RCT’s Cabinet has endorsed important recommendations for the Council to work with partners to install a life-saving defibrillator at every one of its schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf. These emergency devices would be made accessible to the wider local community on a 24/7 basis, where appropriate and possible.
The potential for this initiative was first raised as a motion to the Full Council meeting in November 2024, which was unanimously supported. As a result, officers were requested to consider the feasibility of having a defibrillator placed at every one of the County Borough’s schools, and to explore if these could also be accessed by the general public at any time of the day.
An initial report from officers was subsequently considered by the Community Services Scrutiny Committee in April 2025. The Committee formed a working group with officers in the Council’s Education department – and their work was informed by community partners and charity sector representatives.
The working group’s final report and 10 recommendations were reported to the recent Cabinet meeting held on Monday, December 15. Members agreed the recommendations, which are summarised at the bottom of this news item – noting that it will be a phased process to achieve the listed outcomes.
In relation to the cost of installing the new defibrillators, the working group noted that the Council will work closely with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, along with charity and community groups, over funding opportunities.
Following Cabinet’s endorsement, a formal response will now be sent to the working group, and all Elected Members at the next Full Council meeting. A timescale to deliver the recommendations will be established at this point.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and the Welsh Language, said: “I’m delighted this fantastic initiative has received Cabinet Member support – for the Council to work with partners to ensure a defibrillator is installed at every school site in Rhondda Cynon Taf, over a period of time. Importantly, the equipment would be made available 24/7, not just during school hours, where at all possible.
“Monday’s report to Cabinet noted that there are around 570 defibrillators across Rhondda Cynon Taf, but there are still areas of the County Borough that do not have one close by, or one available at all times. The Council has 113 school sites, at the heart of our communities, so ensuring all settings have a defibrillator will make a huge difference. Around half of our schools currently have one, with far fewer being available to access around the clock.
“The Community Services Scrutiny Committee working group has undertaken invaluable activity to ensure this initiative has progressed from an initial notice of motion into a thoroughly-researched initiative, now endorsed by Cabinet. I’d like to thank Committee Members, Council officers, and partner organisations, for contributing to the recommendations being brought forward.”
The 10 recommendations brought forward by the working group, which have now been endorsed by Cabinet Members, are summarised below:
- Every educational setting in Rhondda Cynon Taf is to be equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator. Where appropriate and at a reasonable cost, these should be positioned on perimeter settings, for 24/7 access.
- Where a school-located defibrillator cannot be accessed by the wider community, the Council will work with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust to place one in a central community location, and ensure it is maintained.
- The Council will lobby for a defibrillator to be built into all future school construction and refurbishments across Wales, as a standard feature.
- The Council will collaborate with relevant charities and organisations to embed CPR and defibrillator training across all local educational and community settings, and integrate this into the curriculum where possible.
- Cabinet recognises the benefits of schools entering into a Service Level Agreement with a qualified third-party provider to inspect, maintain and manage data for defibrillators – recommending this to all governing bodies.
- All defibrillators at local schools are registered on the national database, and to advocate to community groups to register theirs too – while a public awareness campaign is made about the defibrillators’ locations and use.
- Planning guidance for all large housing developments across Rhondda Cynon Taf should encourage developers to include a defibrillator as part of the community infrastructure, located in accessible public areas.
- Legal and Insurance services produce a consistent, County Borough-wide framework for addressing liability, vandalism, and access arrangements, to provide assurance to schools acting as guardians of public defibrillators.
- Assess the provision of defibrillators in Council, community and school settings with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, and to identify gaps by working with charities, community groups, and emergency services.
- The Council will implement a standardised maintenance and monitoring framework for all Council controlled and school-based defibrillators, including regular audits, recording mechanisms and sustainable funding.
