Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following matters:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
2.1
Coca Cola Parklives
Partnership Inter Authority Services
Agreement
The Committee received information in relation to
the Coca Cola sponsored Parklives programme which
offers funding to encourage participation in the outdoors to both improve
participation levels and health across the Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and
Bridgend areas as detailed within the circulated report.
Members were informed that £400,000 had been
secured over a four year period. The City and County of Swansea will be the
host Local Authority for the programme but parks and open spaces within Neath
Port Talbot will be utilised to offer a variety of free activities.
Members discussed the variety of Friends Groups
which are in existence and who offer a range of activities such as running,
walking, Zumba etc. and asked if this programme would support such existing
groups. Officers confirmed that existing groups will be unable to apply for this
funding and that the programme is to support new groups, existing groups can
apply for Community Chest Funding.
Members discussed whether Coca Cola could be
approached to engage further with initiatives in the County Borough i.e.
keeping the town tidy.
Members noted that whilst the programme in general
is positive the sponsorship from Coca Cola is questionable as they are not a
company who are linked in general with healthy products.
The costs for the programme were queried and
Members drew attention to the £13,000 which is allocated to events whilst
higher figures are attributed to areas such as co-ordination and travel.
Officers explained the ‘events’ will be one off
promotional events and all other costs are day to day delivery costs of the
programme.
Members drew attention to the fact that some
facilities in the Council’s ownership have been transferred to community
organisations and asked if the programme would be working with these
organisations and facilities. Officers stated that the parks that would be
utilised for the programme initially would be Margam Park in Port Talbot, Gnoll Park in Neath and Parc Ynysderw in Pontardawe.
Members noted that the aim of the programme is to
increase the number and diversity of people engaging with activity with a
targeted audience of for example, inactive people and people living in
Communities First areas. They raised concern that if the programme focusses its
activity in the three central locations listed, the targeted beneficiaries will
not be reached.
The
Scrutiny Committee recommended to the Cabinet Board that the proposed locations
of the Parklives Programme (as detailed within the
circulated report) be reviewed, in relation to accessibility to the targeted
audiences, in accordance with the views expressed at the Economic and Community
Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, and an information report be brought back to
the Scrutiny Committee following the signing of the partnership agreement
Following scrutiny, and with the inclusion of the
above recommendation, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be
considered by the Cabinet Board. Cllr S Paddison was not in support of the
programme and requested it be minuted as such.
2.2
Community Development Delivery Plan
The Committee received the Community Development
Delivery Plan for 2016/17 as detailed within the circulated report.
Members discussed the importance of digital
inclusion and but raised concern that there are some areas in the County
Borough who are still unable to get online, particularly in the Valley
areas. The Committee referenced the
Swansea Bay City Deal and the Council’s recent adoption of their ‘Digital by
Choice’ Strategy and how access to robust internet signal is imperative for
businesses and more disadvantaged people.
Members asked for an update on the Social Enterprise
Strategy. Officers admitted resources have been an issue and even though work
with NPTCVS (Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service) is ongoing
further work needs to be completed to ensure it is robust. Members commented that Social Enterprise
solutions are becoming more and more important and looked forward to receiving
further information on the Social Enterprise Strategy as more work is
completed.
Members asked for further information in relation
to the Volunteer Group at Afan Forest Park and asked
if they have direct links to the Council. Officers ensured they would check
with Project Officers to ensure the right support was being offered.
Members raised concern at the steady loss of
volunteers and noted a decline in enthusiasm for volunteering. The Committee
agreed that careful management of volunteers is essential and seeing them as
part of a wider team.
Members discussed the importance of communication,
particularly in communities where events are held such as job fairs and welfare
rights support and the importance of ensuring messages are co-ordinated and
reach their targeted audiences.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposals to be considered by the Cabinet Board.