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 from Richard Crook, Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services (other Council business).

 

3.

Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

To receive.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest or dispensations were made.

 

4.

Community Services Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 307 KB

To receive the minutes of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on 21st September, 2020.

 

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

Minutes:

The minutes of the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held on 21st September, 2020 were submitted.

 

A Member referred to Item No. 7 on Page 10 of the minutes, namely a Member’s comment that the ‘introduction of the new system in 2015 had been a success’, and said he did not agree with the statement.  He said in his opinion when the scheme was introduced it was a complete failure with many problems being experienced across the Borough, and that the scheme was thrust upon the LA with no time to undertake a pilot scheme.  As a result he could not support approval of the minutes with the inclusion of that comment.

 

The Scrutiny Officer/Advisor undertook to seek advice on this matter.

 

Another Member then referred to the next paragraph, namely the question whether green waste included the Borough’s social housing providers; and said a response had not been reported.

 

The Team Leader Neighbourhood Services confirmed that this information would be provided.

 

Following a brief discussion;

 

The Committee AGREED that approval of the minutes be DEFERRED.

 

5.

Action Sheet - 21st September, 2020

There were no actions arising from the Community Services Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21st September, 2020.

Minutes:

There were no actions arising from the Community Services Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21st September, 2020.

 

6.

Forward Work Programme: 7th December 2020 pdf icon PDF 396 KB

To receive the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forward Work Programme for the meeting scheduled to be held on 7th December, 2020 was submitted.

 

A Member said she understood from previous discussions that it was agreed that a report on straying animals would be submitted to the next meeting.

 

The Scrutiny Officer/Advisor confirmed that a request for a report had been received and undertook to discuss with the relevant Officer.

 

Another Member said it was his understanding that it had been agreed to meet with farmers twice yearly to discuss issues, and suggested that an update be sought from the farmers in terms of what measures they have in place, prior to a report being submitted.

 

In response the Team Manager Street Scene explained that it had been agreed to meet with local farmers individually to discuss issues, rather than as a collective, and this had commenced.  C2BG also had a list of farmers to contact when reports of straying animals were received.  In terms of the report due to be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee, he understood that this related to fly grazing, however, if a wider report to include straying animals was required then this could be considered.

 

A Member referred to the report that was submitted to the special Scrutiny Committee the previous week re The Review of Water Supply Quality in Schools, where it was proposed that the Action Plan detailed in the Appendix be applied to all Council buildings.  He asked whether this would be included in the Committee’s FWP.

 

In response the Chair confirmed that an Executive decision was awaited on the report.

 

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be noted.

 

7.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Forward Plan (2019-2022) 2019/20 annual report pdf icon PDF 555 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Community Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Community Services.

 

The Team Manager Natural Environment presented the report which provided an update on how the Council was meeting its statutory duties under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.  In order to comply with the Act a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Forward Plan (Appendix 1) was adopted by Council, and the report provided an overview of annual progress against the Plan. 

 

The Officer said the delivery mechanisms for the Plan was Service Area Action Plans; Environment Champions network and advice from the Natural Environment Team.  Progress in 2019/20 by Service Area against the delivery mechanisms and activity plan for 2020/21 was shown in Appendix 2. 

 

He confirmed that 4 quarterly Environment Champions meetings had been held, with ten champions in the network representing all Service Areas and Councillors.  Councillor Lee Parsons was the Council’s Member Champion.

 

In terms of the review of progress, the Forward Plan (2019-22) had not been changed, however, minor amendments have been made to accurately reflect the Service Area structure, recognising that Organisational Development sits within Commercial Services.

 

A Member asked whether the funding currently in place was sufficient to continue to progress the Plan.

 

The Officer said he was confident that working collaboratively with our neighbouring Authorities, that funding would continue to be secured.  He was pleased to report that funding had recently been secured through Resilient Gwent to bring in extra resources which enabled recruitment of a Behaviour Change Officer, jointly with Monmouthshire CC, to support the Team, and also a Local Nature Partnership Coordinator was appointed in February and making excellent progress.  A lot of work was being done to tackle problem areas and change the way we do things in order to enhance biodiversity.  He also reported that the Council’s Ecologist had moved on, however, another appointment had been made in-house and was progressing well. 

 

Another Member referred to the crisp pack recycling initiative and asked whether Officers could look at options to extend this as a way of reducing black bag waste.

 

The Team Leader Neighbourhood Services said there were a number of outlets within the Borough that took empty crisp packs, and undertook to consider options.

 

A Member also referred to an ‘eco bricks’ project undertaken at a local primary school and asked that consideration be given to extending this initiative further.

 

The Team Leader Natural Environment said this was an excellent example of recycling the materials we use every day and putting them to good use, and he would be keen to grow this initiative through the schools programme.

 

A Member referred to grassed areas within residential areas set aside for biodiversity, and said these areas should be identified more clearly.

 

In response the Officer reported that funding had been secured through Welsh Government’s Nature Partnership Funding, for the provision of IT and training that would help to map these areas.  He confirmed that grassland areas being used formally for recreational activities etc, would continue to be cut on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Flood Risk Management Plan (2016- 2022) pdf icon PDF 689 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Community Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Community Services.

 

The Senior Engineer Land Drainage presented the report which updated Members on progress of delivery of the Council’s Flood Management Plan 2016-2022, and summarised progress made on the objectives and measures since its adoption and approval by Welsh Government in 2016.  The Plan highlighted the hazards and risk of flooding and set out how the Authority would work with other parties and local communities to manage the risks. 

 

The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  He reported that due to the severe storms encountered at the end of the year and early 2020 the Council was unable to complete a scheme anticipated to cost £40,000, with a grant value of £34,000. However, Welsh Government has agreed that this money could be carried over to the 2020-2021 budget.

 

A Member referred to the repairs needed to be undertaken following Storm Dennis, in particular the repairs needed on the Ebbw Fach River embankment at Duffryn Park, and asked how many of the repairs had been completed.

 

In response the Team Manager Street Scene confirmed that Welsh Government funding had been secured to undertake repair works.  A schedule of works had been established, and the Officer confirmed that the Ebbw Fach River embankment was included.

 

The Chair said there had been repeated incidents of flooding recently, which was extremely stressful for residents, and said it would be beneficial for Members to have information on works being undertaken.

 

In response the Head of Community Services undertook to provide Members with a schedule of works.

 

A Member referred to the tree planting initiative at Parc Bryn Bach and asked whether any other sites in the Borough had been identified for tree planting.

 

The Team Manager Natural Environment said it was not easy to find large areas of land within the Borough suitable for tree planting.  Tree planting was included in our programme for improvement, and potential sites were always being explored, however, it was also important to maintain our existing stock.  The Officer confirmed that work was also being undertaken with the PSB exploring funding to commission a Green Infrastructure Strategy.

 

A Member referred to section 4.7 of the report, namely removal of rubbish from rivers, and said in his opinion NRW seemed to be pushing responsibility of cleaning rivers, unless in the case of an immediate threat of flooding, onto the Council or volunteers in the community.

 

In response the Senior Engineer explained that as the law stood, it was the responsibility of the landowner to maintain the stretch of river passing through their land, unless there was information to say otherwise.  NRW has responsibility for flood protection, and would place flood defences on the river to protect communities, but in terms of maintenance, i.e. cleaning/removal of rubbish, this was the responsibility of the landowner.

 

In response to a question raised by a Member in relation to section 4.5 of the report, the Officer explained that the scheme referred  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

New Council Depot Proposals

To consider the report of the Head of Community Services.

Minutes:

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 Head of Community Services.

 

The Team Leader Street Scene presented the report which provided an update on progress related to the development of a new Council Depot and proposed suitable candidate sites to be explored as part of the next stage, the development of an Outline Business Case (OBC).

 

The Officer then went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  He confirmed that work on a number of activities had taken place to confirm the requirements for a new depot, which included exploring any recent examples of other councils relocating and building a new depot, and investigating any likely collaboration opportunities.  He then referred Members to the options for recommendation, namely Section 3.3 which outlined the preferred option of the Officers Working Group.

 

A discussion ensued when the Officer clarified points raised by Members in relation to potential alternative sites; electric vehicles and the infrastructure required; and the financial viability of the proposal.

 

In response to a question raised by a Member regarding the existing Central Depot, the Officer confirmed that a new site would provide an opportunity for expansion to provide for any future collaborative working arrangements.  He confirmed that all Members’ comments would be considered by the Officer Working Group.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report which contained information relation to the financial/business affairs of persons other than the Authority be accepted and:-

 

     i.        One of the four sites identified in section 3.2 of the report be approved to move forward to a business planning stage.

    ii.        WRAP be commissioned to undertake the business planning stage for the chosen site; and

  iii.        A further report be presented for consideration on the outcomes of the business plan.