Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Business Intelligence gave advice regarding the potential personal and prejudicial interests that Councillors and / Officers may have on the agenda.

 

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Business Intelligence reminded Councillors and Officers that the “Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests” sheet should only be completed if the Councillor / Officer actually had an interest to declare. Nil returns were not required. Councillors and Officers were also informed that any declarable interest must be made orally and in writing on the sheet.

 

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

 

(1)  Councillors M Durke, R Francis-Davies, K M Griffiths, T J Hennegan, L James, J W Jones, M H Jones, W G Lewis, R D Lewis, D G Sullivan, W G Thomas and T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 179 “Admissions Arrangements 2019/2020”;

 

(2)  Councillors J P Curtice, C R Doyle, M Durke, D H Helliwell, C A Holley,  S J Gallagher, J A Hale, R D Lewis, H M Morris, A Pugh and T M White         declared a Personal Interest in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2018/2019”;

 

(3)  S Caulkin, T Meredith, M Nichols, P Roberts and S Woon declared a Personal & Prejudicial Personal in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2018/2019” and left prior to discussion.

 

(4)  G Borsden and D Yeates declared a Personal & Prejudicial Personal in Minute 180 “Pay Policy 2018/2019” but remained to record the decision/present the report.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the following Minutes be approved and signed as a correct record:

 

1)       Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 1 March 2018.

 

2)       Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 6 March 2018.

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Business Intelligence indicated that there were no questions requiring responses from the last Ordinary Meeting of Council.

 

1)              Condolences

 

a)              Ieuan Jones, Husband of Councillor Susan M Jones

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Ieuan Jones, husband of Councillor Susan M Jones.

 

He stated that Councillor Susan Jones had thanked all Councillors for their support, cards and flowers during this difficult period.

 

b)              Former Councillor Nick J Tregoning

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor Nick Tregoning.  Former Councillor Tregoning served the Dunvant Electoral Ward from 6 May 1999 to 3 May 2012.  Former Councillor Tregoning was also a former Cabinet Member for Social Services and Presiding Member.

 

Councillors P M Black, C A Holley, M C Child and P R Hood-Williams all paid tribute to Nick’s work and commitment to his role as a Councillor and advocate for the public.

 

c)              Former Chief Executive and Director of Finance of Lliw Valley Borough Council - George Sambrook

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Chief Executive and Director of Finance of Lliw Valley Borough Council, George Sambrook.

 

All present stood in silence as a mark of sympathy and respect.

 

2)              Queen’s Awards

 

The Presiding Member was delighted to announce that Swansea’s City of Sanctuary had been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services.  The award was presented by the Countess of Wessex on 19 March 2018.

 

3)              High Sheriffs Award, Matthew McLaughlin (Dinky) from Cockett Ward

 

The Presiding Member stated that Matthew McLaughlin (Dinky) from Cockett Ward had been volunteering since the age of 9 and still is at age 21.  He’s volunteered at The Community Farm, Tŷ Fforestfach Community House and The Roots Foundation where he makes a massive contribution with his non-judgemental approach to the youngsters.

 

Councillor Wendy Lewis nominated Matthew McLaughlin for a High Sheriffs Award, and he was lucky enough to win this for his volunteering.  On behalf of the Council, he thanked Matthew for his volunteering and congratulated him on his High Sheriffs Award.

 

4)              Amendments / Corrections to the Council Summons

 

a)              Item 9 “Admissions Arrangements 2019/2020”

 

Amendment to the final sentence on Page 23, Paragraph 5 to read:

“An Admissions Forum had been scheduled but did not go ahead as the meeting was not quorate and therefore no recommendations on the Admission Arrangements 2019-2020 were made.”

 

b)              Item 10 “Pay Policy 2018/2019”

 

An amended version of the report and updated paragraph 4.6.3 had been circulated.

 

          With a view to presenting the report and recording the decision, Deb Yeates, Human Resources and Gareth Borsden, Democratic Services Officer will remain during the debate.

 

1)   Webcasting & e-voting

 

The Leader referred to the Welsh Government proposals relating to the above and indicated Officers are already progressing the issue internally with a view to trialing the new system at Committee meetings and Cabinet in the coming months before rolling out to Council meetings.

 

2)   City Deal

 

The Leader referred to the first anniversary of the signing of the City Deal.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

A question was asked by a member of the public. The Leader responded accordingly. The question did not require a written response.

 

No Public Presentations were received.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Lifelong Learning presented a report which sought to determine the admission arrangements for maintained schools for the academic year 2019-2020.

 

The amendment to page 23, paragraph 5 was outlined.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)          the proposed admission arrangements for 2019-2020 for Nursery as set out in Appendix A be approved.

2)          the proposed admission arrangements for 2019-2020 for Reception as set out in Appendix B be approved.

3)          the proposed admission arrangements for 2019-2020 for Year 7 as set out in Appendix C be approved.

4)          the proposed admission arrangements for 2019-2020 for in-year transfers as set out in Appendix D be approved. 5)          the proposed admission arrangements/criteria for entry for 2019-2020 for sixth forms set in Appendix E be approved.

6)          the Schedule of Events at Appendix F be approved.

7)          the admission numbers for primary and secondary schools be noted, as set out in Appendix G. 8)          that delegated authority is given to the Chief Education Officer to make the changes required by the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 to the Admissions Arrangements listed above when the Act is implemented.

 

 

The Team Leader, HR Operations presented a report which sought approval of the Pay Policy 2018-2019.

 

An amended version of the Policy and an updated Paragraph 4.6.3 “Living Wage” had been distributed.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)       The Pay Policy 2018-2019 be approved and adopted.

 

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Seven (7) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.  The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

 

Those supplementary questions requiring a written response are shown below:

 

Question 4 – Councillor C A Holley asked:

1.     In the commissioning review which went to cabinet on 15th Feb 2018 there were the following items; Premises £1,090,718, Supplies and services £1,042,846 and overheads of £291,416 could you please explain what these items cover;

2.     The surplus for the year 2014/2015 was £830,367 could you explain how only £68,000 was reinvested into the service where did the rest go;

3.     The staff numbers for parking services and enforcement were 51 is that still the number;

4.     In the current budget there are two items which need to be cleared up, you put in £100,000 for car parking increases yet in the place directorate revenue budget 2018/2019 there is figure for a surplus for the year of just under £700,000 could you explain this figure;

5.     The reduction in ticket sale for the foreshore car parks are for the following years, 14/15 169,201; 15/16 148,115; 16/17 125,423 yet the income has gone up from £221.627 14/15 ; £222,546 15/16 ; £275,721 16/17; so over the three years the income has gone up £54,094 and the tickets have gone down by 43,778 could you please tell me what actions are you going to take to ensure that the ticket sales are increased so that we can prove value for money to residents and visitors;

            (Note: I understand that the figures for questions 1,2 and 3 are for the           year 2014/2015)

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment Services stated that a written response would be provided.

 

Question 5 – Councillor C A Holley asked:

Can Members be made aware of where the 41 sites mentioned in the response are.

 

The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation & Business Operations stated that subject to legal clearance a written response would be provided.

 

2)       No (0) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.