Venue: Multi-Location Meeting - Council Chamber, Port Talbot & Microsoft Teams. View directions
Contact: Alison Thomas Email: a.thomas6@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Chair's Announcements Decision: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Minutes: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. |
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Declarations of Interest Decision: There
were no declarations of interest received. Minutes: There
were no declarations of interest received. |
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To consider items selected from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme Decision: The
committee considered the items selected from the Cabinet Forward Work
Programme. Minutes: The
committee considered the items selected from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme
as set out in 3a, 3b and 3c of the agenda pack. |
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Corporate Plan 2024-2027 Working towards a more prosperous, fairer and greener NPT Additional documents:
Decision: Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation set out in the draft Cabinet
Report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members
expressed their concern that members of the public may be confused with regards
to the purpose of the Corporate Plan. Members of the public may perceive it as
a manifesto for Council, as opposed to the aspirations of Council. Members
suggested that a paragraph be inserted which outlines what is possible for the
Council, the items that the Council can control, and the items where it has no
control. It should be clearly outlined where the Council has links to
stakeholders, but that the Council has no control over the policy and actions
of the stakeholders. Concerns
were raised over housing within the borough and the ability to provide housing
for the job opportunities that are arising within the Borough. Members
emphasised that communication is key for the Corporate Plan. It is important
that it accurately reflects what is under the Council’s jurisdiction and what
is not. The
Leader emphasised that the Corporate Plan is a live document and that external
factors will affect what can be achieved within the plan. There also needs to
be a public friendly document which sets out the aspirations of the Council and
reflects what has already been delivered by the authority. Officers
confirmed that the Corporate Plan is a statutory document and it does need to
cover a number of areas to comply with legislation. In terms of managing the
expectations of the public, it is recognised that the Corporate Plan has been
drafted recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the Council.
The document also sets out the transformation strategies that have been agreed
by the Council. The
Corporate Plan refers to the Events Strategy. Members expressed their
preference that the process to organise events be simplified. Officers advised
that a policy will be brought before members shortly on this item. This will
hopefully simplify the process and encourage events to take place within the
borough. Members
referred to the ‘best start in life’ objective in relation to reducing
exclusions. Members commented that it would be extremely difficult to complete
this action, especially noting the number of schools that are in deficit
budgets or are headed into deficit budgets. Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation set out in the draft Cabinet
Report. |
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Strategic Equality Plan 2024/2028 Additional documents:
Decision: Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined in the draft Cabinet
report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Officers
outlined that this is a plan that is governed by statute. The equality
objectives outlined within the plan have not changed since the last plan as it
is felt that they are still relevant to the communities within Neath Port
Talbot. As a result of this there was no requirement for the authority to
consult on the plan. It is noted that the action section has been updated to
make it more SMART. It now includes not only the actions, but also the outcomes
and measures against each action. This will assist in measuring progress
against each action and will be used to assist with presenting information on
the Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report moving forward. It is noted that in
the revision of the plan, there was a wide corporate effort with input from
across the whole Council. Members
queried if job applications for employment across the authority are being
anonymised or are there some exceptions? Officers confirmed that the authority
has the capability to anonymise application forms and currently this is an
option that recruiting managers can select. It is not yet mandatory. In order
to make it mandatory the Recruitment and Selection Policy will need to be
changed. Before this is done, officers will carry out of a lot of awareness
raising with recruiting managers and this will be done in a range of ways. There
is one specific appointment where the application form was not anonymised. This
related to the Chief Executive post. It was recognised that in order to
anonymise the application form a large amount of information would have needed
to have been stripped from the form which would have made shortlisting very
difficult. Officers
advised that the amended policy would be presented to the Personnel Committee
before Christmas. Officers confirmed that there is funding available under the SPF support scheme for social care to provide support to those that are digitally excluded. Officers confirmed that they would seek further information from social care colleagues to ... view the full minutes text for item 3b |
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Annual Governance Statement 23/24 Additional documents:
Decision: Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined in the draft Cabinet
report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Officers
confirmed that the Annual Statement has been brought forward to support the Council’s
draft statement of accounts for 23/24. The main body of the report covers
processes, policies and strategies that the Council have in place to ensure
robust governance. The
reports sets out the progress that has been made on areas of improvement which
were identified in the 22/23 statement. The improvement areas which will be
taken forward in this financial year have also been identified. Following
scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined in the draft Cabinet
report. |
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To consider items from the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme ·
No scrutiny committee Forward Work Programme items to be considered. Decision: There
were no items to consider from the scrutiny committee forward work programme. Minutes: There
were no items to consider from the scrutiny committee forward work programme. |
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Performance Monitoring Decision: Members
considered performance monitoring items. Minutes: Members
considered performance monitoring items as set out in 5a, 5b and 5c of the agenda
pack. |
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Revenue Budget Monitoring Outturn 2023-2024 Additional documents: Decision: Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members
queried the fostering underspend of £253k as set out on page 279 of the agenda
pack. It was confirmed by officers, that when the budget it set, the figure is
set in accordance with expected foster placements for the year. The figure set
out in the report refers to inhouse foster placements. The number of placements
during the year has decreased, therefore the figure related to this item has
also decreased. The cost relates to the number of placements, not the number of
carers. Members
queried the underspend on free school meals of £238k. Officers confirmed that
when the budget was set, the grant funding which has been received towards this
cost was not included. The grant funding was not known at the time of setting
the budget, therefore could not be included until it was confirmed. Members
referred to the overspend in relation to the unachieved vacancy management
savings in the Social Services budget. Member were concerned that this is used
as a mechanism in the budget, however it appears that it is not being achieved.
Officers confirmed that each directorate has been given a 5% vacancy management
target. This has been achieved across the Council, albeit this may not be
reflected in individual directorates. Members
referred to the overspend of £209,000 in the Social Services budget, in
relation to the system that was implemented which was going to be funded from
reserves. Officers confirmed that the authority did hold sufficient reserves to
pay for the new system and that the overspend indicted is a presentation issue
within the report. Members
referred to the council tax collection rate and it was acknowledged that the council
has collected more than it budgeted for. Members were concerned that this was
not accurately forecast and queried if any action would be taken to ensure that
the council tax income forecast was accurate moving forward. Officers advised
that this would be considered when the rate is set in November, however there
were a couple of items to note in relation to this. Firstly, that there is
current uncertainty in employment for the forthcoming year, within the borough
and also the forthcoming year will see the premiums on second and long-term
empty homes introduced. These may have an impact on the collection rate. Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. |
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Capital Budget Monitoring Outturn 2023-24 Additional documents: Decision: Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. In
relation to the levelling up fund, members noted that there was no reference to
the Port Talbot and transport project. Members queried if there had been any
funding spent in relation to the project. Officers
confirmed that there has been a limited spend on projects, in particular the Port
Talbot project. In relation to the bridge project, it was confirmed that the authority
are still waiting for the offer letter. It is likely that the recent general
election has caused a delay in certain items from central government. Members
referred to the overall capital budget, and expressed their confusion with
regards to how certain items outlined within the report fall under a capital
budget. The council’s website provides some narrative in terms of what falls under
the capital budget however the report outlines some items which fall under it
which members consider do not fall under the definition of capital budget. The example
of free school meals was considered. Member suggested that there should be more
of an explanatory comment outlining what investments are. In
relation to Free School Meals grants that are received and identified in the capital
budget, officers confirmed these tend to relate to the infrastructure projects i.e.
new school kitchens, which are being funded by the grants. Members
noted their concern where the report referred to ‘other investment.’ This does
not clearly identify what the funding relates to. Officers acknowledged this
concern and agreed to provide further detail in future reports. Members
queried, given the significant underspend of the £6.156m of the Capital
Programme for 2023/24, what lessons have been learned concerning the planning
and execution of capital projects and will these lessons be used to inform
future projects and capital project timelines to ensure an increase in accuracy
in forecasting. Officers noted that there were often third parties involved in
projects, and the authority cannot control the actions of the third parties. It
was considered that the authority has good methodology in terms of capital
project management, but there are often delays in grants and supplementary grants
coming being received by the authority. Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. |
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Treasury Management Outturn 2023-2024 Additional documents: Decision: Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members
referred to the Bank of England interest rates, and queried that when they
change does the authority follow a set formula in terms of investment and
borrowing or is the authorities response to the change
determined by a decision of Cabinet? Officers confirmed that the authority has
treasury advisors who monitor interest rates and will provide appropriate advice
for the authority to consider with regards to future projection of interest rates.
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. |
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To resolve to exercise the powers set out in Section 35 of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being the designated Overview and Scrutiny Committee for this purpose as approved by Council May 2015. Decision: Resolved:
To exercise the powers set out in Section 35 of the Wellbeing of Future
Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being the designated Overview and Scrutiny
Committee for this purpose as approved by Council May 2015. Minutes: Resolved:
To exercise the powers set out in Section 35 of the Wellbeing of Future
Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being the designated Overview and Scrutiny
Committee for this purpose as approved by Council May 2015. |
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Neath Port Talbot Public Services Board - Well-being Plan Annual Report 2023-24 Additional documents: Decision: Members
noted the Annual Report. Minutes: Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members
noted the Annual Report. |
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Selection of items for future scrutiny ·
Cabinet Forward Work Programme ·
Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme Additional documents: Decision: Members
noted the Forward Work Programme. Minutes: Officers
went through the Forward Work Programme udpates. Members
noted the Forward Work Programme. |
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Urgent Items Any
urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section
100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). Decision: There
were no urgent items. Minutes: There
were no urgent items. |