Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1/2 - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Charlotte Davies 

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The following Member made a declaration of interest at the commencement of the meeting:

 

Wayne John

(Officer of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council)

Re:

Report of the Head of Transformation on the Welsh Public Library Standards Annual Report 2017-18 as he is a Member of the Reference Group of Welsh Public Library Standards Group.

 

2.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Minutes of the previous Meeting held on 22 November 2018.

 

3.

Local Authority Partnership Agreement 2019-2020 pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Report of the Head of Transformation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were updated on the Local Authority Partnership Agreement 2019 - 20 (LAPA). The document was the Authority's Annual Strategic Funding Agreement with Sport Wales. It was noted that Sport Wales was being restructured and a 12 month grant funding had been confirmed.

 

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.

 

 

4.

Welsh Public Library Standards Annual Report 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Report of the Head of Transformation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received information on the Annual Report to the Welsh Government in respect of the Authority’s library services performance against the Welsh Public Library Standards (WPLS) framework 6. Members also noted the feedback, comments and recommendations in the Annual Assessment Report 2017-18 from Welsh Government.

 

Members queried the difference between footfall and book issues as a performance measurement, as the emphasis seemed to change from different frameworks as issued by Welsh Government. Officers explained that the emphasis had gone away from just measuring book issues as Libraries were now fulfilling a much wider role with the value of the Health and Wellbeing element being recognised which provided a more accurate picture of what libraries were offering.

 

Members asked whether there were any penalties for not achieving all the required targets of the Welsh Public Library Standards. Officers explained that for example, there were 13 other Authorities that were not achieving the same staffing targets as Neath Port Talbot. This was due to the financial challenges faced by all Local Authorities in trying to achieve savings in Library staffing and the purchase of books. If Authorities continually did not achieve all of the targets then the Welsh Government could ring fence the Libraries budget or instruct another Authority to take over the running of the Library service and the relevant budget, however this had never happened.

 

Members queried whether the Authority was keeping up with the modern publications and stocking the most popular books. Officers confirmed that they do stock the most popular books and multiple copies of them to cater for customers’ requests and reservations.

 

Members questioned whether customers utilise the internet within the Libraries to download e-books on to their handheld devices. Officers advised that the Authority was the lead Authority on e-books. It was noted that e-books would not replace books, however, customers were encouraged to use the e-books service.

 

Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the Cabinet Board

 

 

5.

Beach Management Arrangements (Verbal Update)

Minutes:

Members received a verbal update on the management arrangements of the beach with in Neath Port Talbot. It was noted that the establishment of a Steering Group was proposed which would include Terms of Reference detailing Directorates responsibility in the management and maintenance of the beach. It was noted that the Steering Group would meet twice a year and have additional meetings if required.

 

Officers informed the Sub Committee that a report would be subject to Members following approval of the above proposal from Corporate Directors.

 

Members shared concerns in relation to access to the beach for people with disabilities and asked that the Steering Group take this in to consideration. Officers confirmed that they would feed this back to the Steering Group.

 

Members noted the verbal update and looked forward to a further report.

 

 

6.

The Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2017/18. pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Minutes:

The Leisure and Culture Sub Committee Forward Work Programme was noted subject to the following:-

 

·       The Sub Committee were informed that Afan Argoed and the Gnoll Park Monitoring reports would be brought to the next Leisure and Culture Sub Committee in April, to ensure all relevant information was included;

·       It was agreed that a Site visit be arranged to visit Baglan and Taibach Community Centres to reassure Members that the centres were continuing to be fit for purpose. Therefore it was agreed to remove the Performance of Community Centres post transfer report from the Forward Work Programme.

 

7.

The Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board Forward Work Programme 2017/18. pdf icon PDF 217 KB

Minutes:

The Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board Forward Work Programmes was noted.

8.

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following item 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.

 

 

9.

Celtic Leisure Six Months Performance Review 2018 - 19 (Exempt under Paragraph 14)

Report of the Head of Transformation

Minutes:

Members received an updated on the performance of Celtic Leisure during the first six months of the financial year 2018-19, as detailed within the private circulated document.

Members scrutinised the private report in detail and asked that Officers consider opening the Multi Storey Car Park in Neath later in the evenings to cater for popular films being shown at the Gwyn Hall. It was also asked that details in relation to the parking issues be included in future reports. Officers agreed to include information in the report on parking and informed Members that they would speak to relevant Officers to rectify this issue.

 

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.