Agenda, decisions 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.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct the following declarations were made pertaining to the agenda:

Councillor Sera Evans – I am an employee of the University of South Wales and will leave the meeting for the consideration of Item 5 International Student Migration in RCT

To receive for approval the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 17 July 2023

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 17 July 2023 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 that are open should they wish to respond to them. 

To provide the opportunity for Overview & Scrutiny Committee to challenge and scrutinise the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, in respect of the decisions taken in the outlined period.

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members to allow them the opportunity to scrutinise the decisions undertaken by the Leader within the period set out in the report and to ensure the appropriate mechanisms are in place to effectively scrutinise the Executive.

A Member referred to the Office accommodation and Investment priorities report and asked the Leader for reassurance in respect of the presence of the RAAC materials locally, and the state at which our own surveys and inspections are, in light of recent discoveries of the product at buildings owned by neighbouring Local Authorities. 

The Leader responded that the priority in this regard has focussed on schools and reassured that whilst buildings are regularly inspected by engineers and surveyors as a matter of course – they have been re-inspected in light of the recent situation.   The Leader added that further inspections are being carried out on the Council’s care homes and they are further liaising with the third sector to ensure any commissioned services are also reviewed.

A Member referred to the Investment priorities report and asked for further detail for the priorities for Porth.

The Leader responded that the Investment priorities are aligned to the Corporate Plan, with Cabinet being guided by this. He added that work on the Porth Transport Hub is coming to a conclusion and they are currently working with Transport for Wales on a handover. He added that further regeneration work in Porth Town Centre will be explored utilising TRI Funding which has been secured with private developers to support economic growth and development. The Council has also purchased a small section of land in Hannah Street which we are looking to develop into a small short stay car park to alleviate some of the parking issues in Porth. 

A Member referred to the ongoing traffic situation in Treorchy and thanked officers who have been in daily contact with them and for meeting with the Councillor and local businesses.  She referred to the challenges that residents and visitors to the town centre face with pressure on traffic which is often at a standstill with no trains to alleviate the traffic and bus timetables scaled back.  She commented that ongoing and sustained help was needed for the businesses in the area as they are worried that they will have to close down due to the issues they face.

The Leader recognised the current situation is extremely challenging in the upper Rhondda at present and acknowledged that the current situation cannot continue.  He advised that several meetings have been held with commuters and residents with options currently being reviewed with the Traffic Management company.  He informed Members that they are currently 3 weeks ahead of schedule and everything possible is being undertaken to ensure work continues efficiently to enable  the road to be fully open as soon as possible.

A Member referred to the investment priorities and asked what is the process involved in reaching those priorities in respect of maintaining  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To provide Elected Members with an overview of the emerging relocation and migration trends of International Students and their families arriving in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Community Safety And Strategic Partnerships Service Manager presented the report which provided Elected Members with an overview of the emerging relocation and migration trends of International Students and their families arriving in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Following conclusion of the presentation of the report the Chair invited public speaker, Natalie Evans, a Campaign Coordinator from Rhondda Food Bank to address the Committee on this item.  The public speaker was thanked for her contributions and the Chair then invited the Committee to give their observations and ask questions of the officers present.

A Member commented on the additional financial pressure placed on the Council as a result of migrant students and their families choosing to relocate to the area and asked if Welsh Government are supporting the Council’s finances.

The Director Public Health, Protection and Community Services advised that migrant students should demonstrate that they are able to support themselves during the application process.  Where it becomes an issue that they are unable to continue to support themselves it is then a matter for the home office / visa issue.  The Director continued that the Authority has engaged with the University of South Wales (USW) who has increased the level of support available to the students who choose to bring their families with them.  The Director added that information is provided to families before they make a decision to bring family to reside with them in the UK so anyone arriving into RCT will understand those challenges before they arrive, however, it remains a personal decision of those students to bring their families with them knowing the potential risks. It is for this reason that  additional funding is not made available to Local Authorities to enable us to provide further support.

Another Member commented that they were pleased to hear USW are offering more support to students during the process but would like to see more being offered.  The Member continued that the students should be supported to understand the financial implications they will have once they arrive as these students could be our future doctors and nurses and could benefit our community in the longer term. The Member added that the Authority should explore how we can further help the students and their families who want to come to the UK to study and work.

The Director Public Health, Protection and Community Services advised that Welsh Government are currently consulting on rent control as there is currently no law regulating rent increases on homes in Wales, rented from private landlords and the UK is experiencing increased rental charges throughout. She added that the Council has a long-standing commitment to resettlement, however this is a very specific cohort as restrictions apply on their visa which restricts their access to work and public funding and that they are in the UK to study.  Should they remain in the UK at the end of their study, they will require employer sponsorship. 

A Member was pleased to hear that USW are providing improved support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To provide the opportunity for Members to consider including the Notice of Motion that was referred by Council following its meeting on the 29th March 2023, in relation to Child Poverty, as part of its involvement in the development of the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members for them to consider including the Notice of Motion that was referred by Council following its meeting on the 29^th March 2023, in relation to Child Poverty, to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for its consideration.

A Member commented that they were supportive of the approach but would like to ensure that a full and detailed approach is taken forward on this and sought reassurance that we do not lose sight of the original Notice of Motion.

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications replied that the Council acknowledges that there are many different responsibilities they have in respect of tackling Child Poverty and also many interventions that Welsh Government direct the Authority to take. He also advised that in considering the Notice of Motion, the Overview and Scrutiny will report its findings back to full Council.  The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications concluded that the report outlines the work that has previously been undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the work will be in line with the approved Notice of Motion.

Following discussion, it was RESOLVED:

1.  To agree the inclusion of this matter as part of the work programme of the Overview & Scrutiny, in line with the Committee’s Terms of Reference.

2.  Agreed to invite two members of the Education & Inclusion and Community Services Scrutiny Committees to form part of consideration of issues relating to Child Poverty. In addition, and if not already a member of the Committee, an invitation to the mover and seconder of the original Notice of Motion will also be extended to assist the discussions. 

Authorised the Head of Democratic Services to amend respective work programmes, and report the intended inclusion of the adopted Notice of Motion by Council on the 29^th March, within wider considerations relating to the new Corporate Plan.

To receive for approval the Education and Inclusion Draft Work Programme

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members to seek Member’s comment and approval on the draft Work Programme of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee as approved at their meeting on the 19 July 2023

The Chair of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee was pleased to present this Work Programme to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their approval and asked that the item in which the Cabinet Member is scheduled to attend their Scrutiny Committee is rescheduled as soon as possible. She also commented that the list of “unallocated” items on the Work Programme demonstrates the breadth of the Committee’s remit and also the engagement and interest from its Members. The Chair of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee concluded that whilst the Child Poverty Notice of Motion will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, she requested that this still remain an item for inclusion for the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee in October.

Following discussion it was RESOLVED:

1.    Members considered, where appropriate, any items which could be presented to the Committee as Information Reports, to allow Members the flexibility to consider any urgent items to be brought forward for Members consideration potentially freeing up time for more urgent items to be scrutinised. 

2.    Agreed which matters (if any), should be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, or other thematic Scrutiny Committee for inclusion in their individual Work Programmes in accordance with the Committees Terms of Reference.

3.    Agree on any additional issues for inclusion on the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix A with appropriate amendments as necessary.

That consideration of the Child Poverty item remains within the published work programme of the Education & Inclusion Scrutiny Committee.

To introduce the Q1 Performance and Resources report to Members

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications introduced the report to Members on the Quarter 1 Council Performance Report to 30 June 2023.  He 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. He added that under the  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 quarter 1 position statements for revenue and capital budget performance; Treasury Management prudential indicators; Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness and Council strategic risks; Corporate Plan priority action plans (including performance indicators and investment); and the Council’s on-going programme of work to tackle Climate Change.

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

A Member asked if the average number of sick days can be provided so Members can compare the Authority to the national average per year per member of staff.

A Member asked for further information on the targets that had been missed in respect of Cultural Spaces.

The Service Director Finance and Improvement Services fed back that with regard to the recruitment of a Digital Officer to the One4All and Library Service to improve the digitisation offer within the service, discussions are taking place with the Council’s Digital Transformation Team with the intention to progress recruitment in quarter 3 of this year. In respect of developing the Treorchy Cultural Hub, the Service Director fed back that due to a member of staff recently leaving the service, work is currently underway to consider how these actions can be supported moving forward.

In response to a query in relation to staff sickness and staff retention within the Children’s Service Directorate, the Service Director advised that an update was provided to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee around the Children’s Services Strategy which included information on the workforce strategy and  initiatives such as a healthy workforce and a ‘grow your own approach’ which is a key part of the Strategy.  He advised that further information would be requested from Children’s Services on the ‘grow your own approach’ and the work undertaken in this area by the University.

Following conclusion of the report it was RESOLVED:

1.    To note the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 30^th June 2023 (Quarter 1).

2.    To receive information in relation to staff sickness and the ‘grow your own approach’ within the Children’s Services Workforce Strategy.

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.

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