To select appropriate items
from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports
included for Scrutiny Members)
Minutes:
Item
6: Commercial Property Grant: Water Street Business Centre, Port Talbot
Item
7: Commercial Property Grant: Units 1 and 2 Commercial Buildings, Talbot Road,
Port Talbot
Item
8: Commercial Property Grant: 20 Queen Street, Neath
The
Chair explained that Members had raised a few questions in regards to the
commercial property grants, and he proposed to take these questions together.
Members
queried whether the grant would be available for work that had already been
carried out and completed. Officers confirmed that the grant was usually paid
out once the work had been completed, as it needed to be checked and signed off
by a quantity surveyor. It was confirmed that specifically in regards to Item
7, Units 1 and 2 Commercial Buildings, Talbot Road, the occupiers had not
received a confirmation letter of the grant, as it had not yet been approved by
Members.
The
officers agreed to confirm with Councillor R. Davies whether or not registered
charities could apply for 100% grant funding for commercial properties.
It
was confirmed to the Committee that applicants did not have to use council
approved contractors but they did have to go out to tender for three
contractors and the independent quantity surveyor would then check the
costings.
It
was explained that the Placemaking Grant noted in the report was a Welsh
Government initiative under the Transforming Towns programme and this would be
dealt with by the regeneration team.
Members
of the Committee queried the proposed grant offer of £47,966.08 in regards to
20 Queen Street Neath, as it seemed costly for a new roof. It was confirmed
that the cost of the grant appeared to be very high as the entire roof
structure required replacing, as opposed to just the roof covers; the grant
included the works to remove the current roof and structure and replace it
fully.
The
Committee requested that all Members of the Council received a list of all
grants offered by the council.
Following
Scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet Board.
Item
10: Neath Port Talbot CBC Highway Technical Design Guide for Residential,
Commercial and Industrial Developments
The
officers introduced the report which sought endorsement of the new Highway
Technical Design Guide for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.
It
was explained that the Minister of Economy and Transport initiated a Taskforce
to undertake a review on un-adopted highways. A part of that review entailed
the standardisation of highway design and specifications in an All Wales Common
Standards document for use by all local Authorities. The Taskforce comprised of
Welsh Local Authorities, and other key stakeholders including the House
Builders Federation, County Surveyors Society and Welsh Local Government Association.
The
aim of the design guide was to bring a more consistent approach to enable
Highway Agreements, such as section 38 highway adoption agreement and also
section 278 agreements for off-site work that relate to new developments, these
could then be successfully completed for the adoption of roads serving new
developments.
The
design guide had been endorsed by Welsh Government and had begun to be put in
to practise across Wales. It was also highlighted to the Committee that the
guide was a live document, as there were currently legislative changes taking
place and updates to the active travel guides had been agreed. The document was
in development and was due to be reviewed again in 2023, and there may be
further updates to consider then.
It
was noted that the purpose of the document was to be read with all other
current legislation and policies in regards to highways. It was further
confirmed that WLGA were keen to add the Active Travel guidance to the design
guide, and this work was ongoing.
The
Chair thanked the officers for their introduction of the report. He noted that
Members had concerns that the document may not always be fully up to date, with
all relevant legal and policy provisions, and wished to propose an amendment to
the recommendations.
RESOLVED: That the Scrutiny Committee
agreed to recommend the below amendment to the Cabinet Board for consideration:
Having due regard to the
screening Integrated Impact Assessment it is recommended that Members approve
the New Highway Design Guide for implementation subject to an appropriate
disclaimer being placed on the Council’s website highlighting that some legal
and policy provisions may not be up to date and drawing attention to compliance
with Llwybr Newydd, PPW11 and specific reference to the Active Travel Design
Guidance 2021 (confirming this Council’s commitment to Active Travel and
sustainable transport). In addition, future amendments to the document to be
brought back to Scrutiny for review prior to submission to Welsh Government by
CSS or following updated versions from Welsh Government.
Following
Scrutiny, and in addition to the amendment above, the recommendations were
supported to Cabinet Board.