Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtually via Microsoft Teams - if you would like to attend this meeting live via Microsoft Teams please contact committee.services@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

Contact: Democratic Services  7788

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Simultaneous Translation

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

Minutes:

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

 

2.

Apologies

To receive.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received for Councillor T. Sharrem.

 

3.

Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

To receive.

Minutes:

Councillor B. Summers declared an interest in the following item:-

 

Item No. 9 – Regional Wood Waste Recycling Facility

 

4.

Community Services Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 229 KB

To receive the minutes of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on 4th March, 2020.

 

(Please note the minutes are submitted for accuracy points only).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on the 4th March, 2020 were submitted for points of accuracy.

 

The Committee AGREED that the minutes be accepted as a true record of proceedings.

 

5.

Community Services Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 290 KB

To receive the minutes of the special Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on 1st September, 2020.

 

(Please note the minutes are submitted for accuracy points accuracy only).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the special Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on the 1st September, 2020 were submitted for points of accuracy.

 

Councillor H. McCarthy reported that his apologies had not been recorded.

 

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, that the minutes be accepted as a true record of proceedings.

 

6.

Investment in Children’s Play Provision pdf icon PDF 854 KB

To consider the report of the Team Manager Street Scene.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Team Manager Street Scene.

 

The Team Manager presented the report which provided an update on children’s play area sites and sought Members’ endorsement of the current work programme for the installation of play equipment into sites, in line with the priorities identified as part of the detailed play area review undertaken and reported to Council in December 2018.

 

The Officer spoke to the report and highlighted points contained therein.  He said the report outlined the rationale for the installation of new children’s play equipment purchased following funding received from Welsh Government through the All Wales Play Opportunities Grant.  This funding was initially allocated for the creation of a splash park facility at the Festival Park site, however, on the basis that the owners of Festival Park were no longer in a position to take the project forward, a decision was taken under delegated authority to reallocate the funding, as the Council had to advise Welsh Government how the funds would be utilised by the end of March 2020, or the funding would be withdrawn.

 

Appendix 1 of the report identified play area sites where the purchased equipment would be installed, together with a future rolling programme for any further funding should it become available in the future.

 

The Officer concluded that Parc Bryn Bach had recently benefitted from new Welsh Government grant funding through the Valleys Regional Parks as part of the Discovery Gateway Project, and a new £185k visitor attraction (play facility) had been installed at the Park and was recently opened to the public following the COVID lockdown period, and had been very well received by visitors to the Park.

 

A Member expressed concern that the decision was taken under delegated authority.  She referred to previous meetings where Members had requested Officers to enter into further discussions with Aneurin Leisure Trust regarding the possibility of the splash park facility at Parc Bryn Bach.  However, the Member said she welcomed the investment at Duffryn Park, but would have liked engagement with children in the community on the type of play equipment they would have liked installed at the Park.

 

The Officer said the funding available for the splash park was £110k, however, costings for the installation etc. was in the region of £250k and ALT felt that the project was not financially viable.   In terms of engagement with the community, he agreed that this was always the best way to progress, however, on this occasion the deadline to spend the funding by 31st March was extremely restricted, but he assured that engagement would be undertaken moving forward.

 

In response to a question raised by a Member, the Officer confirmed that the £110k had already been received by the Council in 2017/18 for a splash park facility.  This was about repurposing the funding in line with the priorities identified under the Council’s agreed play area review.

 

Another Member said he welcomed the investment on many of the Borough’s play areas, but unfortunately  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Waste and Recycling Performance 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 753 KB

To consider the report of the Team Manager Neighbourhood Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Team Manager Neighbourhood Services.

 

The Team Manager presented the report which provided an update of waste and recycling performance outcomes for 2019/20.

 

The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  He said in 2018/19 the Council exceeded its WG Statutory Recycling Target for the first time.  This success was built on, and this year (2019/20) the Council had exceeded the new higher target of 64%, attaining 65.31%.  This was achieved through the hard work and dedication of the Waste Team, in partnership with WRAP, and with support from the Communications Team, Performance Team, Senior Management, the Leadership and most importantly the residents of Blaenau Gwent.  He said this year on year success has seen Blaenau Gwent move from 22nd in 2017/18 to 11th in 2019/20 when compared to all other Welsh Local Authorities. 

 

In response to a question raised by a Member regarding the garden waste collection, the Officer confirmed that the figure included the extended winter period collection, which was maintained through the winter with one vehicle.  However, the scope to increase garden waste was restricted due to the limited number of green spaces in the Borough and relatively small garden sizes.

 

In relation to the HWRC (Reuse), the Officer said whilst this was a small element of recycling it was intended to maximise this element and extend the service at the new facility at Roseheyworth. 

 

A Member said the improving figures were pleasing, but expressed concern regarding the Council’s ranking position, particularly with green waste.  He also asked whether any notification had been received from Welsh Government in terms of the potential for increased fines for 2020/21 due to the impact of COVID.

 

In response the Officer confirmed that no information had been received from Welsh Government in relation to penalties.  Whilst the targets were challenging, the recycling figure for 2019/20 was positive, and hopefully with the continued support from residents and hard work of the teams involved the same trend would be seen in 2020/21.

 

A Member referred to the increased target of 70% over the next 4 years, and asked whether the Council had the capacity to achieve this.

 

The Team Manager Neighbourhood Services confirmed that Officers were already engaging with WRAP advisors on ways to progress to 70% over the next 4 years.  The roll out of the Keeping up with the Jones campaign Borough wide would hopefully have an impact, and there were also other initiatives being considered in order to maximise recycling and achieve that target.  The situation would be closely monitored to ensure that everything was being done to achieve the target.

 

He confirmed that savings achieved through the reduction of residual waste was put back into the service to provide additional resources to continue with the kerbside waste enforcement, new recycling receptacles, and implementation of initiatives to increase recycling.

 

A Member commended the Department and the success of the kerbside recycling service and he felt this justified the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Forward Work Programme: 19th October 2020 pdf icon PDF 397 KB

To consider the report of the Chair of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forward Work Programme for the meeting scheduled for the 19th October, 2020 was submitted.

 

The Chair reported that the Cemetery Capacity report had been moved to the November meeting.

 

A brief discussion ensued when the Scrutiny Officer confirmed that Straying Animals would be the subject of a future report to Committee.

 

The Committee AGREED that the report be accepted.

 

9.

Exempt Item

To receive and consider the following report which in the opinion of the proper officer is an exempt item taking into account consideration of the public interest test and that the press and public should be excluded from the meeting (the reason for the decision for the exemption is available on a schedule maintained by the proper officer).

 

 

10.

Regional Wood Waste Recycling Facility

To consider the report of the Team Leader Waste Compliance and Development.

Minutes:

Councillor B. Summers declared an interest in the following item.

 

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

 

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

 

Consideration was given to report of the Team Leader Waste Compliance and Development.

 

The Team Manager Neighbourhood Services presented the report which provided an update on the development of an Outline Business Case for a Regional Wood Recycling Facility.  The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.

 

In response to a question raised by a Member, the Officer said it was intended for the facility to be ‘green’ with a low carbon footprint, and that the majority of the machines would be electric powered.

 

A Member asked whether there was the potential to generate income from the facility, and would it assist the Council in hitting its recycling target.

 

The Officer said improved recycling targets was one of the benefits of the facility for participating LA’s, it would also provide clarity for panel board manufacturers in terms of consistency around specification and options for income.

 

A brief discussion ensued when the Officer clarified points raised by Members.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report which contained information relating to the business affairs of persons other than the Authority be accepted, and the Outline Business Case to support the development of the Regional Wood Waste Recycling Facility to the next stage be supported (Option 1).