Agenda and minutes

An apology was received from County Borough Councillor W. Jones and Mr Fish – Voting Parent / Governor Representative 

The Chair welcomed Members to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and introductions were made.

The Chair advised Members of the Committee that the scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members. Any requests should be directed to the scrutiny inbox as directed on the agenda.

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 at this point in the meeting. 

To approve as an accurate record the minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on the 23^rd February 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 23^rd February 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

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

Members acknowledged the information provided through the consultation links in respect of open consultations, Welsh Government consultations and those matters being consulted upon by the local authority.

In response to a query relating to the consultation links, whether the funding of the Community Cohesion Programme will continue, the Diversity and Inclusion Manager confirmed that the Community Cohesion Co-Ordinator post is hosted by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council but confirmed that the response to the consultation would be shared with the Committee in due course.

To receive a summary on the various elements of the Local Government & Elections (Wales) Act 2021 which received Royal Assent on the 20^th January 2021.

The Service Director Democratic Services & Communications presented

his joint report with the Director of Legal Services which summarised the

various elements of the Local Government & Elections (Wales) Act 2021

which received Royal Assent on the 20^th January 2021.

The report requested that Committee consider the Council’s position

statement in respect of the requirements of the Act with particular regard

to the actions that will need to be addressed to ensure RCT comply with

the legislative requirements. The Service Director advised that several

elements will be considered in many of the council’s formal committees

such as the Standards Committee, which will consider Members

Codes of Conduct and the role that Group Leaders will play in the conduct

of their members and Cabinet will also consider this report at its next meeting

in March 2021.

The Service Director acknowledged that a large part of the discussions

have, to date, focussed on the Corporate Joint Committees (CJC’s) and

extending the voting franchise to 16 and 17 years old in next year’s

Senedd elections and preparing for the extension of the franchise to this

age group for the 2022 local government elections.

The Service Director was pleased to report that the Council has already laid

many of the foundations for the promotion of democratic processes and

public engagement which are considerations of the Act and will be taken

forward by the Council. He drew Members’ attention to the numerous

other areas for which the Act provides provision, such as the general

power of competence for principal councils and eligible community

councils, powers for Welsh Ministers to instigate more consistent and

coherent regional working across Wales, more formalised performance

and governance arrangements based around self-assessment and peer

reviews. The Service Director advised that the proposals to make the role of

scrutiny within a principal councilmore effective by strengthening the scrutiny

arrangements is of particular relevance to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee

by bringing forward the opportunity for scrutiny to engage and consider key

decisions in advance of Cabinet determining those matters. It was noted that is

an area that the Scrutiny Committee currently undertakes as a matter of good

practice.

The Service Director acknowledged other key areas of interest for future

discussion by this committee, such as the reforming of public participation

and the determination which will enable Members to attend and

participate virtually. He explained that the council will soon be able to

formerly broadcast its meeting via the introduction of a webcasting

solution provided by Public I which will fully integrate with the current

virtual arrangements and will allow the provision of a hybrid approach for

meetings whilst still being able to live stream online. 

With regards to the diversity agenda, the Service Director advised that

there are changes to the family absence arrangements and formalising

the provisions for job sharing opportunities for Cabinet Members and

Chairs of Committee. Enhancements to the role of the Head of

Democratic Services to strengthen and support the role of non-executive

members and the influence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

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

The Chair thanked Members for attending and for their contributions during the meeting. He summarised the key points to have arisen from the two reports considered and the recommendations to include the additional recommendation that a Crime & Disorder Committee is convened at the earliest opportunity.

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.