Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor D H Hopkins.

In accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

1)       Councillor M C Child declared a Personal and Prejudicial interest in Minute 51 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” as he was named in the report and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration;

2)       Councillors W Evans and C Richards declared a Personal interest in Minute 51 “Local Authority Governor Appointments”;

3)       Councillor C Richards declared a Personal interest in Minute 52 “City and County of Swansea’s Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee”;

4)       Councillor M Thomas declared a Personal interest in Minute 54 “Council Tax - Help for Pensioners”;

5)       Councillors M C Child and C Richards declared a Personal interest in Minute 56 “Response to the Report of the Social Care at Home Scrutiny Inquiry Panel;

6)       Councillors C E Lloyd and M Thomas declared a Personal interest in Minute 56 “Response to the Report of the Social Care at Home Scrutiny Inquiry Panel and stated that they had dispensation from the Standards Committee;

7)       Councillors M C Child, C E Lloyd and C Richards declared a Personal interest in Minute 60 “The Future of Employment Services in Swansea”;

8)       Councillors M C Child, C E Lloyd and C Richards declared a Personal interest in Minute 62 “The Future of Employment Training Services in Swansea”.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 16 July, 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting(s) listed below be approved as a correct record:

1)       Cabinet held on 16 July 2015.

The Leader of the Council indicated that he had no announcements.

No questions were asked.

No questions were asked.

Councillor A J Jones (Corporate Culture Scrutiny Inquiry Panel Convenor) presented the findings, conclusions and recommendations resulting from the Panel Inquiry into Corporate Culture.

CABINET DECISION

1)       Cabinet noted the report and tasked the relevant Cabinet Member to report back to the Cabinet meeting on 15 October 2015 with a written response to the scrutiny recommendations and proposed action(s) for Cabinet decision.

Policy Framework

Council Constitution.

Reason for Decision

To consider recommendations made by the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel and agree action.

Consultation

Finance and Legal.

The Cabinet Member for Education presented a report which sought approval of the nomination submitted to fill Local Authority (LA) Governor vacancies on School Governing Bodies.

CABINET DECISION

The following nominations be approved as recommended by the LA Governor Appointment Panel:

Policy Framework

Policy and Procedure for Appointment of Local Authority (LA) Governors as amended by Council on 23 October 2008.

Reason for Decision

To ensure vacancies are to be filled expeditiously.

Consultation

Education, Legal, Finance.

The Cabinet Member for Education submitted a report which sought approval for the City and County of Swansea’s Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) Management Committee’s Instrument of Government following new Regulations and Statutory guidance.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee’s Instrument of Government attached at Appendix A of the report be approved;

2)       The Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee’s Terms of Reference attached at Appendix B of the report be noted.

Policy Framework

None.

Reason for Decision

To comply with legislation.

Consultation

PRU Management Committee, Education, Access to Services, Finance, Legal.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategy submitted a report which sought agreement for a single story for Swansea that can be used by the Council and its partners.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The Swansea Story be agreed.

Policy Framework

None.

Reason for Decision

To establish a clear and single Swansea story that can be used for branding, engagement and promotional purposes.

Consultation

Access to Services, Finance, Legal.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategy submitted a report which sought agreement for a Council Tax Scheme to help Pensioners for 2015-2016.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The proposed scheme be adopted;

2)       The proposals and qualifying criteria set out in paragraph 2 of the report be agreed.

Policy Framework

None.

Reason for Decision

To comply with Financial Procedural Rules.

Consultation

Access to Services, Finance, Legal.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People submitted a report which sought approval of the Adoption Financial Support Policy developed in line with the establishment of the Western Bay Adoption Service.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The Financial Support Policy and the plans for the implementation of a standardised process to assess and review Adoption Allowances which will ensure compliance with the provisions of the Adoption Support Services (Local Authorities) (Wales) Regulations 2005 and Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 be agreed;

2)       The policy which will be a consistent one to serve the three Local Authorities across the Western Bay collaborative be adopted.

The recommendations above are made in order to assure Cabinet that the Council's statutory functions in relation to providing financial support to adopters are fully met, in accordance with legislation and guidance.

Policy Framework

Sustainable Social Services for Wales: A Framework for Action.

Reason for Decision

To implement a standardised policy and rate across the Western Bay region from 1^st July 2015 resulting in harmonisation of working practices and equality of approach to allowances paid to adopters.

Consultation

Access to Services, Finance, Legal.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Vulnerable People submitted a response to the Scrutiny Recommendation and presented an action plan for agreement.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The response to the recommendations as outlined in the report and related action plan attached at Appendix B of the report be agreed.

Policy Framework

Council Constitution.

Reason for Decision

To consider the Cabinet Member’s response to the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel’s recommendations.

Consultation

Access to Services, Finance, Legal.

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City submitted a report which sought agreement for the draft of the revised Gambling Policy, for the period January 2016 to January 2019, to be issued for consultation.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The draft of the revised Gambling Policy attached at Appendix A of the report be approved and issued for consultation.

Policy Framework

The City and County of Swansea, Statement of Principles, Gambling Act 2005. (The Gambling Policy).

Reason for Decision

To comply with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 and to publish the policy by the required date of 31^st January 2016.

Consultation

Access to Services, Finance, Legal.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report which sought to inform Cabinet of the reclassification of Revenue Reserves of the Council following a review by the Section 151 Officer of existing and future risk.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The comments in this report and the specific reclassification of existing revenue reserves of the Council as at 31^st March 2015, as detailed in Section 3.12 of this report, be noted.

Policy Framework

Sustainable Swansea Budget Plan 2015/2016.

Reason for Decision

It is a requirement of the Section 151 Officer to regularly review both the level of Earmarked and General Reserves held by the Council and the purpose for which they are held in the light of an ongoing assessment of future financial risks facing the Council.

Consultation

Cabinet Members, Executive Board, Corporate Equalities Unit, Legal.

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 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 Leader of the Council stated that he had withdrawn the original report circulated with the Cabinet agenda.

The Leader of the Council stated that pursuant to paragraph 100B (4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, he considered that “The Future of Employment Training Services in Swansea” report of the Cabinet Member for Education should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency.

The Cabinet Member for Education submitted an urgent report in relation to the work-based learning function currently undertaken by the Lifelong Learning and Employment Training Service (LLETS).

Reason for Urgency: To allow the Authority to address the increasing monthly deficit following the loss of traineeships as a result of the awarding of the Work Based Learning 4 contract in April.

CABINET DECISION

1)       The recommendations as set out in the report together with the amendment made at Cabinet be approved.

Policy Framework

·            Youth Engagement and Progression Framework Action Plan;

·            Swansea Economic Regeneration Strategy;

·            Swansea Tackling Poverty Strategy;

·            Swansea Safe LAC Reduction Strategy.

Reason for Decision

As set out in the report.

Consultation

A consultation period involving City and County of Swansea and Gower College staff will start from September 2015.

Published on 24 August 2015