Agenda a Chofnodion

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.

The Chair welcomed County Borough Councillor M. Diamond to the Committee as a returning member.

The Chair also acknowledged the recent ‘Love Where You Live’ awards which are in their eleventh year and had been held in Coleg Y Cymoedd,

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Public Service Delivery, Communities and Prosperity Community Committee held on 14^th March 2019.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 14^th March 2019 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Agenda Item 41 – RCT’s Welsh Public Library Standards Assessment 2017-18

Members queried whether the revised mobile library routes had been circulated. It was agreed that this information would be provided to all Members of the Committee via email.

For Members of the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee to review and agree the draft Work Programme for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer presented the report of the Service Director, Democratic Services & Communications which sought Members’ approval of the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2019/20 (up until the end of December 2019 in the first instance).

Members were informed that following a request by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications undertake a review of the current Council Scrutiny arrangements, a number of improvements have been made to areas of Scrutiny to include the terms of reference for each Committee, the work programmes and improvements to the public engagement section of the website.

In terms of the Scrutiny Work Programmes, it was clarified that they are now more streamlined and have been developed with enough flexibility to accommodate additional items throughout the year. It was suggested that each Scrutiny Committee would have the opportunity to review their respective work programme on a quarterly basis to ensure that the items are still valid and appropriate. In conclusion, Members were reminded that the work programmes have aligned themselves with the Council’s Corporate Performance themes and priorities as well as acknowledging the seven Well-being of Future Generations goals.

In addition, the Senior Democratic Services Officer referred Members to the table outlining the activity since May 2019 in respect of the development of the work programmes and their subsequent sign off by each of the individual Scrutiny Committees.

The Chair referred to the attached Work Programme, particularly the Highways, Transportation & Strategic Projects Supplementary Capital Programme which would be reported in November 2019 and consider the Council’s investment in its local highways and transportation schemes. He suggested that a site visit could be undertaken to assess the work of the river bridge repairs across the County Borough, in conjunction with the local Members. 

In conclusion, the Senior Democratic Services Officer requested that Members agree the Work Programme until the end of December 2019 with the opportunity to review the document at quarterly intervals to ensure the items included are relevant.

Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to:-

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

2.    Agree that the Work Programme will be reviewed at quarterly intervals 

To receive the report (and Power Point presentation to accompany the report) from the Group Director, Prosperity, Development & Frontline Services in respect of the management of recyclable material in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Group Director Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services presented his report on the management of recyclable material in Rhondda Cynon Taf in conjunction with a Power Point presentation under the following headings:-

•      Different Types of plastic

•      What do we collect?

•      What do we do with the material?

•      What we are currently developing?

•      BBC Documentary

•      How many bags were found? & Where they were found?

•      My recent holiday

•      Conclusion

•      Any Questions

Following the classification of different plastics the Group director explained how the local authority currently collects its plastic, how and where it recycles the materials it can collect. Members were assured that the local authority, where possible, will look to recycle the material locally, however as this is not always possible keeping the process within the UK market is a priority. For example, plastic films are sent to Cardiff Trident Park incinerator, PVC and  rigid plastics are sent to a company in Neath. The rigid plastics are sorted into target types and are washed/shredded ready for sale to UK extrusion companies. It was confirmed however that the facility in Bryn Pica will soon be able to deal with rigid plastics at a local level.

The Group Director highlighted the recent recycling developments such as the new materials recovery facility, (MRF) which he confirmed Members would be able to visit once operational and the SBRI mattress facility which will now allow the local authority to recycle mattresses, formerly a difficult material to recycle.

The Group Director reminded Members of the recent BBC documentary, which aimed to highlight the ‘potentially inappropriate’ operating practices of accredited waste management companies. An empty recycling bag from this Authority was found within plastic waste from across the UK outside a town near the Malaysia capital of Kuala Lumpur. In response to the claim the Council sought assurances from its UK waste processing contractors, all of whom are licensed, that the Council’s waste has been properly processed.

Members of the Scrutiny Committee commented that empty recycling bags are used in a number of ways, in some cases even taken on holidays by residents of RCT.  

The Group Director assured Scrutiny that the Council is looking at ways in which it can reduce its use of plastic including at its many events held across the County Borough. He also confirmed that following the BBC documentary, the Municipal recycling figures have not been affected and in fact increased in the months following the airing of the BBC documentary.

Scrutiny discussed the importance of the Supermarkets leading the way by reducing their plastic packaging, particularly the single use plastics and improving their recycling labelling of plastic items for consumers. The Group Director confirmed that trials have been undertaken in some retail outlets in Pontypridd town with water refill points in an effort to reduce the sale of plastic water bottles. At this point, the Chair stressed that the issue of how the Council is tackling its plastic waste would be addressed by  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 48.

To establish the training requirements of the Members of the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee for the forthcoming year.

Members of the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee were asked to consider any training needs for the municipal year 2019/20 which they consider would enable them to carry out their scrutiny role in a more effective way.

It was RESOLVED that Members receive training in respect of recycling contamination, and that consideration is given to the training being held in advance of the 5pm start of a future Committee.

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.