Agenda item
To receive Members questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.2.
(N.B a maximum of 20 minutes shall be allowed for questions on notice.)
Minutes:
1. Question from County Borough Councillor R. Davis to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, County Borough Councillor A. Crimmings:
“With another round of investment in play areas across RCT announced recently, can the Cabinet Member please confirm whether this remains a priority for the new administration going forward?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Crimmings:
Councillor Crimmings advised that the investment in play areas remains a priority for this administration and as stated in the RCT Labour Group’s manifesto for this Council term, there will continue to be an ongoing commitment to invest in children’s play areas with at least 75 more being upgraded over the next five years.
In addition to this investment, 10 new Multi Use Games Area’s across RCT will be developed. Last month, details of the Council’s investment programme for 2022/23, which will see 19 more children’s play area facilities improved through a £672,000 investment was announced. Councillor Crimmings added that the Mount Pleasant play area in Councillor Davis’s ward is due for improvements through a partial refurbishment under this programme.
Councillor Crimmings stated that with this year’s investment, a total of £4.8m will have been allocated to delivering improvements at around 130 facilities across RCT in the past seven years.
No Supplementary Question
2. Question from County Borough Councillor D. Grehan to the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, County Borough Councillor B. Harris:
“The current practice of placing young people in residential areas that were originally developed for older residents is creating significant problems. Once again, is the Council willing to consider allocating some residential areas for older residents only?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Harris:
Councillor Harris commented that social housing developments that have been created specifically for older people, such as Sheltered or older persons accommodation, has an age-criteria of 60 plus, and in some cases 55 plus. Where allocations have been made to younger people in other social housing developments, this would be where the scheme has not specifically been developed for older people but perhaps at some point in time a local lettings policy may have been in place to ensure allocations only go to older residents.
Councillor Harris added that local lettings policies are temporary and therefore once they have come to an end any future allocations will be made in priority order to people in the highest housing need. If there are ongoing problems in a particular development, the Housing Association will approach the Council to discuss implementing a local lettings policy.
Councillor Harris advised that the policy will set out the criteria for allocating properties based on the evidence provided, for example there may be a need for a better mix of tenants - such as a balance between older and younger people. He added that a number of Extra Care developments have also been developed by the Council over the past number of years, providing high quality self-contained units for older people in need of care and support.
Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor G Grehan:
“In one particular block of flats in my ward, three people have recently moved in who have drug related problems which has changed the environment to the detriment of the existing residents. Will the Council consider adopting the lettings policy which is relative to this development so that the older residents can be assured that no one else with drug related problems will move in?”
Response from County Borough Councillor B Harris:
“Councillor Harris acknowledged the nature of the issue and confirmed he would respond to Cllr Grehan in due course regarding this particular case”
3. Question from County Borough Councillor A. S. Fox to the Cabinet Member for Public Health & Communities, County Borough Councillor B. Harris:
“How is this Council taking action to improve public safety in communities?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Harris:
Councillor Harris advised that ensuring RCT is a safe place, with high levels of community cohesion, and where residents feel safe, is a key aim of the Council’s corporate priority of creating places where people are proud to live, work and play. He added that the Council’s Community Safety Team responsible for working with partners to respond to reports of ASB by individuals or in communities, using an evidence based, targeted approach to address problem areas. This includes liaising with young people in communities, together with the YEPS Service, and working with schools and parents to prevent ASB.
Councillor Harris commented that enforcing the PSPO in relation to drug and alcohol-related ASB in our communities and town centres is a key priority to reduce the impact of substance misuse and to promote safer and more confident communities. Although Councillor Harris acknowledged that incidents of ASB have increased over the past few years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councillor Harris advised that Cabinet Members agreed the introduction of new Community Warden service to support South Wales Police in RCT last month. He added that Community Wardens will provide a visible, uniformed and reassuring presence in communities 7 days a week, with a focus on town centres and parks. Wardens will undergo rigorous training to proportionately use the Council’s enforcement powers to uphold our PSPOs. He stated that the roles and responsibilities of the Community Wardens are Preventative and Reactive.
Councillor Harris confirmed that Wardens will not replace the Police; instead, they will complement existing services by working closely with relevant partner organisations. In conclusion, Councillor Harris advised that as agreed by Cabinet, the Council would provide funding to SW Police for a further 10 PCSOs, which will be dedicated solely to RCT but remain under the direction of SWP.
No Supplementary Question
4. Question from County Borough Councillor M. Powell to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan:
“Would the Leader consider upwards of 5 years a long enough time for RCTCBC to devise and implement, with a policy that includes business permits, an extension to the existing residential parking permit area in the Trallwn ward?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Morgan:
Councillor Morgan advised that the most recent Resident’s parking scheme in Trallwn was introduced in December 2015. Due to a number of businesses in and around Trallwn there was a need to review and amend the policy as any extension to the zone had the potential to negatively impact them.
Councillor Morgan added that a demand to expand the zone was identified as part of that review but in the years since the review, the team responsible for delivering Resident Parking Zones has faced numerous demands on their available resources and due to major unforeseen events such as Storm Dennis and the pandemic, as well a demanding Capital programme of highway improvements and Road Safety Schemes.
Nevertheless, Councillor Morgan acknowledged that this process has taken much longer to conclude than is desirable or expected, however he confirmed that he has been assured by officers that the review of the policy is now complete and will be made available to him in the coming days for his consideration. Following the sign off of the policy, Officers will be able to continue to progress the required changes to the Residents Parking Zone within Trallwn. Councillor Morgan commented that Councillor Powell is owed an apology for the time taken to implement the scheme.
Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor M Powell:
“Will the scheme be implemented in this financial year?”
Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan:
Councillor Morgan gave a commitment that following the outcome of the review that would be the case.
5. Question from County Borough Councillor M. Maohoub to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan:
“Can the Council Leader please provide an update on the various flood schemes planned and ongoing across RCT, including for the Cwmbach ward?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Morgan:
The Leader advised that as he had provided a statement earlier in the meeting outlining the Council’s key work in relation to flood alleviation work, his response would be brief
Councillor Morgan stated that the current secured funding for 2022/23 is £3.3m with potential for a further £2.92m on the Welsh Government FRM Major Projects Pipeline totalling £6.7m.
Councillor Morgan outlined the various flood schemes across RCT and in the Cwmbach ward as follows:
Construction work has commenced nearby at:
- Upper Bronallt Terrace Flood Alleviation Scheme (in Abercwmboi), and;
- A4059 at Newtown in Mountain Ash
Works are also about to complete at Heath Terrace (Ynyshir) and the renewal of Culverts under Rhigos Road (Hirwaun) work in excess of £500k
- Cwmbach Ward has benefitted from investment in 5 projects with an estimated investment of £1m+ Since Feb 2020.
- Building on the successful completion of scour prevention works to the rear of Sion Terrace, the Council is currently developing a business case for a second phase to further improve the watercourse.
Councillor Morgan advised of those projects already completed in Cwmbach Ward since Feb 2020 as follows:
- Cwmbach Industrial Estate FAS (RRF) - £700k
- Cefn Pennar Road inlet (SSS) - £25k
- R/O Sion Terrace Scour – phase 1 (SSS) - £129k
- Bro Deg/Sion Terrace inlet and Rain Gardens (SSS) - £125k
- Emergency Interventions for damage to culverts/watercourses (EF) – Est £50-100k
No supplementary question
6. Question from County Borough Councillor L. Addiscott to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Corporate Services, County Borough Councillor T. Leyshon:
“How is this Council progressing plans for the introduction of Electric Charge Points throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Leyshon:
Councillor Leyshon advised that in May 2022, the Council announced it had secured funding to install public-use Electric Vehicle Charging Points at 31 car parks across the County Borough, having worked closely with the Cardiff Capital Region on a regional programme of charge points.
Councillor Leyshon confirmed that as the first Local Authority in the region to commence works to install these funded charging points, the programme of installations is now well underway with the aim of having all of the EVCPs in place by the end of the summer. She added that as part of this programme, the northern Cynon Valley will see 20 chargers spread across eight sites, including 2 situated in Penderyn.
Councillor Leyshon commented that the Council is also bidding for further funding to install even more charging points at additional locations across RCT by the end of 2022/23. Increasing the availability of Electric Vehicle Charge Points across the County for residents who are unable to charge vehicles at home forms a key part of the Council’s wider Climate Change commitment.
In her response, Councillor Leyshon stated that the Council considers it important to promote electric vehicle usage as they produce fewer emissions than those produced by petrol and diesel vehicles, and more widespread use will have a beneficial impact on air quality and the local environment. In conclusion, Councillor Leyshon advised that it is essential for the Council to “practice what it preaches” and also continue to play its part in leading the green agenda locally. Part of this commitment will be to transition to electric vehicle fleet where possible and a report will be brought before Cabinet in the near future on this matter.
No Supplementary Question
“How is the Council supporting low-income households to meet the pressures of increasing household fuel costs?”
Response of County Borough Councillor Morgan:
Councillor Morgan commented that following a decade of Tory austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently experiencing the worst cost of living crisis for decades and added that research has indicated that poorer households will feel the effects of this more deeply due to a higher proportion of income being spent on food and energy.
Councillor Morgan stated that amazingly for the 21st Century, research is also showing that work alone is not a route out of poverty. Councillor Morgan commented that the Welsh Government is, as usual, going further to provide support than the Conservative Government in Westminster. For example, 95% of eligible RCT households have received either the £150 or £100 cost of living payments and the poorest people in Wales are receiving support.
Councillor Morgan acknowledged the work and commitment of the Council’s financial teams under the lead of the Director of Finance & Digital Services and Chief Executive as the Council was praised as it has already paid over £1.8m from the Discretionary Cost of Living Support Scheme to over 26,000 qualifying households. All eligible households have been contacted by letter with instructions on how to apply.
Councillor Morgan advised that the Council has provided support to the Foodbanks and food schemes through a one-off payment of £50,000 to enable them to continue their vital work in supporting the local communities. In addition, the Council has supported the community food schemes and has also used WG funding for this purpose to support local residents. In conclusion, Councillor Morgan confirmed that as part of RCT Labour’s manifesto commitments for this Council term, we are also working to bring further another package of support for residents in the winter.
Supporting documents:
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