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)              Councillors L S Gibbard & A Pugh declared a Personal Interest in Minute 16 “Local Authority Governor Appointments”.

2)              Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 16 “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.

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 June 2022.

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 Education & Skills Policy Development Committee / Corporate Delivery Committee submitted a report that considered the implications of recovery from the Covid pandemic for learners in Swansea Schools.

Resolved that:

1)        Swansea Council explores with all key partners how we understand Swansea and its neighbourhoods.

2)        Swansea Council maps community assets and community engagement for all Swansea schools.

3)        Swansea Council reviews the use of Free School Meals as an indicator of vulnerability.

4)        Council considers how well schools engage with parents and communities in person, via social media, formally and informally.

5)        Council considers how philosophy in Swansea schools and communities can improve communication and wellbeing.

6)        Council explores the idea of Swansea Council becoming Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) informed Council.

7)        Council considers developing on-site facilities to increase vocational opportunities in schools, where required and continues to develop vocational opportunities for all learners for whom this is a preferable route.

8)        Council maps existing Learning Champions to inspire learners and seeks the support of both universities in driving forward Learning Champions for Swansea learners.

9)        Council provides all pupils in Swansea with a library card, promotes leisure/ sports facilities to schools and communities as well as outdoor learning as part of the schools’ curriculum.

10)      Council publishes its exclusions reduction strategy.

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.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning stated that the recommendation had been amended to remove reference to Bishopston Comprehensive School.

Resolved that:

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

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that outlined the capital proposal included in the Capital Funding Expression of Interest submitted to Welsh Government in respect of the Flying Start Programme 2022/23 (which has been treated by Welsh Government as a bid and subsequently approved) and to commit the scheme to the capital programme in accordance with the Council’s FPR7 procedure rules.

Resolved that:

1)              The grant expression of interest as detailed, together with financial implications that have been submitted and approved by Welsh Government as part of the 2022/23 capital bidding round for Flying Start provision be noted.

2)              The approved schemes be considered “in the round” based on the information provided in this report. If approved they should be committed to the capital programme in accordance with Financial Procedure Rule 7.

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing submitted a report that sought to endorse the Western Bay Area Planning Board’s Governance framework and sought approval to enter into a Financial Governance and Risk Sharing agreement with the responsible authorities to the Area Planning Board.

Resolved that:

1)              The Western Bay Area Planning Board’s Governance Framework be endorsed.

2)              Approval is given to enter into a Financial Governance and Risk Sharing agreement with the responsible authorities to the Area Planning Board.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance submitted a report that outlined the Corporate Performance for 2021/22.

Resolved that:

1)              The performance results for 2021/22 be endorsed and their use to inform executive decisions on resource allocation and, where relevant, corrective actions to manage and improve performance and efficiency in delivering national and local priorities be approved.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that detailed the City & County of Swansea’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) outturn compared with the approved revenue budget for 2021/22.

Resolved that:

1)              The comments and variations in the report be noted, and that the proposed reserve transfers of £1.005m detailed in Section 2.1 of the report be approved.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that detailed the capital outturn and financing for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Resolved that:

1)              The net underspend of the increased capital budget of £51.922m be carried forward to 2022/23.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that detailed the Revenue financial outturn for 2021/22.

Resolved that:

1)              The comments and variations in the report be noted and that the proposed reserve transfers detailed in Section 7.3 and 7.4 of the report be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming & Appraisals) to commit and authorise schemes in the Capital Programme and to add additional funding requirements for the remodelling and refurbishment of Bishopston Comprehensive School. The report also sought authorisation to commit a revised total of £15,163,914 to the Capital Programme to fund the construction phase costs.

Resolved that:

1)              The revised capital scheme as detailed in the report together with the financial implications be approved in line with FPR 7.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming & Appraisals) to commit and authorise schemes in the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The capital scheme in the sum of £1,804,997, as detailed in the report together with the financial implications be approved and included in the Capital Programme 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming & Appraisals) to commit and authorise schemes in the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The capital scheme in the sum of £1,443,998 to support small and medium scale practical projects to safely and effectively open schools in the community outside traditional hours be approved, and included in the Capital Programme 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that provided a summary of impact of the Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) for the period of 2021-22. The report also shared opportunities identified as part of continuous improvement and sought agreement for the new priorities and ERF investments for 2022-23.

Resolved that:

1)              The ERF will remain on hold until further notice and new applications will not be considered post 26 May 2022.

2)              ERF board decisions be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy, Chief Executive, Director of Finance / Section 151 Officer and Sponsoring Cabinet Member/s.

3)              All ERF applications received up to 26 May 2022 be processed

4)              New priorities and ERF investments for 2022-23 be agreed with consideration to the Policy Commitments approved by Council on 7 July 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism and the Cabinet Member for Community Services submitted a report that sought approval of the Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA) 2022 findings. The Assessment forms a statutory duty on Local Authorities to ‘secure sufficient play opportunities as far as is reasonably practicable’, therefore it relates to compliance with a statutory responsibility.

Resolved that:

1)              The Play Sufficiency Assessment attached at Appendix A of the report be approved.

2)              The Actions identified in Section 4 of the report to develop an Action Plan to address areas for development identified in the PSA be supported.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought adoption of the final Welsh in Education in Strategic Plan (WESP) 2022-2032 following the changes made in response to Ministerial comments. The report also sought permission to submit the final statutory WESP 2022-2032 to Welsh Government and for its implementation from September 2022.

Resolved that:

1)               Subject to the formal approval of the plan being provided by Welsh Government, the final Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2022-2032 be approved for implementation in September 2022.

2)               Delegation be granted to the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning in conjunction with the Director of Education to make any minor amendments to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan if necessary.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 to commit £1.255m to the Capital Programme to allow for the installation of an artificial games surface (3G) and new boundary fence at Olchfa Comprehensive School.

Resolved that:

1)               £1.255m be committed to the capital programme for the installation of an all-weather pitch and new boundary fence, to be funded from the proceeds of the sale of land at Olchfa Comprehensive School as agreed at Cabinet 15 March 2018, subject to completion of the land sale and receipt of 50% payment of the purchase price by the purchaser.

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 Education & Learning submitted an information report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 to commit £1.255m to the Capital Programme to allow for the installation of an artificial games surface (3G) and new boundary fence at Olchfa Comprehensive School.