Agenda and minutes
Venue: ZOOM.
Contact: Lisa Evans
No. | Item |
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Apologies Minutes: Councillor Keith Evans apologised for his inability to attend the
meeting as on other Council Business. Councillor Elizabeth Evans apologised for
her inability to attend the meeting. |
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Disclosures of personal interest (including whipping declarations) Minutes: There were no disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests
(including whipping declarations) from Committee Members. |
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Active Travel Network Mapping (ATNM) Review PDF 222 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: Chris Wilson and Gari Jones attended the meeting to advise the Committee of
the arrangements for the preparation of Active Travel Network Maps (ATNM). They informed the Committee of the increasing
Local Highway Authority network of Active Travel routes and infrastructure to
the Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP), which they advised is likely to have
additional resource implications for ongoing maintenance. Members will be
aware that under the provisions of the Act, the Welsh Government
appointed three Ceredigion settlements as ‘Designated Localities’ for active travel; namely; Aberystwyth,
Cardigan and Lampeter. The outcome of
the active travel scheme monitoring is reported to the
Welsh Government on an
annual basis and published on the Council’s Website. Officers advised
the Committee that development and construction of most active travel
infrastructure schemes is almost exclusively funded from applications to
access Welsh Government Capital Grants, mainly Active Travel Fund and to a
lesser extend safe routes in Communities. mainly Active Travel Fund and to a
lesser extend safe routes in Communities.
Officers advised that it is a condition of
Welsh Government grant funding that schemes must be designed and constructed in
accordance with the WG Active Travel Design Guidance. In reply to a question, Officers
confirmed that Welsh Government do not provide ring-fenced revenue funding
assistance towards the maintenance and upkeep of new infrastructure, and it is a
condition of accepting capital grant funding that the Authority becomes responsible for
any future maintenance costs which clearly carries implications for service
budgets. New routes predominantly for leisure/recreation purposes and routes outside of the three designated settlements and immediate active travel catchment area are likely to be unsuccessful and fail to attract funding. This caused concern amongst Committee Members as Ceredigion has many rural villages and Towns. In response to a question, Officers confirmed that Landowners play a large part in this process and if their consent is not provided then the Active Travel Scheme cannot proceed. Their cooperation is therefore crucial. Members asked many questions relating to their area of interest which were answered in turn by Officers. The Chairman asked if
land dedication letters could be posted to landowners
of the Rhiwgoch, Aberaeron
scheme once again to which an Officer replied
‘yes’. The Chairman asked for this to be recorded in the minutes. Following
a request from a Committee Member, assurance was given that officers would
contact Carms officers to ask them if they had any
intention of improving the A484/B4333 between Newcastle Emlyn and Carmarthen. Following a lengthy
discussion, Members were asked to consider the
following recommendation: ·
Committee is requested to
recommend that Cabinet endorse the ATNM Review and future expansion of the
Highway network and Asset management responsibilities in connection with Active
Travel provision. Members agreed to recommend that Cabinet
endorse the ATNM Review and future expansion of the Highway network and Asset
management responsibilities in connection with Active Travel provision. Councillor Dafydd Edwards, Cabinet Member,
apologised for arriving at the meeting late due to attending another Council
meeting. The Chairman ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Net-Zero Action Plan - Progress Update PDF 586 KB Minutes: Councillor Alun Williams, Cabinet Member, attended the meeting to
provide a progress update as to the actions set out within the Net Zero Action
Plan. Bethan Lloyd Davies and Lyndon
Griffiths were present to answer any questions arising from Members. All service areas saw emission reductions during 2020/2021, when
compared to previous financial years. A total equating to a cumulative 28.77%
reduction against a 15% target from 2017/2018 to 2020/2021. It was reported that the most notable reduction was in relation to
business mileage (travel undertaken by Staff in their own vehicles), which was
reduced by 71.96% when compared to the previous financial year. The Authority
spent £1,322,919 less on energy and fuel in 2020/2021 than in 2019/2020. It was reported that the Authority has
received two Grants, which will be used to investigate increasing the
Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure within the County. Ceredigion already procures ‘green’ electricity via the corporate electricity
contract. There
is further scope to look at procurement of ‘green’ gas, as well as liquid fuels
(e.g. LPG or biodiesel), although there is little benefit in
regard to the carbon accounting
figures, it could be considered best practise to ensure that the utilities come from
‘green’ sustainable sources. A land asset review undertaken by the Welsh Government Energy
Service has looked at various
sites for renewables, these are mostly subject to significant grid constraints. It has
however highlighted that there is going to be a need to ensure that renewable
installation are adequately sized and that locations are chosen dependant on their
ability to use the energy generated on site. Canolfan Rheidol car
park has been identified as a potential location for
solar Canopies and this is currently being
investigated. Renewables are also routinely being
introduced as part of building refurbishment works and also
the 21st Century Schools programme. As part of the programme, when building
new schools, the Authority will work towards decarbonisation and net-zero buildings. A new extension at Llwyn yr Eos School, has the
potential to become the Council’s first net-zero building. Ground source
heating and solar panels have been installed as part
of the scheme and it is hoped that this will set a benchmark for future
building works undertaken by the authority in future. Officer stated that they are currently
working to calculate the entire carbon footprint which
will be available in time for the next update. There were many questions from Members which were answered in turn by the Cabinet Member
and Officers. Committee Members agreed to note the
progress in relation to actions set out within the Net-Zero Action Plan. The Chairman thanked Officers and the Cabinet
Member for presenting the information. |
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Report on the current position of the Sewerage Treatment Works (STW) programme PDF 147 KB Minutes: Councillor Rhodri Evans, Cabinet Member, attended to provide information
in relation to the current position of the Sewerage Treatment Works (STW)
Programme as outlined in the report. Lyndon Griffiths, Cari Barker and Andrew Ginn were also present to answer any questions received
from Members. It was reported that to date three Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has adopted
STW’s, namely; Tan y Groes, Bettws
Bledrws and Blaencelyn, and
four STW applications submitted are awaiting further communication. Olmarch, Pontrhydygroes, Abermagwr and Bronant. There are a
further eight applications pending for future submission which are, Capel Dewi, Coed y Bryn, Cwmcou, Llandyfriog, Sarnau, Swyddfynnon, Ysbyty Ystwyth and Brynhoffnant.
Another six sites have issues that require resolution which are Blaennaerch (easement issues), Blaenporth
(Illegal connection), Lledrod (land issue – Barcud), Llwynygroes 1
(confirmation on land requirement), and Rhydowen
(land issue), Glan Ifor, Glanrhyd requires a design of a purpose built pumping
station. It is
intended to undertake this work through design and build contract. Bro Tygwydd, Llandygwydd, site
upgrade design has been completed and the scheme has been tendered with a
consultation with affected residents planned to take place during November. The
Officer then reported that works have not been completed
in relation to Tregroes (land acquisition), Llangwyryfon (access issue), Cilcennin
(land acquisition), Llwynygroes 2, Pentregat (unable to find suitable watercourse). Members asked many questions relating to those areas. Concern was raised with regard to some
residents having to pay Business Rates which is a
considerably higher amount. Members agreed that this issue needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency. Officers agreed and confirmed that work is in
progress with ongoing communication with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water in regards to those cases. Councillor Rhodri Evans thanked the Officers for the hard work
undertaken in every attempt to resolve these issues. The Chairman also thanked the Officers and the Cabinet Member for the
information presented. Members were asked to note the report contents.
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Minutes: It was agreed to confirm the minutes of the 1 October 2021 as a true record and there were no matters arising therefrom. |
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To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Forward Work Programme PDF 262 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Members agreed to note the Forward Work Plan as presented, subject to
inviting an Officer from Dwr Cymru
Welsh Water to a future meeting. It was noted that an agenda item relating to
Refuse Collection would be considered at the 20th January 2022
Committee meeting. Lisa Evans asked
Members to contact her if there are any specific issues they wish to discuss at
that meeting. It was agreed to include Flooding/Rivers as a
future item for consideration however, no date arranged. |