Agenda and minutes

The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee welcomed Members and non-committee members to this Committee’s first hybrid meeting, allowing Members greater flexibility of attending the meeting, either through physical attendance at the Council Chamber or accessing the meeting through the zoom platform.

With regards to the agenda items, the Chair advised that the Service Director Democratic Services and Director of Legal Services were in attendance to respond to any queries raised.

An apology for absence was received from County Borough Councillor W Lewis, J James and from Mr J Fish, Voting Elected Parent / Governor Representative

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, County Borough Councillor G Hughes declared the following personal interest in respect of Agenda Item 2 -2003 Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in Wales -Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales

“I work for a Member of Parliament for the Rhondda”

N.B A declaration of interest, which was both a personal and prejudicial interest, was made later in the meeting by County Borough Councillor J Bonetto to which Minute No. 15 refers.

For the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider the initial proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales and feedback to the Council meeting on the 20th October 2021.

N.B. All Members of the Council have been invited to contribute to this item

The Service Director Democratic Services & Communications introduced

his report and outlined the purpose of the meeting, to propose to Council

for adoption the formal response of the local authority following

consultation of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the proposed new

parliamentary constituency arrangements.

The Director of Legal Services advised Committee that this proposed

approach represented the initial phase with two more separate consultations before final proposals are presented with the final changes due to take effect at the next general election. The Director provided some key information such as the number of constituencies in Wales which are reducing from 40 to 32 and under new Westminster rules each constituency proposed by the Boundary Commission for Wales must contain between 69,724 and 77,062 registered voters. Members were encouraged to provide their general views at this initial stage for the Commission to consider.

Members acknowledged the complexities of the task undertaken by the Boundary Commission and understood that there would be little room for manoeuvre in respect of the initial proposals regarding the County Borough. With this in mind, Members as previously advised by the Director of Legal Services, restricted their comments to broader principles which would be considered by the Boundary Commission.

Members raised concern that these new proposals may cause confusion for the residents of the County Borough distinguishing between local representation at a Senedd and Council level. Members also expressed concern that neighbouring constituencies such as Cardiff North and Cardiff West appeared to be retained within the proposals, albeit with the addition of individual wards from Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Members put forward their points in respect of the electoral wards of Pontyclun and Taffs Well & Nantgarw, expressed concerns on the proposed new Cardiff West and Cardiff North constituencies respectively, feeling that there is limited local connection between them. Members spoke generally of the public perception that the four constituencies of Rhondda Cynon Taf, have been ‘carved up’, as an ‘easier option’ than instead of proposing fundamental redesign of the capital city’s Parliamentary boundaries.

Members relayed similar concerns regarding the communities of Llanharan and Brynna becoming part of a future ‘Rhondda’ parliamentary constituency, which they felt were detached culturally and historically and requested that if any opportunity was available for these to join with the new Bridgend and Vale of Glamorgan parliamentary constituencies or as part of the newly proposed Pontypridd Constituency. Members were keen for the Rhondda name to be retained within any future constituency arrangements because of its historical significance in the history of modern Wales and wider County Borough.  

Members queried why Evanstown, will form part of the new Rhondda constituency despite being located in the Ogmore constituency and connecting with Gilfach Goch.

Members were unanimous in their opinion that splitting the Cynon Valley constituencies is more an ‘exercise of convenience’ and referred to the Commissions’ comments that a ‘constituency formed of these areas does not follow the geography of the valleys from north to south’. Members acknowledged that many Aberdare residents would have a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To undertake a review of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee work programme following consideration of the Cabinet forward work plan for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

The Service Director, Democratic Services and Communications presented his

report which provided Members of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee with the

opportunity to review and where required, update its forward work programme

for the 2021/22 Municipal Year following consideration of the Cabinet forward

plan.

Where appropriate, Members were informed of reports to other Scrutiny Committees such as the 21st Century School Modernisation Programme - Band B Update which would be considered by the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee.

The Service Director advised of a change to the dates of the Overview & Scrutiny for Members to agree subject to any comments as follows:

Crime & Disorder Committee – 1^st December 2021 with an additional presentation from South Wales Police in respect of anti-corruption

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – 9^th December 2021 to receive the Section 19 Statutory Flood Reports subject to publication

Overview & Scrutiny Working group (re-scheduled) – 16^th November 2021

In response to a query as to why a delegated decision had not been considered by Cabinet as an item of business, the Service Director commented that Hawthorn Swimming Pool had been a process of transferring ownership back to the council at the end of a 5-year Community Asset Transfer agreement.

(Note: At this juncture County Borough Councillor J Bonetto declared a prejudicial interest and left the meeting stating that “I am Governor at Hawthorn High School and have participated in earlier discussions in respect of the matter”

Following review of the Overview & Scrutiny work programme, it was RESOLVED to agree the Overview & Scrutiny Work Programme for the remainder of the 2021/22 Municipal Year subject to the inclusion of the amended dates as directed by the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications.

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

The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee summarised the key points from the meeting to include the revised dates for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee which had been agreed by Members and confirmed that the comments and feedback from the initial proposals of the Boundary Commission for Wales would be reported to the Council meeting on the 20^th October 2021.

In conclusion, the Chair thanked Officers and Members for their attendance and contributions.

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.