Agenda and minutes

The Chair noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Shelia Penry.

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

-       Item 6: Commercial Property Grant: Water Street Business Centre, Port Talbot

-       Item 7: Commercial Property Grant: Units 1 and 2 Commercial Buildings, Talbot Road, Port Talbot

-       Item 8: Commercial Property Grant: 20 Queen Street, Neath

-       Item 10: Neath Port Talbot CBC Highway Technical Design Guide for Residential, Commercial and Industrial Developments

Councillor Stephanie Lynch declared an interest in regards to Item 6 listed on the Cabinet Board agenda. She explained that she worked at Water Street Business Centre in Port Talbot, but she was not involved with the grant and it did not impact her.

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

Item 6: Commercial Property Grant: Water Street Business Centre, Port Talbot

Item 7: Commercial Property Grant: Units 1 and 2 Commercial Buildings, Talbot Road, Port Talbot

Item 8: Commercial Property Grant: 20 Queen Street, Neath

The Chair explained that Members had raised a few questions in regards to the commercial property grants, and he proposed to take these questions together.

Members queried whether the grant would be available for work that had already been carried out and completed. Officers confirmed that the grant was usually paid out once the work had been completed, as it needed to be checked and signed off by a quantity surveyor. It was confirmed that specifically in regards to Item 7, Units 1 and 2 Commercial Buildings, Talbot Road, the occupiers had not received a confirmation letter of the grant, as it had not yet been approved by Members.

The officers agreed to confirm with Councillor R. Davies whether or not registered charities could apply for 100% grant funding for commercial properties.

It was confirmed to the Committee that applicants did not have to use council approved contractors but they did have to go out to tender for three contractors and the independent quantity surveyor would then check the costings.

It was explained that the Placemaking Grant noted in the report was a Welsh Government initiative under the Transforming Towns programme and this would be dealt with by the regeneration team.

Members of the Committee queried the proposed grant offer of £47,966.08 in regards to 20 Queen Street Neath, as it seemed costly for a new roof. It was confirmed that the cost of the grant appeared to be very high as the entire roof structure required replacing, as opposed to just the roof covers; the grant included the works to remove the current roof and structure and replace it fully.

The Committee requested that all Members of the Council received a list of all grants offered by the council.

Following Scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet Board.

Item 10: Neath Port Talbot CBC Highway Technical Design Guide for Residential, Commercial and Industrial Developments

The officers introduced the report which sought endorsement of the new Highway Technical Design Guide for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

It was explained that the Minister of Economy and Transport initiated a Taskforce to undertake a review on un-adopted highways. A part of that review entailed the standardisation of highway design and specifications in an All Wales Common Standards document for use by all local Authorities. The Taskforce comprised of Welsh Local Authorities, and other key stakeholders including the House Builders Federation, County Surveyors Society and Welsh Local Government Association.

The aim of the design guide was to bring a more consistent approach to enable Highway Agreements, such as section 38 highway adoption agreement and also section 278 agreements for off-site work that relate to new developments, these could then be successfully completed for the adoption of roads serving new developments.

The design guide had been endorsed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Any urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was none.

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.

This was not required.

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

This was not required.