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.
1.1 Chair welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting. 1.2 Apologies were received from Councillor Rose Seabourne.
2.1 The Chair declared an interest on item 6 as he was a trustee of TVA who were mentioned in the report.
3.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2024 were confirmed as an accurate record.
4.1 All actions had been completed and Members agreed to note the action sheet.
5.1 The HoFS gave a detailed overview of the report, the L&EMSL then praised the budget and the report. 5.2 Members questioned and officers responses were as follows: • SDA&C – Regarding the restructuring of our service areas, it was said that this had not been expected to affect our ability to deliver against the County Plan objectives, although no final decisions had been taken around the restructure following the completion of the staff consultation. HoFS – The Fire Service levy had been incorporated into the budget although it was reiterated that this was an estimate until the final figure was known. • HoFS – The settlement from Welsh Government had been higher than expected and this created the surplus position that allowed for the additional investment outlined in paragraph 6.6 of the report. With the National Insurance increases these were covered within the budget based off assumptions, these assumptions were listed in 7.2 of the published report. • SDA&C – Demographic data had shown that there had been an increase in demand within Adult Services but the budget for this area and recent system developments covered that demand; however it would continue to be monitored. L&EMSL – It had been important that we had the right balance of supporting the area but also pushing back at the demand and ensure that investment in Early Intervention and Prevention was made to do this. • SDA&C – Recent changes to the Adults & Communities services had been to ensure we could support preventative services long-term and not be reliant on grants to maintain funding for core services. • HoFS – The 5% increase in the Real Living Wage for Social Care providers equated to an estimated cost of £1.6 million. • HoFS – The pressures that the report discussed in regards the Waste Service were around inflation increases within contracts for disposal as well as inflation increases with the contract for our vehicle leases. 5.3 The Chair thanked the Officers for their participation, and the LFO – SC&H, LFO – A&C, LFO – N&P, GFO and HoFS then left the meeting. All other Officers remained. 5.4 Recommendations On completion of their scrutiny activity, the Committee concluded by offering the following recommendations and comments for consideration: - Overall, the Cross-Cutting Resources & Business O&S Committee were satisfied with the budget position, including the proposed measures to achieve an overall balanced position. Additional Comments & Observations from the Committee: The Cross-Cutting Resources & Business O&S Committee commended the report and the wider finance team for the significant work undertaken in preparing a detailed financial plan 2025/26. Members noted the effective summation of key considerations and provision of additional detail in appendices.
6.1 The EM introduced the report and the B&DSSM then gave a detailed overview of the report and appendices to Members. 6.2 Members questioned and officers responses were as follows: • B&DSSM – Members were updated on the status of the County Plan objectives during the annual performance cycle and for scrutiny members they were updated during the visioning session for the upcoming scrutiny cycles where key activities of the plan were included in this process. • DoE – Work had been done to ensure that there was one overarching plan for Education, that would rationalise the current strategies in place, which would launch in September 2025. • HoCS – Regarding Wellbeing Objective 2 and training all staff within Children’s Services on collaborative communication, it was said that the training target of 100% by March 2026 was achievable and that plans had been made to now look at developing our Mentoring programme and provide them with the training as well to ensure that this was embedded in our day-to-day practise. • SDA&C – The Community Wellbeing Strategy included as a priority the need to engage with community leaders to assist in promoting our Early Intervention programmes. DoE – With our Additional Learning Needs (ALN) support we hold regular forums with internal officers as well as the EAS where best practise is shared and discussions are had around promotion of our ALN support. • DoE – The pupil attendance target of 95% was an ambitious target, although the figures had improved. To improve this we had put particular focus on those with low attendance who had vulnerabilities and although we had closed the gap to the target of 95%, there was still more work to be done to achieve this. • ISDE&E – Welsh Government had published revised standards around the 20mph project and we had undertaken speed surveys to test suitability across the Borough to implement this. • ISDE&E – Regarding cycle routes it was said that we had looked at building more routes and these were being reviewed for safety and accessibility, it was also important to ensure that they were fit for purpose and value for money. This would be vital to ensure that active travel options other than just motor vehicle use was encouraged and it was said that this was a work in progress. • ISDE&E – With regards fly-tipping it was said that it was a challenge for officers to gather evidence to secure prosecutions and we also wanted to be more proactive as well through surveillance of hotspot areas. • ISDE&E – Plans to procure a camera-car to deal with parking issues were underway and the belief was that this would be completed by March 2025, however as it would only be able to enforce particular traffic orders, particularly around parking near schools or hospitals, work had been done to amend more traffic orders that could then be enforced by the camera-car. • ISDE&E – We had reviewed our recycling points, and we had looked to make sure they were better managed as they were a great cost to the authority, this was still a work in progress though. 6.3 The Chair thanked the Officers and the EMCG&R for their participation, and they then left the meeting. The TLS, SO, AD&MSTL and TD&MSO remained for the recommendations. 6.4 Recommendations On completion of their scrutiny activity, the Committee concluded by offering the following recommendations and comments for consideration: - Recommendation 1:- Members acknowledged that the following items were referenced in overarching actions within the County Plan Delivery Plan; however they recommended that they were referred to the appropriate Overview & Scrutiny committees for specific consideration: · Increase the use of Active Travel throughout Torfaen, including monitoring, in order to measure impact; · Actively promote information for parents and carers regarding Early Years provision for emerging needs and Additional Learning Needs (ALN); and · Continue, and where possible, improve provision around heritage sites and ‘Destination Torfaen’, including more community tourism workshops and a publicised calendar of events throughout Torfaen (both Council and non-Council organised events). Additional Comments & Observations from the Committee: The Cross-Cutting Resources & Business O&S Committee commended officers for the development of the Delivery Plan 2025-26. There was a general point that officers consider how they might report on activity at mid-year review for those actions that simply had an end of year target date. Members welcomed the use of the County Plan to inform the Scrutiny programme for the year ahead and added that members and officers should take the opportunity to highlight those issues that are appropriate for Scrutiny, at the visioning sessions to initiate the forward scrutiny programme.
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.