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 Democratic Services 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 C Anderson, M C Child, V M Evans, R Francis-Davies, J A Hale, M B Lewis, R D Lewis, C Richards, K M Roberts, B J Rowlands, R V Smith & A H Stevens declared a Personal Interest in Minute 36 “Leisure Partnerships Annual Report”;

2)              Councillor R C Stewart declared a Personal Interest in Minute 37 “Swansea Bay City Deal”;

3)              Councillors C Anderson, P M Black, J E Burtonshaw, M C Child, J P Curtice, N J Davies, A M Day, C R Doyle, P Downing, M Durke, C R Evans, V M Evans, W Evans, E W Fitzgerald, R Francis-Davies, F M Gordon, K M Griffiths, J A Hale, D W Helliwell, T J Hennegan, C A Holley, P R Hood-Williams, B Hopkins, D H Hopkins, L James, O G James, Y V Jardine, J W Jones, L R Jones, M H Jones, P K Jones, E J King, E T Kirchner, A S Lewis, M B Lewis, R D Lewis, W G Lewis, C E Lloyd, I E Mann, P M Matthews, P N May, H M Morris, C L Philpott, S Pritchard, A Pugh, J A Raynor, C Richards, K M Roberts, B J Rowlands, M Sherwood, R V Smith, A H Stevens, R C Stewart, D G Sullivan, M Sykes, D W W Thomas, M Thomas, G J Tanner, W G Thomas, L J Tyler-Lloyd, G D Walker & L V Walton declared a Personal Interest in Minute 38 “Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales’ Review of Electoral Arrangements for the City and County of Swansea.”

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 21 June 2018.

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Business Intelligence submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council.

1)              Amendments / Corrections to the Council Summons

i)                Agenda Item 13 “Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales’ Review of Electoral Arrangements for the City and County of Swansea”

The Presiding Member stated that a sheet had been circulated amending a few details within the report. The amendments were in relation to the following Electoral Wards - Fairwood, Killay North, Killay South, Penclawdd, Penderry, Penllergaer, Townhill & Uplands.

ii)              Agenda Item 15 “Amendments to the Council Constitution”

The Presiding Member stated that the recommendation should be amended to read “The changes to the Council Constitution as outlined in Appendix A and B of the report together with any further consequential changes be approved”.

1)       Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon

The Leader of the Council provided an update on the ongoing work to deliver a Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

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

A number of questions were asked by members of the public.  The relevant Cabinet Member responded accordingly.  Those questions requiring a written response are listed below:

1)       Nortridge Perrott asked the Leader of the Council questions in relation to Minute 37 “Swansea Bay City Deal”.

“How do the 11 projects within the Swansea Bay City Deal work with the Well being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015?”

The Leader of the Council stated that a written response would be provided.

Ifor Glyn (Director) and Alexandra Atkins (Young Adult Carers Project Manager) gave a presentation on the work of Young Carers in Swansea.  They stated that the Swansea Carers Centre was a specialist voluntary organisation providing support to unpaid carers and former carers across the City and County of Swansea.

The Swansea Carers Centre offers free information, advice and support to make life easier for the carer and the person being cared for.  They seek to provide opportunities for carers to meet other carers, share experiences and work together to get things changed for the benefit of everyone.

Councillor W Evans thanked them for their presentation.

The Delivery Cabinet Member submitted a report, which sought consideration of the outcome of the consultation on the review of the Sex Establishment Policy and to agree the amended Sex Establishment Policy for adoption and publication.

Resolved that:

1)              The amended policy on the Licensing of Sex Establishments, attached as Appendix A of the report be approved and adopted;

2)              The existing “relevant localities” for the purpose of determining applications for sex establishments and the “appropriate number” of sex establishments for each locality be retained.

The Delivery Cabinet Member submitted a report, which sought consideration of the response to the consultation on the review of the Council’s Statement of Policy for Licensing.

Resolved that:

1)              The response to the consultation on the proposed amendments to the Policy be considered;

2)              The proposed amendments be approved;

3)              The revised policy attached at Appendix A of the report be adopted.

The Investment, Regeneration & Tourism Cabinet Member submitted a report, which advised Council of the partnership operations of key facilities within the Cultural Services portfolio.

Resolved that:

1)              The report be noted.

Note: Councillor W G Thomas asked for a breakdown of the costs relating to the 360 Beach and Water Sports “Other Expenditure” of £236,286 referred to on Page 113 of the Council Summons.

The Investment, Regeneration & Tourism Cabinet Member stated that a written response would be provided.

The Leader of the Council and Chief Executive jointly submitted a report, which sought approval to establish the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Committee and the associated governance arrangements.

Resolved that:

1)              The establishment of the Swansea Bay City Deal (SBCD) Joint Committee and associated governance structure as outlined in the report be endorsed with the membership from this Authority being the Leader of the Council;

2)              The draft Joint Committee Agreement be endorsed and delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make such minor amendments to the Agreement as are required and agreed between the partner Authorities and the UK and Welsh Governments to finalise the agreement;

3)              The establishment of a Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Scrutiny Committee be endorsed with the membership from this Authority being Councillors J P Curtice, P Downing and M H Jones;

4)              The proposal that the Council contributes £50k per annum over 5 years to jointly cover operating costs for the Joint Committee, Economic Strategy Board, Programme Board, Joint Scrutiny Committee, Accountable Body and Regional Office functions be endorsed and the principle that further funding be provided equivalent to the 1.5% top slice of the City Deal funding allocation be approved.  The agreement of the basis of the provision of this funding to be delegated to the Head of Financial Services and Service Centre (Section 151 Officer) in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

5)              The Head of Financial Services and Service Centre (Section 151 Officer) be authorised to explore and implement the most appropriate proportionate borrowing to fund Regional projects delivered in Council respective areas.

6)              The Head of Financial Services and Service Centre (Section 151 Officer) be authorised to negotiate with colleague Directors the most appropriate allocation basis for the regional non-domestic rate retention in respect of the 11 projects.

Note: Councillor J W Jones asked what the cost proportion was for Swansea Council based on the 11 projects referred to on Page 128 of the Council Summons.

The Leader of the Council stated that he would recirculate the slides containing the information.

The Returning Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly submitted a report, which sought approval to provide the Authority’s Initial Observations to the Local Democracy & Boundary Commission for Wales in relation to the review of the City and County of Swansea Electoral Arrangements.

The Head of Democratic Services stated that this report had been considered by the Constitution Working Group on 11 July 2018.  That Group recommended that Council approve the report for submission as part of the consultation period.

An amendment sheet was also circulated in order to amend some elements within the report.

Resolved that:

1)              The Initial Observations as detailed in Paragraph 6 of the report (as amended) be approved and forwarded to the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report, which sought consideration of conferring Honorary Freedom of the City and County of Swansea to Sir Karl Jenkins CBE B.Mus FRAM LRAM.

Resolved that:

1)              Honorary Freedom of the City and County of Swansea be granted to Sir Karl Jenkins CBE B.Mus FRAM LRAM;

2)              A Ceremonial Meeting of Council be held on 4 October 2018 to confer the title of Honorary Freedom.

The Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly submitted a report, which sought to make amendments in order to simplify, improve and / or add to the Council Constitution.

The proposed changes related to the following area of the Council Constitution:

a)              Part 4 - Cabinet Procedure Rules - Call In Procedure.

Resolved that:

1)              The changes to the Council Constitution as outlined in Appendix A and B of the report together with any further consequential changes be approved.

1)              Part A “Supplementary Questions”

Six (6) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.  The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

No supplementary question(s) required a written response.

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

Eight (8) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.