Agenda and minutes

Agreed that Councillor S.Jones be appointed as Chairperson for the meeting.

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The following Declaration of Interest was receiving at the start of the meeting:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2022 be approved as an accurate record.

That the Environment, Regeneration and Streetscene Services Cabinet Board Forward Work Programme be noted.

Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services, democratic.services@npt.gov.uk no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No questions were received.

Decisions:

1. That the implementation of the new burial times on a 6 month trial be continued. That a review be undertaken after a 6-month period, and make any necessary changes after further consultation with funeral directors.

2. That the vehicle provision be continued as is currently, and allow 24/7 access to Neath Port Talbot Council owned cemeteries, with the addition of safety measures as detailed in the background section of the circulated report. That the situation be continued to be closely monitored, and address any complaints that are received individually and in a timely manner.

3. That the width of a headstone be increased from 610mm to 762mm.

4. That the provision of new bricked graves within Neath Port Talbot Council owned cemeteries be ceased.

5. That the current arrangement in regards to memorial seats be continued, that no further individual memorial benches within the cemeteries be allowed. That community benches be installed as an alternative, allowing those that request a memorial bench to have the option of a plaque on a community bench.

Reason for Decisions:

1. The new burial times allows sufficient time between burials, and means that the cemetery staff do not need to work over their contracted hours. This increases staff morale and will ensure that staff can follow health and safety measures/provisions as they will have sufficient time to use wash facilities and will not be required to work in poor light conditions.

2. By keeping vehicle provision the same, the Council are still allowing access for all its users on a 24/7 basis. Additional measures are to be put in place in order to address recent complaints and crimes such as additional signage, kerb edging (where appropriate) and CCTV cameras.

3. In order to maximise burial space, the provision of bricked new graves is proposed to cease within Neath Port Talbot owned cemeteries. This not only causes grave space issues, it is also a health and safety issue as it can cause stability issues between the earthen walls of neighbouring graves.

4. As an alternative to an individual memorial bench, install community benches within our cemeteries. The Council have a need to prioritise grave space, and a community bench is a way of using land that is not suitable for burial and can incorporate 10 plaques. This allows the Council to reinstate a service that the public request.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decisions:

1. That the Street Naming and Numbering Policy document as set out in Appendix A of the circulated report be approved

2. That the changes to the fees charged for services delivered by the Street Naming & Numbering function as set out in Appendix B of the circulated report be approved

3. That delegated powers be granted to the Director of Environment and Regeneration, and the Head of Engineering and Transport, for the naming of new streets and renaming of existing streets in the County Borough

Reason for Decisions:

1. The increase in fees will reflect the current costs of delivering this service.

2. The ambiguity that currently exists within the street naming and numbering service will be resolved and service users will be aware of their obligations to provide information and to register properties. The Welsh Language and historic names/places will be protected as set out within the report.

3. To enable the effective management of Street Naming and Renaming function within the Authority. Before a street can be named or renamed the process requires consultation with homeowners and businesses effected by the changes in addition to local Ward Members, so key stakeholders have to agree the change before it happens. Any disagreements with Ward Members or local businesses/homeowners would still be brought to Cabinet Board for decision.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment, the current subsidised bus contracts be extended until the 31st March 2023 to allow time for the budget setting process to take place.

Reason for Decision:

Extending the contracts until March the 31st 2023 will allow time for Members to consider Council priorities as part of the budget setting process.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Members were supportive of the additions to the recommendation, put forward by the Scrutiny Committee, held previous to this meeting (as detailed below).

Decisions:

That having given due regard to the first stage Integrated Impact Assessment:

1. That Option 2 detailed within the circulated report, be pursued for the foreseeable future, with palisade fencing to each end of the tunnel being maintained as existing.

2. That a feasibility study for future use be carried out, and the subsequent options be brought to the Committee within the next 12 months.

Reason for Decisions:

To determine the way forward regarding the structure.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the integrated impact assessment, approval be granted to advertise the proposed removal of the No Entry traffic regulation order at the southern end of the rear lane to 1-17 Crown Street, Port Talbot (as detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report) and if no objections are received that the proposals be implemented on site as advertised.

Reason for Decision:

The proposed removal of No Entry traffic regulation order will enable the waste collection teams to enter the lane from the south, making their collection round easier, more efficient and reduce the risk of third party damage

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Councillor Wyndham Griffiths reaffirmed his interest at this point and left the meeting, for this item only.

Decisions:

That having given due regard to the integrated impact assessment, the objection be overruled to the A474 Neath Road, Bryncoch (Revocation) and (40 mph Speed Limits) Traffic Regulation Order 2022 (as detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report) and that the scheme be implemented on site as advertised.

Reason for Decision:

To reduce vehicular speeds in the interest of highway safety.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the integrated impact assessment, approval be granted to advertise the Traffic Regulation Order associated with the planning conditions for the new Housing Development Clos Castan, Neath (As detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report) and if no objections are received that the proposal be implemented on site as advertised.

Reason for Decision:

The proposed traffic regulation order will prevent indiscriminate parking in the interest of road safety.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the integrated impact screening assessment, approval be granted to advertise the Traffic Regulation Order associated with the planning conditions for the new Housing Development Clos Gelli Wen, Alltwen (As detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report) and if no objections are received that the proposals be implemented on site as advertised.

Reason for Decision:

The proposed traffic regulation order will prevent indiscriminate parking and regulate traffic manoeuvres in the interest of road safety.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decisions:

1. That having given due regard to the integrated impact assessment, the objection be overruled to the Lewis Road, George Street, Edward Street, Lewis Road Lane, Westernmoor Road and Upland Road (7.5 Tonne Weight Restriction Except for Access) Order 2022, (as detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report) and that the scheme be implemented as advertised.

2. That the objector be informed of the decision accordingly.

Reason for Decisions:

The proposed traffic regulation order will facilitate the safe passage of traffic in the interest of road safety.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the integrated impact assessment, approval be granted to advertise the proposed prohibition of waiting at any time traffic regulation order on Hawthorn Close at the junction with Ynys y Gwas (as detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report) and if no objections are received that the proposals be implemented on site as advertised.

Reason for Decision:

The proposed traffic regulation order will prevent indiscriminate parking on the junction in the interests of road safety and ensuring access for waste collection vehicles.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Decisions:

That having given due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment, the List of Approved Contractors be amended as follows:-

Companies to be added to the List of Approved Contractors.

The following companies have applied to be included on the list and passed the required assessments:-

Companies to be removed from List of Approved Contractors

The following companies have failed to meet NPTCBC criteria due to no Health & Safety assessment/accreditation and therefore, are to be removed from the List of Approved Contractors:-

Reason for Decisions:

1. To keep the List of Approved Contractors up to date and as far as possible, ensure a competitive procurement process.

2. These recommendations to be adopted for the purpose of supplying a List of Approved Contractors for invitation to tender within the relevant category.

Implementation of Decisions:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Sunday 9 October 2022.

Any urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 2290 (as amended).

There were no urgent items received.

To resolve to exclude the public for the following items pursuant to Regulation 4 (3) and (5) of Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 2290 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Decision:

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 subject to the Public Interest Test (where appropriate) being applied.

Decisions:

That having given due regard to the first stage Integrated Impact Assessment that:

1. The terms and conditions for the surrender of the existing lease of the catering kiosk and adjoining land be approved.

2. The grant of a new Agreement for Lease be granted.

3. In addition, a lease be granted to facilitate the redevelopment of a new catering kiosk facility at the western end of Aberavon Seafront, Port Talbot.

Reason for Decisions:

To enable the tenant to redevelop and provide a new enhanced catering kiosk facility on the western end of Aberavon Seafront for the benefit of the visitors and the local community.

Implementation of Decisions:

This decision is for immediate implementation, and therefore not subject to the three day call in period.