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.)

1.     Question from County Borough Councillor Sheryl Evans to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE

 

“ Will the Cabinet Member make a statement on the recent awarding of Welsh Government funding under the Resilient Roads and Local Transport Fund?”

 

Response of Councillor A. Morgan OBE

 

The Leader commented on the success of the Council in acquiring significant sums of funding over recent years, with almost £10m secured through the Resilient Roads Grant alone over the last four years. It was advised that such funding had allowed a number of targeted flood resilience road schemes to be carried out to remedy some of the drainage issues that affect stretches of the highways network throughout the main arterial routes of the County.

 

Details of the funding secured were provided were Members were advised of the receipt of £1m from the Resilient Roads Fund for 2023/24 which is supporting the development of 13 projects to alleviate the effects of flooding and climate change to the transportation network.  In addition, the Council also secured £400k from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund.  £200k of this funding was allocated for bus priority enhancements, this includes bus stop improvement works, bus shelters and raised kerbs on the Aberdare and Pontypridd local routes.  The Leader concluded by advising of the £200k funding which was allocated for utilisation on further feasibility works for the Cynon Gateway North and Llantrisant Link Road schemes as a result of the Welsh Government’s Road Review report in 2023.

 

 

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor Sheryl Evans:

 

“Can you confirm the schemes that have been delivered in the Aberaman ward (North and South).”

 

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE:

 

The Leader advised of the projects that had been delivered within the Aberaman Ward (including historical boundaries) over the last 4 years, which totalled  6 individual schemes (as listed below):

 

· Lewis Street – Design Stage – Highway drainage Upgrade

 

· Jones Street – Construction – Highway Drainage Upgrade

 

· Bronallt Terrace Phase 3 – Construction Highway Culvert Upgrade

 

· Glenboi – Construction – Highway drainage upgrade works

 

· Maes Y Ffynon/Cardiff Road – Highway Culvert Upgrade

 

· A4059 – Aberdare – Asda R/A – Construction – Upgrade Highway drainage and overland flow measures.

 

2.     The Presiding Member advised that due to apologies being received from County Borough Councillor J Edwards, the second question listed had fallen.

 

 

3.     Question from County Borough Councillor S Rees to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE

 

“Can the Leader provide an update on the progress on the delivery of the Labour Group’s manifesto commitments?”

 

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE

 

The Leader referenced the Labour Groups 20 core commitments to the residents of RCT in advance of the local elections in 2022 and commented on the progress made so far, with a number of these commitments already delivered, and those not delivered remaining very much in progress.

 

Members were advised that in respect of the commitment to fund 10 PCSOs and 10 Community Wardens, this pledge had been completed with 14 Wardens and 10 PCSOs in place. The Leader continued by advising that the 2 teams were working well together to improve community safety in key areas across communities.

 

It was highlighted that the Council were continuing to deliver more brand-new English & Welsh schools across the County Borough, with 3 projects completed in the last financial year and a further 7 were ongoing this year.

 

With regards to transport infrastructure schemes, the Leader advised of the ongoing investment, with good progress continuing on the dualling of the A4119.  The Leader highlighted that discussions were ongoing with Welsh Government over other schemes following the Roads Review.

 

In respect of Town Centres, Council were informed of the Investment to regenerate town centres and support businesses, with a continued range of support measures such as the Maintenance Grant. The Leader highlighted a number of regeneration schemes being taken forward within the town centres.

 

Details of how the Council were working towards becoming a Net Zero Council were provided, through improved recycling and the development of solar farms.  The Leader added that good progress continues to be made with reducing the Council’s Carbon footprint with a further reduction in CO2 emissions during the past year. Planning permission had recently been obtained for the Coed Ely Solar Farm and contractors would commence works later this year.

 

 

The Leader continued by commenting on the success of the Graduate and Apprentice scheme with over 150 Graduate and Apprentice opportunities over the 5 year term.

 

Further details were provided in respect of the commitments to maintain and enhance the Enforcement Team to take action against dog fouling/fly tipping, as well as the building of  further extra care facilities & developing refurbishment programmes for existing residential homes.

 

The Leader concluded his response by listing the positive work undertaken with active travel rates, armed forces covenant and play investment, concluding that by the end of the 5 year term all commitments would be delivered upon.

 

Due to technical difficulties no supplementary question was posed.

 

4.     County Borough Councillor D Owen Jones to ask his question to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

 

“Can the Leader provide an update on the progress of the A4119 dualling”

 

Response of County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE:

 

The Leader commented on the good progress of the scheme although welcomed its completion.  He advised that the scheme was now over 70% complete and was currently in week 78 of a total of 106 weeks.

 

In respect of progress, Members were advised that at the Southbound carriageway drainage work had taken place including fencing and vehicle restraint works. Traffic was now travelling on the new section of road to a point just south of Welsh water works site.

 

It was further advised that traffic management switch had been completed at the southern end of the road works during December and access to Common Sidings (scrap yard) had been constructed.

 

In respect of the North of the Carriageway, traffic was now travelling north on new section of road with drainage works progressing near to the existing stone retaining wall. The Leader also advised that the active travel route had been progressed up to the fire station roundabout.

 

To conclude his response the Leader provided details of the current works on site which included details surrounding drainage, culverts, bridge works and landscaping.

 

 

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor D Owen - Jones:

“Whereby access and egress from Active Travel to the public bridge have been answered this afternoon, I must give congratulations on a job well done on completion and opening of Tyn-Y-Bryn footbridge nearby, when will the contractors be vacating this location.”

 

Response from County Borough Councillor A Morgan, OBE:

 

The Leader advised that he needed to check on this matter as the footbridge was due for completion on Friday, January 26^th. He advised that he was aware of some snagging and landscaping that needed addressing and suggested that the contractors may be onsite for a few more weeks to deal with the peripheral landscaping but would find out the exact date the contractors would be demobilising from site.

 

 

5.     Question from County Borough Councillor A. Rogers to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, County Borough Councillor A. Crimmings:

“Can the relevant Cabinet Member share how this Council has invested in recreational activity for young residents in the Hirwaun, Penderyn and Rhigos ward please?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A Crimmings:

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure thanked the Member for the question and added that improving and investing in community facilities to promote and encourage recreational activities for the young people of the County Borough continues to be a key Council priority.

 

The Member continued by advising that with specific reference to Hirwaun, Penderyn, and Rhigos, recreational activities provided by the Sport Development Teams included Dodgeball taster sessions,  Sport Wales Resource Pack,  “explore the outdoors” sessions which had been attended by over 200 attendees and the hosting of Young Ambassadors conferences. Members were also advised that pupils have attended the Sport Teams virtual activity classes, an 8-week balance bike programme which was delivered across schools. In addition the team had also provided support for grant applications to Hirwaun FC and RFC.

 

In respect of investment, the Cabinet Member informed that the Parks Team had invested in a large number of recreational facilities over the past few years, totalling:

 

 

Hirwaun a total of Total £152,109, which included investment in new dugouts, new roof on changing rooms, drainage works, spectator stand demolish, resurfacing of tennis courts.

 

In respect of Rhigos a total of £86,169 had been invested which included investment into issues such as sand band drainage and changing room refurbishment.

 

The Cabinet Member proceeded by advising of the additional financial and operational support provided by the Council to Rhigos Sports Village.

To conclude the response, the Cabinet Member highlighted the investment and maintenance into children’s play areas with further funding allocations coming forward in the forth coming year.

 

Supplementary Question from County Borough Councillor A Rogers:

“We know residents appreciate the investment, but a concern is that without lighting in some of these areas, including the football field, residents cannot make full use of the investment that would benefit their health and wellbeing. At what stage in the process were local Members consulted on proposed investment in their wards to ensure proposed investment is fully benefitted from?

Response from County Borough Councillor A Crimmings:

The Cabinet Member referenced the consultation undertaken with local Members in respect of the Tennis court, Muga and Hirwaun welfare. The Cabinet member added that as part of the process local members should be consulted upon and apologised if this wasn’t the case and asked the Member to advise her where such consultation hadn’t taken place.

 

6.     Question from County Borough Councillor A. Ellis to the Cabinet Member for Development & Prosperity, County Borough Councillor M. Norris:

 

“Can the Cabinet Member confirm if the Lady Windsor site in Ynysybwl has been identified for development within the draft LDP please”.

 

Response from County Borough Councillor Norris:

 

The Cabinet Member commented on the January Council meeting, where it was resolved to approve the Revised Local Development Plan Preferred Strategy for statutory public and stakeholder consultation.

 

It was advised that at a strategic level, the Revised LDP Preferred Strategy would seek to address the needs of RCT by proposing levels of development growth and where this should be spatially distributed across the County Borough. It was advised that this consultation is due to commence shortly.

 

The Cabinet Member advised that he was unable at this stage to comment on the proposed status of the former Lady Windsor site, or indeed any specific sites.  It was added however, that any sites that had been put forward for further consideration in the next stages of the Revised LDP process, would be included in what is known as a Candidate Sites Register.

 

It was advised that at the point of consultation, the register would just indicate the result of initial assessments on the sites in terms of their high-level capability of accommodating development and not specifically identify or allocate sites for development at this stage.

 

There was no supplementary question due to the lapse of the allotted time (The Presiding Members assured Members that the clock was stopped during periods of technical difficulties).