Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Guildhall, Swansea
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Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: The Chief Legal Officer 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
M Durke, C R Evans, V M Evans, R Francis-Davies, L S Gibbard, T J Hennegan, C A
Holley, O G James, E T Kirchner, A S Lewis, M B Lewis, R D Lewis, P Lloyd, R C
Stewart, M Sherwood, D G Sullivan, D W W Thomas, M Thomas & T M White
declared a Personal Interest in Minute 59 “Statement of Accounts 2017-2018”. |
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To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Additional documents:
Minutes: Resolved that the following Minutes
be approved and signed as a correct record: 1)
Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 26 July 2018; 2)
Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 27 July 2018; 3)
Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 21 August 2018. |
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Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council. PDF 95 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chief Legal Officer
submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions
asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council. |
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Announcements of the Presiding Member. Minutes: 1)
Condolences a)
Honorary Alderman, Former Lord Mayor & Former Councillor Charles
Thomas The Presiding
Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Honorary Alderman, former
Councillor and former Lord Mayor Charles Thomas. Former Councillor Thomas served the St.
Thomas Electoral Ward from 1965 to 1989.
Former Councillor Thomas was also a former Lord Mayor 1983-1984 and
Deputy Leader of the Council. All present stood as
a mark of sympathy and respect. 2)
Congratulations to David Smith The Presiding Member congratulated Swansea athlete, David Smith won individual
BC1 Gold at the World Boccia Championships in
Liverpool recently, this title has added to his Paralympic team gold at Beijing
2008, individual silver and team bronze at London 2012 and individual gold at
Rio 2016. David has set up a local Boccia club in the LC. 3)
Armed Forces - Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme The Presiding
Member stated that it was pleasing to see that the Council’s efforts to support
the Armed Forces have been recognised with a Gold Award from the Defence
Employer Recognition Scheme. Swansea is
the only council in Wales to have received this award which is organised by the
Ministry of Defence. He congratulated all involved. 4)
Morfa
Distribution Road Award The Presiding Member was delighted to announce that in July 2018, the
Authority was awarded the prestigious ‘Value’ award from
Construction Excellence Wales for the Morfa Distributor Road project. The awards are recognised across the Welsh
built environment as the premier standard for best practice in Wales. The award is
presented to the project that evidences greatest value for owners and users as
a key driver throughout the project. The
judging panel commented on the complex delivery model that maximised public and
private sector funds to deliver a project that is continuing to act as a
catalyst for regeneration in the area.
They also referenced the way in which the project respected the sites
nationally important historic context, whilst also encouraging sustainable
development and active travel infrastructure. The project evidenced the vital
role that Local Authorities to continue to play in supporting development and
regeneration. A number of local
contractors were appointed to construct the scheme over a phased funding
programme. These supported training
opportunities throughout the design and construction process, educational
support to the local schools and made physical and financial contributions to
the local community and historic groups. Judges remarked:
“rarely can such projects evidence the support of local, regional and transport
forums, as well as private developers and historic preservation groups. Such is the challenge that was overcome by
the Morfa Distributor Road scheme”. The project has
been put forward as one of six regional finalists in the national Construction
Excellence awards in November, where the winner will be invited to a special
reception in the Houses of Parliament to showcase their achievement and to
represent best practice for the Construction industry. The project is the only
Local Authority lead scheme to be invited to the national awards and highlights
the specialist skills and commitment to support the local community of staff
within the Council. Mark Thomas, Traffic and Highway Network Management Group Leader was
present to receive the award. 5) APSE (Association for Public Service
Excellence) Awards The Presiding
Member stated that the Authority has had great success at this year’s APSE
Awards with the Corporate Building Service winning the Best Workforce
Initiative Award. The service has
undergone a major staff training and development programme, creating future
capacity and skills for the Team. To win
this UK wide award in such a prestigious competition is a fantastic achievement
and one that the Council should be proud of. Additionally, the
Authority was also shortlisted in three other categories namely Construction
and Building Services; Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Regulatory
Services and Best Innovation and Demand Management. He congratulated and thanked all of the staff
involved. 6)
Estyn
Awards The Presiding
Member congratulated Craigfelen and Cwmrhydyceirw
Primary Schools & Bishopston and Olchfa Comprehensive Schools for being
invited to attend Estyn’s Annual Awards due to their
excellent school inspection reports. The
Schools will be presented with a framed certificate recognising the hard work
and commitment behind their achievement by Cabinet Secretary for Education
Kirsty Williams. Estyn
is the education and training inspectorate for Wales 7) Ceremonial Meeting of Council – 4 October
2018 The Presiding
Member reminded all Councillors of the Ceremonial Council scheduled for 16.00
on 4 October 2018 to confer Honorary Freedom upon Sir Karl Jenkins CBE B.Mus FRAM LRAM in the Council Chamber, Guildhall. It will be followed by afternoon tea in the
Lord Mayor’s Reception Room. 8)
Amendments
/ Corrections to the Council Summons a)
Item
15 “Democratic Services Committee Annual Report 2017-2018 (25 May 2017 – 23 May
2018) Page 148. The dates referred to in the Purpose part of
the summary box should be amended to read “25 May 2017 to 23 May 2018”. 9)
Congratulations to Councillor S Pritchard The Presiding Member congratulated Councillor S Pritchard following his
recent marriage. |
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Announcements of the Leader of the Council. Minutes: 1) Swansea Bay City Region
Joint Committee The Leader of the Council stated that the Swansea
Bay City Region Joint Committee had held its first meeting. 2) Swansea Bay City Deal Economic
Strategy Board The
Leader of the Council stated that the Swansea Bay City Deal Economic Strategy
Board, Chaired by Ed Tomp had held its first meeting. 3) Tidal
Lagoon Task Force The
Leader of the Council stated that the Tidal Lagoon Task Force had met and were
discussing Tidal Lagoon Powers new plans.
The aim was to go back to the Welsh Government by March 2019. 4) School
Governing Bodies and School Uniform Policies The
Leader of the Council stated that he had taken the unusual step recently and
made comments relating to a School Governing Body and its School Uniform Policy. He stated that whilst respecting the decision
of that Body he was concerned at the timescales associated with the contract
and the levels of uniform available. He
further stated that he supported Schools but asked that they have due regard of
such a policy’s impact on families. |
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Public Questions. 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. Minutes: A question was asked by a
member of the public in relation to Minute 48 “Annual Report 2017-2018 –
Director of Social Services”. The
relevant Cabinet Member responded accordingly.
There were no questions requiring a written response. |
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Public Presentation - None. Minutes: No Public Presentations were
received. |
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Standards Committee Annual Report 2017-2018. PDF 141 KB Minutes: The Chair of the Standards Committee, Jill Burgess presented the Standards Committee Annual Report 2017-2018 for information. The report set out the work of the Standards Committee from 25 May 2017 to 23 May 2018. |
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Minutes: Geraint Norman, Wales Audit Office (WAO) presented the “Wales Audit Office, Audit of Financial Statements Report 2017-2018 for the City and County of Swansea”. Geraint
Norman (WAO) responded to questions of a technical nature whilst Ben Smith
(Section 151 Officer) responded to questions relating to the position of the
City and County of Swansea. Resolved that: 1) The Final Letter of Representation be approved and signed; 2) The statement be approved. |
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Minutes: Geraint Norman, Wales Audit Office (WAO) presented the “Wales Audit Office, Audit of Financial Statements Report 2017-2018 for the City and County of Swansea Pension Fund”. Geraint Norman
(WAO) responded to questions of a technical nature whilst Ben Smith (Section
151 Officer) responded to questions relating to the position of the City and
County of Swansea. Resolved that: 1) The Final Letter of Representation be approved and signed; 2) The statement be approved. |
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Annual Report 2017/18 - Director of Social Services. PDF 36 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chief Social
Services Officer presented the Director of Social Services evaluation of the
improvement journey to 2017-2018, and how well the Council is meeting statutory
requirements under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 and the
improvement priorities for 2018-2019.
The report also considers performance against national outcomes set by
the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Resolved that: 1)
The Director
of Social Services Annual Report 2017-2018 be received. |
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Statement of Accounts 2017/18 PDF 99 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Section 151 Officer submitted a report which sought
approval of the Statement of Accounts 2017-2018 on or before 30 September 2018. Resolved that the 2017-2018
Statement of Accounts as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved. |
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Treasury Management Annual Report 2017/18. PDF 285 KB Minutes: The Section 151 Officer submitted an
information report which detailed the Council’s Treasury Management activities
during 2017-2018 and compared actual performance against the strategy laid down
at the start of the year. Note: Councillor P M Black asked “What is the
nature of the loan from the Welsh Government referred to on Page 132 under the
Debt Portfolio?” The
Section 151 Officer stated that a written response would be provided. |
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Democratic Services Committee Annual Report (25 May 2017 – 23 May 2018). PDF 151 KB Minutes: The Chair of Democratic Services presented an information report, which provided the Democratic Services Annual Report for the period 25 May 2017 to 23 May 2018. The reports outlines the work of the Committee during that period. Resolved that the
report be noted. |
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Extension of Term of Office for Independent (Co-opted) Member of the Standards Committee. PDF 97 KB Minutes: The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report, which sought agreement to re-appoint Jill Burgess as an Independent (Co-opted) Member of the Standards Committee for a further 4 year term. Resolved that: 1)
Jill Burgess be re-appointed as an Independent (Co-opted)
Member of the Standards Committee for one further consecutive term of office; 2)
Her term of office will end on 18 October 2022. |
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Membership of Committees. PDF 96 KB Minutes: The Business Transformation
& Performance Cabinet Member submitted a report which sought Council
approval to the nominations / amendments to the membership of Council Bodies. He referred to the report
stating that the Leader of the Council had also made changes to the Authority’s
Outside Bodies as outlined below: 1)
Western Bay Adoption Panel Remove Councillor M C Child. Add Councillor E J King. Resolved that the membership of the Council Bodies
listed below be amended as follows: 1)
Audit Committee Remove Labour Vacancy. Add Councillor E T Kirchner. 2)
Scrutiny Programme
Committee Remove Councillor B Hopkins. Add Councillor S Pritchard. |
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Councillors' Questions. PDF 137 KB Additional documents: Minutes: 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 question(s)
required a written response are listed below: Question 2 Councillor A M Day asked
the relevant Cabinet Member for a list of the current membership of the NEET
Board? The Education Improvement,
Learning and Skills Cabinet Member stated that following a number of Officers
leaving the Authority that she was in the process of addressing its membership
and that she would circulated the new membership once available. Question 5 Councillor C A Holley asked
the relevant Cabinet Member under what basis was Freedom Leisure Trading i.e.
were they a Charitable Trust, a Trust or a Trading Company? The Investment,
Regeneration & Tourism Cabinet Member stated that a written response would
be provided. 2)
Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary
Questions’ Five (5) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. |