·
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision
scrutiny (Cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)
·
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet (Finance) Sub Committee agenda
for pre-decision scrutiny (Cabinet Finance Sub - Committee reports enclosed for
Scrutiny Members)
Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following cabinet items:
Strategic
Equality Plan 2015-2019 - Annual Report 2019 – 2020
Members
were presented with the Strategic Equality Plan 2015-2019 Annual Report for the
period 2019-2020, as detailed within the circulated report.
Discussions
took place around Equality Objective 6 - Improve access to the environment by
meeting the needs of people from protected groups where these are different
from the needs of other people. Members queried whether there were any
developments in relation to Shopmobility being
located in Neath Town Centre, to improve usage. Members were advised that the Shopmobility service was currently located within the new
multi-storey carpark, to give immediate access to the users straight from
parking their vehicle. It was also noted that there had been a decline in usage
due to the impact of the pandemic and following recovery of the pandemic it is
hoped that usage of the service would increase.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
Welsh
Language Promotion Strategy Progress Report October
2019-March
2020
Officers
presented the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy progress report for the period
October 2019-March 2020.
Members
noted the affect that covid-19 has had on the promotion of Welsh Language,
however it was noted that the progress report was for the period just prior to
the start of the Pandemic. It was noted that over the past year there would
likely be an effect to the progress report for the period 2020-2021, however, there
had been a positive take up of virtual welsh language training courses.
Concern
was raised around the loss of the oral use of the Welsh Language, following the
closure of Schools due to the pandemic and the affect that this would have
caused on the students. Officers took on board the concerns that were raised
and reassured members that as pupils start to return to School, it would be a
priority of theirs to do a local review in ensuring the loss of education is
considered.
Members
commended teachers for their work in providing support and education to pupils
during the pandemic.
It
was noted that Human Resources were able to report on the number of employees
who have welsh language skills via the employee portal, members queried this
figure. Officers informed members that they would gather this information
outside of the meeting.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
Corporate
Governance Improvement Action Plan - Progress Report
Members
were provided with a half year update on the progress made on the Corporate
Governance Improvement Action Plan for 2020-2021. It was noted that the action
plan reflects the governance issues identified in the Council’s Annual
Governance Statement for 2019-2020 which was reported to Cabinet on 21st May
2020.
Within
the Governance Improvement Action Plan members queried the action that was taken to
ensure that lawful
decision making could take place in the event that the Urgency Action Protocol
could not be utilised. Officers informed members that this action was taken to
ensure that decisions could still take place in any scenario. It was noted that
delegated authority was granted to the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors
in the event that the Executive could not be contacted.
Following
Scrutiny, the report was noted