Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received as all Members were present.

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 – Issues and Implications Arising as a Result of the End of European Funding – CRF Application as he works for Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust but the project had not yet started .

To consider report of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Chair referred the Committee to the ‘Issues and Implications Arising as a Result of the End of European Funding’ report and welcomed Councillor G Thomas Cabinet Member, Alyn Owen, Chris Long and Deb Ryan-Newton to the Meeting.

The Officers then led the Committee in detail through the report and together with Councillor G Thomas responded in detail to the following questions raised by the Committee:

ESF Funded Programmes

·         Paragraph 5.1 – Update requested on the impact to date – Over what timescale are the Programmes –Proposed that a start date for the Programmes be given – Is there any analysis on the Programmes to ensure best value and to look at this going forward – The need for understanding of the Programmes to be able to understand the data – To include Communications as a lot of people have been helped – Is there and achievement gap – To cross reference with the RTI – Qualifications / Apprenticeships / Jobs – An impact Assessment Report to give a base line of where we actually are in relation to this

·         Paragraph 5.3 – Support Staff – Is this the case, will these jobs be lost – Explanation of where these jobs sit in the tables in the report – The need for forward planning as these are experienced staff

·         Paragraph 5.1 / 5.4 – Will the projects continue – If not what will replace them – Clarification requested on this

·         CRF Levelling up – What does shared prosperity look like – What is different – Tight deadlines – Is an extension being discussed

·         Explanation requested on the Community Ownership Fund

·         Employability Programmes – Will staff be lost – Communities for Work / DWP – Will EU Funding be received

·         Is there feedback in relation to liaison with Local Government and Central Government – Will the Welsh Government provide some Programmes to compete with UK Programmes

·         Could the third Sector fill part of the gap – Is there a level of support in relation to Governance and Funding

·         Paragraph 5.10 – Has a response been received

The Chair then thanked Councill G Thomas and the Officers for attending and the update and detailed responses to the Committee on the questions raised.

To consider the attached report

The Chair referred the Committee to the Committee Forward Work Programme 2021/2022 and the Committee agreed the Work Programme.

No Scrutiny referrals, feedback of follow up actions were received.

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair and the Committee reflected in detail on the issues that had been discussed at the Meeting.

The Chair advised that this was the last Meeting for Maria Purnell as Scrutiny Support Officer and thanked Maria Purnell for her support of the Committee.