Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
Resolved: to exercise the powers set out in Section 35 of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being the designated Overview and Scrutiny Committee for this purpose as approved by Council May 2015.
The Chair welcomed eveyone to the meeting.
Cllr S Reynolds Item 4(a) – Personal, Prejudicial – Chair of Canolfan Maerdy (will leave the meeting when the item is discussed) Cllr S Thomas Item 4(a) – Personal, Prejudicial – Board member of Canolfan Maerdy (will leave the meeting when the item is discussed)
The minutes of the meeting held 23 October 2025 were approved as a true and accurate record.
Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.
Members considered the report as circulated within the supplement pack. Members were pleased to see engagement with organisations who are not in receipt of funding. The focus around three year funding was also welcomed. Members commented that often grant funders are criticised for leaving organisations in a position of uncertainty. If this can be limited through increasing funding periods, this would be welcome. Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. There were no questions on this item. Members noted the report.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. There were no questions on this item. Members noted the report.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members asked for the level of reserves to be put into context for members. Officers advised that the pandemic significantly influenced balances. On 31st March 2020, the reserves balance was £59 million. This increased to £79 million and £104 million during the subsequent two years. They have now decreased to £61 million and have now stabilised. Members raised the delegated schools budget. It was noted that the projected deficit is going to be around £8.3million at the year end. With reference to home to school transport, members noted that there had been difficulties securing contracts within the prices requested. Members queried how much of this is due to the historic issues in terms of contracts for home to school transport? From a financial perspective, the profile of savings that was intended to be delivered through the external contract this financial year was £350,000. However, the work has not taken place, therefore there will be an overspend of £350,000. There have also been some routes retained in the summer which have increased in price by £150,000, therefore this also contributes to the overspend. Members commented that they consider it essential that the relevant committees looks into home to school transport in further detail. Members noted the overspend in the car parking budget. Members queried the rationale and issues around this. Further, if it relates to the parking down the beach which was increased and then subsequently removed. Officer confirmed that an element of the overspend would relate to the seafront, as there would have been an assumption of income from that included in the budget. However, historically there has been an overspend in car parking over a number of years. This has been largely due to insufficient numbers of people using pay and display car parks. Officers confirmed that next financial year this budget would right sized. In relation to the Council Tax reduction scheme, members were perplexed as to how there is an underspend on this item. It was confirmed that when the budget was set for this year it was assumed that there would be an increase in uptake on the scheme in light of recent events in Port Talbot. However, there has not been the expected uptake. Provision was made for 15,700 people to receive support, however there are currently only 15,291 people receiving support. Members referred to the overspend on agency workers in the refuse budget and queried the rationale behind the overspend. Officers confirmed that that the budget relates to not just waste services but the whole of neighbourhood services. There has been significant issues with sickness within the service recently. The services that it covers have to be covered and still need to be undertaken regardless of insufficient staff. Due to the significant amount of sickness, there has been a larger reliance on pool and agency staff to cover the services. Officers noted that there was a particular problem in April, which was linked to the rationalisation that was being undertaken. There is a HR officer that is paid for out of the directorate’s budget to try and support the officers in terms of managing the sickness and trying to drive down the costs. Members noted that on the RAG analysis, the majority of items which are marked in amber do not have explanations next to them. Officers confirmed that an amber category means that work is ongoing to deliver those savings, but the Heads of Services can’t categorically say at this point in time if they’ll be delivered at that value by the end of the financial year. However, officers noted the concerns raised and agreed for the next quarterly reports there will be an explanation of what is being done to support items in progress. Following scrutiny, members noted the report. .
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members referred to the Neighbourhood Improvement Programme and the comment advising that proposals are being developed. Members queried what the process is for developing the proposal and how wide the scheme is. Officers confirmed that the scheme is not limited to the Environment Directorate, however it is not a scheme that is intended to be a replacement for the members fund. It was noted that half a million has already been allocated to the refurbishment of several play parks and procurement is ongoing with this. Officers outlined that schemes put forward may include the felling of tress affected by ash dieback which are adjacent to the highway network and pose a danger to the public. Fencing work to rights of way, bus stations, bus shelters and works along the sea front to ensure that there are hostile mitigation measures in place. Further, hostile mitigation measures in place to ensure event can take place without having to spot treat every event at expense to the Council. In turn these things should reduce revenue costs. It was noted these projects are only examples and not all of the projects that are currently being considered. Potential projects are due to be considered informally by Cabinet shortly. A member asked that consideration be given to painting the two sculptures on the seafront as one of the projects. With regard to Milland Road footbridge, member sought clarity on the progress of this item. Officers confirmed that discussions are ongoing, as the authority is trying to maximise the use of local authority land with that of other partner organisations. There is a very complicated land ownership and lease issues in this particular area and this all needs to be rationalised. Work is ongoing and will not be delayed by any master planning that is being undertaken in Neath Town Centre. Members referred to the Burrows Yard site and the £70,000 capital costs in relation to this. Officers advised that the costs relate to a decision that was taken in private, and a copy of the report can be circulated to the committee following the meeting. Following scrutiny, members noted the report.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members referred to Appendix 1, where the terms ‘eager’ and ‘open’ are used in relation to the risk appetite. Members sought the definition of the term ‘open’ in relation to the risk appetite. Officers confirmed that ‘open’ is defined as the willingness to consider all options and choose one most likely to result in successful delivery whilst providing an acceptable level of benefit. Seeking to achieve a balance between a high likelihood of successful delivery and a high degree of benefit and value for money activities, that may potentially carry or contribute to a high degree of residual risk. Members sought clarification on SO1, where it was noted that schools has been added into it in terms of school assets, and the commentary indicated that there’s actions added in, however the report indicates that it’s to be updated. Officers advised that they will circulate updates on the item following the meeting. In relation to SR11, there is a note in relation to business continuity disaster recovery arrangements to be completed by 5th December. Members queried if this work was on track and asked for an update from the Director to be circulated to the committee. Members referred to climate change impacts. The reports outlines the strategic overview and development of plans etc. However in terms of mitigating the risk of climate change in terms of flooding and infrastructure, are there actions and mitigation plans in relation to the operational delivery of services. For example, the need to grit etc. will change, are these changes factored into the risk management arrangements, the requirement to change operationally over time. Officers confirmed that there are operational plans in relation to winter preparedness and a report went to Visible Services Scrutiny Committee recently, providing details on this. Dynamic risk assessments are undertaken in relation to risks that arise and staff work is prioritised accordingly. The approach is adapted accordingly, albeit there are operational and maintenance plans in place. Members were keen to see these measures reflected in the register, as there was concern that the risk register did not capture all of the operational matters. Officers confirmed that there are also operational risk registers in place. This ensures that the day to day risks are identified and each service area has their own smaller risk register. Members queried what training is provided to staff at the forefront of any incident involving water. Officers confirmed that no member of staff is put at risk. Feedback has been obtained from particular storm events and lessons learned. Staff are in place to try and prevent incidents from happening and also to react when it is safe to do so. Staff are not instructed to expose themselves to hazards. Following scrutiny, members noted the report.
There were no items to consider from the scrutiny committee Forward Work Programme.
Members considered the performance monitoring items.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members acknowledged the comments within the report outlining the national picture and view of local government and councils and the negative narrative in relation to this. Members queried what is the internal follow up going to be? The report discusses actions to be developed, to help the council to respond to the feedback, identify areas and how the report is going to be used and make the data available as secondary data to service areas. Members queried what will this look like and how the data will be disseminated in practice? Officers confirmed that they will not be requiring a formal feedback from services about what action they are going to take. The survey reports and table will be shared with other officers and members. They will also be available on NPT Connect so that all services can access the results as sources of secondary data. Officers were keen to note the importance of using the data alongside existing data when looking at service developments. The results of the survey are part of a broader holistic approach to performance management and engagement that the authority is currently undertaking. Officers are also currently working on a public facing summary of results document, as the importance of letting respondents and communities know what the survey has captured is important and emphasises the value of the feedback from the communities. Members sought clarification on the demographic of those who responded to the survey. Officers confirmed that they could not distinguish between staff and residents, but recognised that 70% of staff are residents within Neath Port Talbot. In terms of other data collected from respondents, this includes religion, nationality age, gender and sexual orientation. In addition to digitally accessing the survey, posters were put out advertising the survey and the option for residents to receive a paper copy should they request one. Officers confirmed that there were 60 paper responses received in total. The timing of the survey will also be standardised in the future across Wales, and this should help assist in reaching groups that meet certain times of the year. Officers were asked if there were any mechanisms that could be considered to improve response rates from valley communities? Officers recognised that the timing of the survey is significant and it is important to identify events across the county that are taking place and organised within the communities. Following scrutiny, members noted the report.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. There were no questions on this item. The report was noted.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. There were no questions on this item. The report was noted.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
Resolved: to exercise the powers set out in Section 35 of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being the designated Overview and Scrutiny Committee for this purpose as approved by Council May 2015.
Resolved: to exercise the powers set out in Section 35 of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 being the designated Overview and Scrutiny Committee for this purpose as approved by Council May 2015.
Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack. Members queried if funding was successfully obtained for the Culture Strategy Manager post. Officers present were unsure of the outcome and advised they would circulate the information following the meeting. The report was noted.
Members considered the Forward Work Programme. Indications to scrutinise the following reports were confirmed: • The Innovation and Continuous Improvement Programme • Compliments and Complaints Policy • Medium Term Financial Plan The Forward Work Programme was noted.
There were no urgent items.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.