Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 20th September, 2023 2.00 pm

Venue: Multi-Location Meeting - Council Chamber, Port Talbot and Microsoft Teams

Contact: Charlotte Davies - 01639 763745 

Items
No. Item

1.

Chairs Announcements

Decision:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

It was confirmed that the committee would be scrutinising items 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 20.

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

It was confirmed that the committee would be scrutinising items 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 20.

2.

Declarations of Interests

Decision:

Cllr J.Henton, Item 10 (Cabinet) - Personal, Volunteer with Friends of Neath Abbey Ironworks

Minutes:

Cllr J.Henton, Item 10 (Cabinet) - Personal, Volunteer with Friends of Neath Abbey Ironworks

3.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 369 KB

·        19th April 2023

·        28th June 2023

Additional documents:

Decision:

The minutes of the meetings held on 19th April 2023 and 28th June 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record. 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 19th April 2023 and 28th June 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record. 

4.

Annual Report pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Members agreed that the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee note and endorse the annual Report 2022/2023 attached at Appendix 1 and commend to Council.

Minutes:

Members considered the Annual Report as circulated within the agenda pack.

 

Members agreed that the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee note and endorse the annual Report 2022/2023 attached at Appendix 1 and commend to Council.

5.

Pre-decision Scrutiny

·        To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

Decision:

Outlook

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Remembrance Parades - Neath and Port Talbot

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Culture and Destination Strategies

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Heritage Strategy

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Quarter 1 - Revenue Budget Monitoring

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Quarter 1 - Capital Budget Monitoring

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Quarter 1 - Performance Indicators - 23/24

 

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

 

 

 

 

Compliments and Complaints Annual Report 2022-2023

 

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

 

Minutes:

Outlook

 

Members considered the report as circulated within the supplement pack.

 

The Chief Executive confirmed that the purpose of the report is to provide a detailed picture of the current position of the Council, in terms of funding and the increase on demand in services of the authority.

 

Members were updated with the inflation figures, which reflects how volatile the current financial situation across the country is. Whilst current financial planning takes into account a range of possible scenarios, the authority are currently working with a 3.1% settlement figure. However, this is subject to change.

 

The panel outlined in the report, if agreed, will operate in addition to the other mechanisms that take place. It will be used to assist in the shaping and development of the authority’s policies and services moving forward.

 

Officers confirmed due to the limited time at the end of the budget setting process, and the size of the budget gap that the authority will be facing, it is likely that proposals which will require policy change or service decisions will be brought forward earlier. This will mean that the scrutiny committees will have sight of proposals earlier and allow for a contribution when proposals for the ensuing year are being shaped.

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Remembrance Parades - Neath and Port Talbot

 

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

 

Members queried the breakdown of the cost for the events. Officers confirmed the majority of the costs related to the closure of the highway, together with some costs for first aid provision and marshalling of the event. Moving forward, officers confirmed that authority staff would be trained in traffic management plans this would assist with reducing future costs of the event.

 

Members expressed their concern that the funding was allocated for the events at the two towns and the valley communities were not included within this item. Members asked for wider consideration for future events. Officers advised that the reason for the focus on the two towns related to the feedback that was received last year when the parades were unable to take place. The veteran’s communities, particularly, in these areas were distressed by being unable to march last year. Approaches have not been made by any other part of the Borough, and the authority are not aware of any other parade that are struggling.

 

The Chief Executive confirmed that she has requested a review of events and festivals across the borough.

 

It was confirmed that the costs for 2023 would be coming from general reserves.

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.

 

 

Culture and Destination Strategies

 

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack and the strategies circulated within the supplement pack.

 

Members considered the culture strategy in relation to sport and were pleased to see that that the strategy identified commissioning a sport facilities need assessment. This should include the tenure of sports facilities and also the sustainability of the facilities.

 

Members queried how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Forward Work Programme 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 417 KB

Decision:

Members noted the Forward Work Programme.

Minutes:

 

 

Members noted the Forward Work Programme.

7.

Urgent Items

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Decision:

There were no urgent items.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

8.

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.

Decision:

Resolved: 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: 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.

9.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Private Item/s

·        To select appropriate private items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

Decision:

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Exempt under Paragraph 14)

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet.

Minutes:

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Exempt under Paragraph 14)

 

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet.