Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre
No. | Item | ||
---|---|---|---|
Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 56 KB Minutes: That
the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 May, 2019, be approved. |
|||
Problematic Empty Houses (Private Dwellings) PDF 4 MB Minutes: The Committee received the report in relation to how Problematic Empty
Homes were dealt with in Neath Port Talbot. It was highlighted that, to date, the problematic empty homes database
had 456 empty homes assessed, 42 of which had been risk assessed as ‘high
priority’ for pro-active enforcement action to bring them back into use. A priority status of high, medium or low was
in place for pro-active enforcement action. It was noted that two officers were now employed by the Council who were
dedicated to working with this problem, although Welsh Government procedures
still needed to be followed. Officers updated the Committee on the Enforced Sale Policy which was
introduced by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Section during
January 2017. Officers explained that
this was a complex and lengthy legal procedure. Officers were currently in the process of drafting a letter to Welsh
Government identifying problems experienced on a day to day basis, including
lack of resources. The letter would be
circulated to Members on completion. It was noted that an online complaint referral system was available on
the Neath Port Talbot Website, which explained the procedure to deal with
problematic houses and allowed residents to report an empty property. It was also possible to upload a photograph
of the property. This information was
then sent directly to the Environmental Health. Officers explained that from April 2020 there would be a new Council Tax
Policy, which would no longer allow exemptions for reduced Council Tax on empty
properties, this would help towards reducing the number of empty houses in
Neath Port Talbot. Following Scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
|||
Active Travel Minutes: Members received an update on the implementation of the Council’s Active
Travel Integrated Network Map. Officers explained that for the current 2019/20 financial year, Neath
Port Talbot had been awarded £319k core funding for further design, minor improvement
works, land negotiations and promotion schemes. The intention was to utilise
the funding for identified schemes and activities, as listed in the circulated
report. It was noted that Active Travel was defined as walking and cycling for
everyday journeys, but did not include journeys for recreational or social
reasons, therefore when the Authority submitted a bid Welsh Government
guidelines would need to be adhered to. Members agreed that residents needed to be informed and understand the cycle
routes that were available, members were encouraged to promote the routes
available in their wards. Following Scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
|||
Quarter 4 Performance Indicators Minutes: Members received an overview of the report on Quarter 4 Performance
Indicators. It was noted that the figure shown on Performance Indicators - “number
of visitors to our town centres” was predominantly footfall in Neath. It was explained that counters were situated at
different locations although predominantly Neath. Members questioned why there were no indicators for “new business
start-up” and it was explained that the Council did assist new businesses’ but this
was dealt with by the Business Support team. Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
|||
Forward Work Programme 2019/20 PDF 62 KB Minutes: The
Committee was informed that a Forward Work Programme Workshop would take place
after today’s meeting. The
Committee noted the circulated Forward Work Programme. |
|||
Access to Meetings Minutes:
|
|||
Urgent Items Minutes: With
the permission of the Chair the following were raised as urgent items for
discussion at today’s meeting pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local
Government Act 1972. Reasons
for Urgency: Due
to the time element. |
|||
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY PDF 128 KB Minutes: The Committee received an overview of the following private urgent
Cabinet Board items:- Cymmer Sports Hall, Cymmer,
Port Talbot The Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
Lease of Harbour Court, Port Talbot The Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the
Cabinet Board. |