The Sustainable Merthyr Tydfil Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss several key issues, including a violence and aggression policy, the first quarter performance, risk and finance report for 2025/26, and the forward work programme for the coming year. The committee agreed to review the issues of future performance reports, a further corporate self-assessment report in November and an update on the Violence and Aggression Policy in April at the next Quarterly Technical Meeting.

Violence and Aggression Policy

Councillor Declan Sammon, Cabinet Member of Governance, Transformation & Social Partnerships, presented a report on the Violence & Aggression Policy, an umbrella policy designed to provide broad coverage across multiple areas of council operations.

Key points of discussion included:

• The potential addition of a reference to front line services within the policy.
• Promotion of the Employee Protection Register, which currently has 10 people on it.
• Development of a quick reference guide for the policy.
• Reporting baseline data on the impact of the policy to scrutiny after six months.
• Implementation and monitoring of the policy through management structures, with violence and aggression included in departmental risk assessments.
• A review of the Drugs and Alcohol Policy.

Members agreed that the report was comprehensive and that the recommendations could add value ahead of going to Full Council.

Quarter 1 - Performance, Risk and Finance Report 2025/26

Councillor Declan Sammon also presented the Quarter 1 - Performance, Risk and Finance Report 2025/26, noting that the dates of future performance reports being presented to this scrutiny may need to be reviewed.

Key discussion points:

• The need for all relevant directors to be present for these items to ensure questions could be answered on all sections of the report.
• Questions were raised relating to Waste Services targets, Social Services overspend, and Education overspend, which were noted and would be referred to the relevant directors.
• Explanation of the Target Risk Score, with scores and the risk description constantly reviewed and updated as part of an agreed process.
• The projected overspend in the Corporate Centre budget relates to the whole year, not just the first quarter, and predominantly results from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme[^1] which is demand led. [^1]: The Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) helps people on low incomes with their council tax bill.
• The Director of Governance and Resources, Sarah King, confirmed and detailed the new housing legislation being introduced.
• The Corporate Board is yet to be decided and is currently being considered as part of the wider governance review.
• Sarah King confirmed that the target for SPMT005 has not been reduced, and the figure stated within the report will be clarified. The authority is currently on track to meet targets stated with the Empty Property Strategy.
• The underspend from the budget setting is the result of less demand on temporary accommodation.
• When leisure provision was brought in-house, there was no maintenance budget for the transfer, which resulted in an increased maintenance budget for Aberfan Community Centre.
• All Corporate Assets are being assessed for savings through energy and repair costs.
• Neighbourhood Services overspend explained, however no information on their legal fees were provided.
• The budget pressure at HWRCs was projected to the end of the year.
• The savings target made by Neighbourhood Services are those delivered against what was agreed in March.

Members appreciated that it was the first report of its kind and although improvements could be made moving forward, the report was welcomed. Sarah King welcomed the improvements identified and commented that future reports would be presented ahead of Cabinet and Full Council.

Forward Work Programme 2025/2026

The committee considered the Forward Work Programme 2025/2026 and agreed to review the issues of future performance reports, a further corporate self-assessment report in November and an update on the Violence and Aggression Policy in April at the next Quarterly Technical Meeting.