The Cabinet approved a grant of £1000 to Bethlehem Evangelical Church in Aberavon to help them replace their boiler, and agreed the process for the next round of third sector grants that will be awarded in 2025/26. They also set the council tax base for 2025/26, reviewed progress on the council's capital budget, and noted various monitoring reports.

Third Sector Grants 2025/26

The cabinet agreed to run a one-year third sector grant scheme for 2025/26 in which organisations can apply for up to £25,000 to deliver projects that will contribute to the priorities contained in the council's Corporate Plan 2024-2027. In particular, applications that address the issues of child poverty, mental health, and the needs of vulnerable adults will be welcomed. Applications will be accepted between the 9th of December 2024 and the 24th of January 2025, and they will be evaluated against criteria that assess whether they will reduce demand on council services and whether they will attract other funding. A total of £239,000 will be available for the scheme. The cabinet noted that a review of the council's third sector grant and commissioning arrangements will be undertaken in 2025, with recommendations to be implemented from April 2026.

Capital Budget 2024/25

The cabinet reviewed progress on the council's capital budget for 2024/25. The updated budget for capital spending is £68.834m. Work is underway on a number of projects including a programme to install new kitchens in primary schools, the redevelopment of the former Youth Offending building at Harbourside, the regeneration of Gnoll Country Park, the provision of new industrial units in the valleys, and the improvement of community facilities.

Neath Port Talbot Welsh Church Act Trust Fund

The cabinet considered a grant application to the Neath Port Talbot Welsh Church Act Trust Fund from Bethlehem Evangelical Church. The council is the trustee of the Neath Port Talbot Welsh Church Act Trust Fund, a fund that provides grants to churches and chapels, individuals, and charitable organisations across the county borough. The Fund makes grants according to a set of criteria that state that grants will not normally exceed £1,000 and in exceptional circumstances £4,000 per applicant. The fund will not provide recurring grants to the same applicant and successful applicants must take up their grants within two years of them being awarded. Priority is given to applications that are of significant benefit to the Neath Port Talbot area, and grants will not normally cover the full cost of a project. Bethlehem Evangelical Church applied to the fund for a grant to help them meet the cost of replacing their boiler and installing new pipework and radiators. The total cost of the project was £12,900 plus VAT. In 2009, the church was awarded a grant of £2,000 to repair their roof. The cabinet approved a grant of £1,000 to the church.

Council Tax Base 2025/26

The cabinet approved the council tax base¹ for 2025/26. The council tax base for 2025/26 was set at 49,703.53. This means that for every £1 levied in council tax, the council will receive £49,703. The cabinet noted that the council tax base has been calculated to include 100% premiums on top of the standard rate of council tax for long-term empty properties and second homes. The council tax base is the number of Band D equivalent dwellings in a council area. It is used to calculate how much money each council will receive from council tax.

Traffic Orders

The cabinet made decisions on the following traffic regulation orders:

Walters Road, Melyn, Neath

The cabinet considered a traffic regulation order to revoke the existing no waiting at any time restriction outside number 2 Walters Road, Melyn. The order was requested by a resident who was having difficulty accessing their driveway due to the length of the existing double yellow lines. Following consultation, two objections to the revocation were received. One objector wished for the existing double yellow lines to remain in place, and one requested that the council enforce the current restrictions. The council noted that the resident who originally requested the shortening of the double yellow lines had moved away and that the new resident wished for the lines to remain. The cabinet approved the objections and withdrew the order.

Elba Crescent, Crymlyn Burrows

The cabinet considered a traffic regulation order to make Elba Crescent and Baldwins Crescent in Crymlyn Burrows an access-only road. The order was requested by local councillors in response to concerns from residents about indiscriminate parking in the area. Consultation with local residents and businesses revealed two responses in support of the proposal and one objection. The objection was made by a local business who was concerned that the restriction would prevent their customers from parking outside their premises. Another local business owner raised concerns about road safety if parents could no longer drop off their children on Elba Crescent. South Wales Police objected to the order because they said it would be difficult to enforce and would place an unnecessary burden on their resources. The council noted that vehicles that needed to access properties on Elba Crescent and Baldwins Crescent would still be allowed. The cabinet overruled the objections and approved the order.

Appointment of Returning Officer

The cabinet agreed to indemnify Frances O'Brien, the council's Chief Executive, against personal liability in her role as Returning Officer² for elections held in Neath Port Talbot. The indemnity will not cover actions that constitute a criminal offence, actions that are the result of fraud or deliberate wrongdoing, or actions relating to alleged defamation. A Returning Officer is the person responsible for the conduct of an election in a constituency. They are responsible for ensuring that the election is conducted fairly and in accordance with the law.

List of Approved Contractors

The cabinet approved the following amendments to the council's List of Approved Contractors:

• Safeguard Pest Control & Environmental Services Ltd were added to the list in categories 4 (Clinical Waste) and 5 (Pest Control).
• The following companies were removed from the list because they have ceased trading or are in liquidation:
  • Nicholls Colton Group Ltd (Category 78 - Ground Investigation, 111 - Specialist Contractor)
  • Reactive Integrated Services Ltd (Category 31 - Asbestos Handling & Removal, 111 - Specialist Contractor)
  • Cintrix Systems Ltd (Category 49 - Fire Alarms, 68 - Smoke/Fire Detectors) The cabinet noted that the List of Approved Contractors is used by council departments when procuring work and that it is regularly updated to ensure competitiveness.

Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2024/25

The cabinet noted the Revenue Budget Monitoring report that provides an update on the council's financial position for 2024/25. The report projects that the council will overspend its revenue budget by £2.684m in 2024/25. The projected overspend includes a £7.6m overspend in the delegated schools budget. This is largely due to increased demand and cost for out-of-county school placements and home-to-school transport, as well as uncertainties around future funding for teachers' pensions and pay. The report also highlights projected overspends in the Social Services, Housing & Community Safety directorate, in particular for children's and elderly residential care and for elderly domiciliary care. The report notes that cost-saving initiatives are being developed as part of the directorate's transformation agenda. The Environment directorate is also projected to overspend due to pressures on highways maintenance, public lighting, and building maintenance budgets. The report notes that officers will implement additional cost-saving and income-generating measures to try to reduce the projected overspend. The cabinet also noted the current position on the council's reserves.

Treasury Management Monitoring Reports

The cabinet noted two reports that provided updates on the council's treasury management activities. The reports confirmed that the council is managing its investments and borrowing in line with its treasury management strategy and that it has not borrowed in advance of need. The reports also noted that the council is on track to meet its target for investment income for 2024/25 and that it has continued to operate within the treasury and prudential limits set out in its treasury management strategy statement.

Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report

The cabinet approved the Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report for 2023/2024, which is the final report for the current Strategic Equality Plan that ends in 2024. The report sets out the progress that has been made in meeting the objectives of the plan. This includes work to tackle poverty, improve access to services, promote community cohesion, and ensure that the council's workforce is representative of the community it serves. The report will now be published. The cabinet noted that a new Strategic Equality Plan for 2024-2028 has been published.

Private Session

The cabinet excluded members of the public from the meeting whilst they made decisions on the following matters:

• Glamorgan Further Education Trust Fund
• Harold and Joyce Charles Trust

The decisions were made in private because they involved the financial or business affairs of individuals.