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 C Stewart declared a Personal Interest in Minute 110 “Proposed Lease to Part of Coedgwilym Park to Friends of Coedgwilym Park”. Note: He did not participate in the Vote.

2)            Ben Smith declared a Personal Interest in Minute 105 “Budget Proposals 2022/23-2025/26”.

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 16 December 2021.

The Leader of Council made no announcements.

Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions 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 that sought adoption of the final Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) 2022-2032.

Resolved that:

1)            The final Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2022-2032 be adopted.

2)            The final Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2022-2032 be submitted to Welsh Government for its approval.

The pre-decision feedback was received.

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 informed of the Covid Recovery progress to date and recommended approval of the future plans and further investment proposals.

Resolved that:

1)              The good progress to date, and the ongoing flexibility required to respond to ongoing and emerging challenges and changes to the Council, its services and its workforce be noted.

2)              In line with the requirements of Financial Procedure Rule 7 (Capital programming and appraisals), Cabinet commits and authorises a new £2m scheme onto the capital programme for the data centre move to the Guildhall.

3)              The revised plan and timeline for the implementation of the Oracle programme together with further investment of £3,620,412 in line with the requirements of Financial Procedure Rule 5 be approved.

4)              The social services update be noted.

5)              The capital contingency update and the likely allocations be noted and agrees to continue to hold the balance as a remaining contingency sum.

6)              Allocates £2.05m of the Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) monies set out in the report for the purpose of enhanced play facilities and skate park facilities as a new capital budget in line with the requirements of Financial Procedure Rule 7; and delegates the delivery of this programme to the Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism and the Director of Place to finalise the detailed delivery programme.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought consideration of budget proposals for 2022/2023 to 2025/2026 as part of the Council’s existing Budget Strategy.

Resolved that:

1)              The Budget proposals summarised in the report and detailed in Appendix B of the report be approved as the basis of consultation.

2)              The updated budget future forecast be adopted as the starting planning premise for the new medium term financial plan, which will be considered by Council on 3 March 2022.

3)              The approach to consultation and engagement with staff, trade unions, residents, partners and other interested parties set out in Section 7 of the report be agreed.

4)              A report on the outcome of the consultation and final budget proposals be received by Cabinet on 17 February 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought to secure adoption of the new Regional Economic Delivery Plan for South West Wales by Council (to replace the 2013 Swansea Bay City Region Economic Regeneration Strategy).

Resolved that:

1)              The South West Wales Regional Economic Delivery Plan be approved and adopted as the Council’s over-arching economic regeneration policy to replace the Swansea Bay City Region Economic Regeneration Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy and Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Service Transformation jointly submitted a report that sought approval to adopt the South West Wales Regional Energy Strategy.

Resolved that:

1)              The ‘draft’ version of the South West Wales Regional Energy Strategy, as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Service Transformation to make any final changes to the Strategy in line with the approval process of the four Local Authorities.

3)              The onward submission of the draft South West Wales Regional Energy Strategy to the Regional Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) once formally constituted be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Operations submitted a report that outlined the actions taken during the pandemic to support the hospitality trade and proposed future policies and procedures.

Resolved that:

1)              The concession in respect of Pavement Licences and Highways Licences be extended until 31 March 2023.

2)              Those agreements and Licences which have extended into the carriageway be reviewed and extend as appropriate within existing delegated authority.

3)              A further review of licensed, non-highway land be received and considered by mid-2022.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that provided an update on the terms of the Management Agreement, Tenancy and Lease arrangements with Race Council Cymru, for the Cultural and Digital Hub at Swansea Grand Theatre.

Resolved that:

1)              The terms of the final version of the Management Agreement with Race Council Cymru (RCC) outlined in the report and set out in Appendix A be noted and the current recommendation for fees and room rates as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved.

2)              The provision of additional funding as set out in the Financial Implications at Paragraph 5 of the report be approved.

3)              Authority be delegated to the Head of Property Services, to enter into a Tenancy at Will, and in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer and the Cabinet Member for Investment, Tourism and Regeneration to negotiate and agree the final terms of the lease with Race Council Cymru.

4)              Authority be delegated to the Chief Legal Officer to enter into the lease on behalf of the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that sought approval to negotiate and agree Heads of Terms and enter into a lease with Friends of Coedgwilym Park for parts of Coedgwilym Park.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposed disposal of the land to Friends of Coedgwilym Park at a level of undervalue being acceptable to Cabinet based on advice of the Head of Property Services be approved.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Head of Property Services to negotiate and settle the terms of the proposed leases (and thereafter any required Deeds of Variation) and authority be delegated to the Chief Legal Officer to finalise the legal documentation.

The Cabinet Member for Supporting Communities submitted a report that provided an update on Swansea’s Third Sector Compact Agreement and the work to date of the Compact Liaison Group who were formed as part of the updated Swansea Compact Agreement with the Voluntary Sector in 2018.

Resolved that:

1)              The report be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Service Transformation submitted an information report outlining the Housing Rents Management Strategy 2022-2026.