The meeting included a wide-ranging report pack. It covered topics ranging from children's services to planning, and from flood risk to the appointment of school governors. There were two requests to make Public Footpath Diversion Orders, a request to approve a grant for improvements to Bryn Golwg Play Area, the consideration of a half-yearly report on progress against the ambitions of the Corporate Plan and a proposed new placement strategy for looked after children.

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and Plan

Neath Port Talbot Council is required to produce a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and Plan. The report pack included a new strategy for the period up to 2030. This document was included to allow consultation to take place with stakeholders and the public, ahead of its adoption.

The plan identifies 15 Strategic Flood Risk Areas.¹ These include Afan, Afon Corrwg, Afon Pelenna, Ffrwdwyllt, Kenfig, Neath, Neath Vale, Afon Clydach, Tawe, Lower Clydach, Upper Clydach, Twrch and Amman. The strategy seeks to reduce flood risk in each of these areas.

It says:

The administration of surface water has been simplified by recent implemented legislation, but the average non-professional is still likely to find it difficult to develop an understanding of some of the more complex issues and there is a need to provide concise and clear guidance to address this.

It also sets out how the council will manage flood risk in each of the areas.

A Flood Alleviation Scheme at Stanley Place in Cadoxton was scheduled to start in June 2024. Similar schemes at Skewen, to reduce the risk posed by the Cryddan Brook in Neath, and to reduce the risk posed by the Grandison Brook in Neath are all scheduled to start in the period from 2025 to 2029. A new scheme to protect Morfa Glas from flooding is scheduled to start in 2031.

The strategy included an action plan. Some of the actions listed in the plan included:

• The continued implementation of coastal monitoring of the Baglan Burrows dune system.
• The continued maintenance and repair of the coastal defences along Aberavon Promenade.
• The assessment of the surface water flood risk at Swn-Y-Nant, Blaengwyfi, Margam Street in Cymmer, and Talbot Road in Port Talbot.
• The development of a feasibility study for the protection of Glyncorrwg from flooding.
• The continued maintenance of five critical flood risk assets in Afon Corrwg.
• The assessment of the surface water flood risk at Johns Terrace and Tonmawr Business Park in Tonmawr.
• The development of a Natural Flood Management solution on Mynydd Penrhys to reduce the risk of flooding to Tonmawr Road.
• The continued maintenance of two critical flood risk assets in the Ffrwdwyllt area.
• Liaison with the owner of the property at Bryn Community Hall to maintain the culvert intake at their site.
• The assessment of surface water flood risk on the rear lane off Commercial Road.
• The assessment of flood risk from the Nant Cwm Y Garn and Cwm Ffairty ordinary watercourses in Goytre.
• Liaison with Natural Resources Wales about fluvial flood risk at Taibach.
• The development of feasibility studies for new flood alleviation schemes at Margam and Ten Acre Wood.
• The mapping, inspection and maintenance of drainage apparatus on Prince Street in Margam.
• The assessment of surface water flood risk at Prince Street in Margam.
• The assessment of ordinary watercourse flood risk at Coed Hirwaun.
• Liaison with Tata Steel about their responsibility to manage coastal risk at Kenfig.
• The development of a feasibility study for the protection of Morfa Glas from flooding.
• The development of a feasibility study for the protection of High Street in Blaengwrach from flooding.
• The assessment of ordinary watercourse flood risk at Ynyslas Crescent and Neath Road in Resolven, and in Clyne.
• The continued maintenance of eleven critical flood risk assets in Neath Vale.
• The continued maintenance of the highway drainage system at Camnant Road.
• The assessment of ordinary watercourse and fluvial flood risk at Camnant Road.
• The maintenance and inspection of drainage apparatus at Golwg Y Bryn in Seven Sisters.
• The assessment of the ordinary watercourse flood risk at Golwg Y Bryn in Seven Sisters.
• The inclusion of the intake on Mary Street, Seven Sisters, on the critical flood risk asset inspection programme.
• The assessment of the ordinary watercourse flood risk at High Street and Church Road, Seven Sisters.
• The continued maintenance of five critical flood risk assets in Dulais.
• The development of a full business case and detailed designs for a Flood Alleviation Scheme to reduce the risk posed by the Cryddan Brook in Neath.
• The development of a Natural Flood Management solution on Mynydd Penrhys to reduce the risk of flooding to Tonmawr Road.
• Liaison with Natural Resources Wales to develop a feasibility study for a new scheme to reduce the risk of flooding to Milland Road and Pant Yr Heol in Briton Ferry.
• Liaison with Network Rail and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water about the underpasses on Church Street and Regent Street West in Briton Ferry.
• The periodical CCTV survey of the culverted watercourse on Park Avenue, Skewen.
• The assessment of the ordinary watercourse and surface water flood risk at Green Hedges, Rhos.
• The assessment of the capacity of the culvert on the Swansea Canal at Ynysmeudwy.
• The assessment of the flood risk posed by the canal at the Alloy Industrial Estate.
• The development of a feasibility study for a new flood alleviation scheme at Nant Hir

Corporate Plan 2024/2027 – Half Yearly Update 2024/2025

The council's Corporate Plan was adopted in July 2024. It sets out a series of well-being objectives and transformation programmes .

The report pack included a half-yearly update on progress against these ambitions. Of 48 strategic priorities, 46 were reported to be on track. There were 76 performance measures, 65 of which were on track. 2 were off track, including the project to save £350,000 per year on home-to-school transport.

The report highlights the impact of Welsh Government funding on service delivery, saying:

Improving and managing our local environment, culture and visitor economy has been further boosted as a result of financial investment from UK Government and Welsh Government funding.

It provides detail on each of the four well-being objectives. In particular it notes the improvement in school attendance figures as a result of a focus on early intervention and prevention.

It says that:

By addressing urgent situations at home, this service enhances safety and security, and supports continued independence for people at home.

Proposed Public Footpath Diversion Orders

Cwmavon

A report pack was included for a proposed Public Footpath Diversion Order for part of Public Footpath No. 127 in Cwmavon. The report recommends making the order because it says the current path is obstructed by an existing housing development. It says:

The proposed diverted route is already the de-facto route for pedestrian access between Heol-Jiwbili and Heol Crwys.

Port Talbot

A second report pack considered making a Public Footpath Diversion Order for part of Public Footpath No. 2 in Port Talbot. The report says:

The existing footpath length follows a narrow grass track before entering a working farm via the rear of the property.

It proposes making the order because it says that the current route presents a health and safety risk because it passes through a working farm yard.

Community Councils Minor Projects Scheme – Application from Clyne and Melincourt Community Council

The report pack included a request to approve a grant to Clyne and Melincourt Community Council.

The grant would be for 70% of the project cost, up to a maximum of £14,000, for improvements to Bryn Golwg Play Area.

The Community Council says:

The play area has not received major investment in many years, and is in desperate need of modernisation. The equipment is dated, underused and no longer suits the needs of the local community.

Arboricultural Management Plan

A report pack included a revised Arboricultural Management Plan. This new plan proposes to split the borough's trees into three zones of risk. Zone A includes:

Schools / A & B Roads (103km) / Playgrounds & Public Open Spaces / Country Parks / Formal Parks & Gardens / Cemeteries & Crematorium / Allotments / Town Centres / Residential Streets / Highway Verges

It proposes to inspect trees in these zones every three years. Zone B includes:

C Roads & Unclassified (651km) / Woodland areas – within falling distance of a public footpath.

The plan proposes to inspect trees in Zone B every five years. Zone C, which does not need to be inspected, includes:

Woodland

CIW – Foster Wales Neath Port Talbot Inspection Report

The report pack included the findings of an inspection of Foster Wales Neath Port Talbot, which was undertaken by Care Inspectorate Wales in July 2024. The report concludes that:

All evidence gathered at this inspection indicates the fostering service is well developed and effective in fulfilling its role in safeguarding children and promoting their well-being.

It goes on to say that:

Some systems need to be better aligned with regulations and guidance and some improvements are necessary to capture and understand the voice and the views of children and others, within written records to inform the ongoing development of the service.

Neath Port Talbot Council Children and Young People Services Placement Commissioning Strategy 2024-2027

A report pack included a proposed placement strategy for looked after children. The strategy covers the period to 2027, and sets out the council's plans to meet the needs of children and young people, particularly taking into account the Welsh Government's commitment to remove profit from the provision of children's social care.

The strategy says:

Some families may need support and we will continue with our strategic approach to innovatively deploy a range of Early Intervention and Prevention (EIP) support services which can prevent the need for children to become looked after.

It also describes the challenges presented by the current local social care market, saying:

The vast majority of residential placements located in NPT are occupied by children from neighbouring Local Authorities, resulting in the lack of placement choice and availability of local placements for local children.

Appointment of Local Authority Governors Representatives

The report pack included a proposal to appoint Local Authority governor representatives to schools in the borough. A number of vacancies were included for Baglan Primary School, Bryncoch Church in Wales Primary School, Creunant Primary School, Crynallt Primary School, Cwmnedd Primary School, Godre'r Graig Primary School, Llangatwg Community School, Melin Primary School, Rhydyfro Primary School, St Joseph's RC School & 6th Form Centre, Tairgwaith Primary School, YGG Blaendulais, YGG Gwaun Cae Gurwen, YGG Trebannws and Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera-Bro Dur.