Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

1)              Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 185 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to Stay, Speak but Not Vote on matters relating to the Appointment of Local Authority Governors.

2)              Councillors R Francis-Davies & R V Smith declared a Personal Interest in Minute 196 “Strategic Partners Energy Costs Financial Support 2023/2024”.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting(s) listed below be approved and signed as a correct record:

1)              Cabinet held on 20 April 2023.

The Leader of Council made no announcements.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence.  Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows. Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

No questions were asked.

Councillor C A Holley asked several questions relating to Minute 195 “Update on Progress of Blue Eden” & Minute 196 “Strategic Partners Energy Costs Financial Support 2023/2024”.

The Leader of the Council responded.

The Local Authority Governors Appointment Group submitted a report, which sought approval of the nominations submitted to fill Local Authority (LA) Governor vacancies on School Governing Bodies.

Resolved that:

1)              The following nominations recommended by the Director of Education in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills be approved:

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought approval of the Vulnerable Learners Service Inclusion Strategy 2023-2028.

Resolved that:

1)              The report be approved.

2)              The Vulnerable Learners Service Inclusion Strategy 2023-2028 be agreed as the formal mechanism for the Education Directorate to identify the key priorities for supporting vulnerable learners and the strategies to address those priorities.

3)              The impact tracker be used to monitor progress and impact and reported via the Vulnerable Learners Service Plan. This will not remove other reporting mechanisms but rather provide an additional mechanism to draw all strands of support together.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7.4 to commit and authorise a further £378,244 to the capital programme bringing the total to £1,633,244, to allow for the installation of an artificial games surface (3G) and new boundary fence at Olchfa Comprehensive School.

Resolved that:

1)              The addition of a further sum of £378,244 to the capital programme bringing the total sum committed to this scheme to £1,633,244 be approved. This increased commitment is based on tender return values and is to be funded from the proceeds of the sale of land Olchfa Comprehensive School.

Councillor C A Holley provided pre-decision feedback.

Call In Procedure - Subject to Pre-Decision Scrutiny: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “the decision has been subject to Pre-Decision Scrutiny and there is no material change in relevant information / evidence”.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought to commit and authorise schemes approved via the Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) in excess of one million pounds to the Capital Programme 2022/2023-2027/2028 and to comply with Financial Procedure Rule7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals”.

Resolved that:

1)              The additional allocation of £2,050,000 to be included within the Capital Budget & Programme 2022/23-2027/28 be approved, as under ERF UPRN 156 Play Sufficiency.

2)              The additional allocation of £1,045,000 to be included within the Capital Budget & Programme 2022/23-2027/28 be approved, as under ERF UPRN 157 Skate Facilities, together with existing funds of £45,000 held for Street Sports.

3)              The additional allocation of £1,500,000 to be included within the Capital Budget & Programme 2022/23-2027/28 be approved, as under ERF UPRN 153 Domiciliary Care Travel.

The Cabinet Member for Care Services submitted a report that sought to approve the Capital improvement and development scheme for existing Adult Services Day Service Provision in Swansea Council and to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” to commit and authorise a scheme to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The Capital Improvement and Development Scheme together with the financial implications be approved and included into the capital programme for the next 4 years - 2023 to 2027.

The Cabinet Member for Community submitted a report that sought to approve the Capital improvement and development scheme for existing Early Help Hubs in Child & Family Services in Swansea Council and to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” to commit and authorise a scheme to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The Capital Improvement and Development Scheme together with the financial implications be approved and included in the Capital Programme for 2023/24.

The Cabinet Member for Care Services submitted a report that sought to approve the Capital improvement and development scheme for existing Adult Services Residential Care Settings in Swansea Council and to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” to commit and authorise a scheme to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The Capital Improvement and Development Scheme together with the financial implications are approved and included into the capital programme for the next 4 years - 2023 to 2027.

Councillor C A Holley provided pre-decision feedback.

Call In Procedure - Subject to Pre-Decision Scrutiny: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “the decision has been subject to Pre-Decision Scrutiny and there is no material change in relevant information / evidence”.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought to approve schemes associated with residual Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) to be undertaken in 2023-2024 financial year in compliance with Financial Procedure 5.

Resolved that:

1)              The schemes listed within Appendix A of the report will continue to ensure the primary purpose is satisfied.

2)              The allocation for schemes listed within Appendix B, Sections 2.1 and 2.2, together with the appropriate financial implications as set out in the report be approved.

3)              Delegates the development of the scheme detail to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance and Strategy, Chief Executive, and Director of Finance within the overall financial envelope set out in this report.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that To advise on progress of discussions with various parties on the project formerly known as Blue Eden specifically concerned with completion of collaboration agreement and proposed land transactions to facilitate the development.

Resolved that:

1)              The progress made to date on discussions with DST and wider partners including Network Rail and Transport for Wales be acknowledged.

2)       The disposal of the land listed below be approved and authority be delegated to officers to agree the final heads of terms and conclude documentation for disposal/occupation by way of lease of:

·                 The site adjacent to the Fabian Way Park and Ride together with the enhancement of the existing site.

·                 The land comprising the closed elements of the Tir John site proposed for Solar Farm development.

·                 Part of former Morrissey Site in SA1.

3)       The grant funded acquisition of part of Burrows Yard and it’s subsequent disposal if needed at commercial terms be approved and authority be delegated to officers to agree the necessary heads of terms and documentation to complete the transactions.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought approval for the levels of financial support needed for the period April 2023 to March 2024 for our strategic partners (Freedom Leisure, Wales National Pool and Swansea Arena) specifically related to increased energy costs, including overall likely additional levels of partnership underwriting required specifically for Wales National Pool for the same period.

Resolved that:

1)              Financial support to Freedom Leisure until 31 March 2024 to fund the significant increased energy costs of £1,020,570 be approved in addition to the payment of the contractual monthly management fee for the financial year 2023/2024, with all payments reconciled under an open book approach.

2)              The extension of financial relief to Wales National Pool Swansea (WNPS) to include Council underwriting of an additional deficit including increased energy costs of up to £200k for financial year 2023/2024 be approved.

3)              Financial contribution of up to £210k in 2023/24 to fund energy costs above those forecasted in the business plan for Swansea Arena be approved, with payments made to Ambassador Theatre Group being reconciled under an open book approach.

4)              Authority be delegated to the Director of Place to agree any changes to service specification, the terms and conditions attached to any offer of underwriting or other support measures including authority to vary the level and period of financial relief providing that the total of all such variations are within the scope of the budget approval for financial relief within resolutions 1, 2 and 3.

5)              Authority be delegated to the Chief Legal Officer to enter into any documentation necessary to implement any of the recommendations in this report and to protect the Council’s interests.

Cabinet were requested to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the item(s) of business identified in the recommendations to the report(s) on the grounds that it / they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 relevant to the items of business set out in the report(s).

Cabinet considered the Public Interest Test in deciding whether to exclude the public from the meeting for the item of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant as set out in the report.

Resolved that the public be excluded for the following item(s) of business.

(Closed Session)

Councillor C A Holley asked several questions relating to Minute 199 “Strategic Partners Energy Costs Financial Support 2023/2024” & Minute 201 “Updated FPR7 for Palace Theatre Refurbishment”.

The Leader of the Council responded.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted an information report that provided confidential information of the levels of financial support needed for the period April 2023 to March 2024 for our strategic partners (Freedom Leisure, Wales National Pool and Swansea Arena) specifically related to increased energy costs.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted an information report that outlined the progress of the project formerly known as Blue Eden.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” - to provide an updated position regarding the Palace Theatre project.

Resolved that the amended recommendations as detailed be approved.