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 interest was declared:

1)        Councillor J A Raynor declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 62 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and stated that she 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 17 December 2020.

2)              Cabinet held on 7 January 2021.

1)              Covid-19 Vaccination

The Leader of Council stated that Covid-19 vaccination was being administered in Swansea from 3 Vaccination Centres, 49 GP Surgeries and a Mobile Unit. To date over 20,000 people had received the vaccination.

Questions must be submitted in writing, 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.

Questions were received from Jason Williams, Sara Keeton & Pamela Erasmus in relation to Minute 66 “Proposed Lease to Mumbles Community Council under the Community Asset Transfer Policy”.

The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting.  Questions must relate to items on the agenda.

1)              Councillor M C Child asked questions in relation to Minute 63 “Co-production Social Care Strategy”.

2)              Councillors M C Child and L J Tyler-Lloyd asked questions in relation to Minute 66 “Proposed Lease to Mumbles Community Council under the Community Asset Transfer Policy”.

The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report which outlined budget proposals for 2021-2022 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 4 March 2021.

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 presented to Cabinet on 18 February 2021.

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 Members for Adult Social Care & Community Health Services, Children Services and Supporting Communities jointly submitted a report which outlined the development of a Co-production Strategy in Social Care.

Resolved that:

1)              The Co-production Strategy for Social Care be approved and adopted for the Social Services Directorate.

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Operations submitted a report which sought a decision whether Bryn House, 78 Walter Road, Swansea should be appropriated under s122 Local Government Act 1972 for the purposes of Housing. The land proposed to be appropriated is currently held by the Council as Education land and is considered to be surplus to requirements for those purposes.

Resolved that:

1)              The property identified on the plan at Appendix B of the report be noted as being surplus to requirements and no longer required for Education purposes.

2)              The property identified above be appropriated under s122 Local Government Act 1972 for the purposes of Housing, namely the provision of eight residential units for council housing upon the terms set out in Paragraph 3 of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management submitted a report which provided information on the Bus Emergency Scheme (BES) and sought agreement to sign up to the BES 2 Scheme.

Resolved that:

1)              The Authority signs up to the BES 2 Agreement, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, as the  regional lead authority to secure (conditional) financial support for the bus sector and to establish a relationship with their constituent local authorities that ensures that the ongoing emergency funding meets those authorities’ priorities and is delivered on their behalf.

2)              In the event that the template agreement at Appendix 2 of the report is varied by Welsh Government, authority is delegated to the Director of Place together with the Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management, in conjunction with the Chief Legal Officer, to agree any amendments necessary to the draft agreement; and authorises the Chief Legal Officer to enter into the agreement on behalf of the Council as regional lead authority.

3)              Authority be delegated to the Chief Legal Officer to enter into any ancillary documentation necessary to deliver the scheme including any inter authority agreements with other councils in the region or with any participating operators.

4)              A further report be presented to Cabinet on bus reform proposals relating to the future management of bus services in Wales.

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”.

Councillor P M Black provided the Pre-decision Scrutiny feedback.

The Cabinet Members for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism and Delivery & Operations submitted a joint report which sought approval to negotiate and agree Heads of Terms and enter into a lease with Mumbles Community Council for land at Llwynderw for the purpose of constructing and managing a new skate park on the site.

Resolved that:

1)              The outcome responses from the consultation process under the public open spaces legislation that was undertaken in respect of the land identified in appendix A (site plan) of the report be noted. A full copy of the responses received, and each of those that Object, Support or provide a Neutral comment has been provided as Appendix G, with a high level summary provided within the body of this report.

2)              The proposed disposal of the land to Mumbles Community Council at a level of undervalue being acceptable to Cabinet and based on advice of the Director of Place be approved. Authority be delegated to the Director of Place to negotiate and settle the terms of the proposed lease of the land identified in Appendix A (Site Plan) of the report and authority be delegated to the Chief Legal Officer to finalise the legal documentation.

3)              Improvements be made to the site in line with the associated planning permission reference 2019/2345/FUL granted on 13 February 2020 for a replacement Skatepark at West Cross Skate Park, Mumbles Road, Blackpill, Swansea.

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 Members for Adult Social Care & Community Health Services and Homes, Energy & Service Transformation jointly submitted a report which detailed the procurement plan for Housing Support Grant and sought approval to issue contract extensions in line with the proposed timescales for providers which are currently commissioned to ensure service provision is sustainable, creates efficiencies and improves outcomes for people that use services.

Resolved that the recommendations as detailed in the report be approved.

The Cabinet Members for Economy, Finance & Strategy, Supporting Communities and Investment, Regeneration & Tourism jointly submitted a report which sought authority to serve as a gateway provider of the Kickstart Scheme and to create grant funded Kickstart placements within Swansea Council and to commit and authorise the addition of a new revenue grant funded scheme.

Resolved that the recommendations as detailed in the report be approved.