Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
No. | Item |
---|---|
Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 202 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The
Committee noted the minutes. |
|
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: 2.
PRE-SCRUTINY The Committee chose to
scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:
2.1
Proposal for the Introduction of Non-refundable ceremony booking
deposits for Neath Port Talbot Registration Services The Committee received
information in relation to the Proposal for introduction of non-refundable
ceremony booking deposits for Neath Port Talbot Registration Services as
contained within the circulated report. Members queried how the fees in the report had been
determined. Officers stated that they had researched the fees charged by other
local authorities. Officers added that most local authorities charged around
£60 and that the Authority was proposing to introduce a fee of £50.00, which
was in line with other authorities’ fees. Members commented that there were other external
circumstances such as loss of life which were not covered in the report.
Officers stated that some discretion was built in to deal with individual
circumstances. Members queried whether there were plans to develop
online services. Officers stated that this was currently being explored. Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive
of the proposal to be considered at Cabinet. 2.2
Public Service Ombudsman for Wales Annual Report 2017/2018 The Committee received
information in relation to the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales Annual
Report 2017/2018 as contained
within the circulated report. The Committee received the
information as circulated in Public Service Ombudsman for Wales Annual Report
2017/2018. Members referred to page 31
and queried whether there had been a decrease in the number of complaints
received by the Ombudsman for Wales in relation to Neath Port Talbot County
Borough Council. Officers confirmed that there had been a decrease in the
number of complaints received by the Ombudsman for Wales for the Authority.
Officers added that compared to other local authorities of similar size, the
Authority were on a par. Members commented that the
public sometimes misunderstood the Ombudsman’s role and would contact them
directly in the first instance instead of attempting to resolve any issues with
the local authority or town/community councils. Members added that there was a
real burden on the Ombudsman with regard to the number of complaints that they
typically received, and queried whether there was anything that the Council
could do to help, such as raise awareness of how matters should be reported and
escalated. Members referred to page 33
in the report and stated that the majority of complaints to the Ombudsman were
not considered to be valid. Members added that there was a tendency for many
not to engage in the authorities’ internal resolution processes. Officers
stated that the Authority used to have regular forums with clerks for community
and town councils and that the Head of Legal Services was due to reconvene
these forums again in order to discuss matters such as good practice and code
of conduct. Members commented that they were grateful for the constant training received from the Head of Legal Services in relation to code of conduct matters. Members added that there was a need for community and town councillors to receive ... view the full minutes text for item 2. |
|
Forward Work Programme 18/19 PDF 102 KB Minutes: The
Committee noted the work programme. |