Minutes:
5.
PRE-SCRUTINY
The
Committee chose to scrutinise the following items:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
5.1 Rural Development Programme
The Committee received information in relation to the Rural Development
Programme 2014-2020 as contained within the circulated report.
Members questioned the criteria used when determining which areas were
rural. Members also queried why Alltwen was not
classified as rural. Officers informed Members that a numerical formula issued
by the Welsh Government was used to determine which areas were rural. Officers
added that the formula took into account the number of citizens residing within
a ward and how sparsely they were distributed.
Members queried whether
there were any examples of projects that had been supported by LEADER funding.
Officers reported that the Working with Nature project which was assisted by
the Authority’s Countryside and Wildlife Team had received LEADER funding to
launch the “The Gateway to the Black Mountain” project, which supported the
communities of Cwmgors, Gwaun
Cae Gurwen, Brynamman and Tairgwaith to
enlist volunteers to help with nature conservation activities. Members
commented that the Working with Nature project had been a success in the
community of Dyffryn Clydach.
Members raised concerns that some communities were finding it hard to access
grant funding due to the complexity of the application process, while others
were deterred by the length of time it took for the grant money to be released.
Officers acknowledged the potential difficulties experienced during the
application process and informed Members that the Local Action Group had two
dedicated development workers to assist communities with each stage of the
process. Officers informed Members that the application process had become more
robust and streamlined, and that the average turnaround period for applications
was now around six months. Officers offered to provide advice and support to
Members and their communities if they had any queries or issues.
Following scrutiny the Committee noted the Rural Development Programme
2014-2020 update.
5.2 Former Plaza Cinema, Port Talbot
The Committee received information in relation to the Former Plaza
Cinema, Port Talbot as contained within the circulated report.
Members raised concerns over the potential difficulty that the
successful bidder may experience when attempting to find businesses to occupy
the units, as the proposal was very prescriptive regarding the types of
businesses desired. Members added that there were possible financial risks if
the contract between the Authority and the chosen organisation was terminated
early as a result, and the Authority had to pay to reconfigure the building for
general use in order to appeal to more businesses.
Officers informed Members that the building would be designed with the
flexibility to reconfigure the layout if required in the future. Officers
explained that it was important to view the former Plaza Cinema within the
context of the other regeneration activities which were taking place in the area.
Officers added that it was important to have a good mix of businesses in the
area.
Members questioned why the Authority did not wish to retain the
operational management of the building as previously done with Sandfields Young Business Centre. Officers explained that
it was a different proposition to Sandfields Young
Business Centre, and had the potential to provide a steady income stream which
would keep it financially viable. Officers stated that there were businesses in
the private sector that were better suited at running the building than the
Authority due to their experience and expertise.
Members queried what the timescales were for the project. Officers
informed Members that the procurement stage was due for completion by the end
of the year, and that the successful bidder would be on site by next year.
Officers added that the project would be progressed as quickly as practicable
in order to capitalise on the European grant funding before it became
unavailable following Brexit.
Members emphasised the importance of regularly monitoring progress, and
queried how Local Members would still be involved in the process. Officers
stated that any updates on developments would be reported regularly to the
Committee, Plaza Community Group and directly to Local Members.
Members acknowledged the progress made on the project to date, and following scrutiny the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board.