Agenda and draft minutes

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 5th July 2021, be approved.

To select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)

The committee chose to scrutinise the following cabinet board items:

Social Housing Grant Prospectus 2021

Members were informed of the Council’s Social Housing Grant (SHG) Prospectus 2021, as detailed within the circulated report.

Members commended that the current schemes held in reserves during 2020/21 were able to transfer to the main programme in 2021/22.

Discussions took place around the terminology in relation to renting along with the definition for affordable housing, as it was highlighted that affordable housing wasn’t necessarily affordable for all. Further information was requested on the benchmark for affordable housing, as it was highlighted that in some areas affordable houses were still too costly for people to rent.

Members asked whether the grant would be available for the council to use in the possibility of building their own houses. It was highlighted that this was an option for other Councils, however, as Neath Port Talbot had transferred their housing stock in previous years this was not an option.

Members were pleased to see that the report was linked to the Local Development Plan and that the report had therefore considered future planning.

Officers clarified that the figures included in the table on page 11 of the report was £9.9m of Welsh Government grant which equates to approximately 448 units of accommodation.

It was confirmed that the Amman Valley was not included in appendix 2 of the report, following the work undertaken by the Opinion Research Services (ORS) in 2019 as they did not identify any need for additional housing in the Amman valley. Officers confirmed that they would be confirming the accuracy of this.

It was discussed whether the numbers of housing were sufficient for future years with the increase in population. It was noted that the numbers had been calculated on the work undertaken by the ORS and was based on affordable housing. 

Members asked for the dimensions of the dwellings to ensure the sizing was sufficient, due to the decrease in sizing dwellings over the years. It was clarified to members that there were guidelines set by Welsh Government on dimensions that had to be complied with. It was noted that further information on the size of the dwellings and the standards on dimensions would be circulated to members of the committee outside of the meeting.

Following scrutiny the report was noted.

Members noted the Forward Work Programme and requested the following item be include:

·        A report providing an overview of how Neath Port Talbots Housing and its policies link in with future development plans.

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.

To select appropriate private items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

NPT Youth Justice and Early Intervention Draft Annual Plan 2021-2022

At the start of the item, the Director advised Scrutiny Members that the wrong Exempt Paragraph had been used – this should have been Paragraph 18 and not Paragraph 14.

Members received an update on the on the NPT Youth Justice and Early Intervention Draft Annual Plan 2021-2022, as detailed within the private circulated report.

Following discussions the following concerns within the report were raised for amendment at Cabinet Board.

·        Valleys Communities Impacts should read ‘No Impacts’.

·        Within the Consultation section, the following words should be removed: ‘…in all three local authorities for comment.’

·        The Officer Contact details for Alison Davies should read ‘a.davies8@npt.gov.uk’.

Following scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by cabinet board.