Agenda and minutes

Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillors S Bradwick, E George, J James, and S Rees-Owen.

A scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members.  Such research strengthens scrutiny committee work programmes to ensure outcome-based topics are identified. For any scrutiny research requirements please contact scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk

The Senior Democratic & Scrutiny Officer referenced the research facilities that were available to Members within the Council Business Unit. Members were advised that if they had any specific queries to email them to Scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd February 2022.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 2 February 2022 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Senior Democratic & Scrutiny Officer referenced the consultation links, which were available through the ‘RCT Scrutiny’ website. Members were reminded that information was provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee, which were circulated monthly.

For Committee Members to receive an update.

The Service Director – Prosperity and Development took Members through the report on Town Centre Regeneration and Development which provided a summary update on the progress being made to deliver town centre regeneration in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT). At paragraph 3.2 it was highlighted that the economy of town centres in RCT had been challenged, over the last two years as a result of the external economic influences of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic, storms and flooding and the changing patterns of the retail sector, which had seen national chain retailers leaving high street locations. Because of this, Town Centre Regeneration continued to be a key priority for the Council. At paragraph 4, the Service Director – Prosperity and Development noted that this was a detailed report and then provided Members with examples across town centres of what had been achieved under the various categories including Key Town Centre investments, Town Centre Business Engagement and Support, Financial Assistance for Town Centre businesses, Making Town Centres safer for visitors during the Pandemic and Key Town Centre Investments. At paragraph 4.55 it was highlighted that business engagement and support for town centres, was provided, which included facilitating a business community network.  In addition, at paragraph 4.62, it was highlighted that the Regeneration Service offered a range of financial assistance to town centre businesses and paragraphs 4.63 to 4.68 set out some of the support available. Other support for town centres included a free public access wi-fi and a street café furniture permit scheme, which had been introduced in Aberdare and Pontypridd, to regulate safe outdoor trading whilst making town centres safe for visitors, during the pandemic.  The Service Director – Prosperity and Development concluded by explaining that the report gave a flavour of some of the work going on across town centres.

Following the update, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Councillor J Williams noted her attendance at Cabinet in January 2019, when the Porth regeneration strategy was approved, and had asked as the strategy was developing, if local members could be consulted on what was going on. She felt disappointed that this hadn’t happened as she felt local Members had local knowledge of what people wanted.  She felt that the One4All Centre needed more publicity for people to know what they could do there. In respect of 38 Hannah Street, she noted £160k had been spent on it but was concerned that it was not clear why the Council was doing up that particular building, when there were other empty sites. She also felt that a lot of the people who use Hannah Street would not have taken part in online consultations, so would have been left out of the loop.  In relation to Oldway House, she asked if something could be done to improve the outside condition / look of the building.

The Service Director – Prosperity and Development apologised to the Member that she hadn’t been kept up to date on the developments in Porth. He noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

For Committee Members to receive an update.

The Service Director - Prosperity and Development took Members through the report on the support for the Manufacturing Business Sector in RCT, which outlined the range of support that had been planned and established in order to provide opportunities for growth and sustainability. The Manufacturing Sector included a broad range of business types involved in the production of a range of items. The latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures showed that in 2020 there were 9,000 people employed in manufacturing companies in RCT, which accounted for 11.7% of all employees and was slightly above the Welsh figure of 11.2%. Because of this, a range of co-ordinated support measures were planned and put in place to support manufacturing in RCT.

The Service Director – Prosperity and Development noted that section 4 of the report provided a summary of support measures for the manufacturing business sector and provided specific examples in respect of the former Coedely Colliery Site and Robertstown Business Park. He confirmed that the local authority also provided financial grant support to the Manufacturing Sector and paragraph 4.5.2 provided a good example of the support in place. The Service was also working with Welsh Government to roll out their Tech Valleys Productivity Enhancement Programme. In addition, the Council provided networking and signposting support by putting Companies in touch with the right people which meant it was important for the Council to have good relationships with support organisations such as Business in Focus, Business Wales, Welsh ICE, Welsh Government and the Cardiff Capital Region.  This also included signposting to other relevant Council services such as Planning, Licensing and Employment Support.  The Service also liaised with and supported Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Procurement colleagues in their work to help local SMEs to access Council and other contract and supply chain opportunities. In terms of Networking, the Treforest Growth Network was established in 2015, as a vehicle for business network opportunities, with companies based at Treforest Industrial Estate.

The Service Director – Prosperity and Development concluded that the manufacturing business sector continued to be a significant source of employment and income generation in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and provision of a co-ordinated range of support and finance provided by the Council and partner organisations, was important for businesses to take advantage of opportunities to grow, diversify and be more sustainable.

Following the update, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Councillor Thomas welcomed the comprehensive report put forward and stated his particular focus was on how the Council would be able to act to incorporate where it would be in 10 years’ time, looking at changing to a green economy, for example, wind and solar, which would help to regenerate the economy, with manufacturing being an important part as well as a need to ensure the appropriate skills, premises etc were in place. In addition, there was the High-Tech sector, for example, Microchips and Semi-Conductors and supply chain opportunities. This leads to the supply chain, and previous companies such as GC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

For Committee Members to consider the reports of the Director of Finance and Digital Services.

For Committee Members to consider the Council’s Quarter 3 Performance Report (2021/22)

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services presented Members with the Quarter 3 Performance Report which set out the Council’s financial and operational performance position for April to December 2021. This was set in the context of Council services and communities continuing their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The report was presented and approved by Cabinet on the 21st of March 2022.  The Service Director then gave an overview of the report by providing Members with key information from the report with regards to, Section 2, Revenue Budget Performance; Section 3, Capital Programme Budget; Section 4, Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness absence, Organisational Health related investment areas and Council Strategic Risks; Section 5, the Corporate Plan priority action plan updates including investment updates; and Section 6, a progress update on the implementation of recommendations agreed by Cabinet on the 18^th December 2021 to enhance the Council’s response to extreme weather events.

Following the update, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Councillor Evans referred to page 97 in relation to turnover and sought clarity around whether the Council had been successful in employing staff to fill vacancies in light of the high turnover rate.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that the Council’s workforce strategy supports services to plan workforce requirements, that includes an on-going commitment and focus on apprentices and graduates, alongside targeted recruitment for specific posts, to address where there are recruitment and retention challenges such as social care. The Service Director went on to indicate that the Council’s 2022/23 Budget Strategy provided additional funding to increase the minimum rate of pay to £10 per hour, this being above the Real Living Wage rate, and demonstrating the Council’s on-going investment in its workforce and to support service delivery.

Councillor Cullwick referred to the table at the top of page 97 of the report, and to the Chief Executives Division staff numbers of 697 in 2019/20, 827 in 2020/21 and 878 in 2021/22 and asked if there were any reasons behind that growth.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that the change in numbers reflect service restructuring that have realigned responsibility to the Chief Executive’s Division, for example, the consolidation of business and administrative support teams from across the Council and, in parallel, on-going work to secure external funding that enables the creation of posts to deliver specific projects.

Councillor Thomas thanked the Officer and commended the report. He noted the conclusion at paragraph 12.0 in respect of the small projected year-end revenue budget overspend and stated this was a good position to be in, given what had happened over the last 2 years. The Member asked how the local authority would address and mitigate the projected impact in terms of increases in prices in areas such as materials and energy.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that the Council’s Capital Programme, agreed by full Council in March 2022, covers a 3-year period and as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

The Chair noted that this was the last Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee meeting for the current municipal year and thanked all Members of the Committee for their contributions. He noted that several Councillors were not standing for re-election including Cllr Cullwick, Cllr George and Cllr Thomas, thanking them and wishing them well for the future. He also thanked those officers and translators who had contributed to meetings throughout the year. Cllrs Thomas, Yeo and J Williams thanked the Chair and those Members who were not standing for re-election.

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency

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