Council

The Council was due to meet on 23 September 2026. No minutes have been published yet, so this summary covers what was on the agenda, not what was decided. The agenda included the Social Services Annual Report 2025-26, the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan for 2026-27, final planning guidance on educational facilities and housing, and a report on the Democratic Services Committee's annual report.

1. Social Services Annual Report 2025-26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council approve the Social Services Annual Report 2025-26. The law requires the Council to receive this report each year.

   Why

   The Director of Social Services must report each year to Council on how well social services work. The report covers workforce stability, early help for children and families, and pressure on adult care and children's placements. The Social Services, Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee (a committee of councillors that checks services) welcomed the draft on 10 September 2026 and asked for clearer wording on scrutiny roles. The report now includes those changes.

   Based on the minutes, Social Services Annual Report v1.0, Appendix One - BCBC 2025-26 DoSS Annual Report v3.0

2. Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2026-27

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council approve the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan for 2026-27. The plan sets 23 aims, 58 commitments and 53 performance indicators, down from 126 measures in 2025-26 to 111.

   Why

   The plan is a yearly list of the council's goals and how it will measure progress. 2026-27 is a transitional year before a new performance framework from 2027-28. The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (a committee of councillors that checks corporate work) broadly backed the two-phase approach on 7 September 2026. It asked for more detail on the targets and on measures removed, and will review the plan again on 25 September 2026.

   Based on the minutes, Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2026-27 Council Report, Appendix 1 - Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2026-27 v1.2, Appendix 2 - CPDP PI Targets 26-27 v1.1

3. Supplementary Planning Guidance on educational facilities and housing

   Proposed

   Adoption would make it a factor the council must weigh when deciding planning applications.

   Why

   Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) gives detail on how an existing planning policy works. This SPG explains when developers must pay for school places, using updated pupil numbers and building costs. One representation was received during a six-week consultation from a planning consultant for a housebuilder. It raised concerns about double counting where land for a school is also paid for, and about pupil numbers. The council made only minor changes, including on Section 106 agreements (legal agreements that tie developers to contributions).

   Based on the minutes, Council Report - Educational Facilities Residential Development SPG 2026, Appendix 1 - Educational Facilities Residential Development 2026 Supplementary Planning Guidance, Appendix 2 - Consultation Representations Responses and Resultant Action

4. Democratic Services Committee annual report

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Council acknowledges the publication of the Democratic Services Committee Annual Report, published on 16 September 2026.

   Why

   An information report is one that councillors are asked to note, not to vote on. The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 requires the Democratic Services Committee to report to Council each year on its membership, meetings, terms of reference and staffing. The 2025-26 report records that 37 members had completed mandatory e-learning modules, with 50 having started them.

   Based on the minutes, Information Cover Report Council, DSC Annual Report Sep 2026

Written by AI from the reports on the agenda, before the minutes are published. Reports say what council officers recommend; the meeting can decide differently. Once the minutes are out, this becomes a summary of what was decided.

1. 1

   Apologies for absence

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

3. 3

   Approval of Minutes

   Papers: 260722 Council Minutes
4. 4

   To receive announcements from:

5. 5

   To receive announcements by the Leader

6. 6

   Social Services Annual Report 2025-26

   Papers: Social Services Annual Report v1.0, Appendix One - BCBC 2025-26 DoSS Annual Report v3.0
7. 7

   Corporate Plan Delivery Plan for 2026-27

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2026-27 Council Report, Appendix 1 - Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2026-27 v1.2, Appendix 2 - CPDP PI Targets 26-27 v1.1
8. 8

   Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG): Educational Facilities and Residential Development

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Council Report - Educational Facilities Residential Development SPG 2026, Appendix 1 - Educational Facilities Residential Development 2026 Supplementary Planning Guidance, Appendix 2 - Consultation Representations Responses and Resultant Action
9. 9

   Information Report for Noting

   Papers: Information Cover Report Council, DSC Annual Report Sep 2026
10. 10

    To receive the following questions from:

11. 11

    Notice of Motion Proposed by:

    Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

12. 12

    Urgent Items

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.

• Heidi Bennett, ChairpersonLabourPresent
• Alan Wathan, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Alex Ulberini-Williams, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Amanda Williams, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Anthony Berrow, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Chris Davies, Committee MemberLlynfi IndependentsPresent
• Colin Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• David Harrison, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Della Hughes, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Elaine Winstanley, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Eugene Caparros, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Freya Bletsoe, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Gary Haines, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Graham Walter, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Heather Griffiths, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Huw David, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Hywel Williams, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Ian Spiller, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Ian Williams, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Jane Gebbie, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jefferson Tildesley MBE, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Johanna Llewellyn-Hopkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• John Spanswick, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jon-Paul Blundell, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jonathan Edward Pratt, Committee MemberConservativePresent
• Malcolm James, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Mark John, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Martin Hughes, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Martin Williams, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Martyn Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Maxine Lewis, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Melanie Jayne Evans, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Neelo Farr, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Norah Clarke, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Owain Clatworthy, Committee MemberRestore BritainPresent
• Paul Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Paula Ford, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Philip Jenkins, Committee MemberLlynfi IndependentsPresent
• Rhys Goode, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Richard Collins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Richard Granville, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Richard Williams, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Rob Smith, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Ross Penhale-Thomas, Committee MemberLlynfi IndependentsSent apologies
• Sean Aspey, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Simon Griffiths, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Steven Bletsoe, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Steven Easterbrook, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Tim Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Timothy Wood, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• William Kendall, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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