Cabinet

Cabinet approved the Council's Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report for 2022-23. It also received three reports for information only: Cardiff Capital Region funding for the Dragon Park housing site, care home fee rates for 2023-24, and the appointment of local authority school governors. Some business was held in closed session, and no minute of that part has been published.

1. Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report 2022-23

   Decided

   Cabinet approved the Council's Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report for 2022-23.

   Why

   The Council must produce this report each year under the Welsh Language Standards. They said the 1 million Welsh speaker goal has been a challenge, but the Council has made significant progress in adapting. The report says there were no complaints reaching the formal procedure in 2022-23, and a Welsh Language Commissioner 'mystery shopper' test, which checks the Council's Welsh service, found areas to improve.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, Appendix 1, iia

2. Cardiff Capital Region funding for Dragon Park housing

   Decided

   Cabinet received the report for information.

   Why

   Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has secured £3.5m from its Housing Investment Fund for ground remediation, which means making the ground safe to build on, and related works at Dragon Park. The developer, Davies Homes, plans to build 200 homes, with 20% affordable, by 31 December 2028. The report says the affordable share may rise, and a planning application is out to consultation and may go to Planning Committee in June or July 2023.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, iia

3. Residential and nursing care fee rates for 2023-24

   Decided

   Cabinet received the report for information.

   Why

   The Council pays fees to independent sector care homes, meaning homes not run by the Council, for the residents it places in them. From 1 April 2023 the rate for old age residential care rises from £718 to £794, and the rate for nursing care for dementia (EMI) rises from £815 to £901. The report says fee setting took account of the Real Living Wage for care workers, a 10.1% cost rise, and of cost of living rises, and that the cost is already in the Council's medium term financial plan.

   Based on the minutes, iia, Committee Report

4. Appointment and removal of local authority school governors

   Decided

   Cabinet received the report for information.

   Why

   The Local Authority School Governors Appointment Panel, which includes the Portfolio Member for Education and the Director of Education, met on 17 April 2023 and agreed to appoint 11 local authority governors for four-year terms. The same panel agreed to remove two local authority governors with immediate effect, because they had not attended governing body meetings for a long period and had given no reasons. The report says the new procedures should improve the ability to appoint highly skilled and knowledgeable governors, and it lists the appointments in Appendix 1.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, iia

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

   No apologies for absence were received

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   No declarations of interet were received

3. 3

   Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report For 2022-2023

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that; The following recommendations as contained within the report be approved. 2.1 The Council’s Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report for 2022-2023 be approved.

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr A Barry Comments made by Cllr G Thomas and Welsh Language Champion Cllr M Symonds commending the report. Merthyr Tydfil has a strong Welsh language base thanks to the work of our officers and the fantastic events they have organised. The 1 million Welsh Speaker goal has presented a challenge for the authority, but we have made significant progress in adapting. Resolved that; The following recommendations as contained within the report be approved. 2.1 The Council’s Welsh Language Annual Monitoring Report for 2022-2023 be approved.

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, Appendix 1, iia
4. 4

   Cardiff Capital Region Viability Gap Funding for Dragon Park

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: The report for Information be received.

   Minute

   Resolved that: The report for Information be received.

   Papers: Committee Report, iia
5. 5

   Residential and Nursing Care Fee Rates

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: The report for Information be received.

   Minute

   Resolved that: The report for Information be received.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: iia, Committee Report
6. 6

   Appointment of LA Governors

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: The report for Information be received.

   Minute

   Resolved that: The report for Information be received.

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, iia
7. 7

   Any Other Business Deemed Urgent by the Chair

   Minute

   No other business was deemed urgent by the Chair

8. Closed Session

   Part of an issue followed across 14 meetings

9. 8

   Exempt

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.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Andrew Barry, Vice-ChairIndependentPresent
• Geraint Thomas, ChairIndependentPresent
• Clive Jones, OthermbrsLabourRecorded
• Darren Roberts, OthermbrsLabourRecorded
• Julia Jenkins, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Michelle Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Michelle Symonds, Committee MemberIndependentPresent

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