To receive apologies for absence (to include reasons, where appropriate) from

Members/Officers.

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members:

Councillor DK Edwards – Other Council business

Councillor JH Tildesley MBE – Unwell.    

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including Whipping declarations)

None.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which detailed the items to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 23 March 2016 and the invitees due to attend.  She requested the Committee consider items for inclusion on the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and email the Scrutiny Team with potential items.  

The Corporate Parenting Champion informed the Committee that he would not be seeking re-nomination as the Committee’s Corporate Parenting Champion due to his potential future Council commitments.  The Chairperson thanked Councillor Jenkins for fulfilling the role of Corporate Parenting Champion and requested members of the Committee consider a new nomination of Corporate Parenting Champion at the appropriate time.        

Conclusions:                  

(1)          Noted the topics to be considered at its meeting on 23 March 2016 and the invitees to attend to attend the meeting;

That an officer from Social Services be requested to attend the meeting of the Committee on 23 March 2016 to inform the Committee of the progress of B-leaf as part of the Cultural Partnership Project.   

Invitees:

Mark Shephard - Corporate Director – Communities

Councillor Hywel Williams - Cabinet Member, Communities

Satwant Pryce, Head of Regeneration and Development

Gareth Davies, Director of Development, Coastal Housing Group

The Scrutiny Officer introduced a report which provided the Committee with information on the delivery of the Vibrant and Viable Places programme (VVP).

The Head of Regeneration and Planning reported on the delivery of the VVP scheme together with an outline of the challenges of delivering a major project in a town centre.  She stated that a grant of £5.98m had been secured from the VVP programme which provides an opportunity to support the evolution of Bridgend town centre, bringing more people to live in the centre, to create vibrancy, footfall, innovation and economic growth.      

The Head of Regeneration and Planning informed the Committee the VVP programme comprised the following elements:

·         Rhiw Gateway

·         Homes in Town

·         New parking provision

·         Disposal of Council owned land

·         Business Improvement District

·         Townscape Heritage Initiative

·         Redevelopment of 11 Nolton Street

The Head of Regeneration and Planning informed the Committee that substantial progress had been made with piling currently taking place at the Rhiw Gateway site.  She stated there is a Delivery Plan and Risk Register for the project and a Development Agreement signed with Coastal Housing Group and a programme manager allocated to the scheme.  The Head of Regeneration and Planning also informed the Committee that as tenders for the development had come in at a higher cost than anticipated a value engineering exercise had been undertaken to bring the project into line with available funding.  An amended scheme had resulted in a two month delay to a start being made on site.  The Head of Regeneration and Planning informed the Committee that work was being undertaken with Welsh Government officials to find the most suitable means to ensure there was no under spend at year end as it was not possible to carry forward funding into the next year.  Work was being undertaken on options ii and iii in the report, in order to safeguard the drawdown of grant.

The Head of Regeneration and Planning informed the Committee of progress made to date on the Homes in Town project which would result in properties being converted in the town centre.  Discussions were taking place with the Welsh Government on the potential to use the Council’s capital allocation against a town centre scheme under the proposed Building for the Future Programme, should take up of the Homes in Town project remain problematic.

The Committee questioned the effect on usage of Shopmobility following its relocation to the Brackla Multi Storey Car Park.  The Head of Regeneration and Planning informed the Committee that she would provide the Committee with data on usage of Shopmobility which would be looked at in line with footfall in the town centre.  Usage of Shopmobility had however fluctuated since the relocation of Shopmobility. 

The Committee referred to the need for amendments having to be made to the Rhiw Gateway project and questioned the risk attached to not drawing down funding and what physical changes have been made to the scheme.  The Director of Development Coastal Housing Group informed the Committee that several  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items

The report relating to the following item is not for publication as it contains exempt

information as defined in Paragraphs 14 of  Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5,

Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

If following the application of the public interest test Cabinet resolves pursuant to the Act to consider this item in private, the public will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration.

RESOLVED:     That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as they contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 and Paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

Following the application of the public interest test it was resolved that pursuant to the Act referred to above, to consider the under-mentioned item in private with the public being excluded from the meeting as it would involve the disclosure of exempt information as stated above.

Invitees:

Mark Shephard - Corporate Director – Communities

Zak Shell -Head of Neighbourhood Services

Councillor Hywel Williams - Cabinet Member, Communities