Agenda and minutes

The Leader of the Council commenced the Meeting with a minute’s silence in memory of His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

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 J A Raynor declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 117 “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.

2)            Councillors R C Stewart & A H Stevens declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 123 “Further Rental Concessions to Support Council Commercial Tenants during the Covid-19 Lockdown” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration.

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 March 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.

Councillor E W Fitzgerald asked a number of questions in relation to Minute 119 “FPR 7 – Local Transport Fund, Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund and Active Travel Fund Grants 2021/22”.

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 Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted an information report that advised of the partnership operations of key facilities within the Cultural Services portfolio.

The Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management and Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy and Service Transformation submitted a joint report that sought to approve the funding application for Local Transport Fund (LTF) Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund (ULEVTF) and Active Travel Fund (ATF). It also sought delegated approval upon receipt of grant award letter to Director and Cabinet Member for expenditure on the associated projects in 2021/22.

The report also sought to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 “Capital Programming and Appraisals”, to commit and authorise schemes in the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)            The grant funding applications be approved, and assign delegated authority to the Cabinet Members and Director of Place, to accept the grant funding upon receipt of grant award letter and that the LTF, ULEVTF and ATF schemes, together with their financial implications be included in the capital programme for 2021/2022.

The Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management submitted a report that noted the reduction in the revised grant-funding award for the Local Transport Network Fund 2020/21 (LTNF) monies and sought approval for expenditure on the associated projects in 2020/21.

Resolved that:

1)            The LTNF scheme, together with the financial implications, 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 the addition of new schemes to the Capital Programme.

Resolved that:

1)            The delivery of the Dylan Thomas House Scheme in partnership with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) be approved.

2)            This scheme, its legal and financial implications be approved and the scheme to be added to the capital programme.

3)            The Director of Place and Chief Finance Officer be delegated authority to release the capital outlined in the table at paragraph 5.1 of the report and at relevant intervals, as part of the capital programme.

4)            The Director of Place, the Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer be granted delegated authority to enter into any legal agreements necessary to progress the scheme including an agreement with UWTSD to cover off any related commercial and grant funding compliance risks.

5)            The grant bid to the Welsh Government Building for the Future Programme to secure £900k of funding on behalf of UWTSD in support of the proposed scheme be approved and any further grant bids that may be available.

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)

Councillor A S Lewis (Joint Deputy Leader of the Council) Presiding

The Cabinet Members for Delivery & Operations submitted a report that sought to deliver further financial support to the Councils commercial tenants due to extended period of lockdown. The support will be in the form of additional rent concessions and is required to ensure tenant survival, in addition to minimising the impact on the local economy & potential job losses.

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

Councillor R C Stewart (Leader of the Council) Presiding

The Cabinet Members for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management submitted a report that sought to confirm the outcome of the revised funding award letter for Local Transport Fund (LTF) monies and sought approval for expenditure on the associated projects in 2020/21.

It also sought 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.