Agenda and minutes

The following Members made Declarations of Interest at the commencement of the meeting:

Cllr. S.K. Hunt – The urgent, private report of the Head of Property and Regeneration on land at Empire Avenue, Blaengwrach, Neath because he was part of the planning committee that passed the planning application on the use of the land.

Cllr. C.J.Jones – The urgent, private report of the Head of Property and Regeneration on land at Empire Avenue, Blaengwrach, Neath because he was part of the planning committee that passed the planning application on the use of the land.

Cllr. S.Pursey – The urgent, private report of the Head of Property and Regeneration on land at Empire Avenue, Blaengwrach, Neath because he was part of the planning committee that passed the planning application on the use of the land.

The Committee resolved to move into private session to consider the urgent private report of the Head of Property and Regeneration on land at Empire Avenue, Blaengwrach, Neath.

Members were advised that discussions should centre on the information contained within the report and not relate to any planning matters.

The Committee was asked to consider the history of the area when considering the recommendation.

A question was raised on whether the issue of the covenant should have been mentioned during the planning process. It was confirmed that following legal advice it was not necessary to raise this as it was not a planning issue.

It was suggested that the Committee be mindful to ask the Cabinet Board to defer the decision to allow for additional information to be brought forward and for consultation to be undertaken with the public. It was conformed that there was no additional information to be brought forward and consultation had been undertaken as part of the planning process.

Following scrutiny the majority of the Committee was not supportive of the recommendation to be considered by the Cabinet Board.

The Committee noted the minutes.

It was noted that part of the minutes in relation to the item Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy were inaccurate.

It was stated that the following should be included – ‘ It was suggested that the title of the strategy should not be altered as the Council should recognise that these issues disproportionately affect women and girls. Men can be victims, just as women can be perpertrators, but when consideration is given to domestic abuse cases prosecuted by the CPS during 2014/2015, 84% of the victims were female, its clear that this is a problem particularly for women and girls. It is for this reason that the Welsh Government specified violence against women in the name of the Act, and for that reason the title should remain the same.

Cllr Taylor restated that she was against the name change.

The Committee noted the amendment and agreed the minutes on the understanding the original minute was amended.

The Committee noted the work programme.

The Committee chose to scrutinise the following items:

Cabinet Board Proposals

6.1    Performance Monitoring Report

Members considered the Quarter One Performance Monitoring Report.

A question was asked in relation to the percentage of planning applications determined within the required timescales and the below par performance. It was agreed that this information would be circulated outside of the main meeting.

Following scrutiny the report was noted.