To select appropriate items
from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports
included for Scrutiny Members)
Minutes:
Highways
and Engineering - Works Programme 2023/2024
Members
received information on the highway and engineering works to be undertaken in
the financial year 2023/24 and were asked to approve the programme works as
presented within the report circulated.
The
Chair requested a report from officers to come back to the Scrutiny Committee
that is scheduled for the26th of May detailing the criteria used to assess and
prioritise the schemes in highways and engineering works programme as
circulated within the report.
Following
Scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
Vehicle
and Heavy Plant Fleet Procurement Programme 2023/24
Members
were advised on the request to approve procurement of new and replacement
vehicles and heavy plant in 2023/24. Along with approval of delegated authority
for the relevant Head of Service to replace vehicles from future years 25/26 if
any grants become available to assist with the purchase of vehicles, as
presented within the report circulated.
Members
requested that a report be brought to a future meeting detailing figures in
relation to plant fleet procurement and how much the Council is committed to,
this would provide an understanding for members on the costings of tenders when
they become apparent. Officers agreed to bring a cost report back to members
half yearly, however they advised that the vehicle market is currently
difficult with costs being affected by supply and demand. Officers advised that
the report would be dependent on going through specifications of vehicles and
seeking tenders to provide costs received.
Members
also wanted an update on charging infrastructure in line with having more
electric vehicles and a report on this. Officers confirmed that a report would
be brought forward and explained that there is currently limited charging
infrastructure installed around Civic Buildings. However, in readiness of
expanding low carbon vehicles in the fleet, a 1.6million contract has commenced
to facilitate this issue and will predominately deal with the council fleet
vehicles. This is aimed to be completed
by the end of the summer within this financial year. Officers also advised that
Tregelles Court will also be receiving some electric
vehicle infrastructure as the authority is due to receive electric vehicles to
support council services.
Members
also wanted to know why the report refers only to the possibility of electric
vehicles for the refuse lorries. It was discussed that a transport review would
be starting this financial year, with a 5-year plan on how the fleet will be
developed and expanded. Officers explained that grants are available to help
the difference of cost when switching from diesel to electric to help
decarbonise waste fleets by 2030 and it is hoped by officers that should the
council decide to move the refuse fleet to electric, that Welsh Government are
able to support replacement of the fleet. If not, then the council will need to
look at what is affordable. Officers have flagged up to Welsh Government that
the Council is renewing most of the fleet so they can factor this in when
reviewing their grants.
Following
discussions, members felt that zero emissions vehicles should be the main purchase
of vehicles to ensure the Council is achieving its environmental targets.
Therefore, the following amendment was put forward from Scrutiny Committee for
Cabinet Members to consider when making their decision:
• That Members approve the purchase of the
zero emission vehicles in the proposed Vehicle/Plant Procurement Programme for
2023/24 set out at appendix a.
• That Delegated Authority be granted to
the Head of Service in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic
Planning, Transport and Connectivity to purchase any zero emission vehicles in order to maximise the availability of Grant funding that
may become available to assist with the purchase cost of the vehicles.
• That the purchase of fossil fuel
powered vehicles included in appendix a, and any additional vehicles be subject
to further reports to cabinet board for approval, with justification as to why
a zero-emission alternative is not able to be purchased.
Following
scrutiny, the above amendment was supported to Cabinet Board.
Key
Performance Indicators 2022/2023 – Quarter 3 (1st April 2022 – 31st December
2023)
Members
received the report Quarter 3 Performance Management Data and Compliments and
Complaints report for the period 1st April 2022 – 31st December 2023 in
relation to Environment, Regeneration and Streetscene Services, as per the
report.
Members
noted that following a previous Scrutiny Committee a number
of recommendations and amendments were put to officers in relation to
the reporting of the key Performance Indicators. It was noted that not all of the requests were included within the report due to
timescales and data collection. Therefore, scrutiny were
advised that the full information will be included within these reports in due
course.
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted.