Issue - meetings

The action sheet arising from the Joint Scrutiny (Budget Monitoring) Committee held on 28^th September, 2020 was submitted, whereupon:-

Capital Budget Monitoring 2020/21 (Splash Pad)

A Member referred to the Officer’s response provided, and stated that the previous report submitted to the Committee in March 2020 highlighted two schemes, namely 329097 £107k for play equipment; and 329095 £110k for the splash pad.  However, in the report submitted to Committee in September, the only scheme listed was 329097 £44,850k for play equipment.  The Member requested a detailed breakdown of the £217k originally allocated for both the splash pad and play equipment and where the money had been allocated.

The Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Service assured that all monies allocated to play equipment had been committed/spent on play equipment, and that no money had been taken out of the budget and allocated elsewhere.  In terms of the £110k allocated for the splash pad project, Welsh Government had pushed the Council to spend the money, and CLT made a decision under delegated powers to commit the money to play equipment to ensure the funding was not lost.  The Officer undertook to provide a detailed breakdown of the figures to the next meeting.

Another Member said the splash pad project was a very controversial issue for the people of Tredegar.  He referred to the decision taken by CLT to reallocate the splash pad funding and asked whether CLT had discussed and agreed that course of action with the Leadership.

In response the Corporate Director confirmed that his discussions were with CLT.  All decisions were recorded as part of CLT delegated decision making activity progressed during the Covid pandemic, and the decision was reported retrospectively to Members in September 2020.

The Managing Director explained that delegated decision was taken in consultation with CLT, most notably herself along with the Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services and the Corporate Director of Social Services being the relevant Lead Officers, to ensure that the funding was not lost.  However, the Managing Director confirmed that she did consult with the Leader and the Executive Member for Social Services on the decision, and undertook to circulate a copy of the recorded actions taken during the decision making process to Members.

A Member asked whether the monies had been put into a ‘central plot’ and allocated across the Borough to improve play facilities, and also whether it included the improvement works undertaken at Parc Bryn Bach.

In response the Corporate Director explained that the improvements to the play facility at Parc Bryn Bach was funded through the Valleys Regional Park initiative.  In terms of the proposals for play facilities across the Borough, monies would be allocated against the priorities set out in the Council’s agreed play strategy which was reported to the relevant Scrutiny Committee in September 2020.

Test, Trace, Protect Services

A Member asked that consideration be given to a direct telephone line being established to enable members of the public to report incidents of non-compliance of Covid regulations.

In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5