Agenda item

To scrutinise any matters with the portfolio holder responsible for Public Health and Communities and to ensure that there are appropriate mechanisms in place to effectively scrutinise the Executive.

The Chair welcomed the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities 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 Public Health and Communities and to ensure that the appropriate mechanisms are in place to effectively scrutinise the Executive.

Discussions ensued regarding the progress of the establishment of the Community Safety Partnership board and a Member queried regarding engagement and ensuring in terms of community engagement that this would carry through in to the new structure. The Cabinet Member shared that a multi-agency focus group is currently in place and working towards a regional Cwm Taf Morgannwg Community Safety Partnership Board implementation date of the 1st April 2024. A progress report is due to be presented to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 23rd February and to the RCT Community Services (Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee on the 28th February.

A Member queried whether consideration been made regarding the potential for one Local Authority to dominate the partnership with the Cabinet Member acknowledging that this is a concern that has been raised, and recognised the risks associated with this issue. Members were informed that to keep local autonomy and accountability within each individual Local Authority, the partnership will recognise that any review of the structures must deliver not only a suitable integrated regional structure, but one which ensures that arrangements for local accountability are comprehensive and precise.

Therefore, the Partnership will ensure that each Local Authority will be monitored and held accountable for their contributions. When pressed further on the risk of one local authority dominating the partnership the Cabinet Member added the development of a regional strategic partnership should not impact adversely on those Councils and respective agencies that are successfully operating and delivering local safety initiatives to the community it serves.The new Terms of Reference of the Community Safety Partnership will include the importance of upholding local community safety arrangements, and also upholding the current local scrutiny arrangements that are in place for Community Safety.

Discussions continued and focussed on the Local Toilet Strategy with a Member asking whether the Council is doing enough to communicate with residents over what facilities are available and where. The Member also referenced vandalism in public toilets and asked what is being done to tackle this. The Cabinet Member recognised the issue of vandalism and the impact this has on the Council and funding challenges to repair damage. With regards to communications, the Cabinet Member shared that a plan has been developed with other service areas and an RCTCBC web page is being developed to provide public toilet locations throughout the borough. The potential of an app will also be explored. Public toilets will also be identifiable through use of a logo sticker. The Cabinet Member also highlighted the locations of available changing spaces within the County Borough.

A Member asked if there was information available on how different groups are affected by the strategy and information available in progress in engaging with local businesses in town centres to encourage them to allow the public to use their facilities. And the impact of footfall in Town Centres. The Cabinet Member recognised there is a need for more diverse facilities and whilst figures were not available in the meeting, the Cabinet Member shared this would be something that they would feed back to the Member directly.  The Cabinet Member emphasised the view that challenges faced by individuals should not be a barrier to accessing toilets and the Cabinet Member confirmed this is something that will be looked into. In relation to the engagement with local businesses, Members were advised that Officers in the Community Development Team and the Prosperity and Development Team will be engaging with businesses shortly, with initial focus on Pontypridd town centre businesses in readiness for the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol.

A Member asked what is being done to provide facilities out of town centres and queries about funding available from Welsh Government. The Cabinet Member acknowledged the decrease in the number of facilities available across the borough whilst also highlighting to Members that the provision of local toilets for public use is not a statutory requirement of local authorities in Wales. The Cabinet Member also commented regarding the challenge of funding new facilities in the current financial climate and acknowledged the suggestion of communicating with Welsh Government around funding opportunities available for this issue.

Members took the opportunity to also discuss the Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Licensing Review and a Member asked the Cabinet Member to what extent do they consider Landlord HMO non-compliance to be an issue, especially within the Treforest ward and whether the Council is doing enough to ensure enforcement actions are in place for those who are wilfully non complaint. The Cabinet Member responded that Landlord non-compliance poses a significant issue for the Council and our residents for many reasons. The Additional Licensing Scheme for 2024 is vital for ensuring that the Council can mitigate these negative impacts and hold those who are wilfully non-compliant accountable using enforcement action.

A Member sought clarification on whether, with evidence of student numbers declining in Treforest over recent years, the Council anticipates a potential decline in the number of HMOs going forward. The Cabinet Member shared that the private rented market is difficult to predict. Considering the current state of the financial climate with the cost-of-living crisis, the impact of welfare reform, changes to Housing Benefit, and the high demand for smaller accommodation, HMOs are becoming an increasingly viable options for many residents. Despite the decline in student numbers, HMOs continue to be seen as a housing choice by young professionals, who are new to the employment market.

Another Member referenced the concerns that had previously been raised about unsafe living standards in HMO’s and sought clarification that the inspection process through the strategy would provide Members with confidence that safety standards are being met. The Cabinet Member shared confidence with the Councils Officers addressing safety issues as a matter of high importance when these arise.

 The Chairperson thanked the Cabinet Member for attending and thanked Members for their questions. It was RESOLVED to:

1.     Scrutinise the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities in respect of matters considered and agreed by Cabinet, and any key decisions taken, during the period 11 May 2023 – 15th January 2024

2.     Identify any areas arising from those matters determined within this period which Committee wish to further scrutinise, as part of revisions to the committees published work programme, in relation to Public Health and Communities.