CABINET
MINUTES of a meeting held on 6th
June, 2007.
C3043
VOLUNTARY ACTION SCHEME – PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING 2008/09 (REF –
MINUTE NO. 1086) –
The Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee
had, on 1st May, 2007 received the above report, the
purpose of which had been to consider any necessary revisions to
the arrangements and priorities for funding under the Voluntary
Action Scheme for 2008/09. Members were reminded that Cabinet
had undertaken a review of all policy grant schemes and, in respect
of the Voluntary Action Scheme, had amended the requirements for
exit strategy and publicity. Cabinet had also required that
operational departments were to be asked “whether the scheme would
be a top priority for their service, ranking equally with
expenditure included within their budget”. The sums available
for grant for 2008/09, subject to the necessary budget being
approved, net of forward commitments already given, would be £129k.
(£203k. total funding less £74k. forward commitments).
Financial provision, if approved, would be held within the General
Policy Revenue Budget.
The Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee
had requested Cabinet to approve the arrangements and priorities
for funding under the Voluntary Action Scheme for 2008/09.
Following consideration of the matter, it was
RESOLVED – T H A T the request be noted
and the matter referred to the Budget Working Group for further
consideration.
Reason for decision
To take account of the views of the
Budget Working Group.
C3044
VALE OF GLAMORGAN LOCAL ACCESS FORUM –
The following minutes of a meeting held at the
Cory Education Centre, Dyffryn Gardens on 8th May, 2007
were submitted:
Present:Mr. M.R. Harvey
(Chairman); Mr. D.J. Field (Deputy Chairman);
Mr. J.V. Custance, Mrs. V.M. Hartrey, Mr.
J.J. Herbert, Mrs. H. March, Mr. H.S. McMillan, Mrs.
M. Morgan, Mr. N. Moss, Mr. R. Pittard, Mr. R. Simpson,
Mr. R. Traherne and Mrs. V. Warlow.
Mr. J. Wyatt (Secretary); Mr. F. Coleman,
Mr. C. Fray and Mr. C. Jones-Jenkins (VOGC).
(a)
Apologies for absence -
These were received from Mr D.T. Hopkin,
Mr. D. Williams and Councillor G. John (Cabinet Member,
Leisure and Tourism).
(b)
Minutes -
AGREED - T H A T the minutes of the
meeting held on 21st February, 2007 be approved as a
correct record subject to the following insertion in the second
sentence of the penultimate paragraph of Minute No. (f) after the
reference to Mr Custance: “as British Mountaineering Council Access
representative for South East Wales.”
(c) Report on Draft
ROWIP Consultation -
The three month consultation period for
the draft ROWIP had ended on 10th April,
2007. Distribution and advertising had been undertaken in
accordance with the CRoW Act and Welsh Assembly Government
Guidance. Twenty one responses had been received, with the
issues raised in those responses summarised in a report to the
Forum under the following headings:
§
Compliments / support for the document
§
Partnerships
§
Resources
§
Strategic context
§
Network composition
§
Network maintenance / installation choices
§
Document format
§
Document format with specific regard to the Definitive Map /
Ordnance Survey Map.
Generally, a very positive response had
been received, particularly for the idea of partnership
development, especially from Town and Community Councils.
In addition to the above, the Countryside
Council for Wales had also submitted an extremely useful response,
which was again included in the information considered by the
Forum. Certain of the points raised by CCW were accepted and
the document would be reviewed / amended accordingly.
Particular reference was made in the course of the subsequent
discussion to the Strategic Environmental (SEA) Directive and to
the fact that the Council should consider whether or not the ROWIP
should be screened under SEA to avoid any potential future
challenge. It was queried at the meeting as to whether the
Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission had commented about
the issue of the SEA, and agreed that officers would
investigate. Discussion also took place on the desirability
of including aspirational targets within the ROWIP - qualified as
necessary by practical issues such as e.g. the availability of
funding / resources. Members were requested to submit any
suggestions to the PROW Section within a month. The final
draft document would then be presented to the LAF in September for
comment.
AGREED - T H A T the changes suggested by
the Public Rights of Way Team and those comments accepted from CCW
be agreed and incorporated in the document, together with any
further suggestions from the LAF, for final consideration at the
September meeting.
(d)
Guidance issued under Sections 147 and 147ZA of the Highways Act
1980 relating to the requirement for local authorities to have
regard to the needs of people with mobility problems when
authorising stiles and gates -
The Forum received for information a copy
of the above statutory guidance issued by the Welsh Assembly
Government. The WAG advised that local authorities, before
authorising a new barrier under Section 147, should be satisfied on
the following three counts:
·
that the land was being used, or was being brought into use,
for agriculture, forestry or for the breeding or keeping of
horses;
·
that, in order for that use to be carried on efficiently, it
was expedient for a structure to be erected on the path or way that
crossed the land to prevent the ingress or egress of animals;
and
·
that the barrier being authorised was the least restrictive
barrier that was consistent with the need to contain or exclude
animals.
Discussion then ensued on the needs of
landowners given the specific situation within the Vale which
housed a diverse and increasing number of landowners and farmers,
both large and small scale. Reference was, however, made to
the fact that efforts had been made to address that matter within
the draft ROWIP in that, whilst looking at gap, gate, stile in that
order the Council recognised the need to consult with and gain
agreement from landowners and to work within what was statutory
guidance and could not therefore be ignored. The drawing of
attention to the following publications, as alluded to in the
guidance, was also noted: “By All Reasonable Means: Inclusive
Access to the Outdoors for Disabled People”; and Countryside for
All Good Practice Guide, extended CD edition, published by the
Fieldfare Trust in 2005.
AGREED – T H A T the aforementioned
statutory guidance be noted together with the revised entry within
the draft ROWIP referred to above.
(e)
“Let’s Walk Cymru”: Guidance Note -
“Let’s Walk Cymru” was a new Wales-wide
initiative (promoted through Sports Council Wales and supported by
WAG and CCW) tasked with increasing the number of people
undertaking walking as a regular health benefiting activity.
The initiative would support existing physical activity projects as
long as they showed additional features in their application for
assistance illustrating an extension of the project to include
different people, areas or activities.
The Guidance Note submitted to the Forum
set out details of the following:
§
categories of projects which would be funded;
§
eligibility;
§
what a grant could / could not be used for;
§
details of the amount of grant available (i.e. of up to £10k.
per annum);
§
timescale.
It was explained that despite the above
not being a core issue for the PROW Section, ways of promoting the
initiative (in partnership or unilaterally) were being
discussed. An example given was the production of walking
leaflets based on the Country Parks in the Vale. Reference
was also made during subsequent discussion to the success of the
Walking the Way to Health model and Mrs. Warlow, who was involved
in the initiative through Valewaves, agreed to keep the LAF
informed of new developments in that area.
AGREED – T H A T the position be
noted.
(f)
Update on Coastal Access Improvement Programme -
Consideration had been given at the last
meeting to a draft outline Coastal Access Improvement Programme
(CAIP). The draft document had now been amended in the light
of comments received, investigation into potential schemes and
further guidance from the Countryside Council for Wales.
Consideration was given to the revised
document, within which the initiatives proposed were grouped into
three themes:
§
Practical Improvements;
§
Investigative Work;
§
Negotiation and Management.
Each of the proposals would contribute
significantly to improving coastal access and would demonstrate to
be in accordance with the priorities given in the Wales Coastal
Access Improvement Programme. More local priorities, based on
the workshop session held at the last meeting of the Forum, would
be more appropriate to carry forward into the full CIAP document to
be prepared later in the year. Subsequent discussion referred
to the practicalities of acquiring the land necessary to replace
lost sections of path, which would be dependant upon the level of
grant awarded. It was noted that an optimistic total bid of
£177k. had been submitted.
It was understood that officers from the
Countryside Council for Wales were meeting on 8th May,
2007 to review all the Local Authority Coastal Access Programme
bids, with the outcome of the bids to be made known as soon as
possible.
AGREED - T H A T the revised draft Outline
Coastal Access Improvement Programme be endorsed.
(g)
Membership of Coastal Access Advisory Group -
The Wales Coastal Access Improvement
Programme guidance required the establishment of a partnership to
progress the Vale of Glamorgan Coastal Access Improvement
Programme. At the last meeting, it had been suggested that a
Vale of Glamorgan Coastal Access Advisory Group could be formed
from a core of, perhaps, six Forum members, together with a
representative from selected organisations, to provide a strategic
advisory group and sounding board for coastal access issues.
The suggested organisations were the Country Landowners and
Business Association, the National Farmers Union, the Farmers Union
of Wales, the Environment Agency, the Vale Marketing Group
(representing tourism interests) and the Cardiff and Vale Coalition
of Disabled People. Initial contact had already been made
with most of these organisations.
In addition to the above, direct
consultation would need to involve other sections within the
Council, specific landowners, user groups and Community
Councils. It might be appropriate to have a wider partnership
meeting on an annual basis to discuss issues and progress on the
CIAP.
The Advisory Group would be facilitated in
a similar way to the Local Access Forum, with its proceedings being
reported on to the Forum and the Council’s Scrutiny Committee
(Economy and Environment) and / or Cabinet as appropriate.
AGREED -
(1) T
H A T the establishment of a Coastal Access Advisory Group as a
sub-group of the Local Access Forum be endorsed, to form part of a
core of a wider Vale of Glamorgan partnership to help progress
coastal access initiatives.
(2) T
H A T the following members of the Forum be nominated to serve on
the Coastal Access Advisory Group:
Mrs. V.M. Hartrey, Mr. J.J. Herbert, Mrs. H. March,
Mr. H.S. McMillan and Mr. R.
Simpson.
(3) T
H A T any other member wishing to serve on the Group notify the
Secretary by 11th May, 2007.
(h)
Local Access Forum Volunteers’ Performance Indicator Survey: August
2006 -
By way of background it was explained that
the Performance Indicator for Public Rights of Way asked for the
percentage of total lengths of rights of way which were easy to use
by members of the public in order to measure trends and
progress. Guidance currently recommended a survey of a
minimum of 5% of the length of the network each year to achieve the
desired result. Since commencement in 1997, the surveys had
been carried out each Spring by volunteers from members of the two
Ramblers’ Association groups in the Vale. It was noted that
the individuals carrying out the surveys had largely remained the
same throughout the 10 year period. The continuity achieved
as a consequence had been taken as an indicator that any apparently
random swings in results (as evidenced in the graph appended to the
report) could not be put down to different surveyors being employed
in different years. Instead, it was considered that the
apparent swings were the result of 5% being too small a percentage
for the length of path in the Vale and efforts had been made to
increase the size of the survey from a minimum 5% to 10% each
year. This opportunity arose in 2006 when seven members of
the LAF volunteered to undertake the surveys. A further
minimum 5% random sample of the PROW was then generated and split
seven ways. Six of the seven volunteers completed the task
and the results therefore were derived from 4.61% survey as opposed
to the recommended minimum 5%. The surveys had been carried
out in August / September 2006 and showed an overall 50.7% pass
rate. In the Spring of 2007 the next regular survey had been
undertaken by the Ramblers’ Association groups and the result
submitted to WAG as the current year’s PI return. It was
noted that the Summer LAF result had been significantly below that
measured by the Ramblers in the Spring and, accordingly, the LAF
result would be recorded only internally alongside the Ramblers’
Association returns for the immediate future to allow trends and
consistency to become apparent.
Those surveying indicated that many of the
footpaths had failed to meet requirements because of the lack of
way-marking and signposting and suggested that an action plan
should be drawn up to rectify that position. In response, it
was pointed out that the purpose of the survey was to identify
trends and that a planned programme of maintenance work was drawn
up. That programme concentrated in the main on those paths
most used / closest to centres of habitation etc. and the diversion
of severely limited resources to bring the paths subject to the
survey up to standard would be an inappropriate use of those
resources. It was, however, accepted that those undertaking
the survey should be permitted to install way-markers as part of
their remit where required. It was also reported that
the WLGA proposed changes to the way in which the PI in question
was undertaken and a report requested on the same for consideration
at the next meeting. Other potential new footpaths PIs were
also being mooted and a further report would be submitted to a
future meeting once that information had been
received.
AGREED –
(1) T
H A T a similar exercise to that undertaken in Autumn 2006 and
Spring 2007 be carried out in the late Summer / Autumn 2007 with a
view to completing a regular PI survey every year to supplement the
Spring 5% return and to moving towards incorporation into Action 10
of the ROWIP which sought a 10% annual sample survey.
(2) T
H A T volunteers to undertake the survey be asked to forward their
names to the PROW
Section.
(i)
Countryside Council for Wales / Welsh Assembly Government Work
Plans for 2007/08 -
CCW and WAG anticipated that they would
refer the following matters to LAFs during the year although they
had made the point that the list was for guidance only and might
change to reflect work priorities.
AGREED – T H A T the list as shown below
be included in the Forum’s Annual Report 2006/07 as reflecting its
programme for 2007/08 onwards:
The following are matters that CCW &
WAG anticipate that they will refer to LAFs during the year. This
is for guidance only and may change to reflect work priorities.
It should not be taken as definitive. In addition
Local Authorities and National Park authorities will refer matters
to LAFs. LAF members themselves should also be encouraged to put
forward agenda items.
|
Referred by
|
Approx Timing
|
Nature of Referral
|
Which LAFs?
|
|
Coastal Access Programme
|
CCW/WAG
|
From April 07
|
Work with coastal local authorities and
the two national parks on looking at where improvements can be made
at the coast
|
Those with coastal areas
|
|
Access to Inland Water
|
CCW/WAG
|
From April 07
|
Advise on aspects relating to access to
water
|
All
|
|
Exclusions & Restrictions on Access
Land
|
CCW
|
Autumn 2007
|
Consultation on review of relevant
authority guidance.
|
All
|
|
Off-roading
|
CCW/WAG
|
Summer/autumn 2007
|
Advise on aspects of the provision of
sites pilots to be undertaken by CCW in partnership with local
authorities.
|
All – though the pilots will not cover all
authorities it would be beneficial to have input from each LAF as
this is a chance for a nation-wide solution to a growing
problem.
|
|
|
WAG
|
Autumn 2007
|
|
All
|
(j) Local
Access Forum Annual Report 2006/07 -
The content of the Annual Report was
commended and would, following suggestions from the floor, be
enhanced by the inclusion of suitable photographs prior to its
publication. Members were requested to submit any further
suggested amendments to the text by 11th May,
2007. The final document would be made available on the
Council’s website and in hard copy at the Council’s offices.
Copies would also be sent to all Town and Community
Councils.
AGREED - T H A T the draft Annual Report
be endorsed for publication.
(k) Dates of future
meetings -
AGREED - T H A T meetings be held as
follows (all meetings to commence at 18:00):
19th September, 2007
16th January, 2008
14th May, 2008.
(l)
Publications -
Mr. Custance provided copies of a book
published by the South Wales Mountaineering Club – which contained
references to climbs in the Bridgend area – for members’
perusal.
Mrs. March drew attention to a recently
published book entitled “Penllyn” which had been produced by the
villagers themselves.
(m) Frank
Coleman -
The Chairman referred to the imminent
retirement of Mr. Coleman and to his tireless work on behalf of the
LAF. Members on the LAF joined the Chairman in wishing him a
happy, healthy and long retirement.
____________________
RESOLVED – T H A T the minutes be noted.
Reason for decision
To receive the views of the Local Access
Forum.
C3045
LAND AT RHOOSE POINT: PLANNING, HIGHWAYS AND DRAINAGE ISSUES –
CURRENT POSITION (DEER) (SCRUTINY – ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
–
By way of background to the above, it was
explained that Outline Planning Permission had been granted for the
Rhoose Point development in March 1996 following the resolution to
grant planning permission in July 1994. That planning
permission (93/01186/OUT) had been subject to a Section 106 Legal
Agreement entered into between Blue Circle Industries Plc and the
former Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council. The report then
outlined the relevant planning history subsequent to the granting
of outline planning permission.
The report then focused in turn on the
following specific matters and the current position in relation
thereto:
The appointment of a temporary Biodiversity
Improvement Assistant had initiated the promotion and facilitation
of the introduction of practical biodiversity improvements with
community involvement and benefit across the wider Vale. It
had enabled the production of a series of guidance leaflets on
wildlife habitat creation to facilitate practical biodiversity
improvement measures on school grounds and Town / Community Council
controlled land. Other examples of biodiversity improvement
initiatives completed or scheduled for imminent completion included
the River Thaw Water Vole project and Alun Valley High Brown
Fritillary Butterfly projects; the South East Wales Biological
Records Centre pilot project to enable the provision of essential
ecological data to assist in the assessment of development control
applications, forward planning proposals and to respond to external
data requests; the Leckwith Woods management project; and the
preparation of a Management Plan for Porthkerry Country Park.
Attention was also drawn to the fact that the National Assembly for
Wales was encouraging local authorities to become members of the
Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW), a multi-agency
body comprising representatives from all the organisations involved
in wildlife law enforcement in the UK, providing opportunities for
statutory and non-government organisations to work together to
combat wildlife crime with the main object of promoting the
enforcement of wildlife conservation legislation. Since the
Council’s officers already worked closely with the South Wales
Constabulary Wildlife dedicated officers, becoming a member of PAW
was seen as formalising existing arrangements. It was also
noted that membership of PAW has no cost implications for the
Council.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A
T the progress on the programme of Biodiversity Improvement
Initiatives to date and the continuation of those Initiatives in
2008/09 be endorsed.
(2) T H A
T the Council join the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife
Crime (PAW).
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure that Cabinet is fully apprised on all issues relating to the
Biodiversity Improvement Initiatives allocation.
C3047
LAND TO THE NORTH OF THE RAILWAY LINE, RHOOSE – DRAFT DEVELOPMENT
BRIEF: RESULTS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE (DEER) (SCRUTINY –
ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) –
Cabinet had previously authorised the release
of the Brief for extensive and in-depth public consultation
purposes in May 2006. A six week consultation period was
subsequently undertaken culminating in September 2006.
Cabinet had declined to consider the report on the result of the
consultation exercise in December 2006 in order to undertake a site
visit and to investigate the issues further. That site
visit had taken place in March 2007.
As regards the results of the consultation
exercise, the majority of comments had been made by local residents
with responses being received also from the following
organisations:
·
Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water;
·
Environment Agency;
·
Countryside Council for Wales;
·
Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust;
·
Network Rail;
·
Sustrans;
·
Cadarn Housing Group;
·
White Young Green on behalf of the WAG, Bellway Plc and Persimmon
Homes (Wales Ltd); and
·
Hepher Dixon on behalf of Cofton Ltd.
A table containing details of the comments,
the Council’s response and proposed changes to the draft
Development Brief had been placed in the Members’ Room and an
amended version of the Brief had been circulated under separate
cover. In addition to the specific questions on the draft
Development Brief which had been asked as part of the consultation
process the final question on the comment form invited additional
remarks. Those remarks included:
·
loss of a green field site;
·
doubts of the need for additional housing;
·
claims that bats existed on the site;
·
developable area shown on indicative master plan in Appendix 7
should have reflected housing allocation identified in the adopted
UDP;
·
Section 106 contributions should be used to pay for promised
facilities on Rhoose Point;
·
existing school site too small and a new school should be provided
on the development;
·
new footbridge required at existing level crossing;
·
exacerbation of existing sewage and drainage problems on Rhoose
Point;
·
need for more on-site affordable housing provision;
·
increased pressure on local infrastructure and amenities.
Attention was drawn to the fact that the
consultation had evidenced the fact that many people felt unhappy
about the non-delivery of community facilities and infrastructure
problems at Rhoose Point and, whilst it was accepted that that was
clearly a separate issue from the draft Development Brief, it did
highlight the importance of appropriate Section 106 requirements on
the site and the need for clarification on infrastructure with
relevant statutory bodies.
As referred to above, an amended Development
Brief had been circulated under separate cover. For ease of
reference, the main changes made to the Brief included:
·
Additional reference to UDP Policies ENV24, ENV17 and ENV20 in
Section 2 and Appendix 2 of the Brief;
·
Reference to the Sustainable Development SPG and the Public Art SPG
within various sections of the Brief;
·
Increased emphasis on sustainability cross referenced to Strategic
Policy 2 of the UDP in Section 2 of the Brief;
·
An amendment to the drainage and utility services Section (4.3) to
clarify the position of Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water requiring
improvements to the foul sewerage and water supply systems, as well
as the comments on the Environment Agency;
·
An update to Section 3 which dealt with assessment of the site in
ecological terms to reflect the comments of the Environment Agency
and Countryside Council for Wales. In addition, in Section
3.6 the Environment Agency had clarified that the site was located
on a minor and not a major aquifer. Additional comments
relating to protected species had also been added;
·
Section 6 amended to reflect the comments of the Environment Agency
by the addition of the need for an assessment of historical land
use and the potential for contamination of the site, such
assessment to form part of any submission;
·
The site boundary for the Development Brief amended to be
co-terminus with adopted UDP allocation;
·
Additional references and the need to improve access links between
the site and land to the South of the railway line within Section 4
and 6 of the Brief;
·
The Brief amended in Section 3 to reflect studies and surveys
already undertaken in respect of ecological matters relating to the
site;
·
Insert cross reference to Appendices 4 and 5 in paragraph 5.3 which
referred to key views out and into the site;
·
Clarification in paragraph 4.6 to define the role of the emergency
access off Porthkerry Road.
A further point to be noted was that whilst
many of the responses considered that the Brief did not go far
enough in requesting community benefits as part of the development,
the developer’s agent was of the view that the requests were over
onerous. Attention was also drawn to the fact that the
Inspector had allocated the site for residential purposes rather
than mixed use development. It was clear, therefore, that a
balance needed to be struck when seeking community benefits.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED – T H A T, subject to
consultation with the Planning Committee and the Scrutiny Committee
(Economy and Environment)
(1) The
Council’s response to the representations and changes to the draft
Development Brief, as appended to the report, be approved and the
document amended accordingly.
(2) The
amended Development Brief be approved.
(3) The
amended Development Brief be made available to interested parties
free of charge and be made available on the Council Web Site.
(4)
Persons / organisations making representations on the Draft
Development Brief be advised of the availability of the final
document.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
approve the Council’s responses and changes to the draft
Development Brief.
(2) To
ensure that it is a material consideration in the determination of
any planning application and / or appeal on the site.
(3) To
make the final document generally available.
(4) To
update persons / organisations on the latest position on the
Development Brief.
C3048
VALE OF GLAMORGAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (LDP) – SUSTAINABILITY
APPRAISAL DRAFT SCOPING REPORT – RESULTS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION
(DEER) (SCRUTINY – ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) –
As part of the LDP preparation, the Council
was required to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of the
Plan incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in
accordance with the Environmental Assessment of Plans (Wales)
Regulations 2004. The first stage in that process had been
the preparation of a Scoping Report, and the draft Scoping Report
had been placed on deposit for public consultation during February
and March 2007. The Council had employed specialist
consultants Hyder Consulting to assist and provide expert
assistance in respect of the SA. To help formulate responses
to the consultation, a proforma had been issued on which responses
and comments were to be provided and, during the five week
consultation period, 22 comments had been received from a range of
individuals and agencies including comment from the Countryside
Council for Wales and the Environment Agency. Comments from
two individuals had also been received after the consultation
deadline. The comments received together with the Council’s
response had been appended to the report.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED – T H A T, subject to consideration
by the Planning Committee and the Scrutiny Committee (Economy and
Environment):
(1) The
proposed amendments to the Sustainability Appraisal Draft Scoping
Report resulting from the formal public consultation as detailed at
Appendix 1 to the report be approved.
(2) The
revised Sustainability Appraisal be placed in relevant Council
Offices and Libraries and on the Council’s website for public
information.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
inform members of the comments made in respect of the draft
Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report and the Council’s response,
and to adopt the Scoping Report.
(2) To
enable stakeholders to obtain copies of the document in order to
make comments.
C3049
BARRY ISLAND AND RIVERMOUTH (OGMORE-BY-SEA) CAR PARKS (DEER)
(SCRUTINY – ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) –
The current charge for the present season was
£3.50 per visit at each of the above car parks collected
manually. Pay and display machines would be utilised in the
near future which would assist in maximising income and reducing
the operational difficulties of continuing the current practice of
collecting the fees manually and managing the car parks. The
introduction of the pay and display would facilitate variations in
the fee payable per visit and a proposed scale of fees was appended
to the report. It was considered that the proposed scale of
fees would be fairer and prove a boost to the local economy and
assist the Council to tackle unsociable behaviour in car parks
outside of the present charging and managed time scales.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED – T H A T the scale of fees for car
parking at Harbour Road, Barry Island, and Rivermouth,
Ogmore-by-Sea, as appended to the report, be approved.
Reason for decision
To manage efficiently and effectively the
above car parks.
C3050
LAND AT TYN-Y-PLANCA, HENSOL (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY – CORPORATE
RESOURCES) –
Progress in connection with ongoing
negotiations between this Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel
Ltd. (VOGH) for the use of land at Hensol as a Welsh Rugby Union /
Football Association of Wales Centre of Excellence was presented,
and approval sought to withdraw from negotiations with the VOGH in
respect of the proposed lease (Minute No. C2137).
Whilst the negotiation for Heads of Terms of
the proposed lease had been taken as far as possible at the present
moment, a number of other material factors needed to be considered
before progressing with the disposal of the land – specifically,
improved surface access from the M4 motorway to the Airport and the
new Defence Training Academy at St Athan. It was considered,
therefore, premature at the present moment to enter into
negotiations concerning the disposal of Council owned land at
Tyn-y-Planca but entirely relevant that the Council as Local
Planning Authority enter into discussions with the VOGH to consider
the merits of other opportunities which might exist for the
provision of a Centre of Excellence.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A
T the Council owned land at Tyn-y-Planca, Hensol be retained by the
Council for Strategic Asset Management reasons and that the Council
withdraw from negotiations with the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel as a
result.
(2) T H A
T the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel Ltd. be advised of the above
resolution.
(3) T H A
T the Head of Planning and Transportation be authorised to enter
into discussions with the VOGH on other options which might be
available to deliver a Wales Centre of Excellence at the Vale of
Glamorgan Hotel.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In
order that the Council can be in control of this strategic site in
light of the Metrix development at St Athan.
(2) To
ensure that the applicants are advised in a timely fashion of the
Cabinet decision.
(3) To
allow full consideration of available options that may be
available.
C3051
ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 2006 (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY – CORPORATE RESOURCES)
–
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force on
29th March, 2007 in Wales, consolidating much existing
animal health and welfare legislation and providing new powers to
deal with animal welfare matters by bringing together more than 20
pieces of animal welfare legislation relating to farmed and
non-farmed animals. The Act:
·
introduced a “duty of care” on people to ensure the needs of any
animal for which they were responsible were met;
·
created a new offence of failing to provide for the needs of
animals in their care;
·
allowed action to protect animals to be taken much earlier – e.g.
enforcers would be able to intervene before suffering began;
·
placed more emphasis on owners and keepers who would need to
understand their responsibilities and take all reasonable steps to
provide for the needs of their animals.
The Act placed specific responsibilities on
owners and keepers of animals to ensure that the welfare needs of
their animals were met, including the need:
·
for a suitable environment (place to live);
·
for a suitable diet;
·
to exhibit normal behaviour patterns;
·
to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if
applicable);
·
to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease.
The new law also increased to 16 the minimum
age at which a person could buy an animal and prohibited the giving
of animals as prizes to unaccompanied children under that
age. The Act made the docking of dogs’ tails an offence
except in respect of working dogs of certain breeds. In
addition, the Act provided for new secondary legislation, some of
which replaced existing laws and some of which might regulate new
types of business. New responsibilities were expected to be
resourced by way of locally levied licence fees. The Act
applied to animal health and welfare issues on farms, in licensed
animal establishments and also dealt with more general animal
welfare matters such as the keeping of pets in domestic
premises. The Act created new offences and provided officers
with additional powers, such powers including:
·
emergency powers in relation to animals in distress;
·
powers of entry and inspection including the power to seize
documents;
·
prosecution powers;
·
power to serve Improvement Notices.
For Local Authorities, the key new power was
to enforce the duty of care placed on owners and keepers of animals
and the ability to deal with behaviour likely to cause unnecessary
suffering rather than having to wait until evidence could be shown
that animals had already suffered. Whilst the Act introduced
new powers for local authority officers, it was noted that there
was no obligation on local authorities to use those powers.
There was also provision in the Act for the WAG to issue codes of
practice and make regulations in respect of the licensing and
registration of animals which could result in licensing and
registration becoming the duty of local authorities.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED –
(2)
T H A T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing
Services be granted delegated power to enforce and authorise
appropriately trained and competent officers to enforce the
provisions of the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations made under
it.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) To inform members and ensure
officers are appropriately authorised under the Animal Welfare Act
2006.
C3052
DIRECTORATE OFFICER STRUCTURE (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY – CORPORATE
RESOURCES) –
Consideration was given to proposed changes to
staffing structures in the Housing and Community Safety and Public
Protection departments to improve service delivery, including
arrangements to address the housing investment programme. The
existing Chief Officer structure within the Directorate was
appended to the report. It was noted that, currently, the
Operational Manager Private Sector Housing was acting up as Head of
Service for Housing and Community Safety. It was now
considered essential that the Head of Housing Services devote his
or her whole time in focusing attention of the major issues of the
housing investment programme and developing and improving housing
policies, particularly homelessness. Accordingly, it was
proposed that the Head of Service post be filled on a permanent
basis, the post to be advertised internally and externally to
ensure that the post holder would possess the highest possible
skills and experience to deliver the Council’s aims and objectives
in the housing arena successfully. Further, it was considered
that the Private Sector Housing section, with much of its work more
associated with the Environmental Health function, would be better
placed within a new Public Protection department to provide a more
integrated service. The new Public Protection department
would comprise of the current Regulatory Services team, Private
Sector Housing, Community Safety, and both Emergency Planning and
the Coroner’s service, (the latter two of which currently reported
directly to the Director), with the department being managed by a
new Head of Service. It was recommended that the applications
for the post of Head of Service be ringfenced to the Operational
Manager Regulatory Services and the Operational Manager Private
Sector Housing with the Operational Manager post vacated by the
successful candidate being deleted from the establishment.
The remaining Operational Manager post would then be re-designated
Operational Manager Public Protection.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A
T the post of Head of Housing Services be advertised both
internally and externally and filled.
(2) T H A
T the Private Sector Housing section merge with the Regulatory
Services function to form an integrated Public Protection
department.
(3) T H A
T the post of Head of Public Protection be created, and
advertised internally with applications restricted to the two
Operational Manager postholders identified in the report.
(4) T H A
T the Operational Manager post vacated by the successful applicant
be deleted from the establishment and the remaining post
re-designated Operational Manager Public Protection.
(5) T H A
T job descriptions and person specifications for both Heads of
Service posts be finalised in conjunction with the Head of Human
Resources and Equalities.
(6) T H A
T the Senior Management Appointment Panel be convened.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
enable the major housing issues facing the Council to be
addressed.
(2) To
provide a more efficient and integrated Public Protection
service.
(3) To
address service issues and give a higher profile to the Community
Safety function.
(4) To
assist in the funding of the Head of Public Protection post.
(5&6) To facilitate the appointments
procedure.
C3053
PUBLIC PROTECTION – PROPOSED FEES AND CHARGES (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY –
CORPORATE RESOURCES) –
Consideration was given to the proposals for
increases in fees and charges in respect of those functions managed
by Public Protection which were the responsibility of the Council’s
Executive. The proposals for the financial year 2007/08 were
appended to the report and had been drawn up to meet the cost of
inflation and national pay awards as well as more accurately
reflecting the costs of delivery the services. Due to the
discretionary nature of domestic pest control and the need to
achieve a balanced budget, it was noted that the fees and charges
in respect of pest control would be subject to a separate
report.
RESOLVED – T H A T the schedule of fees and
charges as appended to the report be approved and implemented with
effect from 1st July, 2007.
Reason for decision
To ensure fees are in line with inflation,
statutory requirements and reflect more accurately the actual cost
of providing certain services.
C3054
SOCIAL SERVICES CHANGE PLAN 2007-10 (IDSS) (SCRUTINY – COMMUNITY
WELLBEING AND SAFETY) –
The Social Services Change Plan was appended
to the report and agreement sought for the objectives and actions
as contained therein. Some of the actions described in the
Plan were already underway and, as improvements were rolled out,
other actions would be included. The Plan would be regularly
and routinely updated and the outcomes made public. There
were four key themes namely, Leadership, Budget, Performance and
Quality. The services would have to be delivered within the
budget allocation and the performance of all the services
improved. At the same time, there was a need to ensure that
every contact and intervention with the people utilising the
services was of the standard that the Council would wish and
expect. It was recognised that the Social Services
Directorate could not deliver the Plan in isolation and there would
be very close working with other Council services as well as
partner organisations in order to achieve the required
outcomes. As such, responsibility for the Plan and its
implementation was very much a corporate issue. That work had
already commenced. One of the key objectives in the Plan was
to address the causes of overspending and enable the Directorate to
make the savings and efficiencies in the way it operated whilst
still providing services to the residents of the Vale of
Glamorgan. Every attempt would be made to ensure that the
staff establishment would be maintained within the budget
allocation in order to drive forward the improvements needed. The
Change Plan had been reported to the Scrutiny Committees (Community
Wellbeing and Safety) and (Corporate Resources) prior to its
submission to Cabinet.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A
T the Social Services Change Plan as appended to the report
be endorsed.
(2) T H A
T regular progress reports be presented to both Cabinet and the
Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources).
(3) T H A
T the staff involved in drawing up the Change Plan in the limited
timescale allowed be congratulated on their efforts.
Reason for decision
(1) To
endorse the work to date.
(2) To
keep Cabinet and the Scrutiny Committees apprised of progress.
(3) To
recognise the efforts of staff.
C3055
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC –
RESOLVED - T H A T under Section 100A(4) of
the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded
from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds
that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as
defined in Part 4 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act, the
relevant paragraphs of the Schedule being referred to in brackets
after the minute heading.
C3056
DYFFRYN GARDENS: LAND EXCHANGE (CX) (SCRUTINY – CORPORATE
RESOURCES) (EXEMPT INFORMATION – PARAGRAPH 14) –
Details were presented of discussions which
had taken place with regard to the proposed land exchange to the
estate areas of Dyffryn Gardens and approval sought to withdraw
from land exchange negotiations. It was reported that the
land north of the Gardens contributed little to the Estate as a
whole and, therefore, the opportunities for raising income were
limited. Whilst discussions had continued with the landlord
in respect of the land along the western boundary, additional costs
had now been identified and it was proposed that the land exchange
be not now proceeded with.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A
T the proposals for land exchange be withdrawn.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services
notify the landowner accordingly.
(3) T H A
T the Dyffryn Project manager, in conjunction with the Directors of
Environmental and Economic Regeneration and Finance, ICT and
Property investigate the opportunities for raising income from the
field to the north of the Gardens, including the drawing up of
grazing Licences as appropriate.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
minimise capital expenditure to the Council.
(2) To
conclude the now lengthy negotiations formally.
(3) To
enable officers to proceed with proposals to maximise income.
C3057
APPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL TAX RELIEF (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY – CORPORATE
RESOURCES) (EXEMPT INFORMATION – PARAGRAPHS 12, 13 AND 14)
–
Consideration was given to the applications
for relief from rates and Council tax received from those
charitable and other organisations or individuals as contained in
the appendix to the report.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED – T H A T the following applications
be determined as indicated below:
·
Ty Hafan – Appeals Office, St Hilary Court, Vale Gate Business Park
– 80% mandatory 20% discretionary.
·
Royal British Legion Cowbridge Branch – premises at the rear of the
Town Hall – application deferred for further information.
·
Mr. D.M. – t/a Lok’s Kitchen Chinese Food Take Away – The Green, St
Athan – application for hardship relief not granted.
·
Dr. A.C.M. – application for remission of council tax granted for
three months, the position to be reviewed thereafter.
·
Peak Performance (South Wales) Ltd. – warehouse and premises at
Unit 10, Penllyne Way, Vale Business Park, Llandow – application
for hardship relief not granted.
Reason for decision
All applications have to be considered
individually.
C3058
LEARNING DISABILITY SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION (IDSS) (SCRUTINY
– COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND SAFETY) (EXEMPT INFORMATION PARAGRAPHS
12, 13 AND 14) –