Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

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 9 January 2020 subject to Councillor M C Child being shown as being present.

The Leader of Council made no announcements.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No questions were asked.

No questions were asked.

The Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills submitted a report which sought approval of the scheme for the extension and remodelling of YG Gŵyr subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government.  Authorisation was also sought to award the Contract to Tender No. 2 subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government.  The report also complied with Financial Procedure Rule 7 (Capital Programming and Appraisals) to commit and authorise schemes as per the Capital Programme or to include new schemes in the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The scheme for the extension and remodelling of YG Gŵyr be approved subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government;

2)              The contract be awarded to Tender No. 2, subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government;

3)              The capital scheme as detailed in the report together with the financial implications be approved, subject to confirmation of the grant and contract with Welsh Government.

The Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills submitted a report which sought approval for the scheme for the new build at YGG Tirdeunaw subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government.  Authorisation was also sought to award the Construction Contract to Tender No. 2 subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government.

The report also noted the requirement to modify the implementation date to enlarge YGG Tirdeunaw in line with the proposed contractor appointment and updated project timeline, and that a further report be brought to Cabinet prior to the original January 2021 implementation date, to seek approval to the delay and of the modification to the implementation date.

Resolved that:

1)              The contract be awarded for the remaining design and construction of a new build for YGG Tirdeunaw on land in the ownership of the Council at Heol Gwyrosydd to Tender No. 2, subject to confirmation of grant and contract with Welsh Government;

2)              The capital scheme as detailed in the report together with the financial implications be approved in line with FPR7, subject to confirmation of the grant and contract with Welsh Government.

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Performance submitted an information report which reported on the number, nature and outcome of complaints made against the Authority, together with details of lessons learned and service improvements.

The following reports had been prepared separately in conjunction with this report, and were appended for information purposes:

·         Adult Social Services Complaints;

·         Child and Family Services Complaints;

·         Freedom of Information Act (FOI);

·         Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

The Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy & Service Transformation submitted a report which set out the Council’s ambition to deliver new affordable homes over 10 years.

Resolved that:

1)              The Council sets a target to deliver 1,000 new Council homes via the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and a further 4,000 affordable homes as part of its ambition to deliver more than 5,000 new affordable homes over the period from 2021 to 2031;

2)              In line with Welsh Government grant funding requirements, a 3 year rolling programme of development schemes be produced setting out where the homes will be delivered and it is noted that any changes in the financial assumptions presented in this report will result in an increase or decrease in the number of units that the Council can afford to deliver;

3)              Any further decisions relating to the process above will be delegated to the Director of Place and the Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy and Service Transformation, and future development schemes are detailed and approved via the annual HRA Capital Budget report.

The Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy & Service Transformation submitted a report which outlined the Council’s intention to undertake a procurement exercise to appoint a development partner or partners to deliver mixed tenure housing schemes on a range of Housing revenue Account (HRA) sites as a joint venture arrangement.

Resolved that:

1)              The Council proceeds to undertake a procurement exercise to appoint a development partner or partners to develop a selection of HRA sites;

2)        Prior to commencing the procurement exercise, the Council undertakes the due diligence required;

3)        Appropriate legal, financial and planning support to support the process will be procured as necessary;

4)        Any further decisions relating to the process will be delegated to the Director of Place and the Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy and Service Transformation.

The Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills submitted an update on the progress in meeting the priorities set for the 2018-2019 academic year and outline priorities set for 2019-2020 academic year.

Resolved that:

1)              Progress be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Performance submitted a report which considered whether 70-72 Alexandra Road, Gorseinon should be appropriated under s122 Local Government Act 1972 for the purposes of Housing.  The land proposed to be appropriated is currently held by the Council as social services land and is considered to be surplus to requirements for those purposes.

Resolved that:

1)              The property identified on the plan at Appendix B of the report be noted as being surplus to requirements and no longer required for social services purposes;

2)              The property identified above be appropriated under s122 Local Government Act 1972 for the purposes of Housing, namely the provision of two residential units for council housing.

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)

The Cabinet Member for Delivery and Performance submitted a report which provided a detailed update concerning the Pilot Direct Property Development Project and a Prior Information Notice (PIN).

Resolved that the recommendations as detailed in the report be approved.