Agenda and minutes

Agreed that Councillor W.F.Griffiths be appointed as Chairperson for the meeting.

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interests received.

·        14 July 2023

·        28 July 2023

That the minutes of the meetings held on 14 July 2023 and 28 July 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:

Having given due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

·        That approval be granted to allow officers to commence the process of amending the byelaw that presently prohibits cycling at the Neath memorial gates and within the Gnoll estate between the memorial gates and Cimla Common.

Reason for Decision

To enable the development of an active travel route between Neath and Cimla, facilitating travel for everyday journeys on foot or by bike rather than by private car.

Implementation of Decision

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

Decision:

Having had due regard to the first stage Integrated Impact Assessment:

·        That a six week public consultation, on the proposal to make the new Public Space Protection Orders at Aberavon seafront, be carried out;

·        That the proposed consultation questionnaire, included as Appendix A of the circulated report, be endorsed.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure that appropriate dog control measures continue as appropriate at Aberavon Beach and Promenade.

Implementation of Decision:

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

Decision:

Having had due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment, the following be resolved to commend to Council for approval:

·        That the RLDP Delivery Agreement, as presented in Appendix 2 of the circulated report, be agreed for the basis of consultation and subsequent submission to Welsh Government for approval

·        That decision making on responses to any representations received following consultation be delegated to the Head of Planning and Public Protection in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Connectivity; and that any substantive changes deemed necessary to the Delivery Agreement, be reported to Council for approval.

Reason for Decision:

The recommendations were required to ensure compliance with Section 63 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; The Town and Country Planning (Local Development Plan) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015; the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act (2015); the Equality Act (2010); the Welsh Language Standards (No.1) Regulations 2015; Planning Policy Wales 11 (2021) and the Development Plans Manual Edition 3 (2020).

Implementation of Decision:

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

Decision:

Having had due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

·        That the following options contained within the circulated report (14 September 2023), be approved: Option 1, Option 1B, Option 3, Option 4, Option 5, Option 6 and Option 7.

·        In addition, that the recommendations received at the Special Environment, Regeneration and Streetscene Services Scrutiny Committee held on 28 July 2023 be approved as follows:

1.   That when the legal orders are advertised, to change the off-street car parking order and on-street traffic orders, residents and businesses will have the opportunity to raise any objections which will be brought back to a future meeting for Members consideration before any changes are implemented.

2. That subject to available funding, a feasibility study would be considered to be undertaken to review the operational hours of the Neath pedestrianised zone, which will be considered against all other priorities within the Highways Capital Programme; or as suggested by Members, any other regeneration grants that become available which would be subject to a future report to Members.

3. That a review be undertaken in October 2024, six months after all recommendations have been fully implemented during April 2024, to allow time for measureable data to be obtained over the summer period.

4. That a Visitors Parking Permit, that would cover all car parks and attractions in the county (to include country parks), be explored further in conjunction with the country parks management.

Reason for Decision:

The new fees and charges sought to address the outstanding maintenance issues in the authorities’ car parks and reducing the inyear budget pressures within parking services. Also, ensuring Neath Port Talbots car parks remained operational allowing the local environment and amenities to be enjoyed by future generations.

Implementation of Decision:

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

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).

Because of the need to deal now with the matter contained in Minute No 14, the Chairperson agreed these could be raised at today’s meeting as urgent items pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Reason:

Due to the time element.

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:

·        That the Contract Procedure Rules be excluded in accordance with rule 5; and the direct award of a one year contract to the company named in the private circulated report, for the supply of energy to the Transfer Station, be endorsed;

·        That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Streetcare, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, to make the necessary contract arrangement;

·        That when the relocation of the Waste Collection Service to the Transfer Station is completed, the electricity requirements at the site be reviewed and a longer term arrangement be put in hand.

Reason for Decision:

To secure a value energy supply for the transfer Station.

Implementation of Decision:

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

Decision:

Having had due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment:

 · That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Property and Regeneration to serve any requisite notices under Section 172 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to undertake surveys of the land and buildings at Pontneddfechan.

· That the Head of Property and Regeneration be authorised to amend the scheme of delegations to include the service of notices pursuant to the Housing and Planning Act 2016, 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 Decision:

To enable the Council to deliver the Pontneddfechan Levelling Up Fund (LUF) project 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.