·
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision
scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)
Minutes:
Draft
Public Participation Strategy 2023-2028
Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.
Members
expressed concerns in relation to the draft strategy. It was noted that there
were 71 responses from the Citizen Panel in relation to the initial
questionnaire and this was used in preparation of the Draft Strategy. There are
500 members of the Citizen Panel, so this reflects a very low response to the
consultation. Members further expressed their concern in relation to the wider
consultation, where the response rate was 0.35% of the population of Neath Port
Talbot.
Members
queried if the consultation should have mandated that all questions of the
consultation be answered, so that there can be comparable data available.
Members
outlined that, if the strategy is approved by Cabinet, there should be a
requirement for strict monitoring of the strategy and improvements in public
engagement.
Officers
advised that the 71 responses from the Citizen Panel were detailed responses
used to inform the strategy. Officers acknowledged that with the wider
consultation, the smaller number of responses may have been due to consultation
fatigue. However officers advised that responses that were received were
detailed. Officers confirmed that the strategy would be monitored on a six
monthly basis.
Officers
noted that suggestions from members with regards to improving communication and
engagement with the public and agreed to discuss with colleagues as appropriate.
Members were informed that the ‘Have Your Say’ section of the website was
linked from the current home page of the Council’s website.
Officers
agreed that the points relating to customer service feedback were valuable,
however advised that they fall outside the remit of this item. The points
raised will be picked up by the review of customer services and other
strategies.
Members
stressed the importance of obtaining feedback from members of the public as
they are the persons who are directly affected by services of the Council.
Members also queried how members of the public can provide compliments about
the Council, as there is only a complaints form available on the website.
The
Citizens Panel was set up shortly before the pandemic and was designed to be
representative of the adult population of the borough. Its intention was to be
used to be able to draw statistically valid results. It is not valid at
individual board level. The Chief
Executive advised that the panel likely needs to be refreshed in terms of the
participants. The wide ranging ideas that members brought forward in the
meeting could be considered in further detail.
Following
scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by
Cabinet.
Corporate
Plan - Strategic Change Programme for the Period 2023- 2024
Members
considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.
Members
referred to page 160 of the agenda pack, which refers to active travel and
encouraging more people to walk and cycle. However the reference to reducing
reliance on private vehicles has been removed from the proposed plan. Officers
advised that the transition to reducing reliance on private vehicles needs to
be just. It was acknowledged that by increasing active travel, this should reduce
the reliance on private vehicles.
It
was also noted that the action points column on page
160 only refers to public rights of way and member queried if this was relevant
to active travel as they are two separate and distinct items. Members advised
that they were keen to see a performance measure on active travel. Officers
advised that there was no specific budget available in relation to the public
rights of way network at this time, therefore improvements to the network are
restricted by this.
Members
referred to page 164 of the agenda, which refers to an active travel plan.
Members queried if one existed as they were not aware of one. Officers
confirmed that currently there is an existing route map and an integrated
network map, and they should be referred to specifically, not just general
active travel plan. This terminology will be amended accordingly.
Members
expressed their concern about how the document incorporates active travel and
that it is spread across various objectives within the plan.
The
Chief Executive reminded members that the current plan was drafted as the
Council was entering the recovering phase following the pandemic. Members were
advised that a more in depth review of the corporate plan would be undertaken
over the next 6-9 months. A clear action can be considered and input into the
corporate plan in terms of what will be done next year in relation to active
travel.
Members
expressed their concern that the document is not very reflective of the
agreement by Council to declare a climate emergency. Officer confirmed on page
133, there is a brief reference to the previous motion. The Chief Executive
advised, in the final draft of the plan, the essence of the previously agreed
motion on climate change can reflected in that part of the document and it is
restated on page 134. This will make it clear within the focused areas that
they are set within the overall commitment to climate change.
Following
scrutiny Members were supportive of the recommendation to Cabinet with the
amendment as set out:
that the reference to Climate Change on page 133 of the circulated
report be expanded to reflect the Climate Change motion approved at Council
earlier this civic year and that this commitment is repeated on page 134 of the
circulated report to underline the commitment to advancing this work in this
civic year pending a fuller review of the corporate plan for the period 1st
April 2024 onwards.