Cabinet

Cabinet is due to consider nine items at its meeting on 23 September 2025. The minutes have not been published yet, so no decisions are recorded here. The items cover a town centre access trial, two planning guidance documents, treasury management, an anti-money laundering policy, social services complaints, a delegated authority policy for children in care, Estyn school inspections and the forward work programme.

1. Bridgend town centre access trial

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Traders say the access restrictions, in place since the town centre was pedestrianised in 2004, are hurting footfall and trade. A public consultation from 4 April to 2 May 2025 found 60 per cent support for longer loading hours, 56 per cent for cycling and 64 per cent for more blue badge parking. The report says the trial can be introduced quickly and cheaply, and that results will go back to Cabinet after 18 months.

   Based on the minutes, September Cabinet Report - Bridgend Town Centre Access Update - V0.3 Final, 2425_Public Engagement Report_Final Issued 110925

2. Outdoor recreation facilities planning guidance

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Supplementary planning guidance (SPG) gives more detail on a local plan policy and is taken into account when planning applications are decided. It supports policy COM10 of the replacement Local Development Plan, which requires new homes to include outdoor recreation space. The update uses current Fields in Trust standards and up-to-date costs for off-site payments. Pencoed Town Council raised concern about pressure on facilities from a proposed development east of Pencoed, and the planning authority said that site will be assessed separately against the plan.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report_Outdoor Recreation SPG_23.09.25_Final, Appendix 1 - Outdoor Recreation Facilities SPG_Final Draft, Appendix 2 - Consultation Representations, Responses and Actions_Final

3. Houses in multiple occupation planning guidance

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a home shared by unrelated people, and the report says planning permission has been needed for all HMOs since February 2016. The guidance explains how policy COM7 should be applied, including a rule that no more than 10 per cent of properties within 50 metres may be HMOs. The report says high concentrations of HMOs can harm amenity, local character and community cohesion, although not every HMO does. The Development Control Committee asked for the guidance in August 2024, and Councillor Simon Griffiths volunteered to champion it.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report_HMO SPG_Final, Appendix 1 - HMO SPG_Final draft

4. Treasury management quarter 1 report

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The report updates Cabinet on treasury activity, meaning borrowing, investments and cash flow, for April to June 2025. At 30 June 2025 the council had £98.61 million of external borrowing and £64 million of treasury investments, with net debt of £49.19 million. The council says it stayed within its approved limits and followed the code of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Welsh Government guidance.

   Based on the minutes, Treasury Management Report Quarter 1 2025-26, Appendix A - Treasury Management Quarter 1 2025-26

5. Anti-money laundering policy update

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Money laundering means disguising money that comes from crime so that it looks legitimate. The policy was last updated in January 2019 and the council must review it regularly. The Governance and Audit Committee reviewed the draft on 19 June 2025 and made no further changes.

   Based on the minutes, Anti-Money Laundering Policy review Cabinet report, Appendix A Anti-Money Laundering Policy 2025

6. Social services complaints annual report 2024/25

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councils must have a procedure for complaints and representations about social services, under Welsh Government guidance and 2014 regulations. The report records 170 complaints in 2024/25, down from 182 the year before, and 374 compliments or comments, up from 362. Nine statutory complaints went to Stage 2, the formal investigation stage, and 11 complaints went to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, none of which were investigated. The report says the draft was well received when the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered it on 11 September 2025.

   Based on the minutes, 23.09.25 - Cover Report (Cabinet) Social Services Representations and Complaints 2024-25 (updated 16.09.25), Social Services Representations and Complaints Annual Report 2024-25

7. Delegated authority policy for children in care

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Some children in care say that waiting for permission delays trips and activities, which can cause embarrassment and strain relationships with carers. The policy replaces earlier versions and follows a regional policy on consent for medical treatment, written by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board. The report says there are no direct financial implications, as any costs will come from existing budgets.

   Based on the minutes, Delegated Authority Policy Cabinet Report v0.2, Delegated Authority v0.4

8. Estyn inspections of Bridgend schools, spring 2025

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The report tells Cabinet about the outcomes of Estyn, the education inspectorate for Wales, which inspected five schools and a pupil referral unit (PRU) in spring 2025. The report also records that Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen and Llangewydd Junior School have been removed from the list of schools requiring Estyn review.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Estyn School Inspection Reports (Spring Term 2025) v1.0

9. Forward work programmes

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   A forward work programme lists the reports that Cabinet, Council and scrutiny committees are likely to consider, so the public can see them in advance. The report says a six-month programme gives more chance for pre-decision scrutiny, where committees review proposals before they are decided, and more transparency.

   Based on the minutes, FWP Report, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App1 Cabinet, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App 2 Council, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App3 O&SCS

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: Minutes of Previous Meeting
4. 4

   Bridgend Town Centre Access

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: September Cabinet Report - Bridgend Town Centre Access Update - V0.3 Final, 2425_Public Engagement Report_Final Issued 110925
5. 5

   Draft Outdoor Recreation Facilities Supplementary Planning Guidance

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Cabinet Report_Outdoor Recreation SPG_23.09.25_Final, Appendix 1 - Outdoor Recreation Facilities SPG_Final Draft, Appendix 2 - Consultation Representations, Responses and Actions_Final
6. 6

   Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Guidance

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Cabinet Report_HMO SPG_Final, Appendix 1 - HMO SPG_Final draft
7. 7

   Treasury Management Quarter 1 Report 2025-26

   Papers: Treasury Management Report Quarter 1 2025-26, Appendix A - Treasury Management Quarter 1 2025-26
8. 8

   Anti-Money Laundering Policy

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Anti-Money Laundering Policy review Cabinet report, Appendix A Anti-Money Laundering Policy 2025
9. 9

   Social Services Representations and Complaints Annual Report 2024/25

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: 23.09.25 - Cover Report (Cabinet) Social Services Representations and Complaints 2024-25 (updated 16.09.25), Social Services Representations and Complaints Annual Report 2024-25
10. 10

    Delegated Authority Policy

    Papers: Delegated Authority Policy Cabinet Report v0.2, Delegated Authority v0.4
11. 11

    Outcomes Of Estyn Inspections Of Schools In Bridgend During Spring Term 2025

    Papers: Cabinet Estyn School Inspection Reports (Spring Term 2025) v1.0
12. 12

    Cabinet, Council and Overview and Scrutiny Committees Forward Work Programmes

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: FWP Report, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App1 Cabinet, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App 2 Council, Cabinet Forward Work Programme.docx App3 O&SCS
13. 13

    Information Report for Noting

    Papers: 1. Cabinet Information cover Report - 23rd Sep 2025, Further Report to Cabinet 25 - Cabinet Committee Nominations
14. 14

    Urgent Items

15. 15

    Exclusion of the Public

16. 16

    Approval of Exempt Minutes

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

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

Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.