Agenda item

Consideration was given to the proposed Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme for 2021-22.

A Member suggested that the Aneurin Bevan Report be put back to coincide with submission of the Tredegar Town Centre Report/THI Report.  He also suggested that a visit to 10 The Circle be arranged when the Covid restrictions are lifted.

Another Member said a report on the Borough’s commercial units should be brought forward, in light of recent issues regarding the new lease arrangements.

A brief discussion ensued when the Corporate Director pointed out that details of arrangements between the Council and individual companies would not be included in the Annual Industrial Property Performance report.  The report provided an overall position in terms of reviewing leases and the number of people who had converted to the new lease arrangements as part of the Bridging the Gap programme agreed by Council.  However, a specific report on lease arrangements and what had been agreed by Council could be drafted.

A Member referred to the recent presentation to Members on the Community Renewal Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund, and requested that bids for Levelling Up Funding be reported to Scrutiny prior to submission to Central Government.

The Corporate Director reported that a decision on the bids submitted for Community Renewal Funding would hopefully be received later in July, and a report on the approved bids would be submitted to the September meeting of the Committee.

In relation to bids for Levelling Up Funding, these would be subject to separate reports to Scrutiny seeking agreement on the type of projects to be submitted.

In response to a further question, the Corporate Director explained that the deadline for submission of bids for Community Renewal Funding was the end of July, but he could not provide a specific date. 

In relation to Levelling Up Funding he could not provide a deadline for the next round of bids, however, the end date for the Fund was 2023/24.  He also stressed the importance of only submitting bids that were ready to go as it was a very competitive process.

The Corporate Director said he was unable to provide any details of the Shared Prosperity Fund, but the Community Renewal Fund was a potential precursor to that Fund.  However, a successful bid for CRF did not mean automatic access to Shared Prosperity Funding.  He assured that Members would be informed when further information on the Shared Prosperity Funding was received.

A Member requested a report on the number of jobs that had been created/lost and the impact of the Covid pandemic on unemployment levels in Blaenau Gwent.

In response the Service Manager Business & Regeneration said this information linked with the Covid 19 Recovery report further on the agenda in terms of building mechanisms to monitor how the work of the Council was supporting the community in job creation and safeguarding of jobs.

The Member said an annual report on job figures would be helpful, and the Officer said this information could be highlighted within the regular performance reporting mechanism.

Another Member referred to the date for submission of the Blaenau Gwent Replacement LDP report, and asked whether this was feasible given to the delay in the process.

The Corporate Director said this was the timeline currently being worked to, however, due to current pressures within the Planning Service this may change.  The Council had a delivery agreement with Welsh Government and Officers were working hard to meet that deadline.

In relation to previous comments around employment figures, he said the Performance Report could be used to draw out specific information, and the Covid 19 Recovery report on the agenda would be lifting some key headline data around unemployment rates and benefit claimant rates which could be used to analyse our recovery.

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the Forward Work Programme for 2021-22 be approved (Option 2).