CYNGOR BWRDEISTREF SIROL
RHONDDA CYNON TAF
COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
GWŶS I GYFARFOD PWYLLGOR
C Xxxxxxx
Cyfarwyddwr Materion Cyfathrebu a Phennaeth Dros Dro’r Gwasanaethau Llywodraethol
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf Y Pafiliynau Parc Hen Lofa'r Cambrian
Cwm Clydach, CF40 2XX
Xxxxx gyswllt: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Democrataidd (01443 424098)
DYMA WŶS I CHI i gyfarfod rhithwir o GYNGOR BWRDEISTREF SIROL RHONDDA CYNON TAF sydd i'w gynnal ar DYDD MERCHER, 17 Ionawr 2024 am 5pm
Bwriedir i’r cyfarfod yma gael ei weddarlledu’n fyw, mae rhagor o fanylion am hyn yma
AMSER | EITEM | TUDALEN(N AU) |
EITEM 1.DIWYGIO'R RHYBUDD O GYNNIG Diwygio’r Rhybudd O Gynnig (Eitem 12 4.2 a 4.3) | 3 - 8 |
Cyfarwyddwr Gwasanaeth – Gwasanaethau Democrataidd a Chyfathrebu
At: Pob Aelod o'r Cyngor
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COUNCIL MEETING 17 JANUARY 2024
AMENDMENT TO THE NOTICE OF MOTION AS SET OUT IN ITEM 12 OF THE COUNCIL AGENDA
In accordance with Procedural Rule 10.4.1 of Part 4 of the Council Constitution the following amendment was received in the names of County Borough Councillors K Xxxxxx, X X Xxxxxx, X Xxxxx, X Xxxxxx, X Xxxx, H Xxxxxx, X Xxxxx, A Xxxxx to the Notice of Motion as set out at item 12 (4.2) of the Council Agenda.
4.2 A few months ago, it was announced that TATA Steel – a major employer in South Wales (in particular), and the U.K. Westminster Government had agreed a package of support to “secure the future of Welsh steel.”
Despite the overall package amounting to a headline-grabbing £1.25bn, the reality is that the package and transition ambitions have fallen well short and the announcement amounts to little more than a sticking plaster for the continued production of steel in Wales.
The investment only supports the transition from blast furnaces to Electric Arc Furnaces, which will mean that the site at nearby Port Talbot will no longer have the ability to produce primary steel as the quality and grade of production will not be up to the necessary standard due to the fact that Electric Arc Furnaces recycle scrap steel.
This short-sighted investment plan should instead have focussed and made provisions for a transition to the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) method of production. DRI can be supported by the use of Natural Gas before opening up the possibility of Hydrogen-powered steel production, which is a more sustainable method of steel production and considerably more ambitious in terms of decarbonisation.
In addition, and most importantly, the investment package is also estimated to lead to 3,000 job losses, with the majority of those coming from the Port Talbot plant.
There are RCT residents working at the steel works in Port Talbot and it is likely that a significant proportion of that number will be affected – either directly or indirectly.
Since the announcement, it has emerged that neither the Trade Unions nor the Welsh Government formed any part of these discussions, yet they are the very organisations who will have to pick up the pieces and provide support to those affected when these anticipated job losses occur.
This Council therefore notes:
• That the “investment package” for TATA Steel falls well short of what is required and does little to secure the future of the industry in Wales.
• That the U.K. Government’s bilateral dealings with TATA have no regard for the significant workforce impact that will form part of the expected job losses.
• That the transition to solely Electric Arc Furnace production will be a short- sighted move for British steel production capacity and is a considerable missed opportunity in terms of decarbonising a vital part of the British (and Welsh) economy.
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This Council resolves to:
• Request that the Council Leader writes to the Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd that represent the communities in Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx and ask that they jointly support the representations made by this Council to the relevant U.K. Government Minister(s) to express this Council’s view that the investment package announced falls woefully short.
• Notes the findings of the “Wrong Deal for Steel” and supports the steps laid out by Industrial Communities Alliance.
• {insert} Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Leaders of the other 9 Councils in the Alliance (The Industrial Communities Alliance) and ask that they agree to be a party to further approaching the UK Government to improve their investment in the steel Industry so that any job losses are minimized across Wales and can be managed effectively on a voluntary basis in agreement with TATA and the relevant Trade Unions.
The motion amended will read:-
4.2 A few months ago, it was announced that TATA Steel – a major employer in South Wales (in particular), and the U.K. Westminster Government had agreed a package of support to “secure the future of Welsh steel.”
Despite the overall package amounting to a headline-grabbing £1.25bn, the reality is that the package and transition ambitions have fallen well short and the announcement amounts to little more than a sticking plaster for the continued production of steel in Wales.
The investment only supports the transition from blast furnaces to Electric Arc Furnaces, which will mean that the site at nearby Port Talbot will no longer have the ability to produce primary steel as the quality and grade of production will not be up to the necessary standard due to the fact that Electric Arc Furnaces recycle scrap steel.
This short-sighted investment plan should instead have focussed and made provisions for a transition to the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) method of production. DRI can be supported by the use of Natural Gas before opening up the possibility of Hydrogen-powered steel production, which is a more sustainable method of steel production and considerably more ambitious in terms of decarbonisation.
In addition, and most importantly, the investment package is also estimated to lead to 3,000 job losses, with the majority of those coming from the Port Talbot plant.
There are RCT residents working at the steel works in Port Talbot and it is likely that a significant proportion of that number will be affected – either directly or indirectly.
Since the announcement, it has emerged that neither the Trade Unions nor the Welsh Government formed any part of these discussions, yet they are the very organisations who will have to pick up the pieces and provide support to those affected when these anticipated job losses occur.
This Council therefore notes:
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• That the “investment package” for TATA Steel falls well short of what is required and does little to secure the future of the industry in Wales.
• That the U.K. Government’s bilateral dealings with TATA have no regard for the significant workforce impact that will form part of the expected job losses.
• That the transition to solely Electric Arc Furnace production will be a short- sighted move for British steel production capacity and is a considerable missed opportunity in terms of decarbonising a vital part of the British (and Welsh) economy.
This Council resolves to:
• Request that the Council Leader writes to the Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd that represent the communities in Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx and ask that they jointly support the representations made by this Council to the relevant U.K. Government Minister(s) to express this Council’s view that the investment package announced falls woefully short.
• Notes the findings of the “Wrong Deal for Steel” and supports the steps laid out by Industrial Communities Alliance.
• Request that The Leader of the Council writes to the Leaders of the other 9 Councils in the Alliance (The Industrial Communities Alliance) and ask that they agree to be a party to further approaching the UK Government to improve their investment in the steel Industry so that any job losses are minimized across Wales and can be managed effectively on a voluntary basis in agreement with TATA and the relevant Trade Unions.
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In accordance with Procedural Rule 10.4.1 of Part 4 of the Council Constitution the following amendment was received in the names of County Borough Councillors County Borough Councillors D Grehan, X Xxxxxx, X X Xxxxxx, X Xxxxx, X Xxxx, X Xxxxxx, X Xxxxx, A Xxxxx to the Notice of Motion as set out at item 12 (4.3) of the Council Agenda:
4.3 This Council condemns the utterly inadequate settlement for Wales announced by the UK Tory government in the Autumn Statement.
This settlement provides only £305 million extra for the Welsh Government over a two year period – and this means that the Welsh Government have around £160 million next year to meet all of the pressures in the NHS, local government and all of the other services it provides for the people of Wales.
To put this into perspective, RCT Council spends more than £258m on education alone. Pressures in just this Council are estimated at £35m and across local government in Wales at £432m, even after council tax rises.
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The fact remains that this settlement will go nowhere near meeting the inflationary pressures faced by services in Wales. It is a raw deal for the people of Wales and shows how little the U.K. Tory Government cares about the people of Wales.
This Council therefore calls on the U.K. Tory Government to invest in public services
- including health, education, and local government services, and to provide a fair settlement to the Welsh Government in order to ensure that services in Wales can be properly funded.
{Delete}To this end, this Council resolves to request that the Leader of the Council writes to call upon Xxxx Government Ministers to announce additional investment in the Budget in March.
{Insert} This Council resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to and calls upon The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reinstate the funding due to Wales in order to return to the fair funding for Wales as highlighted by the First Minister and the Leader of Plaid Cymru in the Senedd following the Autumn Statement announcement .
The Council further resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to all Political Leaders in Westminster asking them to pledge that if they are part of the UK Government following the General Election, which the Prime Minister has announced will be held in the second half of 2024. they will commit to bridge the gap in the Welsh Settlement 2024/25 left by the outgoing Tory UK Government.
The motion amended will read:-
4.3 This Council condemns the utterly inadequate settlement for Wales announced by the UK Tory government in the Autumn Statement.
This settlement provides only £305 million extra for the Welsh Government over a two year period – and this means that the Welsh Government have around £160 million next year to meet all of the pressures in the NHS, local government and all of the other services it provides for the people of Wales.
To put this into perspective, RCT Council spends more than £258m on education alone. Pressures in just this Council are estimated at £35m and across local government in Wales at £432m, even after council tax rises.
The fact remains that this settlement will go nowhere near meeting the inflationary pressures faced by services in Wales. It is a raw deal for the people of Wales and shows how little the U.K. Tory Government cares about the people of Wales.
This Council therefore calls on the U.K. Tory Government to invest in public services
- including health, education, and local government services, and to provide a fair settlement to the Welsh Government in order to ensure that services in Wales can be properly funded.
This Council resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to and calls upon the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reinstate the funding due to Wales in order to return to the fair funding for Wales as highlighted by the First
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Minister and the Leader of Plaid Cymru in the Senedd following the Autumn Statement announcement .
The Council further resolves that the Leader of the Council writes to all Political Leaders in Westminster asking them to pledge that if they are part of the UK Government following the General Election, which the Prime Minister has announced will be held in the second half of 2024. they will commit to bridge the gap in the Welsh Settlement 2024/25 left by the outgoing Tory UK Government.
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