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 R. Evans to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

 

“Will the Cabinet Member provide an update on the scheme to upgrade the culvert on the industrial estate in Porth?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

 

The Leader advised that the works have now been completed to the culvert at Llwyncelyn Industrial Estate, Porth which was funded through the Welsh Government’s Resilient Roads Fund.  He added that the work has involved a complete upgrade to the culvert inlet, with overflow devices built in and with 24/7 CCTV monitoring already in place at the site which is linked to the Council’s emergency control room. Any future storms of yellow or amber magnitude will mean that the control room will be staffed and monitored.

 

The Leader commented on the investment which has totalled £150K and how the responses from local businesses to the investment and work have already been positive.

 

There was no supplementary question

 

 

2)  Question from County Borough Councillor D. Williams to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

“Can the Leader provide an update on the preparations underway in advance of RCT welcoming the Eisteddfod in the summer?”

Response from County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

 

The Leader commented that work on finalising the Spatial Plan has progressed at pace and proposed locations for park and ride facilities, a caravan park and other camping facilities is being considered by the Council’s Eisteddfod Committee next week. The Leader added that an announcement would be made in the coming days with further positive news relating to the Eisteddfod.

The Leader advised that there had been a recent positive meeting with all local Members in the vicinity of Pontypridd which heralded the start of ongoing, proactive engagement and liaison with Members on the Eisteddfod infrastructure arrangements. He added that there is an expectation that in excess of 160,000 visitors will come to the town over the eight day period. The Leader commented that there will be no reason to drive through Pontypridd during the Eisteddfod as Officers continue to work closely with the Eisteddfod Committee and Transport for Wales to develop a Traffic Management plan with enhanced train provision and fleets of buses transporting people and residents as part of the park and ride arrangements.

The Leader explained that there has been significant fundraising so far with continued support for local appeal committees to raise money for the National Eisteddfod. The Leader was keen to stress that the Eisteddfod is open to all residents, and engagement with all young people across the county borough is crucial.

The Leader commented that the benefits of the Eisteddfod will be felt right across the county borough and not just in Pontypridd town and therefore the Town Centre team continue to work with, not only Pontypridd but also Aberdare and Treorchy BIDs to promote the Eisteddfod far and wide amongst visitors and residents.

 

There was no supplementary question

 

 

3)      Question from County Borough Councillor R. Davis to the Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, County Borough Councillor G. Caple:

“Can the Cabinet Member please outline the next steps for the Extra Care scheme in Porth following the news that a new contractor has been appointed?”

Response from County Borough Councillor G. Caple:

 

Councillor Caple took the opportunity to advise of the Council’s £60M investment to modernise the Council’s residential care homes to ensure dignity and respect in old age with state of the art extra care homes including provision for more complex needs including Dementia. These facilities will enhance the independence for older people and provide real choice for those most vulnerable in our society against a background of budget cuts and the financial cost of living crisis.

Councillor Caple advised that this specific development has taken longer than initially expected due to both the impact of the pandemic and the selected contractors entering into administration. Despite these difficult challenges Councillor Caple was pleased to say that with a contractor in place, work has recommenced on the site. He added that the Extra Care development will consist of 54x1 bed apartments & 6x2 bed apartments alongside a dining area, hair salon, activity room and day care centre.

Councillor Caple concluded that this investment will be central in supporting individuals with assessed day centre needs to ensure that isolation and loneliness are mitigated and promote people’s independence and wellbeing with bariatric and hoist infrastructure across the scheme.

There was no supplementary question

 

Question 4 was not put to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Corporate Services and therefore fell.

 

 

5)  Question from County Borough Councillor D. Owen-Jones to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

“What impact will the announcement from TATA Steel that it plans to progress with the proposals to cut 2,800 jobs have on our communities?”

 

Response of Councillor A Morgan OBE

 

Councillor Morgan explained that although the concern is of the 2,800 job losses, he reminded Members that there are also three supply chain jobs linked to every steelworker and therefore there could be significant more job losses and more than originally predicted.

 

The Leader confirmed he had attended a rally in Port Talbot a few weeks ago where it was clear to see the sense of anxiety, uncertainty and anger amongst the workers and their families. He advised that it was also an opportunity to speak with other Council Leaders, community representatives, Unions and Welsh Government.

 

The Leader explained that key is accessing funding referenced by the UK Government although the details as to how the £100M package is going to be administered remains unclear at this stage. He added that he was keen to have discussions with Welsh Government following the significant engagement that took place between the DWP and the staff of UK Windows and Doors, when the company went into administration. He added that the Council will seek to provide similar support as it has previously, working with partners to ensure that support and advice is available for those impacted.

The Leader advised that the Trade Unions are very much at the forefront of the fight, supported by local Labour politicians, steelworkers, and the local communities. He added that Labour have committed to a £3bn clean steel fund, and he was hopeful that TATA delay implementing their plans long enough to await the outcome of the next General Election.

 

The Leader stressed the need to keep the conversations open and he explained that it is imperative that a new Labour Government will re-negotiate a better package of investment that protects jobs and ensures a just transition to greener methods of production. The Leader advised that the situation with TATA Steel is likely to be as impactful as the mine closures were in the 1980s.

There was no supplementary question

 

6)  Question from County Borough Councillor L. Ellis to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

“Can the Leader provide an update on the programme of coal tip management across RCT?”

Response of Councillor A Morgan OBE

 

Councillor Morgan reassured Members that coal tip safety is the Council’s priority since Storm Dennis and the landslip in Tylorstown. He added that the Council has a team of inspectors in place who carry out regular maintenance and tip inspections. He provided an update on progress relating to the tip in Tylorstown where the former coal tip has been moved and more drainage work has been undertaken with long term monitoring in place. The Leader commented that the work to the Tylorstown tip will be completed this summer, as intended, with further work to the value of £2M.

The Leader advised that there are other tips across the county borough that either require monitoring, maintenance or in some cases, intervention will be required. He explained that the defects are categorized using a BRAG system, Black means that emergency action is required with immediate notification, Red requires short term maintenance where remediation required and should be actioned as soon as reasonably practicable, Amber requires medium term maintenance or remediation is required but with risk mitigation such as site visits, monitoring etc and finally Green requires long term maintenance or remediation required and is currently low risk.

The Leader also explained the category definitions and inspection intervals which as follows: D1 is monthly inspection, D3 is a 3 monthly inspection, C is a 6 monthly inspection, B requires an annual inspection, A2 is a 2 yearly inspection and finally A4 is a 4 yearly inspection (the last two are tips that have been reclaimed or removed yet still require monitoring).

The Leader advised that Council Officers are carrying out work on emergency plans in conjunction with the Emergency Services in the event that any concerns regarding the category C and D tips are raised. This together with regular planned inspections as well as ad-hoc severe weather inspections, the Council is well placed to keep its tips safe for its residents.

There was no supplementary question

 

7)      Question from County Borough Councillor S. Trask to the Leader of the Council, County Borough Councillor A. Morgan OBE:

“Can the Leader make a statement on the public consultations that have taken place during the past three months?”

The Leader advised that the Council has undertaken six large public consultations over the last three months, and he set out the details of all six within the three month period:

Budget Consultation Phase 1, 6^th November – 15^th December 2023 with 653 responses, Breakfast Club, 27^th November – 8^th January with 1351 responses

Home to School Transport, 27^th November – 8^th January (extended 18^th January – 8^th February), 2858 responses, Budget Consultation Phase 2, 4^th January – 8^th February 2024, 530 responses, the Strategic Equality Plan Engagement,12^th December 2023 – 9^th February 2024, 96 responses and the Corporate Plan Engagement, 8^th December 2023 – 29^th January 2024 with 469 responses.                                   

 

Supplementary question from County Borough Councillor S Trask:

 

“I am concerned with the weight attached to the public responses, for example for the consultation for the proposed closure of Rhigos Primary School where over 90% of respondents were against was passed and the upcoming RLDP consultation contains complicated forms to suggest new sites but my request to simplify these forms was turned down. How much weight is put on public responses?”

Response of Councillor A Morgan OBE

 

The Leader responded that public responses are important and play a key part in the consultations to ensure that where Members are making decisions; they have all the relevant information possible to hand. He added that the public responses also ensure that the Council takes on board any comments raised by them so where possible, any relevant adjustments can be made and where necessary, officers are asked to provide further information or there may be a need to go back out to consultation with other options. The Leader stressed that consultations are not public referendums.

There were no further questions due to the lapse of the allotted time.