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 J A Raynor declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 130 “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 L S Gibbard & J A Raynor declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 143 “Proposed Sale of Surplus Education Land at Olchfa School” 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 15 April 2021.

1)              Senedd Cymru & Swansea Council By-Elections – 6 May 2020

The Leader of Council congratulated the Local Members of the Senedd on their recent elections. He also congratulated Councillor Hannah Lawson (Castle Electoral Ward) and Councillor Matthew Jones (Llansamlet Electoral Ward) on their election to Swansea Council.

2)              Councillors C E Lloyd & J A Raynor

The Leader of the Council paid tribute to Councillors Clive E Lloyd & Jennifer A Raynor for their sterling work as Cabinet Members. He stated that both would be standing down as Cabinet Members later that day.

He thanked Councillor Raynor for her excellent work as Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills and congratulated her on her many achievements during her tenure.

He thanked Councillor Lloyd for his excellent work as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Community Health Services and his former work as Cabinet Member for other Cabinet Portfolios and as a former Deputy Leader of Council. He congratulated him on his many achievements during his tenure.

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 C A Holley asked a number of questions in relation to Minute 137 “Swansea Economic recovery Action Plan”.

The Leader of the Council responded.

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 Supporting Communities & Cabinet Member for Children Services submitted a joint report that detailed the delivery and spend plan for Children & Communities Grant 2021/22 outlining how services are commissioned to ensure service provision is sustainable, creates efficiencies and improves outcomes for people that use services.

Resolved that:

1)              The receipt of the Welsh Government Children & Communities Grant 21/22 be noted.

2)              The continuation and expansion of projects be approved as outlined in the Delivery Plan agreed by Welsh Government.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Community Health Services and Cabinet Member for Homes, Energy & Service Transformation submitted a joint report that detailed the delivery and spend plan for Housing Support Grant 2021/22 outlining how services are commissioned to ensure service provision is sustainable, creates efficiencies and improves outcomes for people that use services.

Resolved that:

1)              The receipt of the Welsh Government Housing Support Grant 21/22 be noted.

2)              The continuation and expansion of projects be approved as outlined in the Delivery Plan agreed by Welsh Government.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that sought to agree the temporality and associated conditions of the interim public realm, including the parklet, which will be installed in the St. David’s area as part of the Copr Bay programme.

Resolved that:

1)              The installation of the interim public realm solution in the St. David’s area in preparation for future development phases be agreed, subject to the conditions outlined in this report.

2)              The installation of a temporary parklet on the site of the former St David’s units 1-7 be agreed, and associated conditions:

a)              To be located at the abovementioned temporary brownfield regeneration site for a maximum term of two years, with the option to extend subject to a further report to Cabinet if the development timetable is not achieved.

b)              To be able to close and remove the Parklet from the site before the end of the term in preparation for development and grant delegated authority to the Director of Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance and Strategy to determine the timing of such.

c)              Grant delegated authority to the Director of Place, Chief Finance Officer and Chief Legal Officer to agree letting of units within the parklet on flexible terms and to enter into any documentation necessary to protect the Council’s interests.

The Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management submitted a report that sought to confirm the Capital Work Programme for the Welsh Government Highways Refurbishment Grant 2021 and to comply with Financial Procedure Rule 7 to commit and authorise schemes.

Resolved that:

1)              The proposed indicative allocations be approved and included in the Capital Programme.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Head of Service for Highways and Transportation in conjunction with 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 the report.

The Cabinet Member for Children Services submitted a report that outlined the progress of Swansea’s Children and Young People’s Right Schemes and sought agreement to commence a consultation of a plan of a page of the Scheme which will be formally approved by Council.

Resolved that:

1)              The contents of the Annual Progress Report 2019 attached at Appendix 3 of the report be noted.

2)              The contents of the Bridging Report for the period April 2020 to March 2021 attached at Appendix 2 of the report be noted.

3)              A formal consultation on the plan of a page of the Children and Young People’s Rights Scheme which is attached at Appendix 1 of the report be agreed.

4)              A formalised structure be co-produced for the inclusive and effective engagement of all children and young people in Swansea.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report that provided an overview on the requirement to establish Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) and sought delegated authority for Officers to enter into discussions with the Authorities referenced in the report to develop suitable proposals for the CJC arrangements in South West Wales.

Resolved that:

1)              The work being undertaken and next steps needed in relation to the governance arrangements for the South West Wales CJC be noted.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive (in consultation with the Leader of the Council) to agree to an application for grant funding being made to Welsh Government to establish the South West Wales CJC and to accept any grant offer that may be made by Welsh Government (whether made to this Council or to a participating Council in the Swansea West Wales CJC).

3)              Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to enter into dialogue with those Authorities who will comprise the South West Wales CJC to develop proposals for establishing the South West Wales CJC.

4)              A further report be brought back updating as to progress.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy (Leader of the Council) submitted a report that sought to approve the financial implications of the Swansea Economic Recovery Action Plan and the actions the Council is taking to support the recovery of the local economy from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Resolved that:

1)              The allocation of a sum of up to £20m to fund initiatives within the Swansea Economic Recovery Action Plan for the financial year 2021/22 and 2022/23 be approved.

2)              Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance and Strategy, the Chief Finance Officer and the Director of Place to implement the Swansea Economic Recovery Plan to include any further measures or initiatives which may be added to the Plan subject to the approved budget as set out within the financial implications section. Cabinet further authorise subsequent delegation of authority to the cabinet member and head of service relevant to the specific element of the Economic Recovery Action Plan to be delivered and subject to the approved budget.

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 C A Holley presented the Pre-decision Scrutiny Feedback.

Resolved that:

1)              The pre-decision scrutiny feedback be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism submitted a report that provided an update on development of 71/72, and 69/70 The Kingsway, and to seek budget authorisation to add the project to Capital Programme in line with Financial Procedure Rules (FPR7) and delegated authorisations.

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

The Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills and Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism jointly submitted a report that sought to approve the updated cost plan, to proceed to tender, and submit a proposal to the Football Foundation to develop an indoor 3^rd generation playing surface s part of the development, subject to planning application approval and completion of the tender process.

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

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Operations submitted a report that sought to approve the terms agreed for the acquisition of property in connection with the scheme. The site is to be acquired on the instruction of the Highways client as part of the land assembly programme for the Fabian Way scheme.

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

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Operations submitted a report that sought consent to dispose of surplus land at Olchfa School, at best consideration, for a sum in excess of delegated authority limits.

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