1.Budget and Precept for 2018/19(Pages 6 - 29)

Chief Executive Report

Council – January 2018

1.Budget and Precept for 2018/19(Pages 6 - 29)

The Budget/Precept for 2018-2019 having been considered at Council in December using the provisional Tax base rate figures provided was further considered at Policy and Finance Committee on Wednesday 24th January 2018. Members are referred to the attached letter from RCT CBC confirming the actual base figure of £10,243.02.

The Policy and Finance Committee recommend to Full Council the final Budget and Precept figures as attached.

DECISION REQUIRED:

To accept the final figures recommended by the Policy and Finance Committee relating to the Town Council’s Budget and Precept 2018/2019.

2.Proposed works for New Lift in Pontypridd Museum (Pages 30 - 57)

Further to the ongoing updates in relation to this project which have been put before Members at Council in November and December as well as the Policy and Finance Committee in December and January. Members are referred to the attached plans and documentation received from Alwyn Jones Architect and will note that application is now being made for listed building consent and the proposed building works are currently being put out for tender.

Larger scale copies of the plans contained in the Architect’s bundle of documents will be made available to Members at Council.

DECISION REQUIRED:

To note the report.

3.Post Office Closure in Pontypridd Town Centre (Pages 58 - 63)

Members are referred to the attached Notice which has been received in relation to the Temporary Closure of the Post Office in Pontypridd Town Centre, together with email dated 26th Januaryfrom the external relations manager apologising for the temporary closure and assuring us that they are doing all they can to restore services as soon as possible. Members will be kept appraised of any ongoing development regarding this closure.

DECISION REQUIRED:

To note the report.

4.Wear Red for Wales and Velindre (pages 64 - 71)

Members are referred to the attached promotional documentation regarding fundraising for Velindre Hospital. A number of events are being organised for 2nd February 2018 which is being termed a “Help us Paint Wales Red Event”. It is proposed that Pontypridd Town Council light up Pontypridd Museum red for this event.

DECISION REQUIRED:

To note the report

5.Community and Town Council Review Consultation (pages 72 - 73)

Members are referred to the attached four questions which has been raised as part of this consultation and have been sent out individually to Members.

E-mail notification of the Independent Review Pane’s drop-in session in Merthyr Tydfil on 12th February 2018 has been sent out to members separately.

Responses are invited in order that the Town Council’s views may be passed on as soon as possible.

DECISION REQUIRED:

Pontypridd Town Council’s response to the four questions raised by the review.

6.Twinning Celebrations (pages 74 - 85)

Members are referred to the documentation attached received from the Twinning Association and will note that it is proposed that Twinning Celebrations take place from July 25th until July 28th 2018 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Twinning Agreement between Pontypridd and Nürtingen.

Members have already been notified of the Town Twinning Event arranged in Nürtingen for 10th-13th May 2018. The itinerary and details of arrangements for accommodation are contained in the attached program. If any Members are interested in attending this event please let the Chief Executive know by 31st January 2018.

In addition, it has been suggested in relation to the Proposed Celebrations to take place in July that a Twinning Association subcommittee be created in relation to Pontypridd’s involvement in this event.

It is suggested to Members that Pontypridd Town Council has a key role to play within these celebrations and that one such event could involve the ceremonial signing of a friendship agreement between the two Towns. To this end a copy of the agreement which exists between Llantrisant and Crécy-en-Ponthieu is attached as an example of the type of agreement which could be entered into by the two participating Towns. The Mayor of Nürtingen has expressed a keen interest in entering into such an agreement with Pontypridd.

Please see attached for further information a copy of the original memorandum of understanding agreed between RCT CBC Twinning Association, together with a copy of the last minutes of the Association.

DECISION REQUIRED:

a)Whether the Town Council wishes to put forward representatives for a Twinning sub-committee.

b)Whether to move forward with arrangements to sign a Friendship Agreement between Pontypridd and Nürtingen as part of the Anniversary Celebrations planned for 2018.

7.International Women’s Day Event 8th March 2018

Members are asked to note that International Women’s Day this year falls on Thursday 8th March 2018 and that there will be an appropriate celebratory event in Pontypridd Museum to mark this date.

The sum of £2,000 has been budgeted for this event.

Members will already have received an email from the Curator advising that a Planning meeting for this event has been arranged for 10.30am on Tuesday 6th February 2018 to take place in the Museum basement. Any Member who wishes to be involved in this event is asked to contact the Curator directly.

DECISION REQUIRED:

To note the report.

8. The Taff Vale Development (pages 86 - 87)

Members are referred to the attached document received from RCT CBC which confirms that, as Members may already be aware that initial construction works in relation to The Taff Vale Redevelopment in Pontypridd have formally commenced. RCT CBC have confirmed that they will keep us involved regularly regarding the progress of this project and Members will be duly updated as matters progress.

DECISION REQUIRED:

To note the report

9.Events – Remembrance Service 2018 (page 88)

Members are referred to the attached schedule of Town Council events for 2018 as prepared by the Senior Executive Officer.

Members are in particular referred to the Remembrance Service which this year will fall on 11th November 2018. This year of course is a very special event as it is thecentenary of the end of World War 1 and Members may wish to consider appropriately expanding this event to recognise the centenary significance.

In relation to this the Chief Executive attended a meeting at the Cabinet Office on 24th Januarywith various representatives of RCT CBC including Christian Hanagan, Service Director. At this meeting a proposal was made that the Town Council consider working in partnership with RCT CBC in organising this year’s event. RCT CBC are offering to make appropriate resources available to the Town Council in order to support an expanded event.

DECISION REQUIRED:

Whether to agree to the Town Council working in partnership with RCT CBC to organise this year’s Centenary Remembrance Service.

10.Local Access Forum (pages 90 - 97)

Members are referred to the attached documentation received from the Public Rights of Way Officer at RCT CBC. Members will note that this includes an invitation for expressions of interest in becoming a Member of the Local Access Forum and that any applications should be returned to the Countryside Section of RCT CBC by 8th February 2018.

Current Town Council representatives on the LAF are Councillor Mary Harvey and Councillor Steve Carter.