Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: The
following member made a declaration of interest at the commencement of the
meeting:- Councillor S.Bamsey - Joint Report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection and Head of Property and Regeneration - as his relative owns a property that could be awarded compensation. |
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Forward Work Programme 2019/2020 PDF 56 KB Minutes: The forward work programme
was noted. |
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Consultation on Environment and Regeneration's Budget and Draft Savings for 2020/2021 PDF 119 KB Report
of the Director of Environment and Regeneration Minutes: Officers
gave an overview of the Regeneration and Sustainable Development supplementary
information regarding the saving proposals for the Environment and Regeneration
Directorate’s budget, as set out in the Cabinet report of 20 January, 2020. A
discussion took place around the savings on public conveniences, officers
explained that there had been a change in legislation whereby rates would no
longer be paid. A report would be
brought to Cabinet Board in the future. Officers
explained that there had been an increase of income from a slight raise in rent
at Sandfields Business Centre, this would show a
small saving. Officers
informed members that the number of buildings owned by the council had reduced
over the years, this meant there had been a decrease of 25k in building
maintenance. It was noted that the
council still maintained the buildings owned by the council, and a
rolling-programme had been put in place to survey these buildings annually,
although there remained a lot of work to be carried out. A
discussion took place regarding the need for more Industrial Units and the
support of existing businesses. Officers
explained that the councils Business Support Team were available to advise and
help business with grant applications etc.
Officers highlighted that there were many local business success
stories, whereby one business employed over 35 staff, although some businesses
needed additional help with payments, some struggling businesses were able to
pay money owed over a period of time.
Officers stated that the council was keen to expand on local businesses
and staff were committed to ensuring businesses had as much support as
possible. Members
were reminded that their comments from this meeting would form part of the
formal consultation response for the Budget 2020/21. They were asked that if
they had any other proposals for budget savings not included within the
attached report that they approach officers for their consideration. Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
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Pre-Decision Scrutiny To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for pre-decision
scrutiny (reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The
committee considered the following matters: Neath
Port Talbot Local Development Plan (LDP) 2011-2026 – Consideration of : Draft LDP Review
Report; and the publication/ consultation procedures to be implemented Officers
highlighted that the first stage of the review was to prepare and publish a “Review
Report” which identified key issues to be considered when taking the existing
LDP forward, this set out areas where the current LDP was delivering and
performing well, in addition to those areas where changes may be required. Members
questioned if we would continue with the economic-led growth strategy or would
there be alternatives. Officers
explained they would continue to look at an economic led strategy, it was noted
that other alternatives were not yet clear as were are at the early
stages. It was highlighted that the
Decarbonisation Agenda was being pushed, and officers would hold a number of
stakeholder / public engagement events and develop the alternatives for the Preferred
Strategy stage. Members
questioned the increasing concern of land viability as the viability was only
accurate at the time of the assessment.
Officers explained that a new regional viability study/ model was
currently being developed with local authority colleagues within the Mid and South West Wales region. It was noted that we need to do things
differently at the Candidate site stage, sites would not go into the plan
without sufficient evidence (including viability assessments). Officers
explained that there was a lack of expertise in regard to the historic
environment and there was a need for a more collaborative approach, it was
highlighted that this was a good policy and we need to identify resources to
deal with these issues moving forward. Officers explained that there was a LDP reserve available, and the LDP
was put in the budget as a pressure every year. It was noted that three senior posts had gone, therefore the reserve was
used to buy in expertise to fill the gap. Members
were pleased that the issues currently surrounding Houses of Multiple
Occupation (HMO) would be assessed as part of the preparation of the
Replacement Plan which would not have any weight until it is adopted in
2024. Officers highlighted that a
seminar would take place on 12 February, 2020 and members were encouraged to
attend. A
discussion took place on the valleys, members agreed that it was good to see a
focus on the Valleys, officers commented that it was something we need to
continue to look at and possibly do more.
Tourism would be brought through as part of the valleys, although
proposal were already in place in certain areas. Members queried what would happen with the LDP with the change of councillors in a new election (scheduled in 2022) and how this would deliver what we want. Officers explained that it is an issue as 2026 is the end date, and the LDP covers a 15 year period. At 2022 the Plan would have gone through the first formal stage of plan preparation: the ‘Preferred ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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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. Minutes: RESOLVED: That pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972,
the public be excluded for the following items of
business which involved the likely
disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14
of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above
Act. |
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Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Private Items To
select appropriate items from the Private Cabinet Board agenda for pre-decision
scrutiny (reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The
committee considered the following matters: Harbourside Strategic Employment Site
Port Talbot - Land and Rights in the Ownership of Associated British Ports Officers
gave an overview of the private circulated report. Officers
gave an overview of the private circulated report. Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board. Port
Talbot Peripheral Distributor Road Phase 2 - Payment of Compensation under the
Provisions of Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1971 Officers
gave an overview of the private circulated report. Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board. The
Disposal of part of the Former Burrows Yard Site together with the remediation of the
Council's Retained Land Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board. Community
Focused - Area Wide Air Quality Monitoring Pilot Programme Officers
gave an overview of the private circulated report. Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board. |