Agenda and minutes

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

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interests received.

·        14 September 2023

·        6 October 2023

That the minutes of the meetings held on 14 September 2023 and 6 October 2023 be approved as an accurate record.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.

Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services, democratic.services@npt.gov.uk no later than two working days 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.

Decision:

That the report be noted.

Decision:

That having had 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:

Companies to be removed from the List of Approved Contractors:

Removal of the following companies was required due to failure to meet NPTCBC’s Health & Safety criteria (H027) and company had gone into Liquidation (A022).

Reason for Proposed Decision:

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

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 Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Decision:

Having had due regard to the integrated impact assessment, that approval be granted to advertise the traffic regulation orders associated with the new Afan Awel Housing Development off Channel View and The Princess Margaret Way (As detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report), and if no objections were received that the proposals be implemented on site as advertised.

Reason for Proposed Decision:

The proposed traffic regulation orders will prevent indiscriminate parking and facilitate the passage of vehicular traffic 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, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Decision:

Having had due regard to the integrated impact assessment:

·        That the objection be overruled in full to the (Quarr Road, Pontardawe) (Disabled Residents Parking Places) Order 2023 (as detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report), and that the scheme be implemented as advertised at the earliest convenience.

·        That the objector be notified of the decision accordingly.

Reason for Decision:

Having due regard to the objection that was received, and also the letter of support, there were many factors that were considered before making the proposed decision.

Due to the Topography of Quarr road there was a strong case for the scheme to be implemented as the road was at a steep gradient. The applicant met all the criteria to apply for an Individual Disabled Parking Place.

In regards to point 3 of the objection summery; the resident was concerned that any blue badge holder would be able to park in the bay, this was deemed not to be true. Only the occupier of number 21 will be able to apply for the disabled parking permit in relation to this bay, and the council parking enforcement team were able to check this with the vehicle registration linked to the proposed permit.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Decision:

Having had due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

·       That the draft Highway Asset Management Plan 2023-26, as provided in Appendix A of the circulated report, be endorsed.

·       That a further update be brought back to Environment, Regeneration & Streetscene Services Cabinet Board, after completion of the Regional Transport Plan and Cycleway management work.

Reason for Proposed Decision:

To keep up to date and continue developing, in line with good practice, the Council’s Highway Asset Management Planning.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Cabinet Members considered the proposed additional recommendation to the original, which was contained within the circulated report. Cabinet Members were not supportive of the additional recommendation, made by the Scrutiny Committee, held previous to this meeting.

Decision:

That approval be granted for public consultation to be undertaken with respect to the potential street lighting energy saving strategies, as set out in the circulated report.

Reason for Proposed Decision:

To help inform any future decision regarding street lighting savings and associated Integrated Impact Assessment.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Decision:

That the report be noted.

Decision:

·      That the Council continue to decline requests for on-street home or business electric vehicle charging for the time being

·      That Officers continue discussions with Welsh Government, through Transport for Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association, to seek model guidance and licence requirements for on-street home charging with respect to on-street charging requests from residents.

Reason for Proposed Decision:

Given the legal implications for the Authority, the potential safety issues arising from trailing a cable across the highway, and the early stage trailing elsewhere of potentially innovative solutions, it was recommended to continue with the existing moratorium and monitor the success or otherwise of the trials.

With the uptake of EV’s which was likely to increase rapidly in the coming years, and the home charging issues arising from the historic housing and highway layouts throughout the country, national Welsh Government guidance was required to ensure a consistent approach between Councils and to steer future plans and policies.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Decision:

That the report be noted.

Any urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Regulation 5(4)(b) of 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.

Decision:

Having had due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

·       That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Property and Regeneration authority to serve any requisite notices under Party Wall Act 1996, to ensure that the Council complies with its duty under this legislation in respect of the proposed new cinema extension and internal improvement works at Pontardawe Arts Centre.

·       That the Head of Property and Regeneration be authorised to amend the scheme of delegations to include the service of notices under the Party Wall Act 1996; and that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to update the Constitution of Neath Port Talbot County Council to record this.

Reason for Proposed Decision:

To enable the Council to proceed with the scheme of works, subject to the tenders being within budget at Pontardawe Arts Centre, and to ensure appropriate authority was in place for any future notices that may be required.

Implementation of Decision:

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

Decision:

Having given regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

·       That the requirements of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules be excluded, and approval be granted for the Council to make direct awards to The Urbanists for interim Consultancy services, for the additional services required for the delivery of existing place plans only.

·       Authority be granted for the Head of Property and Regeneration to procure further consultancy services for additional towns, secondary and tertiary settlements (not already commissioned to The Urbanists) in early 2024.

Reason for Proposed Decision:

To assist Regeneration in completing Place Plans for its towns, which forms part of the Welsh Governments requirements in delivering strategic projects and providing grants to third parties, and to enable the development of schemes to be delivered with secondary and tertiary settlements.

To ensure continuity of service and time saving in understanding the tasks required with respect to the additional work required.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ended at 9am, Saturday 18 November 2023.

Decision:

That the report be noted.