Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor G Thomas Cabinet Portfolio Member.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

Councillor L Davies Declared his Interest in Item 3 - EU Replacement Funding Programmes: Levelling Up and Shared Prosperity as he runs a Programme that receives Shared Prosperity Funding.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Chair welcomed Councillor A Barry Cabinet Member, Chris Long, Ryan Barry and Joanne Davies to the Meeting.

Ryan Barry led the Committee through the ‘EU Replacement Funding Programmes: Levelling Up and Shared Prosperity’ report and together with Chris Long and Joanne responded in detail to the following questions raised on the report:

·        Levelling Up – Capital Regional Programme – What has been fedback – Will it highlight why not successful – Are there any plans for Round Three

·        Paragraph 5.9  -

·        Town Centre Enhancement – What is the aim and usage for the development of a Town Centre Hub

·        Community Schools – How will the money be spent – What type of development

·        Decarbonisation – Further details requested and what will the funding be used for

·        Paragraph 5.2 – Where are we with this as far as the Authority is concerned

·        Paragraph 4.4 – What is the grant for in relation to Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre – Who are the H Factor Group Cyf

·        Paragraph 5.6 – Are the Officers satisfied with the amount and satisfied allocated in the right way

·        Paragraph 5.7 – Revised Programme - Can this be carried over

·        Paragraph 5.11 – Is there sufficient capacity in the team to meet the Programme in light of the efficiency programme

·        Further clarification sought in relation to Tidy Towns and Street cleansing

·        Efficiency savings – Core / grant funded posts

·        Update requested in relation to the Ffos y Fran Community Fund

·        Views of the Officers on Partnership with the UK Government

·        Impact on the delivery of projects

·        Paragraph 5.14 – Update requested on Round 2 

·        Paragraph 3.1 – Has there been submission to UK Government

·        SPF Allocation – Are the Officers confident regarding allocation spend

The Chair then thanked the Officers for attending and the update to the Committee.

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Chair welcomed Ceri Dinham to the Meeting.

Councillor A Barry referred the Committee to the ‘Participation Strategy’ report.

Ceri Dinham then led the Committee through the report and together with Councillor A Barry responded in detail to the following questions raised on the report:

·        Equality – Is work being undertaken with the Equality Officers – Nothing in the report on methods regarding the way the Officers were engaging the Community – What is the Method and Process on how to engage marginalised groups

·        Scrutiny – Social Services and Learning and LGES omitted in error

·        Forward Plan – Until the Document is seen then the full picture is not known – Further details requested on the development of the Strategy and the Statutory Guidance

·        Development in collaboration with the public – How are the public involved in the development of this Policy

·        Has a base line assessment been carried out and where is this evidence - Worthwhile for the Committee to see the assessment

·        How is public participation measured

·        When will this review be brought to Council

·        Include in this report who had been collaborated with

·        Paragraph 6.1 – Which consultation and engagement exercises were contentious and why

·        The need to get across to residents that the Authority needed to know if they were in support of a proposal as well as those residents who were opposed

·        To what extend have Stakeholders been involved in the Strategy

The Chair then thanked Councillor A Barry and Ceri Dinham for attending and the update to the Committee.

Did we address the recommendations in each report and how have we added value?

The Chair referred to the two reports that had been considered at the Meeting and it was agreed that:

EU Replacement Funding Programme – That the Scrutiny Officer write to the appropriate Officers regarding updates on SPF Funding and feedback from UK Government

Participation Strategy – For the Committee to further consider this at a future Meeting.

To consider the attached report

The Chair referred the Committee to the ‘Forward Work Programme 2022/23’ and the Workshop being held in relation to the Customer Services Model and it was agreed that if there were matters arising from this Workshop that they be added to the Work Programme for the 14 March 2023 Meeting.

It was also agreed that the Participation Strategy be added to the Work Programme for the 25 April 2023 Meeting.

There were no referrals.

Any outstanding actions?  Feedback from workshops / task and finish groups / enquiry days, etc.

The Chair updated the Committee on the schedule for the Workshop on Friday.

The Chair advised that there was no other business deemed urgent.