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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Crime and Disorder Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 December, 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel held on 16 December, 2024 be noted.
RESOLVED: That the forward work programme for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme be approved.
RESOLVED: That Councillor Hannah Fleet be appointed as the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee representative on the Infrastructure Programme Board.
RESOLVED:- That the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that the Council was monitoring performance against carbon reduction targets and the net zero plan by delivering the Climate Challenge Programme.
RESOLVED: That the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee refer the External Regulatory - Food Standards Agency report and action plan to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content has been acknowledged and that proactive steps have been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Keith Eeles and Chris Hughes.
None.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Crime and Disorder Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 December, 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of the Crime and Disorder Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 December, 2024 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Crime and Disorder Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 18 December, 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel held on 16 December, 2024 be noted.
The minutes of the meeting of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel held on 16 December, 2024 were presented for information. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel held on 16 December, 2024 be noted.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the forward work programme for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme be approved.
The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer presented the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme (FWP), together with the combined FWP. Members were advised that the biannual report on the flood risk reduction schemes in Conwy would be presented to the next meeting on 26 February 2025, together with an update on housing and homeless. This would also provide an opportunity for Members to feed into the development of the Housing Strategy, which was scheduled to be presented to the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee later in the year. In addition, a request for an update on the rugby pitch at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay was requested. In order to consider the request, the Member was advised to complete a Scrutiny Topic Selection Form. RESOLVED: That the forward work programme for the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That Councillor Hannah Fleet be appointed as the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee representative on the Infrastructure Programme Board.
A vacancy had arisen on the Infrastructure Programme Board for a representative from the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee. RESOLVED: That Councillor Hannah Fleet be appointed as the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee representative on the Infrastructure Programme Board.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED:- That the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that the Council was monitoring performance against carbon reduction targets and the net zero plan by delivering the Climate Challenge Programme.
The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and the Environment introduced the Net Zero Performance Report and the Business Improvement Manager provided the detail. In scrutinising the report, Members made reference to the following: · Conwy’s contribution towards carbon reduction and goal of net zero by 2030 was acknowledged. • The importance of publicising the good news stories / achievements was highlighted. • The need for more electric vehicle (EV) charge points. Members were informed that work was progressing on an EV Strategy, which would include EV charge points for public buildings and car parks. • Land use – emissions sequestration from land, particularly, carbon from cemeteries. The Business Improvement Manager welcomed the observation in respect of carbon from cemeteries and advised that she would feedback such comments to the Climate Challenge Programme Board. • Fleet reduction in emissions and data/comparisons between electric and diesel/petrol vehicles. The Head of Environment, Roads and Facilities confirmed that there was a reduced cost on a whole life basis for electric vehicles and he would share comparison data with Members for information. • Supply Chain emissions and the methodology/reporting of data. It was acknowledged that, whilst all Local Authorities were required to report supply chain emission data to Welsh Government (WG), it was not a requirement for Local Authorities to publish such data locally, but Conwy chose to do so in order to remain transparent. A Member of the Committee queried the benefit of reporting such data internally and believed the methodology put undue pressure on Conwy. In response, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that procurement was an issue that needed addressing both locally and nationally, and confirmed this had been raised with both WG and WLGA. However, Conwy needed to remain ambitious, but the reporting of such data both ways was an option going forward. • Carbon emissions from school buildings and the need to consider energy efficiency improvements. Members were assured that schools formed part of a Net Zero Emissions Estate Project in which, a whole building review and approach would be taken. • The need to encourage habitat and wildlife initiatives and engage further with community/friends groups and schools in order to assist with such initiatives and funding opportunities. RESOLVED:- That the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that the Council was monitoring performance against carbon reduction targets and the net zero plan by delivering the Climate Challenge Programme.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee refer the External Regulatory - Food Standards Agency report and action plan to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content has been acknowledged and that proactive steps have been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and the Environment introduced the External Regulatory Report - Food Standards Agency Audit and the Principal Environmental Health Officer provided the detail. Members were reminded that any action plan resulting from a regulatory report was submitted to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee for scrutiny of mitigating activities followed by the Governance and Audit Committee for future monitoring of the implementation of the action plan. In scrutinising the report and the actions put in place to respond to the external regulatory report, Members discussed the following: • The limited assurance and identified actions. • Assurance was sought that the delivery of the 5 remaining recommendations from the previous audit in 2017-2018 would be achieved. Members were assured that the remaining 5 recommendations, where some progress had already taken place, were monitored and formed part of the updated action plan (appendix 2 of the report). • Members acknowledged that limited staff resources had impacted on the recovery of the inspection programme, to include the backlog of interventions caused by Covid. The Head of Regulatory Services advised that some resources from an existing vacancy within the Service had been re-purposed and recruitment for an additional Environmental Health Officer (EHO) was underway, together with the submission of a business case for a further EHO to assist with a new legislation surrounding special procedures. • Clarification was also sought in terms of the risks/ responsibilities for both the Local Authority and premises in respect of complying with legislation. RESOLVED: That the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee refer the External Regulatory - Food Standards Agency report and action plan to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content has been acknowledged and that proactive steps have been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
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