Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre. View directions
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 58 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Decision: That
the Minutes of the meetings held on 3 December, 2018 and 12 April, 2019, be
approved. |
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Forward Work Programme 2019/20 PDF 61 KB Minutes: Decision: It
was noted that a Forward Work Programme workshop would be arranged for July,
2019. Members would be informed of the
date. It
was agreed that the Forward Work Programme be noted. |
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Environmental Health and Trading Standards Charge for Business Advice Update PDF 87 KB Minutes: The Committee received an update from April 2018 (first review) for the
Business Advice Service operated by Environmental Health and Trading Standards
Department. It was highlighted that the operation
of the charging system for this service was a means of cost recovery for the
Directorate. Officers informed Committee that the charges had resulted in £864.00
income for the Directorate, even though this was not a significant amount of
income, this had freed up a full time post which had been redeployed to carry
out statutory activities. It was noted that the chargeable service had been
used by six local businesses which have sought advice on a range of Food Safety
and Trading Standards topics. Officers explained that improvements have been made on the level of
information available on the Neath Port Talbot website where information is
readily available, this would encourage people to self-serve. Members questioned whether the introduction of charges had resulted in a
negative impact upon new businesses and how this was being measured. Officers
confirmed that since the introduction of the charges there had been no evident
decline in the number of broadly compliant premises within the county borough.
Broadly compliant premises are those with a food hygiene rating of 3 or above.
It was also confirmed that the chargeable service related only to food hygiene
advice to businesses and advice continued to be provided free of charge as a
matter of course when premises were inspected. Clarification was also provided that general business advice to
businesses both new and existing continues to be provided free of charge by
officers within the Economic Development team. Members queried other income generation initiatives being delivered
within Environmental Health and Trading Standards services, it was explained
that a briefing note was in the process of being prepared regarding the
Japanese knotweed treatment service although this was under the remit of the
Streetscene and Engineering Scrutiny Committee. Confirmation was given
regarding the range of other income generating services including environmental
monitoring and private water supply risk assessments all of which were helping
to generate income. Members stated they would like a
further update in twelve months and the update should fully explain whether
there had been an impact in terms of compliance with food hygiene requirements
and whether this impact related to new or existing businesses. Following scrutiny, the Committee noted the report. |
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PRE-SCRUTINY Minutes: The
Committee scrutinised the following Cabinet Board Item:- Cabinet
Board Proposal Neath
Port Talbot Discovery Clusters Marketing Campaign The
Committee received information in relation to Neath Port Talbot Discovery Clusters
Marketing Campaign, which would raise the profile of Neath Port Talbot as a
visitor destination. Members
questioned if tourism in Neath Port Talbot was focused on specific areas, and
whether there were any plans for signage or maps for locations such as
Aberavon. Officers explained that whilst
the campaign focused on the 6 themes it would impact on many areas throughout
the County Borough, including Aberavon Seafront. It was highlighted that signage was planned
for areas such as Glynneath and Pontardawe,
as for additional signage in other areas there were budget restrictions and
difficulty in getting investment in some areas. It
was noted that there was a working group set up in relation to improving
Aberavon Seafront, this is led by the Destination Management and Marketing
Manager. Officers
explained there would be further information for Members on how Neath Port
Talbot would be further marketed. This
would will be presented to Cabinet at the end of June, 2019. A
discussion took place in relation to accommodation, it was highlighted by
officers that there was not a huge amount of existing accommodation in Neath
Port Talbot. It
was noted that the offer letter for funding from Visit Wales Regional Tourism
Engagement Fund (RTEF) to deliver the Neath Port Talbot Discovery Clusters
destination marketing campaign, had not yet been received from Welsh Government,
officers explained that this was imminent. Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by
Cabinet Board. |