Agenda a Chofnodion

Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillors A. Davies-Jones, S. Rees-Owen and A. Fox.

Derbyn datganiadau o fuddiannau personol gan Aelodau, yn unol â gofynion y Cod Ymddygiad.

Nodwch:

1.    Mae gofyn i Aelodau ddatgan rhif a phwnc yr agendwm mae eu buddiant yn ymwneud ag ef a mynegi natur y buddiant personol hwnnw; a

2.   Lle bo Aelodau'n ymneilltuo o'r cyfarfod o ganlyniad i ddatgelu buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu, mae rhaid iddyn nhw roi gwybod i'r Cadeirydd pan fyddan nhw'n gadael.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, County Borough Councillor G. Holmes declared the following personal interest in respect of Agenda Item 6 – “”I have a professional interest in the Whitbread Company”.

Derbyn cofnodion o gyfarfod blaenorol y Pwyllgor Craffu – Cyllid a Chyflawniad a gafodd ei gynnal ar 2 Ebrill 2019 a 8 Gorffennaf 2019.

t was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 2^nd of April 2019 and the 8^th of July 2019 as an accurate reflection of the meetings subject to “private sector” being added in to the 8^th of July minutes to specifically reflect the need for the creation of more private sector jobs in the County Borough. 

Bydd Aelodau'r Pwyllgor Craffu – Cyllid a Chyflawniad yn trafod y Rhaglen Waith 2019/20.

The Service Director of Democratic Services & Communications gave an overview to Members in respect of the revised Scrutiny arrangements.

It was highlighted that at the special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on the 1^st May 2019, a report was presented which provided a response to the request from Committee Members to review the Council’s scrutiny arrangements and to update Members on the progress that has arisen from the Wales Audit Office report in respect of the Council’s Scrutiny arrangements ‘Fit for the Future’.

Councillor G. Thomas raised a query in respect of the item under ‘Other areas for exploration:- Investment programme to re-generate industrial estates’ and sought clarification as to when this item would be looked at by the Committee. The Service Director of Democratic Services & Communications confirmed that the Work Programme under the new arrangements is planned on a six monthly basis and that this item would be reviewed at this juncture. 

 Following discussion, Members RESOLVED to:

1.    Agree the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2019/20 (up until December 2019 in the first instance); and 

2.    Agree that the Work Programme be reviewed at quarterly intervals to ensure the items identified for inclusion are relevant and that any additional referrals are incorporated. 

Trafod Adroddiad Cyflawniad y Cyngor ar gyfer Chwarter 4 2018/19.

The Service Director, Finance & Improvement Services presented the Council’s Year End Performance Report (to 31^st March 2019) to the Committee.

It was explained to Members that the Year End Report was presented to and approved by Cabinet on the 18^th of July 2019 and contains revenue and capital budget performance; Treasury Management prudential indicators; Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness and Council strategic risks; Corporate Plan updates; and other national measures.

The Service Director, Finance & Improvement Services outlined the Corporate Plan priority updates along with a summary of performance measure results.

Members made a number of observations and put questions to the Service Director.

Councillor G. Thomas referred the Committee to page 28 of the report and to the increased rate of people kept in hospital whilst waiting for social care. The Service Director informed Members that as more people were being supported to live at home during 2018/19, this put pressure on the capacity of services and impacted on the timeliness of care packages commencing. The Service Director went on to indicate that within this overall position there were elements of positive performance, for example, reductions in the number of delays due to assessments and also reductions in the number of delays due to choice/availability. The Service Director added that the Council remains committed to the timely discharge of people from hospital, supported by the Stay Well@Home Service and working with partners to strengthen capacity.

The Chair raised a query in respect of the increased number of people requiring support to live at home and questioned how the Council deals with this in terms of the additional resources required. The Service Director informed Members that the Council continues to focus its work, and that of its partners, on early intervention and prevention, prioritises the allocation of resources to these areas and optimises the use of additional funding provided by the Welsh Government, for example, winter pressures funding. The Service Director went on to indicate that although demand is increasing, positive results are being delivered in areas such as the Reablement Service that is supporting people to live independently for longer.

Councillor S. Bradwick questioned when the work on the Black Lion Hotel in Aberdare was due to be completed and pointed out that it has been four years since the building work began and that it is having a detrimental effect on the visual appearance of the town centre. The Councillor also referenced similar issues in respect of the Boot Hotel, Aberdare. The Director of Prosperity and Development acknowledged that both projects have not proceeded as quickly as originally planned and he assured Members that the Planning Service is working with the individual companies involved in order to progress  projects as quickly as possible. The Director advised that he would feedback an update to Committee Members in respect of this issue in due course.

Councillor R. Yeo referred Committee Members to the lack of recruitment in social care and noted the work the Council is doing  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 8.

Trafod Targedau ar gyfer Dangosyddion Cyflawniad 2019/20.

The Service Director, Finance & Improvement Services presented the report in respect of the Council’s proposed performance indicator targets for 2019/20, subject to approval by Council on 31^st July 2019, as set out in the Draft Corporate Performance Report.

Members were asked to scrutinise the proposed performance indicator targets and determine whether specific targets require review in more detail. 

Discussions ensued and Councillor M. Adams, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, suggested that the matter should be reviewed at the next Chairs and Vice Chairs meeting. A number of Members agreed with this proposal.

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED:-

1.    To refer the Council’s performance indicator targets for 2019/20 to the next meeting of the Chairs and Vice Chairs; and

2.    To determine whether specific targets should be referred to individual scrutiny committees for review in more detail.

Derbyn adroddiad (a chyflwyniad i gyd-fynd â'r adroddiad) gan y Cyfarwyddwr Materion Ffyniant a Datblygu i gael barn yr Aelodau mewn perthynas â Strategaeth Dwristiaeth a Chynllun Rheoli Cyrchfannau arfaethedig Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Director of Prosperity and Development presented his report to Members in respect of the Council’s draft Tourism Strategy and Destination Management Plan.

A presentation was provided to accompany the report and Members were asked to provide feedback on the relevant issues to help shape a strategy to develop RCT as a key visitor destination.

The Director of Prosperity and Development advised the Committee that the feedback would be used to inform a draft strategy, which will be reported to Cabinet in the autumn for consideration.

Members were provided with information in respect of the following areas:-

·         The ambition of the plan;

·         Geographical Areas to be covered;

·         Infrastructure requirements;

·         Hospitality and accommodation requirements;

·         Employment and Skills;

·         Public and Stakeholder engagement; and

·         Key next steps and actions.

The Director emphasised that RCT already has a strong core of visitor attractions such as the Royal Mint and Penderyn Whiskey, however the strategy aims to look at what other attractions can be brought forward. The presentation referenced potential new activities such as Zip World and the Rhondda Tunnel.

Following the presentation, discussions ensued and the Chair thanked the Director of Prosperity and Development for providing such a detailed presentation and asked if a copy of the presentation could be shared with Members of the Finance and Performance Committee following the meeting.

Councillor G. Thomas also thanked the Director for providing such an encouraging presentation and went on to raise concerns in respect of food businesses in RCT closing before 9pm and the subsequent negative effect that this could potentially have on tourism. The Councillor commented that in order for the strategy to be successful further work would need to be done to support new tourist attractions such as improving local café’s, shops, toilet facilities and rail access. The Chair agreed and referenced the Rhigos railway line and the need for improved toilet facilities.

Councillor G. Thomas also commented that the Council would need to ensure that a range of accommodation is available to tourists throughout the County Borough and emphasised that the cost of local accommodation will be a key factor to the success of the strategy.

Councillor G. Holmes raised a query in respect of the Council’s policy to encourage Whitbread to build hotels throughout RCT. The Director of Prosperity and Development confirmed that the Council is keen to attract companies  such as Whitbread into the County Borough, however, he emphasised the need to also give local people opportunity and help develop their entrepreneurial skills to set up their own businesses.

Councillor J. Cullwick raised concerns in respect of dog fouling and litter dropping across the County Borough, and emphasised the need to improve the visual appearance of local communities. The Group Director – Prosperity, Development & Frontline Services confirmed that the Council’s aim is to educate residents across the County Borough on littering and dog fouling, however, he acknowledged that some areas in the County Borough are particularly problematic and that further improvement is necessary.

Councillor J. Williams thanked the Director of  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 10.