Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair noted that the Members of the Scrutiny Committee had agreed to scrutinise Item 3 of the Scrutiny agenda and the following items from the Cabinet Board agenda:

·       Item 9 Key Performance Indicators 2023/2024 - Quarter 1 (1st April 2023 - 30th June 2023)

·       Item 10b Proposed lease of the former Wilko retail limited premises comprising part of the ground and first floors within the multi storey car park in Neath Town Centre to CDS (Superstores International) Limited t/a The Range

·       Item 11 Surrender of existing lease and grant of a new agreement for lease and lease of catering kiosk and adjoining land at the western end of Aberavon Seafront Port Talbot.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair noted that the Members of the Scrutiny Committee had agreed to scrutinise Item 3 of the Scrutiny agenda and the following items from the Cabinet Board agenda:

·       Item 9 Key Performance Indicators 2023/2024 - Quarter 1 (1st April 2023 - 30th June 2023)

·       Item 10b Proposed lease of the former Wilko retail limited premises comprising part of the ground and first floors within the multi storey car park in Neath Town Centre to CDS (Superstores International) Limited t/a The Range

·       Item 11 Surrender of existing lease and grant of a new agreement for lease and lease of catering kiosk and adjoining land at the western end of Aberavon Seafront Port Talbot.

There were none.

There were none.

The Environment Regeneration & Streetscene Services Scrutiny Committee noted and endorsed the annual Report 2022/2023 attached at Appendix A and commended to Council.

The Chair introduced the report as circulated. The Chair commented on how hard the committee had worked and the achievements of the committee such as completing two task and finish groups and intensive scrutiny sessions. The chair also commented on the successful amendments to policy and documents the committee had secured. The Chair thanked members of the committee for their hard work and the support of Democratic services.

Members commented on how good the report is and that it gave an excellent outline of the work done through the year.

The Environment Regeneration & Streetscene Services Scrutiny Committee noted and endorsed the annual Report 2022/2023 attached at Appendix A and commended to Council.

Dewis eitemau priodol o agenda’r Cabinet ar gyfer craffu cyn penderfynu (amgaeir adroddiadau ar gyfer yr Aelodau Craffu)

Key Performance Indicators 2023/2024 - Quarter 1 (1st April 2023 - 30th June 2023)

The report was noted.

Key Performance Indicators 2023/2024 - Quarter 1 (1st April 2023 - 30th June 2023)

Officers introduced the report as circulated to Members and highlighted that it is a new presentation format as a response to member feedback. Officers said they would record any feedback and pass that on to the corporate performance team who came up with the new presentation format.

The Chair reminded members of the upcoming training session on the new format KPI’s and encouraged them to attend as it will help members interpret Key Performance Indicators better.

Members commented that they thought the new format was clearer and better and shows longer term trends and direction of travel. Members also felt it would be useful to have a line on graphs that indicates what the target is as a visual aid.

Members referred to page 64 of the report relating to missed collections of waste recorded. Members wanted to know if this also include online reports and members reports of missed collections to waste services.

Officers explained that online reports are logged and encouraged members to report issues via the call centre so that it would ensure reports are logged correctly. Individual officers don’t use the system that the contact centre uses, and it is less likely to be recorded properly.

Members commented that there was a danger that the missed collections won’t be picked up that day as by the time it is logged, the crew may have left the area already by that time.

Officers advised that the waste action plan has been approved for the in-cab data system so the crews will get alerted about missed collections. The tracker system will mean officers will know where the crews are, and the in-cab data system will let the nearest crew know about the missed collection.

Members asked if reports of fly tipping made by members are included in KPI 17 as well as whether reports are getting categorised differently now as there is a lower number in this quarter.

Officers explained that for fly tipping the FLARE System is used to document everything as it’s a legal process. Officers also advised that there are sometimes presentation issues of residents putting waste out on the wrong week.

Members were advised that fly tipping historically has fluctuated and during lockdown fly tipping increased. The legal process for fly tipping was suspended for a period which prevented interviews as part of the enforcement process. With enforcement having now returned, fly tipping has dropped back down.

Members asked if complaints of mess left over from waste collections are logged. Officers advised that customer services system captures everything.

Members were concerned that raising the issues through the call centre or online causes a delay in issues being rectified and wanted to check if the in-cab system will get the updates from notifying via customer services.

Officers confirmed that once the in-cab system is in place it will. The service first system is also being reviewed to put in improvements, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Members of the Committee noted the Action Log.

The Members of the Committee noted the Action Log.

The Members of the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

The Members of the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

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

There were three urgent items, members decided to scrutinise two of these.

Resolved:

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

Item 10b Proposed lease of the former Wilko retail limited premises comprising part of the ground and first floors within the multi storey car park in Neath Town Centre to CDS (Superstores International) Limited t/a The Range

Following scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by Cabinet Board.

Item 11 Surrender of existing lease and grant of a new agreement for lease and lease of catering kiosk and adjoining land at the western end of Aberavon Seafront Port Talbot.

Following scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by Cabinet Board.

There were three urgent items, members decided to scrutinise two of these.

Resolved:

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

Item 10b Proposed lease of the former Wilko retail limited premises comprising part of the ground and first floors within the multi storey car park in Neath Town Centre to CDS (Superstores International) Limited t/a The Range

Following scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by Cabinet Board.

Item 11 Surrender of existing lease and grant of a new agreement for lease and lease of catering kiosk and adjoining land at the western end of Aberavon Seafront Port Talbot.

Following scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by Cabinet Board.