Full Council

Full Council approved keeping council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes from April 2026, keeping £427,067.79 of Trecatti landfill profit centrally, a corporate risk policy, a change to the Democratic Services Committee, and the appointment of a new Director of Education. Members also heard a policing presentation, noted reports on AI use and a petition about a house in multiple occupation.

1. Policing strategy for Merthyr Tydfil

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, E Wools, presented the policing strategy and answered members' questions. The team said Operation Sentinel targets areas with higher scores on the Cambridge Crime Harm Index, a measure of how harmful offences are, mapped across 300m² grids. Investment in Safer Neighbourhood Teams of one sergeant and six police constables has shown early results since January, and Operation Clutch tackles e-bike crime through CCTV, facial recognition, home visits, summons, and vehicle seizure and crushing.

   Based on the minutes

2. Council tax premiums on empty and second homes

   Decided

   Members approved the report's recommendations, so the premiums continue from 1 April 2026. Long-term empty homes will pay 100% extra if empty for one to five years, 150% extra for five to ten years, and 200% extra for over ten years. Second homes will pay 100% extra. Composite properties, which can fall under both premium types, will not pay a premium. The council also approved the power to take direct action where an owner is unlikely to bring a property back into use.

   Why

   The report says premiums encourage owners to bring empty homes back into use and help meet housing need. At 31 December 2025 there were 983 empty, unfurnished homes, 463 of them empty for more than six months, and 202 second homes. Officers said premium income was £595,000 last year and £525,000 by 31 January this year, though new software was needed to track it.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, iia

3. Decided

   Members noted the report.

   Why

   The Internet Acceptable Use Policy is now called the Internet and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. It sets rules for AI use, requiring fairness, explainable decisions, human responsibility and security checks. All new AI projects need an AI impact assessment, which checks risks and benefits before work starts. The report says the policy was discussed with unions and reviewed by the Sustainable Merthyr Tydfil Scrutiny committee, which checks council work, in January.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, Background Paper

4. Trecatti landfill site profit share

   Decided

   Members approved the report's recommendations. Officers said the decision was only about keeping £427,067.79 centrally to offset lost Shared Prosperity Funding, not about approving specific spending.

   Why

   The council receives a share of the operation's cashflow under a profit-sharing agreement with Biffa Waste Services, when that cashflow is positive. The payment of £492,067.79 relates to the year to 31 March 2025, and no profit was available between 2016 and 2024. Officers said two operators reached capacity, which increased use of the site. Past allocations included community projects such as Citizens Advice and Merthyr Food Bank, and some years went to ward allocations or council tax support.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report

5. Corporate risk policy and strategy

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The policy is reviewed every year, and this year's review reflects a 2025 internal audit that gave substantial assurance with minor recommendations. Risk appetite means how much risk the council is willing to take, and it stays the same for now. All scrutiny committees, which check council work, have now considered corporate risks, as the Governance and Audit Committee recommended.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, Appendix 1

6. Democratic Services Committee structure

   Decided

   Members approved the report's recommendations. The Democratic Services Committee's work will be done by the Corporate Support and Resources Scrutiny Committee, with the three other Scrutiny Chairs included.

   Why

   The committee had only six members and a quorum of three, meaning the minimum number needed for a valid meeting. At its November 2025 meeting only three members attended. Including the three remaining Scrutiny Chairs would widen experience in overseeing members' resources. All the chairs agreed.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report

7. Appointment of Director of Education

   Decided

   Members approved the appointment of Ryan Morgan as Statutory Director of Education.

   Why

   The current Director of Education is retiring, and the post is statutory, meaning the law requires it. The council used an outside recruitment firm, GatensbySanderson, and received 16 applications. The post is already budgeted for in the Medium-Term Financial Plan, the council's multi-year budget plan.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report

8. Petition about a house in multiple occupation at 44 Aberfan Road

   Decided

   Members noted the report.

   Why

   A petition with about 956 signatures, received on 19 January 2026, raised concerns about a proposed change of use of 44 Aberfan Road to a house in multiple occupation (HMO), a home shared by several unrelated households. The report says the lead petitioner was told it would be passed to the relevant department.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report

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 received from Cllr J Jenkins Cllr J Davies and Cllr M Symonds

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   Cllr A Williams-Price declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5 related to their portfolio. Cllr G Lewis declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5 as an owner of an empty property.

3. 3

   Policing Strategy for Merthyr Tydfil

   Minute

   Presented by South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner E Wools. Following questions from members the Commissioners team confirmed; · Operation Sentinel uses the Cambridge Crime Harm Index, scoring offences within 300m² grids. Higher?harm areas are prioritised. · Engagement with elected members will be strengthened. · Parents are essential partners; engagement is already happening through school programmes. Older people’s vulnerabilities (online scams, VAWG, etc.) are part of victim?services expansion. · Investment in Safer Neighbourhood Teams (1 Sergeant + 6 PCs). Significant early results since January.Work also includes business partnerships and criminal justice coordination for sentencing and support. · Operation Clutch uses the following to reduce E Bike crime: CCTV and facial recognition Home visits Summons & ASB referrals Vehicle seizure and crushing Members thanked the team for the presentation and commended their work.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

4. 4

   Minutes of meeting Wednesday, 14 January 2026 of Full Council

   Minute

   Approved as accurate.

   Papers: Minutes
5. 5

   Council Tax Premiums on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr A Williams-Price In response to members questions officers confirmed the following; · Additional software had to be purchased to accurately evaluate income generated from Council Tax premiums. · All Welsh authorities purchased similar software from the same provider. · Despite lower premium collection, revenue remains strong: • £595,000 collected last year • £525,000 collected by 31 Jan this year Recommendations as contained within the report were approved

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, iia
6. 6

   Update to the Internet Acceptable Use Policy to include Artificial Intelligence (AI)

   Minute

   Contents of the report were noted.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, Background Paper
7. 7

   Trecatti Landfill Site Profit Share

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr A Williams-Price Following questions from members officers confirmed the following; · In 2024/25, two operators reached capacity, increasing usage of the Trecatti site. · Past allocations included community projects such as Citizens Advice and Merthyr Food Bank. Some years used for ward allocations, some for council tax support, depending on Council decisions. · The decision is not to approve specific spending, it is only about the principle of retaining the £427k centrally to mitigate SPF loss. Recommendations as contained within the report were approved.

   Papers: Committee Report
8. 8

   Corporate Risk Policy and Strategy

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr D Sammon Recommendations as contained within the report were approved

   Papers: Committee Report, Appendix 1
9. 9

   Democratic Services Committee Structure

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr D Sammon Recommendations as contained within the report were approved.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report
10. 10

    Appointment of Director of Education

    Minute

    Presented by Cllr B Carter The recommendations as contained within the report were approved

    Papers: Committee Report
11. 11

    Petitions Received by the Authority

    Minute

    Contents of the report were noted.

    Papers: Committee Report
12. 12

    To deal with any other urgent business or correspondence

    Minute

    No other business was deemed urgent

13. 13

    To receive communications from Their Worship the Mayor

    Minute

    No communications were received

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.

• A Williams-Price: Personal and prejudicial interest on Council Tax Premiums on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings

  Interest relating to their portfolio, as the Cabinet member who presented the item.

• G Lewis: Personal and prejudicial interest on Council Tax Premiums on Long Term Vacant and Periodically Occupied Dwellings

  Owns an empty property.

• David Isaac, Vice-ChairLabourPresent
• Paula Layton, ChairDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Andrew Barry, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Anna Williams- Price, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Bill Smith, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Brent Carter, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Claire Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Clive Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Clive Tovey, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Darren Roberts, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• David Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Declan Sammon, Committee MemberDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Ernie Galsworthy, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gareth Lewis, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gareth Richards, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Geraint Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Gillian Preston, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Ian Thomas, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jamie Scriven, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Jeremy Davies, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• John Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Julia Jenkins, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Kevin Gibbs, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Lee Davies, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Lisa Mytton, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Louise Minett-Vokes, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Michelle Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Michelle Symonds, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Scott Thomas, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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