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 68 “Local Authority Governor Appointments”.

2)               Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 68 “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.

3)              Councillor D H Hopkins declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 68 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and withdrew from the Meeting prior to its consideration.

4)              Councillor E J King declared a Personal Interest in Minute 73 “Workforce Strategy 2022-2027”.

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 8 September 2022.

2)              Cabinet held on 29 September 2022.

a)              Fiscal Adjustment / Mini Budget

The Leader of the Council referred to the recent Fiscal Adjustment / Mini Budget stating that it had significantly impacted on the value of the Pound (£) against the US Dollar ($). This in turn has raised pressure on the Council’s energy bill.

He called on those with influence to lobby the UK Government to extend the extend the Energy cap beyond 1 March 2023.

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.

No questions were asked.

Councillor P M Black provided Pre-Decision Scrutiny Feedback on the Oracle Project Investment.

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 and Strategy & the Cabinet Member for Service Transformation jointly submitted a report that provided an update on the Oracle Fusion project and sought approval for additional investment in the project to meet unavoidable costs associated with the pandemic and recovery from it.

Resolved that the revised plan and timeline for the implementation of the Oracle project together with further investment as outlined in Paragraph 4.1 of the report be approved.

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 & Learning be approved:

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that provided the outcomes from the 2022 Estyn Inspection of Local Government Education Servicers in Swansea.

Resolved that the findings from the 2022 Estyn Inspection be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance submitted a report that provided the corporate performance for quarter 1 2022/2023.

Resolved that:

1)              The Council’s performance in respect of managing the pandemic and its aftermath and achieving the Council’s wellbeing objectives for quarter 1 of 2022-23 be noted.

2)       The use of this information 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 endorsed.

The Cabinet Member for Culture & Equalities & Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance jointly submitted a report that sought to approve the grant of a new lease of the building known as the Dylan Thomas Theatre (Gloucester Place, Maritime Quarter, Swansea, SA1 1TY) to the Swansea Little Theatre.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposal to extend and secure the tenure of the Swansea Little Theatre by award of a 125-year lease to support the proposed use of the venue by awarding at a peppercorn rent be approved.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Head of Property Services to negotiate and settle the terms of the proposed lease and authorise the Chief Legal Officer to finalise the legal documentation.

The Cabinet Member for Community submitted a report that sought to approve the Litter Bin Strategy.

Resolved that:

1)              Swansea’s Litter bin Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance submitted a report that sought to approve the Workforce Strategy 2022-2027.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposed Workforce Strategy 2022-2027 and associated Action Plan be approved.

2)              An assessment of progress be reported back to Cabinet in October 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance submitted a report that sought endorsement of the principles that will underpin the Council’s post-pandemic working model, and which take account of operational requirements, customer expectations and workforce needs.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposed principles for post pandemic working at Paragraph 3.4 of the report be approved.

2)              The Chief Executive be delegated responsibility for applying the principles to all services.

3)              A report on the effectiveness of the principles on operational performance, customer expectations and workforce needs to be presented to Cabinet in October 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy (Leader of the Council) submitted a report that sought approval of the updated funding agreements and financial profile for Swansea Bay City Deal Life Sciences, Well-being, and Sport Campuses project.

Resolved that:

1)              The main principles of the amended funding agreements as set out in Paragraphs 4.2 to 4.4 of the report between the Council and the Accountable Body, and the Council and Swansea University be approved.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Chief Legal Officer / Monitoring Officer to finalise the terms of the funding agreements and to enter into the same on behalf of the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance submitted a report that outlined a response to the scrutiny recommendations and to present an action plan for agreement.

Resolved that:

1)              The responses as outlined in the report and related action plan be agreed.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought approval to commit £464,722 to the capital programme for the scheme for the remodelling of a hard-standing area and installation of a 2G all-weather surface facility on the existing land at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School. The funding included:

Ø    £200,000 from Swansea Council.

Ø    £30,000 from Swansea Council Play Fund.

Ø    £15,000 from Swansea Council Members Capital Fund.

Ø    £9,000 Ward Members Community Budget.

Ø    £210,722 Community Focused Schools Funding.

The report also sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7, to commit and authorise a new project to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              A total of £464,722 (including the previously approved £254,000) be committed to the capital programme for the remodelling of a hard-surface play area (old tennis courts) and the installation of a 2G all-weather surface at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought approval of the first annual budget (2022-2023) for the Partneriaeth Regional Education Consortium, including the contributions of each Council and for Cabinet to note the assumptions and estimates made in compiling the budget for 2022-2023.

Resolved that:

1)              The first annual budget (2022-2023) for the Regional Education Consortium, Partneriaeth as set out in Paragraph 3 of the report be approved.