Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor T.A.J. Davies.

There were no declarations of any prohibited party whips made.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

The Committee received an Annual Report for its work during the 2020/21 municipal year which had been prepared in accordance with Article 6.2 of the County Council’s Constitution.

The report provided an overview of the work programme and the key issues considered by the Committee.  It also detailed the development sessions held for members as well as their attendance at committee meetings.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2020/21 be approved.

(NOTE: Councillor J Gilasbey had earlier declared an interest in this item)

The Committee, in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Council’s constitution, considered its draft 2021/22 Forward Work Programme detailing issues and reports to be considered during the course of the municipal year.

The Committee also considered its Task and Finish arrangements for the 2021/22-23.  The Committee noted that at its informal Forward Work Programme development session, it had agreed in principle, subject to a short review period, the Task and Finish review on the fly-tipping should be undertaken prior to the Dog Breeding Task and Finish. Therefore, it was proposed and duly seconded that this arrangement would supersede the Committee’s previous decision ‘unanimously resolved that dog breeding in Carmarthenshire be the subject for Committee’s next Task and Finish review in 2021’ which was made at its meeting held on 15th November 2019.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:-

5.1      the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee   Forward Work Programme be approved;

5.2      the Committee’s task and finish arrangements for 2021/22-2023 be     carried out in the following order:-

          1) To review the Management of Fly Tipping within Carmarthenshire

          2) To review dog breeding within Carmarthenshire.

The Committee, having agreed to undertake a Task and Finish on the issues of fly-tipping at its informal Forward Work Programme Development Session held on 9th April 2021, received the Task and Finish Draft Planning and Scoping Document on the Management of Fly-tipping within Carmarthenshire. 

The Committee considered the aims and scope of the work of the Task & Finish Group, as set out within the planning and scoping document. 

It was noted that it was intended that the Task and Finish review be carried out within a short-focused review period not exceeding 3 months.

In order to form a politically balanced Task and Finish Group, the Chair requested for up to 6 nominations from the Committee.

In accordance with the Committee’s earlier decision on the Task and Finish Review arrangements for 2021/2022-23 [Minute 5.2 refers] it was proposed that the review commence in September following the August recess period.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:-

6.1      the Draft Planning and Scoping Document – To Review the     Management of Fly Tipping within Carmarthenshire be received;

6.2      the aims and scope of the work of the Task and Finish Group as stated     within the Planning and Scoping Document be endorsed;

6.3      the politically balanced Membership of the Task and Finish Group on    the Review the Management of Fly Tipping within Carmarthenshire be        as follows:-

6.4     the Task and Finish Group commence the review in September 2021.

The Committee received a report presented by the Executive Board Member for Communities and Rural Affairs on the Council’s Annual Report for 2020/21, produced in accordance with the requirements of both the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

It was noted the impact of Covid-19 on council services had meant it had not been possible this year for the report to act either as a progress report on performance or as a comparator with other local authorities. It therefore reflected on the actions the Council had taken to support its residents, communities and businesses throughout the pandemic.

The report referenced in turn each of the Council’s 15 Well Being Objectives and assessed the progress and adaptations made during the year. Members focussed on the following sections within the document relevant to the Committee’s remit:

• WBO 8. Help people live healthy lives (tackling risky behaviour and obesity)
• WBO 9. Support good connections with friends, family and safer communities
• WBO 12. Looking after the present and future cultural and natural conditions of the environment
• WBO 13. Improving the highway and transport infrastructure and connectivity
• Appendices

The following questions/issues were raised on the report:-

·       Reference was made to the Active Travel graph on page 62 of the report.  In light of the significant increase of cycling and pedestrians throughout the lockdown period, it was highlighted that a number of Councillors had made applications for Safer Routes in the Community, however the progress seemed be considerably slow.  It was asked if there was any way of speeding up the process of the implementation of Safer Routes in the Community.

The Head of Transportation & Highways stated that in terms of the Safer Routes in the community, the number of bids that could be submitted each year was restricted.  Expressions of interests for bids were sought from Community Council’s on an annual basis.  In addition, it was reported that in a broader sense currently, there had been a significant investment injected into Active Travel and plans to support Active Travel had been developed for towns.  It was highlighted that Safe Routes to Schools was a separate funding which similarly to Safer Routes in the Community the number of bids that can be submitted was also restricted.

It was proposed to write to the Welsh Government to seek their support of the Safe Routes in the Community funding and seek the Deputy Minister’s support in providing additional funding to help with the future development of safer routes to schools across all areas of the County.  This was duly seconded.

·       In reference to the Bwcabus service, gratitude was expressed to officers for achieving further funding as the service was invaluable to the community.

·       Reference was made to page 56 of the report where it was observed that the figures in relation to the success measures of the energy consumption was not available.  It was asked, if an update on these figures was available prior to receiving the report?

In response,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Committee received a report presented by the Executive Board Member for Public Protection on the Air Quality Delivery Plan – Consultation which provided an update on the work undertaken in respect of Air Quality in Carmarthenshire, and to consult on the draft Air Quality Delivery plan.

The following questions/issues were raised on the report:-

• In response to a query raised on ‘Introduce a School Street’ as stated within measure G10 of the Plan, the Pollution and Wellbeing Lead clarified that this measure was currently being considered by the Highway and Transportation department.  It would encompass the introduction of a series of measures to improve the air quality around the school area such as introducing restricted road traffic entries to a specific area, including drop-off, pick-up and anti-idling area.  In addition, the Executive Board Member for Public Protection stated that the Active Travel Plan would also support the cleaner environment by way of encouraging more walking and cycling to schools.

• In response to a query raised regarding when the Tywi Valley Path would be opened to the public, the Executive Board Member for Environment reported that Jonathan Edwards MP had applied for funding from the Levelling Up Fund on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council towards the Tywi Valley Path and that development work continued.
  
  
• With the encouragement of more people walking in the countryside, concern was raised that shared footpaths were being locked and which presented legal issues.  It was asked if there was a timescale to resolve the issues?  The Executive Board Member for Environment stated that this matter was being managed by the Public Rights of Way department who in the first instance work to resolve matters with respective landowners prior to issuing enforcement notices.  The Head of Highways added that legal processes were often a lengthy process.

• An observation was raised that the plan included many ideas from behavioural change behaviours to large capital projects which both presented challenges.  

• In reference to measure G20 - Consider a Feasibility study for Low Emission Zones, it was asked what would this look like and how would it work?  The Pollution and Wellbeing Lead stated that this was currently being considered as part of the Clean Air (Wales) Bill, the consultation on the Bill had now closed and that the summary of response document would be available in September 2021.  Therefore, more detail in relation to low emission zones would be available on the publication of the document, however it was important to dedicate a measure to this in order to ensure that this matter was explored.

• Reference was made to measure C11 – ‘Install AQMA signage’ further clarification was sought on what this entailed and would it provide an option to inform the public with information on air quality in real-time.  The Pollution and Wellbeing Lead stated that in relation to signage, it was important to exercise caution in terms of the messages to the public to avoid causing unnecessary alarm.  It was recognised that individuals with pre-existing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

At its last meeting held on 19^th April, 2021, the Committee after considering the content of the plan requested for further information to be included in the actions and measures (Minute 6 refers). 

The Committee Members considered a revised Environment Departmental Business Plan 2021/22 in relation to those services falling within its remit as follows:

• Highways and Transport
• Waste and Environmental Services
• Business Improvement

The Executive Board Member for Environment presented the report and explained that at in line with the Committees request to undertake further work the whilst the Plan provided a summary of the key actions and measures required to support the delivery of the Corporate Strategy it had now included an additional column to reference the measures/outcome to the relevant Council Well-being Objective.  The Plan was supported by detailed divisional plans which was subject to regular review.

The following issues/questions were raised on the report:

·      Reference was made to the fire incident at CWM recycling plant, Nantycaws in April this year, a member of the Committee asked if there was any truth in a rumour that was circulating in relation to the fire damage and that the insurers had refused to pay circa £15.5m as the Council did not have adequate insurance to cover the equipment.  The Executive Board Member for Environment, corroborated by the Head of Waste and Environmental Services stated that this rumour had not been heard of and reassured the Committee that this was fictitious.  It was explained that all the equipment at CWM was insured appropriately with no associated causation arising from the incident emphasising that the rumour was invalid.

·      In response to a concern regarding levels of dog fouling, the Executive Board Member for Public Protection stated that out of hours patrols are possible and there was a specific rota for out of hour patrols (on weekends) and encouraged Committee Members and members of the public to report any incidents and/or irresponsible dog owners to the Council using the online reporting method.  Enforcement personnel would be deployed to areas of concern based on the intelligence received e.g. location and time, description of offenders.  The Head of Waste and Environmental Services further explained that a team of 8 Enforcement Officers operated throughout Carmarthenshire and therefore intelligence was key in increasing the possibility of capturing offenders.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Environment Departmental Business Plan 2021/22 be received.

At its last meeting held on 19^th April, 2021, the Committee requested for further information to be included in the actions and measures (Minute 7 refers). 

The Executive Board Member for Public Protection presented the report explaining that the Communities Departmental Draft Business Plan 2021/22 in relation to public protection had been revised in accordance with the Committees request.

The Committee considered the plan which also contained the Planned Improvements for 2021/22.

An observation was raised that the departmental business plans across the different sectors seemed to differ in their approach and was not consistent.  The Head of Homes & Safer Communities stated that he would refer this observation to his colleagues in the Planning and Performance team.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Public Protection elements of the Communities Departmental Business Plan 2021 relevant to the remit of this Scrutiny Committee be received.

At its last meeting held on 19^th April, 2021, the Committee requested for further information to be included in the actions and measures (Minute 8 refers). 

The Executive Board Member for Communities and Rural Affairs presented the report and explained that the Chief Executive’s Departmental Draft Business Plan 2021/22 relevant to this scrutiny’s remit had been revised in accordance with the Committees request.

The extracts from the Chief Executive’s Department Business Plan for the ICT & Corporate Policy Division included actions relating to:

· Community Safety

· Net Zero Carbon

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the elements of the Chief Executive’s Business Plan 2021/22 relevant to the remit of this Scrutiny Committee be received.

The Committee considered the list of forthcoming items for the meeting scheduled to take place on the 4^th October, 2021 and was afforded the opportunity to request for information to be placed in to the reports.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting on the 4^th October, 2021 be noted.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the
19^th April 2021 be signed as a correct record.