Agenda and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from a Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Councillor Dylan Rees declared a personal interest in Item 3 – Canolfan Addysg y Bont – Roof Repairs.  Having attained legal opinion Councillor Rees was able to take part and vote in respect of this item.

To consider adoption of the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test”.

It was RESOLVED to adopt the following:-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

To submit a report by the Head of Highways, Waste and Property Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Highways, Waste and Property in relation to the above.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways, Waste and Property said that it is necessary to carry out extensive repairs to the roof structure at Canolfan Addysg y Bont as it has been found that significant parts of the roof are unsafe owing to water ingress through the roof structure.  The work to rectify the roof now needs to progress as a matter of urgency, so that the pupils may return to their school as soon as possible, and to reduce further deterioration to the structure. 

The Head of Highways, Waste and Property and the Architectural Services Manager gave a verbal update on the current situation at Canolfan Addysg y Bont and presented the written report which had already been provided to Members.  The Head of Highways, Waste and Property further reported on the alternative arrangements being considered to accommodate the pupils following the school holidays and until the remedial work has been completed. 

It was confirmed that legal negotiations in respect of liability are taking place at present. 

Further questioned were asked by Members, to which Officers responded. 

The Members of the County Council were in agreement that the well-being of the pupils affected by the roof repairs required at Canolfan Addysg y Bont are paramount and any disruption to their education should be kept to the minimum reasonably possible.

Following the vote with 21 in favour and 2 abstaining it was RESOLVED to authorise the:-

·      release of up to £1.5m from the Council’s General Reserves in order to undertake the remedial works to provide a new roof finish;

·      Head of Service (Highways, Waste and Property) to undertake such works that are necessary to identify the reasons as to why the roof construction is defective and to make the necessary arrangements for the design and the construction of the remedial works;

·      Head of Service (Highways, Waste and Property) in consultation with the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer and the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer to continue with a claim to recover the cost of the remedial works and all other associated costs from any party(ies) deemed liable for the defective construction of the roof.