Wrthi'n llwytho
Does dim crynodeb o'r cyfarfod hwn eto. Caiff crynodebau eu hysgrifennu pan fydd y cyngor yn cyhoeddi'r cofnodion, sef ei gofnod swyddogol o'r hyn a benderfynodd cyfarfod. Maen nhw fel arfer yn ymddangos ychydig wythnosau ar ôl y cyfarfod.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
There were none.
The minutes of the meeting held on 27/06/2025 was approved as accurate.
There were no items selected from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.
There were no items selected from the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme.
Members considered item 6a Performance Monitoring item
Nicola Pearce introduced the report advising that each Head of Service’s business plan outlines the priorities and actions aligned with the corporate plan. It was noted that there are ongoing staffing limitations within Streetcare due to a reduced number of accountable managers and sickness. Members asked when will the full three-year management service report be presented to the Scrutiny Committee. Regarding measure SC22, they asked if the continued coordination with Tai Tarian include aligning grass-cutting schedules with the Council? Members requested a progress update. On measure SC26, members asked officers how many community or town councils currently cut grass on Council-owned land? Members noted that some councils are hiring grass cutters and asked if officers are aware of which ones. Officers advised that the tree survey is still ongoing. Due to the scale of the work and the risks posed by ash dieback particularly trees near roads, external contractors were procured, as there isn’t sufficient in-house capacity to complete the survey. Once the survey is complete, officers expect to manage the follow-up work internally. Completion is anticipated within the next few months. There is an issue in terms of the Arboricultural service as Leigh Branagh who was responsible for that service has sadly passed away and officers are have been through a recruitment exercise to fill that vacancy with the new officer coming into that post at the end of September, beginning of October. Once the appointed contractor is in place and settled, officers will provide an update on the programme of works to address the scale of the ash dieback issue. Priority areas will be identified for intervention to ensure public safety. The update will be shared once the programme is ready. Members were advised of a public perception that Tai Tarian cuts grass more frequently and to a higher standard than the Council. However, officers confirmed that Tai Tarian cuts less often, and the Council has been cutting more frequently. Efforts to align cutting schedules have been challenging, but the relationship with Tai Tarian is improving. Full alignment has not yet been achieved, and officers continue to work on it. Members also reported frequent calls from residents about grass cutting. They often redirect these queries to Tai Tarian, but residents face difficulties getting action from Tai Tarian. Officers advised that Tai Tarian did not begin cutting on time for the cutting season and this had a knock-on effect, which contributed to ongoing coordination challenges. These issues have persisted over several years. Members were advised that Tai Tarian took an ambitious decision to extended its ‘No Mow May’ initiative into August which Tai Tarian acknowledged was unsuccessful as it led to difficulties and took longer to cut sites. Since then, working relationships have improved through regular meetings between Tai Tarian management and Council officers with coordination progressing. Officers advised that in an ideal scenario, the Council and Tai Tarian would align cutting regime, but Tai Tarian currently lacks the resources to match the Council’s schedule. Officers advised that while Tai Tarian cannot match the Council’s cutting frequency, they are aligning with the Council’s approach to biodiversity areas, selecting specific sites to grow naturally, with cuts early and late in the season. Members were informed of ongoing discussions around visibility at junctions, including whether to cut a metre-wide swathe or leave central areas to grow. These details were addressed in previous years and are assumed to remain unchanged, though conversations are still ongoing. Officers encouraged members to raise any concerns with Tai Tarian directly and to keep the Council’s neighbourhood team informed. Members highlighted measure SCS26 on the report in relation to the progress with the working group volunteers asking if the community councils and town councils are cutting the grass on parts of NPT land as a favour. Officers didn’t have that information available but would come back to members when they have it. Members requested an update on the Advanced Waste Strategy Action Plan, specifically regarding efforts to minimise landfill through increased recycling and composting. They also asked for a future update on the ‘Safari’ black bag collection rounds. Officers confirmed the Waste Strategy was agreed in April 2023, with most of the 18 actions now completed. The Council has exceeded its 70% recycling target, achieving 71.4%, thanks to strong efforts from both the Council and residents. Regarding the ‘Safari’ black bag collection rounds, officers acknowledged public concerns about the lack of bins in some outlying properties. Samples and research are being gathered, and a paper will be brought back to the committee with proposed solutions, subject to member agreement. In relation to neighbourhood services measure SEM 30, members asked how many prosecutions the Council has carried out, including specific figures for dog-related offences on Aberavon Beach between March and September under the bylaw. Officers did not have dog fouling figures at hand but confirmed they can provide them. They highlighted that the enforcement team is one of the leading in Wales, with other local authorities seeking advice on NPT’s successful prosecution approach. This success is attributed to strong collaboration between the enforcement and legal teams; the data is available and will be picked up as part of the Q1 performance monitoring and which is coming to the committee shortly. In relation to SCPM 15 ‘total area of designated by biodiversity bee friendly areas increase’. Members asked how many more bee friendly areas are going to be put in before the wards start looking untidy? Officers explained that maintaining biodiversity is a careful balance. Under the Biodiversity Duty Plan, they must protect and enhance natural areas, even if they may appear untidy at times. Wildflower zones, for example, can look unkempt in some seasons but beautiful in others. Officers are mindful of safety regarding high-priority junctions and manage certain areas differently. They gave the example of cutting back vegetation near curbs to maintain visibility while leaving the rest as bee-friendly habitat. Members were advised that it can be subjective as some people perceive it as beautiful, others may view as untidy. Ultimately the legal duty to support biodiversity remains a key priority. Members asked whether ward councillors are consulted before biodiversity areas are designated. Officers confirmed that there is a monthly process in place: the Countryside and Wildlife Team meets with the Neighbourhood Supervisor Team to review existing sites and consider new opportunities. Any changes to the cutting schedule are discussed with the relevant ward members. If ward members disagree, that is taken on board. Officers also encourage councillors to raise concerns about specific sites, which can then be reviewed at these monthly meetings. The Chair noted it was encouraging to see Neath Port Talbot officers featured on television, showcasing the efficiency of the fly-tipping service, particularly the vehicle crushing operation. Members noted that while officers currently cut back a metre from pathways, rapid vegetation growth due to weather conditions means crews are often called back within two weeks. They suggested that supervisors and staff consider a ward-level plan to cut back further in certain areas, which could be more cost-effective and reduce the need for repeated visits. In relation to streetlighting members gave an example of a cul-de-sac that has 5 lampposts and asked if any work has been done on whether every other lamppost could be turned off or if a survey of how many lights are required in each street. The Chair observed that collar cuts are often ineffective on verges with heavy bramble growth, as brambles can quickly overhang the cut within days, posing a hazard to walkers. Members are increasingly concerned about this issue. The Chair asked whether officers assess verge composition, specifically whether areas are grass or bramble, before deciding on the cutting approach. Officers noted that due to exceptional weather conditions, vegetation growth has been unusually high this year. While cutting schedules are in place for all wards, they are managed within the limits of available resources. Officers explained that currently, much of the Neighbourhood Team’s data is not digitally enabled. A proposal has been submitted to the Senior Leadership Team for an “invest to save” project aimed at fully digitising these records to improve efficiency and planning. Officers are exploring ways to improve efficiency by tracking vehicle locations, job durations, and comparing performance across wards. Currently, the service lacks sufficient digital capability, but a proposal is being developed for the Senior Leadership Team to secure funding for digital equipment. If approved, this would allow better monitoring of tasks such as grass cutting, litter picking, bin emptying, and vegetation management. Identifying anomalies would help reduce costs, improve staff and equipment use, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for communities. Officers confirmed that all street lighting columns are digitally managed and can be operated remotely, including dimming and scheduling. Following recent scrutiny discussions on part-night lighting, a report will be brought to Cabinet for feedback and next steps. Efforts are ongoing to reduce electricity use across council operations, buildings, street lighting, and vehicles to lower both carbon emissions and costs. In relation to lighting discrepancies between areas, officers invited details of the specific location so the Lighting Manager can investigate and provide clarification. Members raised concerns about the patchwork appearance of grassed areas caused by the separation of Tai Tarian and Council-owned land. They asked whether greater coordination could be explored, including the possibility of swapping cutting responsibilities, to improve the overall visual appeal of these spaces. Officers confirmed that coordination with Tai Tarian on that idea was considered 2–3 years ago and improvements were seen when Tai Tarian adopted similar practices to the Council, and further collaboration has continued since. Officers decided not to pursue land-swapping arrangements at the time as a priority as legal advice highlighted potential reliability concerns and issues like the risk if Tai Tarian didn’t fulfil their part of cutting the areas. While not ruled out entirely, it was felt that greater benefits could be achieved through other measures at the time. Officers said the can ask the team to revisit the idea, especially in high-density areas where the visual impact is more noticeable and will also consider vegetation type and cutting scale as part of ongoing discussions. Members highlighted Fairfield as a densely populated area where Tai Tarian maintains the green space outside flats, used by children for play. They raised concerns that the grass was taller than the children and difficult to get cut, stressing the importance of maintaining such areas, especially where access to school or rugby fields is limited. Officers highlighted that the monthly meetings with Tai Tarian include discussions on land use, whether areas should support biodiversity or be maintained for community use, such as children's play. Suitability is assessed based on location, proximity to housing, and potential benefits. Following Scrutiny the report was noted.
In relation to the upcoming Japanese Knotweed report, members noted that Himalayan honeysuckle is often misidentified by the public as a non-invasive plant, with some actively planting clippings. Members asked to have information on other invasive species included in the Japanese Knotweed report and where they may be located in the county borough. Officers advised that the Biodiversity Team prepare an information sheet and share guidance via social media to raise awareness and prevent further spread. Members asked that a report on Safari Collection rounds be added to the Forward Work Programme. The Forward work programme was noted.
There were none
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