Agenda and draft minutes

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Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services  Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from County Councillor D Evans and from Portfolio Holders County Councillors P Davies (due to other Council business) and G Breeze.

2.

Disclosures of Interest

To receive any disclosures of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

3.

Declaration of Party Whips

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

 

(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

Minutes:

The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

4.

General Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE)

To receive and consider a presentation and to scrutinise the development of the General Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE).

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Arthur Emyr (Welsh Government), Damian Barry (Arup), Philip Harrison (Arup) and Hannah Dineen (Grasshopper Communications) to the meeting.

 

Documents Considered:

·                 Presentation

 

Issues Discussed:

·                 This is a very important project for the Council, with Powys County council being a joint venture partner with Welsh Government and Neath Port Talbot Council. The site is within Powys, with the infrastructure for the rail head being in Neath Port Talbot County.

·                 This is a project brought to Welsh Government by the rail industry. The Director of Economic Infrastructure at Welsh Government Chairs the Project Board overseeing this project, and Nigel Brinn, Corporate Director Economy and Environment is the Council's representative on the project board.  A strategic outline case was published in June 2018. Welsh Government also engaged Arup as its advisor for the project.

·                 An Industry Evaluation Board considered the site and determined that it was suited for the intended purpose. An outline business case was submitted to the UK Government in July 2020 together with a request for £30 million worth of support. One of the current challenges is securing UK Government support for the project at present due to the comprehensive spending review. Welsh Government has asked the UK Government for a policy decision that this is the UK's preferred site. There is potential competition to the project with an alternative site in North Lincolnshire through a project led by Siemens.

·                 The GCRE site has good road access, there are also scheduled monuments, powerlines and a tramroad to accommodate as well as residential settlements close to the site in addition to the proximity to the National Park which have had to be considered in the engineering design for the project. To note that this is a major planning application and therefore requires an Environmental Impact Assessment application.

·                 There has been consultation with the rail industry and rail academic and other institutions for over two years in relation to the eventual track loop configuration. This is not only an engineering, testing, maintenance and validation project but also provides the opportunity for research and development, learning and training.

·                 Early engagement with stakeholders commenced in 2019. Pre-application consultation would commence on 17th September and run until 14th October, 2020. In addition letters will be sent to around 9,500 local residents and businesses notifying them of the consultation.

·                 The UK currently does not have such a high quality facility as proposed for GCRE at present with private and public organisations currently use test facilities in Europe and the USA. The facility will also allow open market access to allow competition and innovation. Rail projects within Wales and elsewhere are creating a need for this facility. This is a long term project and could be a catalyst for additional economic development on site, in the area and indeed across the South West Wales Region as a whole providing economic benefits as well as opportunities for job creation.

·                 It is anticipated that the project could be fully operational by 2025 and it is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The next meetings of the Committee will be held as follows:

 

19/10/20

10.00 – 12.00

Q2 Performance Reports

02/11/20

14.00 – 16.00

Possible Pre-Decision Scrutiny items from Head of Digital Services

07/12/20

10.00 – 12.00

Possible Pre-Decision Scrutiny items from Head of Digital Services

 

Potential items for consideration:

·       Regulatory Services

·       Recycling rates – what advantage is being taken of the increases in recycling rates and how can we maintain recycling rates.

·       Economic Impact Study / Town Centre Focus Group

·       County Farms

 

Update Information arising from previous meeting:

·       Car Parking Charges review – second meeting to be held in September.

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee noted that the next meetings of the Committee would be held as follows:

 

19/10/20

10.00 – 12.00

Q2 Performance Reports

02/11/20

14.00 – 16.00

Possible Pre-Decision Scrutiny items from Head of Digital Services

07/12/20

10.00 – 12.00

Possible Pre-Decision Scrutiny items from Head of Digital Services

 

Potential items for consideration:

·       Regulatory Services

·       Recycling rates – what advantage is being taken of the increases in recycling rates and how can we maintain recycling rates.

·       Economic Impact Study / Town Centre Focus Group

·       County Farms

 

Update Information arising from previous meeting:

·       Car Parking Charges review – second meeting to be held in September.