Pre Decision Scrutiny
Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following Cabinet items:
Draft
Decarbonisation and Renewable Energy Strategy
The Draft Decarbonisation and
Renewable Energy Strategy focused on issues within the Council’s remit, on a local
level. The Strategy was not a statutory document, so the public consultation
was aimed at receiving comments and building on what the Council was already
doing to reduce its carbon footprint.
Members suggested the word
‘environmental’ be removed from page 1, paragraph 1.1.1 of the Draft Strategy,
attached at appendix one to the circulated report. Officers confirmed this
suggestion would feed into the consultation.
Discussion also took place on
areas including:
·
local forms of
renewable energy;
·
planning policy
guidance;
·
the consultation
process and channels of engagement with the public and stakeholders and
·
local pollution reducing strategies.
Following scrutiny, the
Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by Cabinet.
Revenue Budget Monitoring
2019/20
Overspends and underspends
were discussed, along with absences within the cleaning service, and the back
filling of positions in the case of sickness.
The Cabinet Member for
Finance advised the Committee that a close eye was kept on the revenue budget
throughout the year, and that Welsh Government was frequently lobbied for extra
funding.
Following scrutiny, the
Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by Cabinet.
Valleys Action Plan –
Progress
Members were pleased to note
the progress as described within the circulated report. Officers explained that
although the ‘Future actions in the Valleys’ (appendix to the circulated
report) aimed to be valleys specific, it was also important to have sight of
wider Welsh Government policies, for example, in relation to transport.
Following scrutiny the report
was noted.