Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the Committee and also welcomed the Cabinet Member For Climate Change and Corporate Services and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Environment.

A scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members.  Such research strengthens Scrutiny Committee work programmes to ensure outcome-based topics are identified. For any scrutiny research requirements please contact scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk

The Members’ Researcher and Scrutiny Officer referenced the research facilities that were available to Members within the Council Business Unit. Members were advised that if they have any specific queries to email them to Scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk.

Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillors E. Dunning, G. Jones and P. Evans.

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, there were no declaration of interest pertaining to the agenda.

To approve, as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting held on the 27^th June 2023.

The minutes of the 27^th June 2023 were approved as an accurate record.

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

The Members’ Researcher & Scrutiny Officer referenced the consultation links, which were available through the ‘RCT Scrutiny’ website.  Members were reminded that information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee, which are circulated on a monthly basis and updated on a fortnightly basis. 

To scrutinise any matters with the portfolio holder responsible for Climate Change and Corporate Services and to ensure that there are appropriate mechanisms in place to effectively scrutinise the Executive.

The Chair welcomed the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Corporate Services to the Committee and thanked hr for attending. The Service Director, Democratic Services & Communications presented his report to Members and advised Members that they have an opportunity to scrutinise any arising matters with the portfolio holder responsible for Climate Change and Corporate Services and to ensure that the appropriate mechanisms are in place to effectively scrutinise the Executive.

Discussions ensued and a Member queried what steps the Council has tken to deal with artificial grass which is bad for the environment and also deadful to prevent flooding in the County Borough. The Member queried how much of our landscape is now artificial grass as opposed to natural grass. The Cabinet Member advised that at the moment the Council does not know what areas are covered and advised that this is a report that could come back to scrutiny in the future. The Member advised that we do need to have a campaign to let people know the damage that plastic grass is doing. The Chair noted this as a future item for scrutiny and noted that it would also be useful for the Council to liaise with sellers to see how much stock they have sold.

Discussions continued and a Member asked for the ratio on EV Charging points in the County Borough, for example, electric vehicles ratio to the EV Charging points and queried what consideration has been given to the possible advancement in modern technology that may possible overtake electric vehicles in the future. The Cabinet Member advised that Officers are in the process of collating this information and in respect of modern technology the Cabinet Member agreed that this is a concern and assured Members that all possibilities are being monitored closely. The Member further questioned how close the Council is working with the motor industry to monitor the steps they are taking with new technology advancements. The Cabinet Member advised that she would liaise with Officers and get back to Scrutiny at a later date with the information.

Another Member asked for futher information in respect of the ECO awards in schools and how we are making sure that nobody is excluded from these awards. The Cabinet Member advised that together with Councilor R. Lewis, they have met up with primary school children and that this year they are launching the bronze award and that they had as much feedback as possible from the primary school children on their ideas. The children were very keen on growing and cooking their own vegetables and cooking their own school meals. The Bronze awards has three categories; Biodiversity where pupils will study biodiversity in the County Borough and a Biodiversity Champion to introduce new initiatives, Secondly Waste and Recycling where there wil be a dinner and lunch challenge in respect of food waste and the third will be Carbon emissions where we are asking schools to reduce their gass and electricity output by 10% each. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To receive the Council’s performance report in respect of its delivery of the Climate Change Strategy 22/23.

The Service Director, Democratic Services & Communications presented his report on the Council’s Climate Change Strategy 2022-2025. The Service Director provided an overview and set out the Council’s progress in delivering the Council’s Climate Change Strategy, ‘Think Climate RCT’ as agreed in June 2022.

Discussions ensued and the Chair referenced the Council’s target of being Carbon neutral by 2030 and Net Zero by 2040 and questioned how the Council would monitor these targets and also how te Council would monitor the private sector. The Service Director advised that the targets are a working progress and that Scrutiny will have a key role to play in monitoring the progress towards these targets. The Chair queried if Scrutiny could receive the information in chart form. The Service Director advised that this is an incredibly complex area and that we will focus on providing Members with support to receive thorough training on all aspects of Climate Change.

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED:

·       Take a view on any potential areas for further consideration as part of the Climate Change, Prosperity and Frontline Services Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme;

·       Note the recommendation arising from the Climate Change Cabinet Sub Committee, see para 5.1, in respect of procured goods and services, and the impact on the Council’s Carbon Footprint;

·       Note the potential to further embed the Council’s response to Climate Change to the business of the Council as part of the development of the Council’s new Corporate Plan; and,

·       Consider whether Members wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee including to receive regular updates to Scrutiny in respect of the Council’s progress in meeting it’s Net Zero targets and to receive regular training on Climate Change for Scrutiny Members.

For Committee Members to pre-scrutinise the Community Infrastructure Levy Annual Monitoring Report.

The Chair introduced the item and advised Members that this item was a pre scrutiny item, where Members comments would be fed back to Cabinet. The Head of Planning presented his report to Members in detail, referring Members to the relevant appendices.

Following this, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions. The Chair queried how much CIL money do Town Councils actually have or is it specifically within infrastructure projects. The Head of Planning advised that the Town Council has direct responsibility for CIL spending money, however, they still have to demonstrate that it is spent appropriately and in accordance with the CIL regulations. Members were advised the Community Council Clerks should interact with the Council’s CIL Officer to seek advice about what is appropriate. The Chair questioned how this works in the Rhondda where they do not have any Town Councils. The Director of Prosperity and Development advised that this issue was first explored when CIL was adopted by Cabinet. The Director advised that if there was a development in the Rhondda that attracted a CIL payment such as a new supermarket then effectively the Council would hold the CIL and engage with the Local Members as to what the CIL money should be spent on. The Chair questioned whether there was a timeframe in which that money has to be spent on infrastructure within the County Borough. The Head of Planning advised that there is not a time period within the County Borough, however, there is a time period on Community Councils but there is also an element of discretion.

Discussions ensued and another Member referred to the regulation 123 list and the A4119 Castell Mynach signalised junction  item and questioned if those works were still to progress as proposed. The Head of Planning advised that the works that feature are to remain unaltered.

A Member queried is CIL funding only available for new developments and queried if someone came into Aberdare to carry out remedial work replacing RAAC concrete in the building would CIL funding cover this. The Director of Prosperity advised that that situation would not be eligible and that the CIL regulations are there so that the money collected is spent on infrastructure to support growth in the Local Development Plan (LDP).

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED for Scrutiny’s

comments on the report to form part of the reported feedback

to Cabinet, at its meeting to be held on the 23^rd October 2023.  

For scrutiny members to scrutinise the ongoing delivery of the adopted RCT Tree, Woodlands and Hedgerow Strategy.

The Director of Prosperity and Development presented his report in respect of the progress made in delivering against the RCT Tree, Woodlands and Hedgerow Strategy.

Discussions ensued and a Member queried how we were measuring the progress of tree regeneration, for example how much is growing throughout the County Borough. The Member also emphasised the importance of engaging with the Local Member(s) for each ward. The Member also queried how this fits in with planning, particularly the LDP. In respect of measuring tree regeneration, the Director advised that the report sets out how we are starting to measure natural regeneration through analysing our own land and the tree cover has grown significantly on our own land holdings. It was emphasised that Officers are confident that the growth in tree cover is through natural regeneration. In terms of land outside of the Council’s ownership, there is a reliance on information coming from NRW and that does come periodically and when its available that can be shared with Scrutiny. In respect of the planning policy, the Director advised that through the planning system there are t ways of protecting trees; the value of trees and the biodiversity they support will be protected more in this LDP compared to previous and where there are particular concerns about an existing tree(s) we’ve also got tools like Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) that we can use. The Member emphasised the importance of TPO’s and advised that we should be pro-active in this through the planning process.

Another Member questioned how we can encourage local community groups and community councils to engage in these initiatives. The Director advised that the Local Nature Partnership scheme is a great initiative to bring in local groups and also referred Members to the Council’s website. The Director agreed that they need to do some reminders that the website is there and emphasised that the website is a good asset for schools and local nature groups. The local groups would be encouraged to look at the Action For Nature website and through there would be local contact information.

Discussions ensued and a Member queried if there was any way that we could ask a potential purchaser of Council land, what his intention is for the trees on that land before selling the land on and if so, could we sell the land with a TPO attached to it. The Director advised that there is a fairly robust internal process before land is sold and it gets circulated to Council departments to comment on before that land is sold. The Director advised that he would double check that this internal process does go to the Tree Officer. It is fairly common that trees on Council owned land are not protected by a TPO on the basis that if they are on Council owned land that is protection in its own right. The process would then be that we place a TPO on them as part of the sales process. The Member asked if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

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.

There was no urgent business to report.

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

The Chair thanked Officers and Members for attending and reminded Members that the next meeting will be held on the 22^nd November 2023. The Chair summarised the Committee’s requests for further information and advised that this will be distributed to Members accordingly.