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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider and review the contents of the Draft Regional Transport Plan; 2.2 Consider the contents of the consultation questions to provide comments and feedback to inform the Council’s response. 2.3 Authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to summarise the feedback and submit a response to the Cardiff Capital Region CJC on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider the contents of the draft Annual Report attached at Appendix 1 and asses whether it offers a fair and accurate reflection of the Scrutiny work carried out in 2024-25 2.2 Subject to agreement, approve the Annual report for submission to Council 2.3 Delegate authority to the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to liaise with the respective Scrutiny Chairs to ensure they are satisfied the report accurately summarises their work for the municipal year.
In accordance with the code of conduct the following declarations were made pertaining to the agenda County Borough Councillor Sera Evans – Personal Interest in item 2 “my employer is named in the report and consultation documentation”
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider and review the contents of the Draft Regional Transport Plan; 2.2 Consider the contents of the consultation questions to provide comments and feedback to inform the Council’s response. 2.3 Authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to summarise the feedback and submit a response to the Cardiff Capital Region CJC on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the consultation to Members and invited their feedback and comments to submit as formal feedback into the consultation which will be submitted on behalf of the Council. Members expressed support for the RTP’s focus on sustainability, accessibility, and regional connectivity. There was general agreement that the plan aligns well with long-term regional goals. Members noted the absence of clear delivery mechanisms, timelines, and funding information. They stressed that without such clarity, it would be difficult to assess the viability of the proposed initiatives. The Committee emphasised the need for inclusive and ongoing engagement with the public and stakeholders, particularly marginalised communities and those in rural areas who may face greater transport challenges. A Member emphasised the unsustainable nature of residential parking issues and advocated for greater use and affordability of bus transport. The Member highlighted the success of the council’s £1 transport scheme during school holidays. While endorsing the regional approach, members highlighted the importance of reflecting local needs and ensuring flexibility in implementation to accommodate specific community priorities. There was strong support for efforts to reduce car dependency. However, members questioned the feasibility of achieving the shift without clear incentives and behaviour change strategies. Members recommended that the RTP include clear performance indicators and a robust monitoring framework to assess progress across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. A Member proposed potential collaboration with Cardiff for expanding this scheme to inter-city journeys. Another Member advocated for improved cross-valley transport links and greater ticketing integration to support this. The Director Highways, Streetcare and Transportation reaffirmed support for modal shift to public transport. He highlighted investment in subsidised routes, park and ride schemes, and the forthcoming Bus Services Wales Bill. He emphasised alignment with Welsh Government strategies and acknowledged infrastructure and financial challenges. A Member welcomed a focus on reducing reliance on cars, particularly in deprived areas. He also praised the potential of the Llanharan Sustainable Transport Corridor and stated that the RTP is a "win-win" for the environment and public health. A Member emphasised the need for improved communication around the electrification projects. He also highlighted affordability concerns, citing a £299 train fare as prohibitive to the residents using public transport when it is more affordable to use private vehicles, he called for enhanced affordability, convenience, and integration. Another Member called for action to challenge the pricing model and ensure social equity in access. The Director Highways, Streetcare and Transportation acknowledged affordability and commercial viability as ongoing barriers. He highlighted current efforts to sustain routes and secure regional funding and recognised the need for greater service integration and passenger uptake. A Member praised regional initiatives such as the A465 Cynongate North and the South Wales Metro for improving connectivity and stimulating regeneration. A Member stated the importance of evening timetables for safety and social inclusion and noted that there is widespread public demand for night-time service provision, particularly in valley communities where there are limitations of hourly trains and inflexible weekend travel options. The member advocated for seven-day service consistency. The Director Highways, Streetcare and Transportation acknowledged the challenges owing to the commercial challenge of evening and Sunday services but stated that there are ongoing efforts to work with operators and Welsh Government on service improvements. The Director Highways, Streetcare and Transportation advised that the local authority is lobbying Stagecoach and monitoring the situation and recognised the broader financial pressures on operators. Following conclusion of discussions it was RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider and review the contents of the Draft Regional Transport Plan; 2.2 Consider the contents of the consultation questions to provide comments and feedback to inform the Council’s response. 2.3 Authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to summarise the feedback and submit a response to the Cardiff Capital Region CJC on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider the contents of the draft Annual Report attached at Appendix 1 and asses whether it offers a fair and accurate reflection of the Scrutiny work carried out in 2024-25 2.2 Subject to agreement, approve the Annual report for submission to Council 2.3 Delegate authority to the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to liaise with the respective Scrutiny Chairs to ensure they are satisfied the report accurately summarises their work for the municipal year.
The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the draft Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report for the Municipal Year 2024-25 in accordance with the requirement of the Council's Constitution. The Chair thanked the officers for the comprehensive report and extended her thanks to all Members of Scrutiny for their hard work and dedication over the last municipal year. The Chair of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee also paid thanks to all the staff for their support throughout the year and raised one typographical error which officers agreed to correct before the report is presented to the Council’s AGM. Following discussion it was RESOLVED to: 2.1 Consider the contents of the draft Annual Report attached at Appendix 1 and asses whether it offers a fair and accurate reflection of the Scrutiny work carried out in 2024-25 2.2 Subject to agreement, approve the Annual report for submission to Council 2.3 Delegate authority to the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to liaise with the respective Scrutiny Chairs to ensure they are satisfied the report accurately summarises their work for the municipal year.
None
The Chair thanked Members for attending this evening and for their dedication to Scrutiny over the last municipal year.
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