Agenda and minutes

An apology of absence was received from County Borough Councillors A. Chapman, A. S. Fox, D. Grehan, W. Owen and G. Stacey.

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 approve as an accurate record the minutes of the meeting held on the 12^th September 2019.

It was RESOLVED to approve the Minutes of the meeting held on the 14^th November 2019 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

To consider the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2019/2020.

The Principal Scrutiny Officer presented the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee forward work programme from January 2020 until March 2020 and asked Committee to review and agree the items included. Members were also asked to consider whether they wished to add any further items to the work programme as well as identify any training requirements.

In addition to the scheduled items on the forward work programme, committee was reminded that an element of flexibility should be considered to accommodate any future pre scrutiny opportunities. The Principal Scrutiny Officer advised that the council continues to progress public engagement within its scrutiny process and therefore improvements to the Council’s social media continue to be made so that residents can engage with future items for scrutiny to explore and review.

Following consideration of the Scrutiny forward work programme between January 2020 and March 2020, Committee RESOLVED to agree the items subject to including more detailed reference to the Council’s drainage repair works across the county borough.

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

Committee considered the relevant consultation links for the period and RESOLVED to acknowledge those consultations which fall within the remit of the Committee.

To receive an update from the Group Director, Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services in respect of the recycling performance for the first 6 months of 2019/20.

The Group Director, Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services presented his report which provided committee with an update on the Council’s recycling performance for the first six months of 2019/20. The Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee, whilst  monitoring the Council’s recycling targets reviewed the figures to assess whether the Council is on course to achieve the targets set out by Welsh Government.

Committee was reminded that the recycling target for the municipal year 2019/20 set by Welsh Government is 64%, failure to meet this statutory target will result in a fine of £200 for every ton the Council fails to achieve. Committee was advised that potentially the fine could be a substantial one.

The Group Director stated that the Council has consistently achieved its recycling targets, although a drop in performance last year was attributed to a number of factors such as a change in the way recycled wood is measured and a drop in the green waste collected at the kerbside due to the weather.

Committee was referred to a table within the report which set out the Council’s recycling performance for the first six months of the municipal year. The figures demonstrate that the total figure of 68.92% exceeds the recycling target set out by Welsh Government and represent some of the highest figures ever achieved by the Local Authority.

The Group Director advised that the next recycling target for the Council to achieve is the 2024/2025 target of 70% which based on current performance will be achievable particularly with the introduction of the new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at Bryn Pica. It is hoped the potential of the new facility will further improve the recycling figures.

In conclusion Committee acknowledged the figures for the first six months of the municipal year and the potential to maintain and further to surpass these figures with the new MRF facility in Bryn Pica. Members welcomed the process of issuing a letter to residents to alert them to the fact that textiles have been identified in their recycling bags and redirecting them to the recycling textile banks which offer the best method of recycling textiles.

Following discussion it was RESLOVED to acknowledge the update and to receive a further update in January 2020 following the Christmas recycling period.

To receive a report on the Capital Programme for Highways, Transportation and Strategic Projects.

The Service Director Highways and Transportation presented the report of the Group Director, Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services in respect of progress made in delivering the Highways, Transportation and Strategic Projects Capital Programme.

In delivering the update, the Service Director reminded Committee of the Council’s commitment to additional spending each year from 2011/12 on highways infrastructure in conjunction with funding from Welsh Government. Further the Council’s responsibility towards improving the highway network and associated infrastructure is demonstrated each year with the Cabinet’s approval of the Capital Programme and subsequent Supplementary Highways Programme.

Evidence of the investments in the Council’s highways network were demonstrated within the report and accompanying Power Point presentation which highlighted the investment plan priorities such as the carriageways, footways, car parks, structures, street lighting, safety barriers, town centres, drainage and transport infrastructure.

Following a detailed overview of the highways, transportation and strategic projects supplementary capital programme, the Service Director advised of the financial implications and provided a breakdown of the work packages associated with the strategic projects and highways schemes. Committee was also informed of the external funding opportunities available to the Council for areas such as active travel and highways infrastructure.

The Director Highways & Transportation provided information in respect of the collaboration with other local authorities and City Deal to align the provision of infrastructure for electric vehicles and widen the access to charging for all. He advised of the benefits arising from a wider partnership approach to the development of the EV infrastructure in RCT particularly through the Commercial sector and Energy Companies. The Director referenced a number of new developments and rail schemes across the County Borough which RCT council is progressing and accelerating such as the station in Treforest Industrial Estate.

A number of points were discussed in further detail following the presentation such as the electricity savings realised following the conversion of all the remaining street lighting lanterns to LED and the reduction in the Council’s carbon footprint by over 2,750 tonnes annually.

In conclusion, committee was appraised of the future projects to be undertaken by the Council in respect of the management of traffic calming projects following assessment of those areas in greatest need.

RESOLVED to:-

1.    Acknowledge the progress made in delivering the capital programme; and

2.    To invite Natural Resources Wales to a future meeting.

The Chair reflected on the Meeting and thanked Officers for delivering their respective reports and acknowledged the actions and recommendations to be taken forward. The Chair reminded Committee that the next meeting of the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee would take place on 16th January 2020 at 5pm when Members would receive a report on Rhondda Cynon Taf’s open spaces – Parks, Play areas & Pitches.

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.