Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Agreed that Councillor S.K.Hunt be appointed Chairperson for the meeting.

The Chair welcomed all to the meeting.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Minutes from the meeting of 18 April, 2023, were agreed as an accurate record.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.

Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services – democratic.services@npt.gov.uk – no later than two working days prior to the meeting. Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No questions had been received.

That having due regard to the integrated impact screening assessment:

1.           Delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to commence the provision of a celebrant service for services performed in the Neath Port Talbot locality.

2.           The payment of £200 per celebrant service, be approved.

3.           A report be brought back to the Cabinet (Policy and Resources) Scrutiny Committee on the provision of this service in Spring 2024.

Officers clarified that there were no impacts identified within the Integrated Impact Assessment, so this should have been ticked as ‘neutral’, rather than ‘positive’ or ‘negative’, within the appendix to the circulated report,

The Cabinet Member for Finance welcomed the new service as a means of income generation.

Decisions:

That having due regard to the integrated impact screening assessment:

1.           Delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to commence the provision of a celebrant service for services performed in the Neath Port Talbot locality.

2.           The payment of £200 per celebrant service, be approved.

3.           A report be brought back to the Cabinet (Policy and Resources) Scrutiny Committee on the provision of this service in Spring 2024.

Reason for Decisions:

To expand and enhance the service by offering Civil Funerals, utilising processes and skills already available, including bookings, customer engagement, building ceremonies and ceremony delivery, meeting increased demand for the local community.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decisions will be implemented after the three day call in period.

1.           That the draft annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023, be approved.

2.           That the draft annual report and financial statements be submitted to the Wales Audit Office for independent examination.

3.           That the accounts be submitted to the Charity Commission, should no material changes are identified by Wales Audit Office.

Officers corrected a typographical error on page 31 of the circulated report pack – line 2 of the table should read ‘The Rectorial Benefice of Aberavon, St Marys Church’ and ‘….external remedial works to maintain the fabric of the building’.

Line 3 of the same table, relates to ‘Sardis English Baptist Church, Resolven’.

Decisions:

1.           That the draft annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023, be approved.

2.           That the draft annual report and financial statements be submitted to the Wales Audit Office for independent examination.

3.           That the accounts be submitted to the Charity Commission, should no material changes are identified by Wales Audit Office.

Reason for Decisions:

To approve the draft annual report and financial statements for the Welsh Church Act Trust Fund 2022/23.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decisions will be implemented after the three day call in period.

That a grant of 60% of actual costs up to a maximum of £12,000, towards the cost of works to refurbish and improve a children's play area in the grounds of the community centre, be awarded to Crynant Community Council (on receipt of paid invoices together with a copy bank statement).

Decision:

That a grant of 60% of actual costs up to a maximum of £12,000, towards the cost of works to refurbish and improve a children's play area in the grounds of the community centre, be awarded to Crynant Community Council (on receipt of paid invoices together with a copy bank statement).

Reason for Decision:

To enable community improvements..

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period.

That a grant of 50% of actual costs up to a maximum of £10,000, towards the purchase and installation of IT equipment; the set up of a permanent office base for the Clerk; and the purchase of a projector for the main hall, be awarded to Dyffryn Clydach Community Council (on receipt of paid invoices together with a copy bank statement).

Decision:

That a grant of 50% of actual costs up to a maximum of £10,000, towards the purchase and installation of IT equipment; the set up of a permanent office base for the Clerk; and the purchase of a projector for the main hall, be awarded to Dyffryn Clydach Community Council (on receipt of paid invoices together with a copy bank statement).

Reason for Decision:

To enable community improvements.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period.

1.           That the Trustees of Pontardawe Heritage and Visitor Centre be granted £2,600 per annum towards the cost of the rent (the equivalent of approx. 95% of the new rent), in relation to the lease of Pontardawe Heritage and Visitor Centre, Pontardawe.

2.           That the British Red Cross be granted £1,000 to continue to support vulnerable people, for general support within the County Borough.

3.           That the Trustees of Bryn Bowls Club be granted £575 per annum, towards the cost of the rent (the equivalent of approx. 95% of the new rent), in relation to the lease of the Bowls Pavilion at Bryn Recreation Ground.

Decisions:

1.           That the Trustees of Pontardawe Heritage and Visitor Centre be granted £2,600 per annum towards the cost of the rent (the equivalent of approx. 95% of the new rent), in relation to the lease of Pontardawe Heritage and Visitor Centre, Pontardawe.

2.           That the British Red Cross be granted £1,000 to continue to support vulnerable people, for general support within the County Borough.

3.           That the Trustees of Bryn Bowls Club be granted £575 per annum, towards the cost of the rent (the equivalent of approx. 95% of the new rent), in relation to the lease of the Bowls Pavilion at Bryn Recreation Ground.

Reason for Decisions:

To decide on the amount of financial support in respect of the grant applications received.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decisions will be implemented after the three day call in period.

That the report be noted.

Decision:

That the report be noted.