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)

The following declarations of interest were made:

Councillor RMI Shaw declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as he is the Chair (not elected Member) of Llangeinor HWB; Chair (elected Member) of Pontycymer Bowls & Garw Valley Tennis clubs and as a Steering Group Member of the TRC Garw Valley Sports Hub feasibility study which he sits as an elected Member.

Councillor G Thomas declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as he is a member of Bryncethin RFC and took no part in the discussion when the Chair and Vice-Chair of Bryncethin RFC were present at the meeting.

Councillor MC Voisey declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as he is a Member of Bridgend Town Council.

Councillor SE Baldwin declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as he is a Member of Bridgend Town Council.

Councillor N Clarke declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as she is a Member of Porthcawl Town Council.

Councillor A Hussain declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as he is a Member of Newcastle Higher Council.

Councillor JE Williams declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as she is a Member of Pencoed Town Council.

Councillor RME Stirman declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Community Asset Transfer as she is a Member of Garw Valley Community Council.          

To receive for approval the minutes of the meeting of the 22/11/2017

RESOLVED:            That the minutes of the meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 3 of 22 November 2017 be approved as a true and accurate record.   

The Scrutiny Officer reported on items which had been prioritised by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee which included the next item delegated to this Committee to consider.  She also presented a list of further potential items for comment and prioritisation and requested the Committee identify any further items for consideration using the pre-determined criteria form. 

Conclusions

Following the Committee’s discussions, Members determined the following in relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Forward Work Programme:

Regarding the Town Centre Regeneration item, Members have requested that the following representation be invited to the meeting in 12 February 2018:

·           Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration;

·           Rhiannon Kingsley, Town Centre Manager;

·           Representation from BID Company;

·           Clerks from each town Council in the Borough;

·           Trader Representation;

·           Representative from a disability organisation;

·           Representation from ABMU / Cwm Taf.

Regarding the Empty Housing item scheduled for 21 March 2018, Members have requested that the following information be included in the report request:

·           That the report be titled Empty Properties and detail information on both commercial properties and housing;

·           How many Section 215 notices have been used in relation to blight properties.

The item on the Waste Services Contract has been highlighted by the Committee as a priority to be presented to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee for formal prioritisation. 

Invitees:

Mark Shephard, Corporate Director Communities
Cllr Richard Young, Cabinet Member Communities
Fiona Blick, Group Manager - Property Services
Guy Smith, Community Asset Transfer officer

Philip Jones, Representative from Bryncethin RFC Limited

John Davies, Representative from Bryncethin RFC Limited

Geraint Thomas, Pencoed Town Clerk

The Corporate Director Communities reported on the community asset transfer (CAT) policy which had been borne out of austerity measures and the need to preserve services.  He stated that on reflection, there had been some successes in the transfer of some facilities, but some difficulties had been encountered in transfers being completed, due to their complexity and the capacity of organisations that are largely voluntary.  He also informed the Committee that one of the issues affecting CAT is the existence of policies that to some extent conflict within the Council, for example the substantial financial   subsidy for the provision of playing fields and parks pavilions can serve as a disincentive to the CAT transfer of those types of facilities.  He stated that it was the intention to review CAT in order to improve the process as part of the review of the change management funded ‘ CAT ‘ post that was due to end in the autumn of this year. 

The Committee was addressed by Mr Phil Jones of Bryncethin RFC to contribute to the discussions on CAT.  He stated that Bryncethin RFC is nearing the end of the process and whilst it realised that any improvements to the process will not help Bryncethin Rugby Club, he felt it was important that the rugby club spoke of their experience in order to assist other clubs and organisations coming through.

However, the rugby club strongly believe that if the Council is going to carry out a worthwhile review then it must discuss all of the issues, whether they be positive or negative.  For the rugby club’s part, the process had been long and, at times, extremely frustrating and there were times when the rugby club came close to stepping away from it.

He stated that on paper the process looks fine, but the execution of that process has been poor, even allowing for the fact that it is the first transfer of its kind that the authority has undertaken.  Bryncethin RFC submitted an Expression of Interest on 7 January 2015, and the lease had yet to be signed.  Whilst the rugby club appreciate that all of the delays have not been caused by the Authority, their overall performance in this instant has not been satisfactory.  In addition the rugby club believe that, unless it can be streamlined and become easier for applicants to manage, it will jeopardise the whole Asset Transfer scheme.

Bryncethin RFC has, over the last few months, applied for substantial amounts of funding from the Rural Communities Development Fund, the Rural Facilities Project, the Welsh Church Act Fund and the Welsh Rugby Union.  There had been no refusals of funding to date, but the potential funders are all waiting for the lease to be in place before they will either confirm the funding or progress to stage 2 applications.  The rugby club believe some of this funding could be at risk because of the time it is taking to secure the lease, but progress has continued to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

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.