Agenda and draft minutes

None.

Scrutiny Committee Public Open Forum ~ Guidance

Our Scrutiny Committee meetings are live streamed and a link to the live stream will be available on the meeting page of the Monmouthshire County Council website

If you would like to share your thoughts on any proposals being discussed by Scrutiny Committees, you can submit your representation in advance via this form

·     Please share your views by uploading a video or audio file (maximum of 4 minutes) or;

·     Please submit a written representation (via Microsoft Word, maximum of 500 words)

You will need to register for a My Monmouthshire account in order to submit the representation or use your log in, if you have registered previously.

The deadline for submitting representations to the Council is 5pm three clear working days in advance of the meeting. 

If representations received exceed 30 minutes, a selection of these based on theme will be shared at the Scrutiny Committee meeting.  All representations received will be made available to councillors prior to the meeting.

If you would like to attend one of our meetings to speak under the Public Open Forum at the meeting, you will need to give three working days’ notice by contacting Scrutiny@monmouthshire.gov.uk .  

The amount of time afforded to each member of the public to speak is at the chair’s discretion, but to enable us to accommodate multiple speakers, we ask that contributions be no longer than 3 minutes. 

If you would like to suggest future topics for scrutiny by one of our Scrutiny Committees, please do so by emailing Scrutiny@monmouthshire.gov.uk

The first speaker discussed the need for an environmental impact assessment for the CS0270 development, highlighting concerns about air quality and traffic emissions in Monmouth. He emphasised the importance of monitoring and mitigating air quality impacts. He also mentioned the inconsistency in air quality policies and the need for better monitoring methodologies to understand the true nature of traffic emissions. 

The second speaker raised concerns about the quality of drinking water in Monmouth, citing reports from the Drinking Water Inspectorate about significant risks of water contamination, specifically mentioning cryptosporidium. They urged reconsideration of the Dixton Road development due to potential water contamination risks. Concerns were raised about the feasibility of achieving 50% social or affordable housing in the Dixton Road development due to current economic and legislative challenges. It was noted that housing associations may not have the funds to purchase the required affordable housing stock. 

The third speaker objected to Redrow Homes' proposal to forgo an ecological impact assessment for the Dixton Road development, citing various environmental and ecological concerns, including the impact on drinking water, air pollution, and the habitat of endangered species. 

ACTION: To send these concerns and information to the Cabinet Member and officers to consider 

Councillor Martin Newell read a letter from a resident opposing the experimental traffic order on Goldwire Lane. Concerns included ambiguous signage, potential congestion, emergency access issues, and the impact on local residents.The Chair thanked the resident for her contribution. The committee noted it as an ongoing issue and invited the resident to return with further information in due course. 

The fourth speaker emphasised the importance of Vauxhall Bridge as the only level access pedestrian route onto Vauxhall Fields, which connects the north and south of the town. She highlighted its use by residents for accessing work, school, and leisure activities, particularly for less able individuals. 

The fifth speaker supported the previous points concerning the bridge, and reiterated its importance as a safe route from Osbaston into the town centre. 

To discuss with a representative of the Ministry of Defence the issues associated with the bridge.

Philip Young (Head of Estate, Ministry OfDefence)addressed the committee and answered the members’ questions. 

Key points from members: 

·                  A member enquired about the timeline for a resolution and whether there is a Plan B if funding is not approved. Mr Young responded that he could not provide a definitive timeline or details about a Plan B but once funding is available, the MOD will work quickly and closely with MCC to ensure any inconvenience is brought to an end as soon as possible. 

·                  A member asked if the Education department is aware of the bridge's closure and if there is a potential funding route through the Welsh Government for safe routes to school. Chair:… 

·                  Cabinet Member Angela Sandles provided an update on the ongoing efforts to resolve the bridge closure, including regular contact with local MOD officers and discussions with the town council. She emphasised the importance of reinstating the right of way for residents. 

·                  The Cabinet Member read a statement from Councillor Catrin Maby, expressing concern about the impact of the bridge closure on the local community and the need for a speedy resolution. 

·                  The Chair asked about the impact of the closure of Vauxhall Bridge on the community, particularly regarding safe pedestrian access, the well-being of the town, and the safety of children walking to school. Mr Young explained that the bridge was closed on public safety grounds due to structural concerns. He mentioned that a scheme to refurbish the bridge has been approved, but funding is currently lacking. The matter is receiving high-level attention within the MOD, and once funding is available, the works will be programmed and undertaken swiftly. 

Chair’s Summary: 

The Chair thanked Mr Young for attending today. She welcomed anyone who has not yet signed the petition regarding the bridge to do so as it will support Mr Young to get the matter resolved. The committee agreed to write a letter supporting the push for funding to repair the bridge, emphasising the importance of resolving the matter for the community's well-being.– ACTION 

Scrutiny of Monmouthshire STEAM (tourism volume and value) figures.

Cabinet Member Angela Sandles introduced the report. Nicola Edwards delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions with Councillor Sandles. 

Key points from members: 

·                  A member enquired about the data sets in the STEAM report, specifically how visitors arrive, how they travel once they arrive, and if there is any investment in promoting public transport for tourists. The officer explained that the majority of visitors arrive by car and travel around by car as well. She mentioned that efforts are being made to promote public transport and work with transport operators to encourage its use, although it is challenging in a rural destination like Monmouthshire. 

·                  It was further asked if any public money is invested directly into tourist promotion and if there is a correlation between such investments and positive impacts on the data. The officer responded that while the team does record and report on marketing metrics, detailed visitor research is expensive, and they do not currently have the budget for large-scale visitor surveys. She mentioned that the new Destination Management Plan would address these issues and provide more detailed insights. 

·                  A member asked about the correlation between the labour market statistics and the STEAM report. The officer clarified that the labour market statistics were not part of the report. She explained that the STEAM report focuses on the number of jobs supported by tourism, which is distributed across various employment sectors, including both employed and self-employed individuals. She mentioned that the 15% figure represents the total employment in Monmouthshire supported by tourism. 

·                  A member asked about the occupancy rates of hotel accommodation compared to self-catering accommodation, and enquired about the support for the private self-catering market, considering factors like tourism tax, business rates, and the necessity for holiday lets to have a certain number of days of occupation. The officer explained that non-serviced and self-catering accommodations drive economic impact growth in Monmouthshire. She noted that the accommodation profile is skewed in favour of non-serviced accommodations, which have recovered better post-pandemic. She highlighted the challenges faced by self-catering providers, such as the 182-day occupancy threshold for business rates, which is higher than in England, and mentioned that the visitor levy could be an opportunity if the revenue generated is reinvested to improve the visitor experience. 

·                  The member also questioned the need for further hotel accommodation versus improving self-catering options. The officer emphasised the importance of having a good range of different types of accommodations to attract various visitors, including those who choose destinations based on specific hotels. 

·                  A member asked how Monmouthshire is addressing the challenges posed by extreme weather on tourism and how to keep people coming back. The officer responded that destinations with wet weather attractions have been more resilient, highlighting the importance of having compelling experiences that are not affected by extreme weather. She mentioned that Monmouthshire already has some attractions like castles and halls that cater to this need. 

·                  The member also e  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Members were updated that the Water Quality item for the next meeting has been expanded to included concerns about sewerage in the Shirenewton area, at Councillor Brown’s request. Members were asked about their particular areas of interest, concerning Active Travel following Governance & Audit Committee’s action for scrutiny to review the success of schemes and to seek assurance that adequate progress is being made. Officers will email members for suggestions for future scrutiny– ACTION 

Councillor Strong expressed concern that the Flooding Strategy might not be ready until Summer; officers have been reminded that it has been on the committee’s work programme for some time and is in the Corporate Plan – scrutiny officers expect it to come in March.Councillor Brown requested that the committee be updated about the Night Shelter Petition – ACTION. 

Scrutiny officers noted Councillor Brown’s suggestion to add Chepstow to the list of Placemaking Plans to be scrutinised – scrutiny officers have requested an update on these. Councillor Strong suggested that the age of the county is factored into the Placemaking Plans and Councillor Dymock suggested that Town and Community Councils are invited to participate as well. The Chair encouraged residents to come to speak to the committee about any of their concerns.  

The minutes were confirmed, proposed by Councillor Strong and seconded by Councillor Brown, who noted the following correction: ‘Mountain Road’ to be replaced by ‘Mounton Road’. 

The meeting is at 2pm.