxxxx

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

3. 3

   Approval of Minutes

   Papers: 250204 Cabinet Minutes, 240114 Cabinet mins (Open)
4. 4

   Treasury Management Quarterly Report To 31 December 2024

   Papers: Treasury Management Cover Report Q3 24-25, Apprendix A Treasury Management Report Q3 24-25
5. 5

   Non-Domestic Rates: Discretionary Relief: Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme 2025-26

   Papers: Retail Leisure Hospitality Rates Relief Report 2025-26 Final Version
6. 6

   Homelessness Temporary Accommodation

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Temporary Accommodation March 2025 Draft 4 (Final)
7. 7

   Social Services and Wellbeing Accommodation-Based Service Review

   Papers: Cabinet Report 11 March 25 - ASC Accommodation Based Service Review - (v1.4 FINAL), APPENDIX A - Adult Social Care Accom Based Services Review Delivery Plan 2025-2028
8. 8

   Social Services and Wellbeing Daytime Opportunities Review and Remodelling

   Papers: ASC Day Opportunities Remodelling
9. 9

   Health and Social Care Regional Memorandum of Understanding

   Papers: Health and Social Care Regional Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for Cabinet 27.02.2025
10. 10

    Future Local School Improvement and Regional Professional Learning Arrangements

    Papers: Cabinet Future Local School Improvement and Regional Professional Learning Arrangements 110325 v1.0
11. 11

    School Modernisation Programme Coety Primary School, Four-Classroom Extension - Modification To The Implementation Date Of The Enlargement

    Papers: 20250311 Cabinet Coety Primary School Extension - Modify Implementation Date v1.0
12. 12

    Outcomes of ESTYN Inspections of Schools In Bridgend During Autumn Term 2024

    Papers: Cabinet Estyn School Inspection Reports (Autumn Term 2024) Summary 110325 v1.0
13. 13

    Revised Contract Procedure Rules

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Cabinet Report - Revised CPRs and amendments to Schemes of Delegation - Finance Approved KW, Appendix 1 - revised draft CPRs
14. 14

    Cabinet, Council and Overview and Scrutiny Committees Forward Work Programmes

    Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

    Papers: FWP Report, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App1 Cabinet, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App 2 Council, Overview and Subject Scrutiny Forward Work Programme - 1 Mar 25 - 31 Aug 25 App 3
15. 15

    Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG): Retail and Commercial Development

    Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

    Papers: Cabinet Committee Report - Retail and Commercial Development SPG, Draft Retail and Commercial Development SPG
16. 16

    Joint Vehicle Maintenance (JVM) Service With South Wales Police

    Papers: JVM Cabinet Report final
17. 17

    Fleet Replacement Programme

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Fleet report Final) cabinet
18. 18

    Urgent Items

19. 19

    Exclusion of the Public

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• John Spanswick, ChairpersonLabourPresent
• Eugene Caparros, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Hywel Williams, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jane Gebbie, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Martyn Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Melanie Jayne Evans, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Neelo Farr, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Paul Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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