Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Charlotte Davies 01639 763745 Email: c.l.davies2@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 94 KB Minutes: The
committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting. |
|
Discussion on the Outcomes from the Cefn Coed Colliery Museum Tour Minutes: The committee were
informed of a recent site visit to Cefn Coed Colliery by members of the Leisure
and Culture Scrutiny Sub Committee. Members raised
concerns that the public did not appear to be aware of Cefn Coed Colliery and
what was on offer at the attraction, including mining heritage. Members stated
that the colliery desperately needed to generate its own income. Members commented that in previous years
schools used to visit the colliery which would contribute to its maintenance
costs, but this had ceased. Members reported that a Cefn Coed Colliery Steering
Group had now been set up, but assistance and expertise was required from the
Council. Officers agreed to work with the steering group to look at options to
promote and market the colliery. The committee
requested for the item to be placed on the forward work programme for the
Leisure and Culture Scrutiny Sub Committee meeting in January 2019. |
|
NPT Music Service - Verbal Update Minutes: Officers updated the committee on developments in relation to the NPT
Music Service. Officers informed members that £2 million would be made
available to local authorities to underpin local services; however this money
had not been received to date. Officers reported that a feasibility study was
currently being carried out by Welsh Government (WG) on how to re-configure
music services in Wales. Officers stated that the feasibility study would adopt
the principles of the “Hitting the Right Note” policy. Officers emphasised
the importance of Councils delivering the music services in Wales and not “arms length” companies.
Officers explained that they would wait for the feasibility study to
take its course, but would contribute to the study with a service model that
suited Neath Port Talbot. Officers raised concerns if the £2 million from WG was not released soon
to local authorities, there was a risk that some services in Wales would be
unsustainable, as had already been the case in Wrexham. Members commented that a local delivery model appeared to work well.
Members stated that a letter should be written from the committee to WG
supporting the feasibility study, welcoming the short term release of funds to
music services, and a request for a response on what further action would be
taken by WG to sustain music services in the future. Officers stated that they
would be willing to work with the Chair to draft a letter to WG. The Chair
agreed to reflect the committee’s comments in a letter to WG with the
assistance of officers. |
|
Margam Country Park Business Plan Progress Report PDF 86 KB Report of the Head of
Transformation Additional documents: Minutes: The committee
received a presentation from officers in relation to Margam
Country Park Business Plan Progress Report. Members queried
whether the number of bookings for 2018/19 for weddings was actual or
aspirational. Officers stated that the figures were actual bookings received,
and many bookings had been received for 2019/20. Members asked how
much did the safari cost. Officers reported that the cost was £35.00 per person
currently; however arrangements were being made to use a larger vehicle next
year. Members queried
whether there were any plans to have a Christmas fayre at the park. Officers
stated that this was being considered, but the infrastructure for the car park
would need to be in place first to accommodate the potential increase in
potential visitor numbers. Members questioned
whether officers were in the process of developing one style of branding for
the entire park. Officers stated that this had been considered, but was not
practical. Officer explained that the orangery had a different and distinct
brand to the castle, and the Council had no control of the branding for Go Ape.
Members queried
whether schools were being approached to hold their prom nights at the park.
Officers stated that they were doing everything to promote Margam
Park as a venue for prom nights to schools, and three schools had recently held
their prom nights at the park. The committee
congratulated officers on the developments made in a short space of time,
particularly as the park now received a reduced subsidy. Following scrutiny,
the committee noted the presentation. |
|
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board Agenda for pre-scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members). Minutes: PRE-SCRUTINY The Committee chose to scrutinise the
following items: Cabinet Board Proposals Performance Report Neath
Port Talbot Libraries The committee received information in relation to the Performance Report Neath Port Talbot Libraries
as contained within the circulated report. Officers informed the committee that the
budget savings proposals put forward were at a very early stage, and that a
further report including a wider range of criteria and elements would be
brought back to a future meeting. Members referred to
the proposal to relocate Port Talbot Library, and queried how long was left on the lease of the unit in the Aberavon Shopping Centre. Officers stated that it was a 25
year lease which ran from 1998 to 2023. Officers added that £40,000 was
currently paid in annual rent and there would be a saving by relocating the
library. Members questioned whether a suitable alternative location had been
found yet, and whether this would also be in a central location. Officers
explained that they were currently liaising with the Estates Department
regarding options. Members commented that the data in the Library
Strategy 2016-2021 was two years out of date, and questioned whether the most
up to date information would be presented at the special budget meeting the
following day. Officers explained that the most up to date information would be
presented to the committee before any final decisions were taken. Members referred to the lease of mobile
library vehicles, and queried whether the information in the strategy was
correct in stating that one lease had expired in December 2017, and another was
due to expire in December 2018. Officers stated that the lease due to expire in
December 2018 would be extended to February 2019, and would be reviewed next
year. Members queried the cost of the annual lease. Officers confirmed that the
cost was £10,000 a year. Members referred to page 71, and commented that they hoped that the Council
were still committed to “deliver a high
quality service to their local community.” Members referred to
page 46, and commented that if Glynneath’s library
was to close that the nearest alternative would be 11 miles away in Neath. Members added that some citizens would have
difficulty accessing these services in this scenario. Members referred to
page 52, and asked officers to consider various data other than the number of
books issued before determining whether to close a library. Members added that
the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act was a key. Officers stated that they were currently looking at different models and
ways of working to sustain libraries, and understood the value of libraries in
the communities. Officers explained however, that the Council were under
pressure to secure efficiencies as less money was now available than in
previous years. Officers added that all
the knowledge, data and facts would need to be collated before making any final
decisions in order to understand the impact of any closures on communities. Members queried whether the long term strategy was to ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
|
Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2018/19 PDF 154 KB Minutes: The committee requested for a task and finish group to be established to
look into the promotion of healthy life styles for school children. The Chair
stated that three names had already been submitted, but political balance was
required on the group. The
committee noted the work programme. |
|
Urgent Items Any
urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairman
pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 |
|
Access to Meetings Access
to Meetings to resolve to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant
to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant
exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act. |
|
To select appropriate private items from the Cabinet Board Agenda for pre-scrutiny (Cabinet Board Reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members). |