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(s) were declared:

1)            Councillor C E Lloyd declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 97 “Annual Review of Charges (Social Services) 2020/21” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to Stay, Speak and Vote on matters relating to Social Services.

2)            Councillor J A Raynor declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 98 “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.

3)            Councillor A S Lewis declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 98 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration.

4)            Councillor E J King declared a Personal Interest in Minute 100 “Community Asset Transfer - Swansea Community Farm”.

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 18 February 2021.

The Leader of Council made no announcements.

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.

No questions were asked.

No questions were asked.

The Leader of the Council stated that pursuant to paragraph 100B (4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, he considered that the “Business Rates (£500,000 & Under) - Temporary Rate Relief Scheme (Wales) 2021/2022” should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

Reason for Urgency: Welsh Government introduced this Temporary Rate Relief Scheme recently and it needs to be adopted prior to the start of the Financial Year 2021/22 so as to allow time for Officers to make the necessary billing arrangements so net bills can be issued promptly prior to end of financial year.

The Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report that provided information and sought consideration of adopting the temporary Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme relating to Business Rates (£500,000 & Under), introduced by Welsh Government for the financial year 2021/22.

Resolved that:

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

2)           The rate relief scheme and the application process outlined in the report be adopted for 2021/22.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Community Health Services submitted a report that reviewed the Social Services Charging Policy.

Resolved that:

1)            The findings of the annual review of changes be accepted, and that no new service charges will be applied in 2021/22.

2)            An inflationary increase of 1.75% be applied to all social services charges to come into effect on 1 April 2021/22.

3)            The charges for community alarm services remain the same, and are to be considered as part of a corporate commissioning review.

4)            The list of social services charges apply from 1 April 2021, for the year 2021/22.

5)            The new List of charges 2021/22 as set out in Appendix A of the report be agreed, and appended to the Council’s Charging Policy (Social Services).

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 Education Improvement, Learning & Skills submitted a report that sought approval to consult on a proposal to increase the planned places at Ysgol Pen y Bryn from January 2022.

Resolved that:

1)           Approval be given to consult on increasing the planned places at Ysgol Pen y Bryn from January 2022.

2)            The responses following the consultation period be considered.

The Cabinet Member for Supporting Communities submitted a report that sought approval to grant Swansea Community Farm a new 35 year lease at a peppercorn rent which is less than best value.

Resolved that:

1)            A new 35 year lease at a peppercorn rent be granted to Swansea Community Farm and the Director of Place negotiate and settle the detailed terms of the proposed lease / appropriate agreement and to instruct the Chief Legal Officer to finalise the legal documentation.

The Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy & Service Transformation submitted a report that provided details of the Disabled Facilities & Improvement Grant Programme and sought approval to include schemes in the 2021/22 Capital Programme. The report 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 & Improvement Grant Programme as detailed in the report, including its financial implications, be approved and included in the 2021/22 capital budget.

The Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management submitted a report that confirmed 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 Service for Highways and Transportation with the agreement of the Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement and Infrastructure Management to prioritise, finalise and allocate funding to the appropriate schemes in line with the prioritisation approach detailed in this report.

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 and included in the Capital Programme.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that provided an update on the outcomes of the Review previously commissioned as a result of the Black Lives Matter Motion to Council and sought endorsement for the subsequent recommendations.

Resolved that:

1)            The findings of the review be noted and the Head of Cultural Services be authorised, in consultation and collaboration with the relevant Cabinet Members, to:

a)            Commission interpretation where the place name is identified as having links to exploitation or the slave trade, via QR or other information tools.

b)            Direct the further research required of the Working Group in exploring information and references, including new material as it comes forward, as well as new proposals for inclusion gleaned through collaboration and consultation with the community and their representatives.

c)            Endorse the positive action of an invitation for responses that reflect all our communities and individuals of all backgrounds and abilities, including black history, lgbtq+, cultural and ethnic diversity, in future commissions for the city’s arts strategy, events and creative programmes, blue plaque and other cultural activities.

d)            Compile and continuously refresh the list of names included in Appendix B of the report, in collaboration with community representatives, to be published and updated, as a reference tool for current and future opportunities in destination / street naming.

2)            Future decisions relating to destination / street naming be delegated to the Heads of Service for Planning & City Regeneration, Cultural Services and Highways & Transportation in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance& Strategy submitted a report that sought to approve the Swansea Economic Recovery Action Plan, which is a working document setting out the actions the Council needs to take to support the recovery of the local economy from the covid-19 pandemic.

Resolved that:

1)            The Swansea Economic Recovery Action Plan be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning submitted a report that sought permission to defer withdrawal from the Regional School Improvement Service (ERW) from 31 March 2021 to 31 March 2021.

Resolved that:

1)            Cabinet notes that since serving notice to withdraw from ERW the work around a new footprint and model for regional school improvement has not been progressed to enable a smooth transition to a new model by 31 March 2021.

2)            Cabinet notes that any new model for school improvement is likely to need legal changes to governance arrangements which will not be in place by 31 March 2021.

3)            Cabinet agrees to therefore withdraw the notice to withdraw served on 20 March 2020 and remain in ERW until 31 August 2021.

1)            The Director of Education and Chief Legal Officer be delegated authority to enter into any Deed of Variation necessary to ensure any change to withdrawal arrangements or any other necessary amendments approved by the Joint Committee.

The Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report providing information and sought consideration of the adoption of a new temporary Enhanced Hospitality and Leisure Rates Relief Scheme (EHLRRS) relating to the Non-Domestic Rates due in respect of very large hospitality, leisure and tourism properties, which the Welsh Government has introduced for the financial year 2020/21. This supplements the previously announced Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief Scheme adopted by the Council on 18 June 2020.

The Leader of Council stated that the Council received notification on 16 March 2021, that the Welsh Government had extended this rate relief scheme for the year 2021/22. An amended report had been circulated reflecting the small differences in guidance for the 2021/22 relief and a revised recommendation that Cabinet adopt this scheme for both 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Resolved that:

1)            The details of the scheme as outlined in the report be noted.

2)            The rate relief scheme and the application process outlined in the report be adopted for 2020/21 and 2021/22.

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 Delivery & Operations submitted a report that provided an update on current activities at Swansea Airport because of the longstanding issues highlighted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) & Health & Safety Executive (HSE). A report was previously presented to Cabinet on 19 March 2020. This current report sought to provide an updated position, illustrating the significant progress made to date, including the outcome of an independent audit report that the Authority has recently commissioned.

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

The Cabinet Members for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals” to commit and authorise the addition of new schemes to the

Capital Programme.

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