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 A Pugh declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 156 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration”.

2)              Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 156 “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 L S Gibbard declared a Personal Interest in Minute 159 “Building Capital Maintenance Programme 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 16 February 2023.

1)              Explosion at Clydach Road, Morriston

The Leader of Council referred to the recent tragic death following an explosion at Clydach Road, Morriston. He gave condolences to the family on behalf of the victim.

He also thanked the Swansea Council Officer, the Housing Team and the Emergency Services for supporting the community.

2)              Condolences, Councillor Hazel Morris

The Leader of the Council referred to the recent death of Councillor Hazel Morris. He stated that Councillor Morris had represented the Penderry Ward for 15 years.

All present observed a minute’s silence as a mark of sympathy and respect.

3)              Freeport at Milford Haven & Port Talbot

The Leader of the Council welcomed the announcement that Neath Port Talbot Council and Pembrokeshire Council as part of the Swansea Bay City Region had been successful in their bid to have Freeports at Milford Haven & Port Talbot.

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 feedback.

Call In Procedure - Urgency: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “either the Head of Paid Service, the Section 151 Officer or the Monitoring Officer certifies that any delay likely to be caused by the Call In Procedure could seriously prejudice the Council or the Public Interest including failure to comply with Statutory requirements”.

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure submitted a report that outlined the proposal to make the national default speed limit on restricted roads 20mph and detail those roads which will be exempt and remain at 30mph. The report sets out the consultation process to be followed and seeks confirmation of the approach taken.

Resolved that:

1)              The mandatory Welsh Government requirement to implement a default 20mph in Swansea be noted.

2)              The approach detailed in the report in respect of the implementation of the 20mph default speed limit in Swansea be endorsed.

3)              Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure to approve the exceptions agreed with individual Ward Members leading to the formal public advertisement of the appropriate Traffic Regulation Orders.

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 Corporate Services & Performance submitted a report that outlined the Corporate Performance for Quarter 3 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 3 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 Service Transformation submitted a report that provided details of the Disabled Facilities & Improvement Grant Programme and sought approval to include schemes in the 2023/24 Capital Programme. It also sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals”) - to commit and authorise schemes as per the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The Disabled Facilities and Improvement Grant Programme as detailed in the report be approved, including its financial implications, and that the Programme be included in the 2023/24 capital budget.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought to agree the schemes to be funded through the Capital Maintenance Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposed capital maintenance schemes as listed in Appendix A of the report be approved.

2)              The schemes and their financial implications as identified in Appendix C of the report be authorised to be included in the capital programme.

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure submitted a report that sought to confirm the Capital Work Programme for highway infrastructure assets.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposed indicative allocations, together with the Financial Implications set out in Appendix A of the report be approved and included in the Capital Programme.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Head of Highways and Transportation with the agreement of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure to prioritise, finalise and allocate funding to the appropriate schemes in line with the prioritisation approach detailed in this report.

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing 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 Community submitted a report that sought approval for Swansea’s revised Public Toilet Strategy.

Resolved that:

1)              The revised Swansea Public Toilet Strategy be approved.

2)       The future actions for delivery as set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved and authority be delegated to the Director of Place and Cabinet Member for Community to make any amendments or changes to the delivery plan.

The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation submitted a report that sought to provide details of the Welsh Government National Empty Homes Grant scheme and sought approval to participate in the scheme including match funding requirements and to include the scheme within the 2023/2024 and 2024/25 capital programmes to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” - to commit and authorise schemes to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The Council’s participation in the National Empty Homes Grant scheme and approves the provision of the match funding requirements be approved.

2)              The inclusion of the National Empty Homes Grant scheme in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 capital programmes be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” - to commit and authorise schemes to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The fact that the grant application as set out in the report has been approved by Welsh Government as part of the 2022/23-2024/25 capital bidding round for the Welsh Government Transforming Towns Programme be noted.

2)              The addition of the Welsh Government Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant Programme funding to the capital programme to support the delivery of the schemes outlined in paragraph 2.2 of the report be approved.

3)              It be noted that an inter authority agreement is being prepared to protect the Council’s position as lead Authority in distributing the funding received from Welsh Government to deliver the schemes on a regional basis and authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and City Regeneration in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer to enter into the agreement on behalf of the Council.

The Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report that provided information and sought the adoption of a temporary Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme relating to Business Rates, which has been introduced by Welsh Government for the financial year 2023/24.

Resolved that:

1)              The details of the scheme set out in the report be noted.

2)              The rate relief scheme outlined in the report for 2023/24 be adopted.

The Leader of the Council stated that pursuant to Paragraph 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972, he considered that the “Acquisition, Swansea City Centre” report should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

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)

Reason for Urgency: The acquisition is required to be completed this financial year and must comply with the grant conditions.

Call In Procedure - Urgency: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “either the Head of Paid Service, the Section 151 Officer or the Monitoring Officer certifies that any delay likely to be caused by the Call In Procedure could seriously prejudice the Council or the Public Interest including failure to comply with Statutory requirements”.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that sought approval to finalise the acquisition within Swansea City Centre as detailed in the report.

Resolved that the amended recommendations as detailed be approved.

Note: The meeting was adjourned for 23 minutes (11.27-11.50) during this Item to allow for the Appointments Committee to meet as scheduled.