Agenda and minutes

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.

Cllr Sera Evans declared a personal interest following the request for an item on International students, no recourse to public funding.

Cllr Middle declared a personal interest in item 5 as he is on the Board of Trivallis and they were mentioned in the report

To receive for approval the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 3^rd and 24^th May 2023

RESOLVED: The minutes of the meeting held on the 3^rd May and 24^th May 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record of the meeting

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

The Principal Scrutiny Officer reminded members of the consultations open to members to respond to should they wish to respond to them. 

To receive for consideration and approval the Draft Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme(s) for consideration and approval

The Principal Scrutiny Officer presented the report to Members that sought approval on the draft Work Programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and also the Community Services Scrutiny Committee and the Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Officer reminded Members that since the 2022 Annual General meeting of Council, the Committees Terms of Reference were revised which strengthened the responsibilities of the Committee in respect of co-ordination

A Member commented on the importance of the proposed item on Coal Tips coming to Overview and Scrutiny Committee and agreed that this should remain on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for future consideration.

The Chair also requested that an item on Public Participation in Scrutiny come forward, following the adoption of the Public Participation Strategy at Council later this year.  

A Member sought clarity on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan item and how this will be scrutinised as this has previously been considered by the Education and Inclusion Services Scrutiny Committee.

The Service Director clarified that when Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the Cabinet Work Programme at their last meeting the point was raised that the WESP supports a number of Corporate functions which will be the focus when scrutinised at O&S, so it was for this reason it was being included within the O&S Work Programme. He added that the item will still be considered at the Education and Inclusion Committee also.

The Chairperson requested that an item also be included within the Work Programme on International students who have no access to public recourse and also use this as an opportunity to invite outside organisations that are providing support to the students into the Committee.

Cllr Sera Evans was supportive of this item being included but when this item is considered, confirmed that she will be declaring a prejudicial interest and leaving the meeting as she works for the University of South Wales specifically within student recruitment.

Following consideration of the report it was RESOLVED to:

1. Request that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications notifies the appropriate Cabinet Member and responsible Officer, of the matters identified for pre-scrutiny in advance of Cabinet consideration;
2. Agreed that the Work Programme be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the items identified for inclusion are relevant and that any additional referrals are incorporated;
3. Considered, where appropriate, any items which could be presented to the Committee as Information Reports
4. Agreed which matters should be referred to the thematic Scrutiny Committees for inclusion in their individual Work Programmes.
5. Considered and approved the Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee and the Community Services Scrutiny Work Programmes, as attached at Appendix B and C with the removal of the Coal Tips report from the Climate Change Scrutiny as this is included for consideration on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and the addition of the item on international students on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme post Summer 2023

Noted that the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To introduce the Q4 (2022-23) Performance and Resources report

The Principal Democratic Services Officer introduced the report to Members on the Quarter 4 Council Performance Report to 31 March 2023.  She advised of the importance this information provides to the scrutiny process, particularly in terms of service delivery, but also in terms of informing matters for further consideration based on the performance information provided. She added that under the revised terms of reference, it is the responsibility of this committee, to refer any exceptions identified to the relevant subject scrutiny committee for further consideration.

The Service Director Finance and Improvement Services presented the report to Members that detailed the year-end position statements for revenue and capital budget performance; Treasury Management prudential indicators; Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness and Council strategic risks; and Corporate Plan priority action plans (including performance indicators and investment). The report also set out the Council’s on-going work to enhance its response to extreme weather events and tackling Climate Change.

Following conclusion of the presentation, the Chairperson invited Members to ask questions.

A Member commented on the rising pressure within the social care sector and the ever increasing demand on the service areas since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. The Member sought clarity on what was being considered in terms of the longer-term financial planning for these service areas.

The Service Director Finance and Improvement Services advised that the social care was a key priority for the Council, as part of its medium-term financial planning arrangements. He advised that Cabinet had recently agreed a Residential Care Homes for Older People Strategy and a Children’s Services Residential Transformation Strategy which sets out the way forward for both areas in terms of on-going service development and transformation, to ensure residents continue to have access to modern and fit for purpose services.  He added that social care services have been facing rising demand alongside increased costs as a result of high inflation levels, with this reflected within the Council’s 2023/24 Revenue Budget, and noted that the Council has used one-off reserves prudently to create additional capacity to reduce waiting lists for services.

A Member asked if future projects will be affected by the rising costs of labour and materials.

The Service Director - Finance and Improvement Services advised that all projects are subject to a procurement process and on-going review in terms of costs, funding and timing, to ensure projects can be delivered within available resources. He added that where projects are supported by external funding, discussions take place with the funding organisations if costs have or are forecasted to increase due to uncontrollable factors such as high inflation and other wider market pressures.

A Member asked if Housing allocation within RCT is being affected due to the large number of international students enrolled in university and, with higher numbers expected from September, how the Council is going to be affected and how this will be addressed.

Cllr S Evans declared a prejudicial interest at this juncture as an employee for the University of South  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To consider the consultation to extend the Dog Control PSPOs as outlined in the report.

The Principal Democratic Services Officer presented the report to Members to formally respond to RCTCBC’S consultation which proposes to extend the two current Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) for Dog Control within Rhondda Cynon Taf for a period of three years from the 1^st October 2023

A Member asked if it was possible to add the Mid -Rhondda playing fields to the areas considered as this was not included within the maps.  He requested this addition as this area is currently being brought back into use as a play area. 

The Director Legal Services advised that the consultation includes all marked sports fields and pitches so this area would be included under the PSPO once it has been brought back into use

Following a query, the Director of Legal Services confirmed that the cost of the consultation is all undertaken within existing budgets and that this a requirement that the Authority must consult and review on every three years.

Members commented that they were supportive of the proposals within the consultation.  They did query how many people had been fined for dog fouling and if there are regular offenders, can they be fined more. The Legal Director responded that approximately 1000 people had been fined. He added that there had been an increase in the presence of officers act asa deterrent and more emphasis placed on educating people on the effects of dog fouling. 

RESOLVED: Members authorised the Service Director Democratic Services and Communication to provide Cabinet with the feedback of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee prior to any decision being made about the extension of the Orders.

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the Schedule 12A of the Act”.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section

100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following

items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of

the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the

Schedule 12A of the Act”.

To receive a final update on the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2018-2023

The Head of Legal and Strategic Property presented the report to Members which informed them of progress against the key themes of the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2018/23.

RESOLVED:  Members scrutinised the Council’s Corporate Asset Management Plan as detailed in the appendix to the report

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.

NONE

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