Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

The Committee considered the Council's annual self-assessment of its Corporate Plan for 2025-26 and the Climate Change Plan annual report, and made recommendations on both. It also confirmed that its meeting on 22 April 2027 could be cancelled because it falls in the pre-election period.

1. Decided

   The Committee asked for information on the progress of the Placemaking Plan action on Rodney Parade. It asked that its questions to the Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability be passed on for response, and attached to the next agenda once answered. It recommended that a stand-in officer be arranged when officers cannot attend at short notice. It recommended that the document be made more accessible, with centre-justified text aligned to the left.

   Why

   The report assesses the Council's progress against its Corporate Plan 2022-27, as the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 requires each year. A panel's first performance assessment in March 2026 was positive, and its three recommendations are included in the report. The report goes to Cabinet in October 2026 and to Full Council in November 2026.

   Based on the minutes, Item 4 - CR Annual Wellbeing Self Assess, Item 4.1 - CAWR Annual Report 25-26

2. Climate Change Plan Annual Report 2025-26

   Decided

   The Committee asked for the table on net tree gain to be updated to show the position at each year end, not a cumulative net gain over those years. It recommended that narrative be added where an action is marked red, such as action two on deep retrofit of buildings to create net zero carbon energy buildings.

   Why

   This is the fourth annual report on the Organisational Climate Change Plan 2022-27, which Cabinet agreed in March 2022 after the Council declared an ecological and climate emergency in 2021. The report says total emissions rose by 2.0% in 2025/26, mainly because of purchased goods and services, while operational emissions fell.

   Based on the minutes, Item 5 - CR - Climate Change Annual Report, Item 5.1 - CCAR 25-26

3. Scrutiny Adviser reports: actions, work programme and outcomes

   Decided

   The Committee confirmed that its meeting on 22 April 2027 could be cancelled, as it falls in the pre-election period and has no agenda items. The Scrutiny Adviser also told the Committee that the next meeting would be on 5 November 2026.

   Why

   The Scrutiny Adviser asked whether the Committee wished to cancel the 22 April 2027 meeting, because it falls in the pre-election period and no items were scheduled for it. The report says it is important for the Committee to make sure recommendations are followed up and outcomes are reported back.

   Based on the minutes, Item 6 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 6.1 - Actions, Item 6.2 - FWP

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. Apologies

   Minute

   Councillors D Jenkins, M Linton and J Reynolds Councillors D Batrouni (Leader of the Council) and Y Forsey (Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Waste and Recycling) Paul Jones (Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability)

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

3. 3

   Minutes of the Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 3rd September 2026 were accepted as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: Item 3 - Minutes
4. 4

   Annual Corporate Wellbeing Self Assessment 2025-26

   Minute

   The Chief Executive introduced the report. The Deputy Leader/Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years, Strategic Director-Transformation and Corporate, Strategic Director-Social Services and Head of Environment and Public Protection gave an overview of the report. Members discussed and questioned the Officers on the content of the report. Recommendations: • The Committee requested information on the progress of the Placemaking Plan action regarding Rodney Parade. • The Committee requested that their questions to the Strategic Director for Environment and Sustainability be forwarded for response and appended to the next agenda once a response has been received for transparency. • The Committee recommended that a stand-in officer be arranged in lieu of officers who are unable to attend on short notice to answer questions. • The Committee recommended that the document be reviewed and updated to be more accessible. The Committee requested that centre justified text be aligned left for improved readability, and for guidance to be updated to reflect this for future reports.

   Papers: Item 4 - CR Annual Wellbeing Self Assess, Item 4.1 - CAWR Annual Report 25-26
5. 5

   Climate Change Plan Annual Report 2025-26

   Minute

   The Head of Environment and Public Protection introduced the report. Members discussed and questioned the Officers on the content of the report. Recommendations: • The Committee asked for the table concerning net tree gain under 4.3.2 (page 94) be updated to confirm that the table reflects the position at each year end, not a cumulative net gain over those concurrent years. • The Committee recommended adding narrative should an action be marked as red, as seen in action two “Deep retrofit to create net zero carbon energy buildings” on page 122 of the agenda.

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Item 5 - CR - Climate Change Annual Report, Item 5.1 - CCAR 25-26
6. 6

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   a) Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee of the actions that had been completed, and the actions that were currently outstanding. b) Forward Work Programme The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the next meeting was on the 5th of November 2026. The Scrutiny Advisor asked whether the committee wished to cancel the April 22, 2027, committee as it fell within Pre Election Period and currently had no agenda items attached to the date. The Committee confirmed the meeting could be cancelled. c) Outcomes Monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser advised the Committee that the outcomes tables had been updated and that outstanding items continued to be followed up. An updated outcomes table would be circulated to the Committee.

   Papers: Item 6 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 6.1 - Actions, Item 6.2 - FWP, Item 6.3 - Outcomes

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.

• Phil Hourahine, ChairLabourPresent
• Bev Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Debbie Jenkins, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• John Harris, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• John Reynolds, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Lauren James, Committee MemberGreenPresent
• Malcolm Linton, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Matthew Evans MBE, Committee MemberConservativePresent
• Stephen Cocks, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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