Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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)           Councillor M C Child declared a Personal Interest in Minute 154 “Interim Changes to the Head of Adult Services Arrangements”;

 

2)        Councillor L James declared a Personal Interest in Minute 156 “Chair of Democratic Services Committee”.

 

 

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 4 June 2020.

The Chief Legal Officer submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council.

1)              Roots Foundation Wales

 

The Presiding Member stated that the Roots Foundation Wales is a volunteer led charity based in Cockett.  It aims to support young people in care, care leavers, children in need and adults who have left care with the transition period of independent living.

 

He was delighted to announce that the Roots Foundation had recently received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services.

 

2)              Swansea Canal Society receives the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

 

The Presiding Member stated that Swansea Canal Society is a group of volunteers based around the Swansea Canal in the Lower Swansea Valley.  They are committed to regenerating the Swansea Canal as a community asset for active recreation and as a heritage visitor destination.  They are an active Society and work every Tuesday towards that goal.

 

Various restoration and activities include:

Ø    Restoring the canal bank in several sites between Clydach and Trebanos;

Ø    Litter Picking;

Ø    Operating a vibrant programme of canoe and kayak hire for the benefit of the entire community; and

Ø    Seeking grant funding to support its work.

 

None of the activities of the Society would be possible without close collaboration with Glandŵr Cymru “The Canal & River Trust in Wales”.  The Trust gives permission to work on the canal, helps to design and supervise projects, provides much of the materials used in restoration and offers continuing expert advice and support.

 

He was delighted to state that the Swansea Canal Society has been honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.  The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities.

 

Representatives of Swansea Canal Society will receive the award from Louise Fleet, HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, later this summer, and two volunteers from the Society will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

 

For further information please contact Councillor Gordon Walker (Chair of the Swansea Canal Society) or email funding.swanseacanalsociety@talktalk.net

 

 

1)              Supporting Business

 

The Leader of the Council thanked Officers and all involved in assisting businesses by providing help to allow them to reopen and also for the grants that had been offered.

 

2)              Anti-Social Behaviour

 

The Leader of the Council thanked the Police and Officers of the Council for their work in dealing with the anti-social behaviour recently seen at Langland Bay and SA1.

 

3)        Pembroke Dock Marine – City Deal Project

 

The Leader of the Council stated that the Pembroke Dock Marine – City Deal Project had been approved by the Welsh and UK Government.  This would lead to a release of further monies in due course.

 

4)              Swansea Tidal Lagoon

 

The Leader of the Council offered reassurance to all that the Authority will do all it can to deliver a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay and tidal technology throughout Wales.

 

 

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 received.

The Director of Social Services submitted an information report which outlined the interim arrangements for the strengthening of the senior leadership of Adult Social Services.

 

He stated that up until November 2020, the post of Head of Adult Services would be split between two senior leadership roles, creating two interim Heads of Service:

 

i)                Head of Integrated Services;

ii)               Head of Adult Services (Learning Disability / Mental Health / Service Provision & Safeguarding).

 

The Head of Integrated Services is a joint post between the Council and Swansea Bay University Health Board and accountable to both organisations. The role will be responsible for all the functions delivered through or linked with the existing integrated hubs for older people and adults with a physical disability.

 

The Head of Adult Services (Learning Disability / Mental Health / Service Provision & Safeguarding) will be responsible for safeguarding, mental health and learning disability, in house direct service provision and external commissioning.

The Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly submitted an information report setting out the amendments made by the Monitoring Officer to the Council Constitution following the interim changes to the Adult Social Services structure.

The Head of Democratic Services & Monitoring Officer submitted a report which sought to elect a Chair of the Democratic Services Committee.

 

The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 states that a Democratic Services Committee and Chair must be appointed by Council.  The Committee Chair must be an Opposition Member.  The Leader of the Council shall not sit on this Committee.  No more than one Cabinet Member shall sit on this Committee.  Co-opted Members are not permitted to sit on this Committee.

 

Resolved that Councillor L James be elected as Chair of the Democratic Services Committee.

Nine (9) 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 1

 

i)                Councillor J W Jones asked a question on behalf of Councillor K M Griffiths:

 

“How much has fly tipping cost Swansea Council this year?  Would it be cheaper to allow businesses to tip for free?”

 

ii)              Councillor J W Jones asked a question:

 

“I assume that there are problem “Hot Spots” areas for fly tipping.  What do we do to deter fly tipping in these areas and what are those areas?”

 

The Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management Cabinet Member stated that written responses would be provided.

 

Question 4

 

Councillor P M Black asked a question:

 

“Can a spending plan be provided for the £95,000 and for the £112,000 funding?”

 

The Education Improvement, Learning & Skills Cabinet Member stated that a written response would be provided.

 

Question 5

 

Councillor J W Jones asked a question:

 

“How much does the Authority receive for providing emergency placement provision at Respite Homes?”

 

The Adult Social Care & Community Health Services Cabinet Member stated that a written response would be provided.

 

Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Three (3) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.

Notice of Motion from Councillors L S Gibbard, R C Stewart, A S Lewis, D H Hopkins, C E Lloyd, J P Curtice, D W W Thomas, S Pritchard, M B Lewis, L V Walton, W G Lewis, M C Child, R Francis-Davies, A Pugh, E J King, E T Kirchner & Y V Jardine

 

Proposed by Councillor L S Gibbard and Seconded by Councillor R C Stewart.

 

“Swansea Council stands in solidarity with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Swansea and across the world in their fight for justice in the face of racism in all its forms.

 

We recognise that symbols of Britain’s colonial past exist all around us in the form of statues, street names, buildings and the arts. Some of these have clear links to individuals involved in the slave trade and exploitation of people of colour, and serve as a painful reminder for BAME people of their historic subjugation and ongoing inequality.

 

Working with our BAME communities, we commit to examine Swansea’s geography and institutions, to assess whether or not any names or images should now be removed, amended or displayed differently. This is not to erase our history, quite the opposite, it is about learning from it, and representing it sensitively and respectfully. These efforts must be accompanied by work to better educate citizens on Swansea’s history including its role in the slave trade, and place within the UK’s industrial revolution and Imperial past.

 

We also recognise that even today modern slavery and other forms of exploitation still exist around the world and on our own doorsteps and reaffirm our efforts to tackle this abhorrent problem that impacts people from all communities.

 

We further commit to celebrating and highlighting a greater range of Swansea citizens of the past in the form of blue plaques, statues or other lasting memorials, to include more women, BAME, disabled, LGBT and working-class people.

 

We are proud of our status as a City of Sanctuary and recognise that this is an ongoing process to ensure that all people, irrespective of their backgrounds, feel welcome, respected and included in Swansea. We will continue to engage with BAME communities to address the wider issues around equality, equity and social cohesion, and strongly challenge racism, exploitation and intolerance in all its forms.

 

Therefore we ask that council agree to:

 

i)                Take action, where possible, to remove offending names or public realm items that have confirmed links to slavery or exploitation;

 

ii)               Commission a deeper review of place names and public realm items that may have links to slavery and exploitation;

 

iii)             Develop resources and accurate information on our links to the slave trade and exploitation as part of the story of Swansea’s history in order to better inform and educate residents and visitors to the City.”

 

Councillor P M Black proposed an amendment to the motion, which was accepted by Councillor L S Gibbard and R C Stewart.  The following amended motion became the substantive motion:

 

“Swansea Council stands in solidarity with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Swansea and across the world in their fight for justice in the face of racism in all its forms.

 

We recognise that symbols of Britain’s colonial past exist all around us in the form of statues, street names, buildings and the arts. Some of these have clear links to individuals involved in the slave trade and exploitation of people of colour, and serve as a painful reminder for BAME people of their historic subjugation and ongoing inequality.

 

Working with our BAME communities, we commit to examine Swansea’s geography and institutions, to assess whether or not any names or images should now be removed, amended or displayed differently. This is not to erase our history, quite the opposite, it is about learning from it, and representing it sensitively and respectfully. These efforts must be accompanied by work to better educate citizens on Swansea’s history including its role in the slave trade, and place within the UK’s industrial revolution and Imperial past.

 

We also recognise that even today modern slavery and other forms of exploitation still exist around the world and on our own doorsteps and reaffirm our efforts to tackle this abhorrent problem that impacts people from all communities.

 

We further commit to celebrating and highlighting a greater range of Swansea citizens of the past in the form of blue plaques, statues or other lasting memorials, to include more women, BAME, disabled, LGBT and working-class people.

 

We are proud of our status as a City of Sanctuary and recognise that this is an ongoing process to ensure that all people, irrespective of their backgrounds, feel welcome, respected and included in Swansea. We will continue to engage with BAME communities to address the wider issues around equality, equity and social cohesion, and strongly challenge racism, exploitation and intolerance in all its forms.

 

Therefore we ask that council agree to:

 

i)                Commission a deeper review of place names and public realm items that may have links to slavery and exploitation;

 

ii)              Develop resources and accurate information on our links to the slave trade and exploitation as part of the story of Swansea’s history in order to better inform and educate residents and visitors to the City;”

 

iii)             Subject to the review referred to in this motion take action, where possible, to remove offending names or public realm items that have confirmed links to slavery or exploitation.”

 

Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.

Notice of Motion from Councillors C A Holley, S M Jones, M H Jones, E W Fitzgerald, P M Black, J W Jones, D G Sullivan, A M Day, L James, C L Philpott, K M Griffiths, L G Thomas, G D Walker, P N May & I E Mann

 

“The Government are currently looking at a further deregulation of Sunday Trading Laws to allow larger stores to open longer on a Sunday. We call on this council to support the retail sector workers in their opposition to this move as it will affect their available free time and impact on their Health and Wellbeing.”

 

Councillor M H Jones proposed that the motion be withdrawn because the Conservative Government had abandoned their plans to push for legislative change.  The proposal to withdraw was seconded by Councillor C A Holley.

 

Resolved that the Notice of Motion be withdrawn.