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Full Council met on 12 July 2023 and approved £255,000 of budget savings, the final part of the £798,000 in-year savings needed for 2023/24 through the Transformation Programme. It also approved the Participation Strategy and the Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2023-28, and the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2022-23.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor K Gibbs.
No Declarations of Interest were made.
Question from a member of the public The Mayor referred to the following question that had been received from a member of the public: "When will the WAO Report on the Review of Whistleblowing Arrangements relating to Safeguarding at Merthyr Council be considered by the Full Council". Councillor J Jenkins Cabinet Member for Social Services then gave the following response to the question: ‘There have been two reports from Welsh Audit Office (WAO) in recent years in respect of Safeguarding, both in August 2019. These were a Review of Corporate Arrangements for Safeguarding and a Review of Whistleblowing arrangements relating to Safeguarding. The initial audits were linked to a National piece of work across all 22 Authorities which was linked to a previous Safeguarding Audit in 2015. Following the 2015 report WAO felt that the Council had responded positively to all the Corporate Safeguarding recommendations. They felt that Corporate Leadership had taken appropriate steps to increase awareness of Safeguarding across the Council and its partners, and that there were clear procedures in place for the safe recruitment of staff. In response to the recommendations, the Corporate Safeguarding Reference Group was relaunched and each Department within the Council is represented at that meeting, ensuring that each department has someone who is championing safeguarding in their area. This group meets quarterly and also includes Elected Members, the Cabinet Member for Social Services, The shadow Cabinet Member and the Safeguarding Champion. Within this meeting we monitor and review training of staff and Elected Members around safeguarding, raise awareness where required and ensure that appropriate training is completed. We have also developed a Corporate Safeguarding Policy which is in line with the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board Policy. Safeguarding is an annual agenda item on the Social Services Scrutiny Committee to update on what work is being done in this area. In response to Whistleblowing the audit was completed following correspondence received in September 2018. There were five recommendations, all of which have been completed. The recommendations linked to above in that we developed a Corporate Safeguarding Policy and have the Corporate Safeguarding Reference Group where training and awareness raising is discussed and rolled out to all areas of the Council. The Whistleblowing Policy was also discussed and reviewed. Communications were sent out to all staff and Elected Members raising awareness of this Policy. The updated Policy was presented to Council this year. In respect of schools Welsh Government have developed a Whistleblowing Policy, which has been shared with all Governing Bodies – this Policy is one that needs to be reviewed and accepted on an annual basis. In relation to HR recommendations there is sufficient capacity to fulfil its statutory duties with schools. Also, regular SLA questionnaires are undertaken to ensure the service provided is reviewed. Consultation takes place to ensure any changes are implemented and the agreement reviewed. Good progress has been made in this area and there is regular scrutiny of this work. Corporate reference group links closely with the board work. Following these reviews an internal audit was commissioned to look at the recommendations and an information report was shared with Cabinet in July 2021’.
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.
The Council approves as accurate (subject to any amendments) the Minutes of the following Meetings:
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 14 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 14 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of Cabinet held 14 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of Cabinet held 14 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Arising on Members present a correction was made as Councillor D Jones is not a Member of this Committee as Dawn Jones Independent member had been listed twice. Resolved subject to the foregoing that: The Minutes of the Standards Committee held 16 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 21 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Planning, Regulatory and Licensing Committee held 21 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Arising on Minute No: 27 – PAT Meetings should read PACT Meetings. Resolved subject to the foregoing that: The Minutes of the Licensing Committee held 12 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 12 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held 12 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 13 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held 13 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Corporate Support and Resources Scrutiny Committee held 20 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Corporate Support and Resources Scrutiny Committee held 20 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 27 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held 27 June 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Learning and LGES Scrutiny Committee held 10 May 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Resolved that: The Minutes of the Learning and LGES Scrutiny Committee held 10 May 2023 be accepted as a correct record.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: (a) The Budget virement proposals outlined in Section 4 and Appendix 1 of the report be approved (b) Identification of the residual savings requirement for the period 2024/25 to 2026/27 within the budget setting exercise for 2024/25 be approved. (c)
Resolved that: (a) The Budget virement proposals outlined in Section 4 and Appendix 1 of the report be approved (b) Identification of the residual savings requirement for the period 2024/25 to 2026/27 within the budget setting exercise for 2024/25 be approved. (c)
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: Council commit to the approach to increase participation in line with the relevant changes under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 and that the Strategy be approved.
Resolved that: Council commit to the approach to increase participation in line with the relevant changes under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 and that the Strategy be approved.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: Council endorse the principles and approach as outlined in the new Communication and Engagement Strategy for 2023-2028 and that this Strategy be approved. Councillor C Jones and Councillor E C Galsworthy entered the Meeting at 5.55 pm and therefore did not vote on this item.
Resolved that: Council endorse the principles and approach as outlined in the new Communication and Engagement Strategy for 2023-2028 and that this Strategy be approved. Councillor C Jones and Councillor E C Galsworthy entered the Meeting at 5.55 pm and therefore did not vote on this item.
Arising on Paragraph 3.5 of the report ‘Ascent’ should read ‘Assent’ Resolved subject to the foregoing that: (a) The Council’s on-going Scrutiny Improvement Programme as detailed in the report be noted (b) The Annual Scrutiny Report for 2002-2023 be approved.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The report for Information be received.
Resolved that: The report for Information be received.
The Mayor advised that Councillor Clive Jones would be celebrating his 80th Birthday during the recess and best wishes were extended to Councillor C T Jones for his birthday. Councillor C T Jones then thanked the Members for their good wishes and referred to the following staff members who had recently retired: Huw Roberts, Janice McIntyre and Gary Harrington and asked if it would be possible to write to these staff members thanking them for their Service. The Mayor responded that this could be done.
No Communications were received from their Worship the Mayor.
Decision as recorded
Resolved that: The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.
Resolved that: The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined under Part 4 of Schedule 12A of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.
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