Agenda and minutes
PDF 142 KBVenue: Via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Charlotte Davies / Chloe Plowman - 01639 763745 / 01639 763301
| No. | Item | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minutes of the Previous Meeting · 24 November 2021 · 15 December 2021 · 5 January 2022 · 12 January 2022 · 9 February 2022 · 28 February 2022 Additional documents:
Minutes: The following minutes of
previous meetings were approved as an accurate record: · 24 November 2021 · 15 December 2021 · 5 January 2022 · 12 January 2022 · 9 February 2022 · 28 February 2022 |
|||
|
Pre-decision Scrutiny · To select appropriate items
from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for
Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The Committee
scrutinised the following Cabinet item: Proposed Service Model
for Civic Centre Customer Services and Cash Desks Members were provided
with an overview of the Neath Port Talbot Council’s proposed service model for
Customer Services and the Cash Desks for when the buildings reopen to the
public. The Chief Digital
Officer highlighted that the Civic Centres had been closed since the start of
the pandemic, which came with a large shift to the way in which Council
Services operated and were provided; the Council had more of an online
presence, and received a large uptake of the services that were provided
online. It was noted that Welsh Government restrictions had started to ease,
and the Council was now in a position to start considering how the Civic
Centres could be re-opened to the public. The Committee was
informed that the model set out the proposed operation of Customers Services
going forward in terms of face-to-face enquiries, as well as plans to improve
some of the digital services within the Customer Services areas; this will
allow members of the public, who did not have the suitable technology at home,
to access some of the Councils online services. It was stated that there
were plans to start re-opening Civic Centres to the public, in April 2022; this
will be aligned to Welsh Government restrictions and guidelines, and the
appropriate risk assessments will be undertaken. Members raised concerns
in relation to the closure of the cash desks, highlighting that it may
discourage members of the public from visiting the Civic Centres, as well as
potentially having an effect on the footfall of town centres. Members added
that some face to face services were vital, and should remain as part of the
service model. Officers explained that the cash desks had been closed for
around two years, and the Council had put alternative methods of provision in
place; for example, residents could use their local post offices in own centres
and their local communities to pay their bills. It was noted that when
re-opening the buildings, Officers had to be mindful of the fact that whilst
there would be no restrictions in place, the buildings still needed to operate
on a risk assessed basis. The Committee was
informed that there would be various phases to re-opening the buildings; this
was the first phase of re-opening for the interim. It was mentioned that
Officers could monitor the impact and demand for the cash desks in this phase;
and if the demand was there, Officers would think about how they could be
re-established. Members put forward that
it would be more beneficial to re-establish the cash desk service in the first
phase of the re-opening of the buildings, as this would allow the Team to
gather the information and data required to monitor the use and to inform
future decisions. In relation to general enquiries, the circulated report stated that customers will be sign posted to the contact channels available for the relevant service areas; ... view the full minutes text for item 2. |
|||
|
Access to Meetings To
resolve to exclude the public for the following items pursuant to Regulation 4
(3) and (5) of Statutory Instrument 2001 No.2290 and the relevant exempt
paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 Minutes:
|
|||
|
Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Private Item/s ·
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision
scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members) ·
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet (Finance) Sub Committee
agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (Cabinet Finance Sub - Committee reports
enclosed for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The Committee
scrutinised the following private Cabinet item: UK Levelling Up Fund
(LUF) Round 2 - Budget to Appoint External Consultants to Support Neath Port Talbot Bids Members were provided
with a report regarding the UK LUF Round 2 and the budget to appoint external
consultants to support Neath Port Talbot bids. Following scrutiny, the
Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the Cabinet. |