Minutes:
The
Committee scrutinised the following matters:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
4.1 Urgency Action-1373
The Committee received the report on an Urgency
Action in relation to the acquisition of Burrows Yard, Aberavon that was taken
by the Director of Environment in consultation with the requisite Members as
contained within the circulated report. The report was dated 27th March
2015 but due to a clerical error the report was delayed in being reported back
to Members.
The Committee received apologies from the
Democratic Services Department for the clerical error and were assured that
processes have been put in place to prevent any further such errors from occurring.
Members were dissatisfied at the lack of communication
in relation to the decision that had been taken and queried why it had been
undertaken by Urgency Action initially. Officers explained that the project had
come under the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places programme but was
only added to the programme at the very last minute and the timescales set from
Welsh Government for acquisition of the site dictated that the decision be
taken via Urgency Action.
Members discussed the importance of communication
in general but particularly in relation to this site which is seen as the
cornerstone of Aberafan. An update was provided to the
Committee on the site; due to the complex site issues the site investigation report
has taken longer to complete than first anticipated and it still a final
version is still being awaited.
Members raised concern about the future of the
project in relation to the upcoming EU Referendum; they were informed that the
project funding has been ring fenced by the UK Government so the outcome of the
EU Referendum will have no impact on the progress of the project.
The Committee requested an update report due to the
time lapse since the decision had been taken. Following Scrutiny the report was
noted.