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On 17 October 2022 the Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committee received the Cabinet's response to its community sport inquiry, and carried out pre-decision scrutiny of two reports to Cabinet: the review of the leisure services contract with GLL, and an update on the Llanrumney regeneration scheme. Scrutiny means councillors examining proposals before Cabinet decides on them. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Member with its observations on both reports, and to receive progress reports on the sport recommendations from April or May 2023.
Apologies had been received from Cllr Robinson.
None received.
The minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairperson.
Decision as recorded
AGREED: to receive the Cabinet response and to receive progress reports on the work required to implement the agreed recommendations, with the first of these scheduled for April or May 2023.
The Chairperson advised that this item enabled the Committee to receive the Cabinet Response to the recommendations made by the Inquiry. Five recommendations had been fully accepted and one recommendation, R5, was partially accepted. No recommendations were rejected. The Chairperson welcomed: · Cllr Burke-Davies – Cabinet Member – Culture, Parks & Events · Neil Hanratty – Director of Economic Development · Jon Maidment – Operational Manager – Parks & Cardiff Harbour Authority, who was standing in for Steve Morris as he was unable to attend this meeting. The Chairperson invited the Cabinet Member to make a statement after which Members were asked to make any comments, observations or ask questions. There were no questions on this item. AGREED: to receive the Cabinet response and to receive progress reports on the work required to implement the agreed recommendations, with the first of these scheduled for April or May 2023.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
The minutes record no declarations of interest.
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Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
The Chairperson advised that this item provided Members with an opportunity to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the report to Cabinet, attached at Appendix A of the papers. The scope of Committee’s scrutiny is to explore the proposals contained in the report to Cabinet, the financial implications for the Council, whether there are any risks to the Council, what the next steps are, and, critically, examine the recommendations to Cabinet. Members were reminded that Appendices 1,2 & 5 of Appendix A contain confidential information, so no questions or comments on these should be asked in open session. The Chairperson welcomed: · Cllr Burke-Davies – Cabinet Member – Culture, Parks & Events · Neil Hanratty – Director of Economic Development · Jon Maidment – Operational Manager – Parks & Cardiff Harbour Authority, who was standing in for Steve Morris as he was unable to attend this meeting. The Chairperson invited the Cabinet Member to make a statement after which Members received a presentation from Officers. Members were then asked to make any comments, observations or to ask any questions. Members sought assurance that customers would be still be able to access toilets in Pentwyn Community Centre and Library even if they were not member of leisure centre, as Members had been made aware of some issues in this regard. Officers were not aware of the issue and suggested it was a legacy of the pandemic and that the public should be allowed access. Officers stated they would contact GLL directly to resolve the issue. Members sought assurances that the investments and improvements to Pentwyn Leisure Centre, to the building, the facilities and the 3G Pitches, will still go ahead. Officers stated that the Council was absolutely committed to this and to maintaining the Pool there. They added that costs have gone up enormously but they are working through them and looking to get value for money. It was noted that the spend on the external of the building and the roof may need to come down. Members were assured that Cardiff Rugby now renting, would not change the proposals. A further report would be brought to Cabinet and Scrutiny later in the year. Members considered that the website booking system for Leisure Centres and swimming lessons was not intuitive and should be improved. Members also sought clarification on the system for customers to provide suggestions, complaints, and compliments to GLL. Officers considered the comments on the booking system to be fair and said they would feed this back to GLL. Officers added that GLL would be happy to attend Committee at a future date to update Members on performance and there would be an opportunity to Members to feedback any comments to them. Officers agreed to find out about the complaints/comments/compliments and provide this information to Members. Members discussed Council subsidies to GLL and Officers advised that there weren’t any, only the proposals outlined in the report. Officers added that with the current significant issue with the energy crisis, they were looking at some short term interventions to help. Officers were keen to stress that Leisure Centres used to cost the Council a lot of money, whereas now GLL operate them with no subsidy. Members highlighted that the dates on Appendices A and 4 were 2 months old and queried whether this was an accurate reflection of the timeline and whether targets had been met. Officers noted that there were 2 programmes and there may be a misalignment and agreed to clarify this and get back to members. Members discussed the motivation behind the change to renewable energy with regards to infrastructure and whether this was monetary or for the benefit to carbon footprint. Officers explained that the motivation was very much a proposal to reduce costs and that a side benefit was the reduction in the carbon footprint. Officers added that this was a proposal that was subject to a full business case going to Cabinet, with Government funding to at least support capital costs, there was a long pay back period on renewables. Members discussed lowering the water temperature in pools by 1 degree and whether this was impact on costs. Officers explained that it has been GLL’s focus to reduce energy costs by 20% across all centres by various means whilst not reducing the numbers using the centres, lowering the temperature was just one option but they didn’t want people to stop using the pools. Members referred to the review of Leisure Centres and whether this would be carried out one centre at a time, finding out the pitfalls, or by conducting one pilot and then carrying on with several centres simultaneously. Officers explained that the method they are using is tried and tested across the Country, they are using an energy expert as there is no time to waste, this is an immediate issue and it needs to be addressed straight away. Members asked what efforts had been made to get footfall at Leisure Centres, back to pre-pandemic levels. Officers explained that it has been raised with GLL that they could do more to promote the Leisure Centres. Officers added that many centres have in fact recovered well since the pandemic, especially the Learn 2 Swim programme, compared to other parts of the country. Officers reiterated that it would be good to invite GLL along to a future Committee to answer members questions, but that it is in GLL’s best interests to increase income. RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraph 14 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraphs 14 and 16 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
The Chairperson advised that this item provided Members with an opportunity to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the report to Cabinet, attached at Appendix A of the papers. The scope of the scrutiny is to explore the proposals contained in the report to Cabinet, the financial implications for the Council, whether there are any risks to the Council, what the next steps are, and, critically, examine the recommendations to Cabinet. Members were reminded that Appendices 2-4 of Appendix A and Appendix B contain confidential information, so no questions or comments on these should be asked in open session. The Chairperson welcomed: · Cllr Goodway – Cabinet Member – Investment & Development · Neil Hanratty – Director of Economic Development · Chris Barnett – Operational Manager – Major Projects · Eirian Jones – Operational Manager – Strategic Estates The Chairperson invited the Cabinet Member to make a statement after which Members received a presentation from Officers. Members were then asked to make any comments, observations or to ask any questions. Members asked whether the revised Technical Advice Note 15 (TAN 15) has had an impact on the proposals. Officers stated that it results in a higher risk of flooding being modelled, which the developer has worked to address via updated models, which are being discussed with Natural Resources Wales. Members asked how the proposed road link and bridge fits with the Welsh Government’s moratorium on road building. Officers explained that the Welsh Government’s reach is limited to roads that it funds directly or indirectly and that this does not apply to the proposed road link and bridge in Llanrumney, which is privately funded. Officers added that the decision to build the road link and bridge was taken in 2019, prior to the Welsh Government’s moratorium starting. Members asked how these proposals fit with the Council’s commitment to improving modal shift and reducing car usage. Officers explained that the new road link and bridge will not increase car usage but will assist Llanrumney residents with modal shift, giving them access to the park and ride and faster buses into Cardiff centre, and reducing congestion on Newport Road. Members were interested in when the bus gate would operate, given this will speed up journey times and so increase the attractiveness of bus travel; Members noted this will be determined as part of the planning application process with input from transport officers. With regard to the S106 contributions being used to fund the increased Active Travel costs arising from the higher specification agreed as part of the planning application process, Members noted these come from major sites in North Cardiff s106 funds specifically designated for active travel. RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting at this point during consideration of this item as the Committee discussed exempt information of the description contained in paragraphs 14 and 16 of Part 4 and paragraph 21 of Part 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Action 1972. The public may be excluded from the meeting by resolution of the Committee pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 during discussion of this item. AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Members were provided with an update on Correspondence sent and received. Members were advised that there were currently two responses outstanding.
None received.
16 November 2022 at 4.30pm