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Caerphilly County Borough Council is to pay out more than one million pounds to repair homes in Rhymney.
Council leader Sean Morgan said residents on Bryn Carno had been “blighted” by water damage to the walls of their homes.
The re-insulation project is estimated to cost £3,098,800 – a third of which will come from the council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the remainder from the Welsh Government.
Initially the council was seeking £2.4 million in funding from the Welsh Government, but only £1.9 million has been granted.
What happened to the homes on Bryn Carno?
In 2012, private and council-owned houses in Bryn Carno were identified as suitable for energy saving measures via the Arbed 1 – a Welsh Government scheme. But between 2016 and 2018, home owners and tenants began to report issues of damp and water ingress.
The scheme was run by Caerphilly-based housing association United Welsh on behalf of the Welsh Government and in agreement with the council.
The external walls of the 86 homes – 36 council properties and 50 privately owned homes – were insulated with Rockwool, with the aim of saving energy.
An investigation into the issues by the Welsh Government revealed that the scheme had “inherent design weaknesses” and “aspects of poor workmanship”.
It concluded that a replacement scheme to reinsulate the properties should take place. At a council cabinet meeting in September 2022, it was agreed that the replacement scheme would be undertaken by the council’s Caerphilly Homes team.
The report presented to the cabinet stated: “Remediation works are essential to protect the health and wellbeing of residents and to secure the future integrity of the housing stock.”
What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?
A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.
It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.
Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:
- Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
- Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
- Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
- Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
- Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
- Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
- Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
- Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
- Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces
Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.
Last updated October 13, 2023
Consent will need to be sought from the private owners before work can commence.
Cabinet member for finance and performance, Cllr Eluned Stenner, said: “It really shows the authority’s commitment to supporting our tenants in a situation they have found themselves in through no fault of their own. I’m sure they will be relieved.”
Cllr Morgan, who represents the Nelson ward, criticised the timeframe for the work, which is expected to be completed in 2025.
The council’s head of housing, Nick Taylor-Williams, has previously said the replacement scheme will have to take place during the warmer months.
Cllr Shayne Cook, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “There were a number of factors which resulted in the previous external wall insulation failing and we have worked closely with Welsh Government to find a resolution.
“This funding of just over £3 million will now enable work to prevent further deterioration of the homes and demonstrates the council’s commitment to improve the wellbeing of our residents.”
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