Agenda item

Members considered the service report card for the Planning Policy Service area.

Members noted that within the report card there was specific mention of the regeneration of Port Talbot town centre and concern was raised that other areas of the County Borough may be missed out. Officers confirmed that this was not the case and work was ongoing in other towns also.

Members asked for clarity on public rights of way and in particular the maintenance of the paths. Officers stated in 2016/2017 a one off amount of £100k was made available to undertake maintenance on the most regularly used footpaths. Officers continued that the works were undertaken that provided value for money on footpaths within urban and urban fringe areas.

Members asked what was the current maintenance budget and officers confirmed it was circa £50k and this again was used on commonly used routes and generally as a response to complaints.

Members enquired whether there was any collaboration ongoing in relation to rights of way maintenance. Officers confirmed there are agreements in place with 3 Community Councils of Pontardawe, Cilybebyll and Blaenrhonddan.

Officers asked Members to note that there had been other agreements in place with other community councils but these had ceased for various reasons including councils thinking they were undertaking too much maintenance compared to what funding they were receiving.

Members were concerned that the disrepair will get worse as funding diminishes and Officers confirmed that was the reason to allocate the additional £100k so that as much work could be done as possible.

Members asked whether officers were speaking with the companies who have pulled out of roundabout sponsorship. Officers confirmed that the company which had the contract for organising this (Immediate Solutions) were in the process of speaking to the businesses and the Authority would be informed of the outcomes of these discussions in due course.

Clarification was sought as to whether the sponsorship signs needed to be bilingual and it was confirmed that they did not.

Following scrutiny the report was noted.