Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair noted that the Members of the Scrutiny Committee had agreed to scrutinise the following item 3a, 3b and 3c from the Cabinet Forward work Programme.

The Chair noted that the Members of the Scrutiny Committee had agreed to scrutinise items 3a, 3b and 3c from the Cabinet Forward work Programme.

Cllr G. Rice declared a personal interest in Item 3c. A Pilot of Access Approach to Formal Parks and Gardens. He is a trustee of Friends of Jersey Park.

Cllr G. Rice declared a personal interest in Item 3c. A Pilot of Access Approach to Formal Parks and Gardens. He is a trustee of Friends of Jersey Park.

Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.

Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.

Following scrutiny, recommendation 1 was supported to Cabinet.

Following scrutiny, recommendation 2 was supported to Cabinet.

Following scrutiny, an amendment was put forward in relation to recommendation 3. The amended recommendation as set out below was supported to Cabinet.

3) Continue negotiations and agree terms with Signal Capital to lease the Port Talbot MSCP and to bring a further report back to cabinet for a final decision. “To include capital investment plans, proposed opening hours and impact on Port Talbot Town Centre Car Parks retained by the council.”

Following scrutiny, recommendation 4 was supported to Cabinet.

Following scrutiny, recommendation 5 was supported to Cabinet.

Following scrutiny members recommended and approved the following for Cabinet to consider.

(6) Officers explore options to gather occupancy data to be reported back to the scrutiny committee.

David Griffiths Head of Engineering and Transport informed members that it is an early high-level review of the car parking capacity and has been brought because of enquiries that the council are strategically dealing with. Members were advised that Signal Capital made an approach to the authority about the Port Talbot Multi-Storey car park (PTMSCP)

Members were advised that PTMSCP needs significant capital investment of at least £2.5 million in the short and medium term to be spent on it and that the recommendations are asking for permission for officers to enter further discussions with Signal Capital about the running of PTMSCP.

Officers explained that Bethany Square carpark, Rosser Street carpark and the Pontardawe By-Pass Car Park were considered to support the Local Development Plan (LDP) and have potential as housing development sites for regeneration purposes. These carparks would be retained until opportunities come forward for future housing or regeneration purposes with detailed survey works undertaken at that point.

Members had no questions relating to Rosser Street carpark.

In relation to Milland Road car park (Neath), members asked whether the amount paid by Neath fair held at Easter and in the Summer were considered in the income for the car park.

Officers explained that the parking service receive no income from the Neath fair and the council and National Rail (NR) just make the carpark available for the fair to take place. Accountants and property officers who manage the fair have confirmed that there is an actual cost to the authority and the authority effectively subsidised it last year by £42,340 in total.

Members were surprised at the cost to the council and had thought the Council would be making money from the fair.

Members were informed that Milland Road car park is split approximately 50/50 with one section owned by Network Rail (NR) who sublet it to Transport for Wales (TfW) as part of their rail portfolio. The other section is owned by the Arch Co. and that section is leased to the Council. The lease almost costs the council as much as the parking income it takes and with maintenance costs on top, it results in a net loss to the parking operational account.

Members were advised however that the council now occupies without formal approval from NR, the NR car park as well. Officers advised that the estates department are currently working on rationalising that lease.

Officers explained that the authority is responsible for repairs to the carpark and last spring, the head of service had to obtain £75,000 from the capital budget to repair a retaining wall for the fair to continue in September.

The vice chair asked if officers knew how much the Arch Co would be raising the rent by. Officers explained that the lease at Milland Road is due to expire at the end of December and the Arch Co’s indicative figures are double the current cost and could be as much as £100,000. This would mean that the council would be subsidising  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Following Scrutiny members approved recommendation i.

Following Scrutiny members approved recommendation ii.

Following scrutiny, an amendment was put forward in relation to recommendation iii. The amended recommendation as set out below was supported to Cabinet.

Approve the revised ‘No Side Waste’ Policy set out in Appendix D of this report; with a review report to be included with the missed collections policy.

Following Scrutiny members approved item recommendation iv option b.

Following Scrutiny members approved item recommendation V option b

Following Scrutiny members approved item recommendation Vi option b

Mike Roberts Head of Streetcare gave members an introduction to the report.

A member felt that the three weekly bin collection was something that nobody wanted except for the officers and stated that three weekly collections keep reappearing despite the assurances from the cabinet and the leader that the council would not be moving to three weekly collections.

The member felt the public’s view in the consultation was that the council shouldn’t have 3 weekly collections. Members highlighted that authorities that have a 2 weekly waste collection are hitting the 70% recycling target.

A member stated that the cabinet and the leadership have the authority to quash the 3 weekly collections option. The member also stated that his party had been accused of scaremongering and lying around three weekly collections.

Members felt that 3 weekly collections were not going to be very unpopular if it does get voted through.

Members felt that even when people recycle everything, their bin bags are full after two weeks and they felt that people would not be able to cope if it went to 3 weekly bin collections.

Members advised that they understood the financial constraints and recycling targets, but felt it would be vastly unpopular, especially in Aberavon, which is an urban area where members are trying to make improvements slowly and if it went to three weeks, people would go against it and it would set back progress.

The Cabinet member for Streetscene, Cllr Scott Jones stated that he appreciates some of the comments made and noted that it is a very controversial issue amongst residents and agreed that it would be an unpopular choice.

The cabinet member advised that he wanted to steer away from getting into any predetermination matters as he is very mindful that he would be party to this decision-making process in due course but stated that he was comfortable in putting on record and suggesting that he has got concerns with these proposals before members.

The Cabinet member advised that he had considered the survey responses and has taken great interest in a lot of the comments that came back from it. He advised that nothing changes in regard to the proposal being part of the 5% departmental budget savings that needs to be met and that the authority is looking at the equivalent of a £739,000 saving needed.

The Cabinet member stated that the scrutiny committee and the cabinet collectively need to be mindful that if the proposal goes off the table, that an alternative option will potentially be needed to fill the gap of £739,000 in savings.

The chair felt that the committee appreciate the cabinet member being candid in his initial views on this proposal as part of the discussion.

Cllr Steve Hunt the Leader of the council asked to clear up confusion around a comment by a member relating to misinformation around the 3 weekly bin collections. He stated that he didn’t want to get into a political debate, but misinformation was given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Following scrutiny, an amendment was put forward. The amended recommendation as set out below was supported to Cabinet.

Endorse the proposal to carry out an official pilot to not restrict pedestrian access to the parks and gardens listed in Appendix A for a period of 4 months commencing 1st December 2024, the outcome of the pilot to be reported back and include Public engagement.

Officers made members aware of an error within the financial impacts section of the report, explaining that the cost associated with the installation of bollards to stop vehicle access is £2076 not £1000.

Officers explained that if the pilot is supported by members, consultation with the Community Safety Project Board will be undertaken during the trial period to identify if there is any disorder impacts associated with the pilot.

Officers explained that additionally, within the two to three-week period before the trial starts in December, consultation will be done with the stakeholders of parks and gardens such as Friends of Jersey Park.

Members were concerned the report states that officers may have to engage partners around sex workers and drug abuse. They felt this gives the impression that the council is anticipating that these problems could be an issue in the future if the parks are left open with limited lighting and they could become places where people will congregate late at night.

Officers advised that one individual undertakes this task daily, but due to a lack of resource because of sickness, there has already been an unofficial trial of not closing the parks. Members were advised that officers arrange overtime where they can but sometimes it's not always forthcoming.

Members were advised that through their work with the police and the local PCSO’s there hasn't been any information around sex work coming back. Officers feel that the focus has been more on anti-social behaviour. The council has a duty around crime and disorder and the risk associated with that and that is why they have identified it in the report.

Officers will work closely with the Community Safety team to identify potential issues that could arise, but officers aren’t anticipating these to become issues.

Officers stated that they will speak to the Community Safety Team and intend to present at the community safety project board on the 5th of December to tell the other external agencies about the details of the pilot. Officers also explained that towards the end of the trial, there is a project board meeting on the 11th of March, which they want to attend to ask for feedback and identify if there are any impacts associated with the changes. Officers also wish to put an onus on the other external agencies to think about any measures that they could bring forward to mitigate any impacts. Officers will then bring that back in a further report for members to consider.

Members asked about the cost of the installation of the bollards and asked if officers have any indication of how many bollards this funding will cover and how many could possibly be installed at each location? Members gave the example of Tollgate park where they have 3 gates that are left open that could accommodate vehicle access and asked if all three would have a bollard.

Officers advised that there are 12 bollards across the parks needed in total. Officers explained that the price of £170  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

No scrutiny committee Forward Work Programme items to be considered.

There were no items selected from the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme.

The Members of the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

No performance monitoring items to be considered.

There were no Performance Monitoring reports for consideration.

There were no Performance Monitoring reports for consideration.

·       Cabinet Forward Work Programme

·       Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme

Members noted the Forward Work Programme.

Members 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 was none.

There was none.