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 D H Jenkins declared a Personal Interest in Minute 61 “Recruitment of a Community / Town Councillor to the Standards Committee”.

 

2)              Councillors J P Curtice, N L Matthews, K M Roberts & A H Stevens declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 61 “Recruitment of a Community / Town Councillor to the Standards Committee” and withdrew from the Meeting prior to the item being considered.

 

3)              Councillor C A Holley declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 63 “Councillors’ Questions – Question 3” and withdrew from the Meeting prior to the item being considered.

 

4)              Councillor A Pugh declared a Personal Interest in Minute 64 “Notice of Motion - Nuclear Free Wales”.

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 September 2022 subject to Councillors C Anderson & P M Black being shown as being present.

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

a)              Best Commercialisation & Entrepreneurship Initiative in the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Annual Service Awards 2022

 

The Presiding Member congratulated the Council for winning the Best Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship Initiative at the APSE Awards 2022 with the “Swansea Market: At the heart of the city centre and the local economy” initiative.

a)              Wales Women World Cup Play-off 2022

 

The Leader of the Council stated that the Wales Women’s Football Team were just 90 minutes away from making it to the World Cup Play-off Final. They would be hosting Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Semi Final Play-off in Cardiff that evening. On behalf of the Council, he wished them every success.

 

b)              Fiscal Adjustment / Mini Budget

 

The Leader of the Council referred to the recent Fiscal Adjustment / Mini Budget stating that it had significantly impacted on the value of the Pound (£) against the US Dollar ($). This in turn has raised pressure on the Council’s energy bill.

 

He called on those with influence to lobby the UK Government to extend the extend the Energy cap beyond 1 March 2023.

 

c)              Restart a Heart

 

The Leader of the Council stated that Restart a Heart Day raises awareness about cardiac arrest and helps people to learn CPR, giving them lifesaving skills and the confidence to use them. The next Restart a Heart day takes place on 16 October 2022.

 

Approximately 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK. Sadly, less than 1 in 10 people survive these cardiac arrests. Performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival in some cases.

 

As previously stated, we are keen to make Swansea the first defib-friendly city in the UK and as part of that journey and linking it to Restart a Heart, I have arranged CPR & Defibrillation training to be provided by Heartbeat Trust UK, free of charge for all Councillors. Training will take approximately an hour and the Democratic Services Team will be sending out the dates soon.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows. Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

Mary Jones of Swansea CND / CND Cymru asked a question in relation to Minute 64 “Notice of Motion – Nuclear Free Wales”.

 

Councillor L S Gibbard responded.

The item was withdrawn at the request of the Chief Fire Officer.

The Chair of the Governance & Audit Committee presented the Governance & Audit Committee Annual Report 2021-2022 for information.

The Director of Social Services submitted a report providing his account of the Council’s improvement journey to 2021-2022, and how well the Council is meeting statutory requirements under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014. The report reviewed last year’s areas for improvement and set out new priorities for 2017-2018. The report set out the changes that have taken place within Social Services to achieve progress towards national wellbeing outcomes.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The Director of Social Services Annual Report 2021-2022 be received.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that undertook a mid-year review of the Revenue Reserves position and sought agreement of any suggested reclassification of reserves based on current requirements.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The recommendations made in Paragraphs 3.10 & 3.10 of the report be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Care Services submitted a report that sought to approve the regional market stability report, which is a tool to assist the regional Partnership Board in planning and commissioning quality care and support for their populations.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The fact that the Regional Partnership Board approved the regional market stability report on 7 July 2022 be noted.

 

2)              The regional market stability report attached at Appendix A to the report be approved.

 

Note: Councillor S J Rice referred to Page 212 of the report specifically 7.9 “Domiciliary Care – Older Adults” and outlined his surprise that the number of commissioned hours had decreased by 37% in Swansea. He asked for an explanation.”

 

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

The Head of Democratic Services & Head of Digital & Customer Services jointly submitted a report that sought to amend the Councillors ICT Allowances Policy to better align the ICT payments to the Statutory Co-opted Members to enable them to carry out their duties. The report proposed to pay the Statutory Co-opted Members 50% of what a Councillor receives in respect of the ICT payment. The Data & telephone Allowance to remain unchanged at 20%.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The amendments to Paragraphs 3.2 & 4.3 and the consequential changes to Paragraph 6.8 and Appendix 1 of the Councillors ICT Allowances Policy - May 2022 & Beyond together with any other consequential changes be approved.

 

2)              The amended version be published on the Council’s website and shared with all Councillors & Statutory Co-opted Members.

The Head of Democratic Services stated that in the absence of the Presiding Member & Deputy Presiding Member, a Chair Pro Tem would need to be elected for this item.

 

Resolved that Councillor P Lloyd be elected Chair Pro Tem.

 

Councillor P Lloyd Presiding

The Head of Democratic Services stated that the Standards Committee had met on 5 October 2022 and had interviewed the applicant to be the Community / Town Councillor representative on the Standards Committee. The Committee had recommended that Council appoint the applicant.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              Town Councillor Carlo Rabaiotti of Gorseinon Town Council be appointed as the Community / Town Councillor representative on the Standards Committee.

 

2)              His Term of Office end at the Local Government Elections in 2027; however, Council may re-appoint this for one further Term of Office.

 

Councillor J P Curtice (Presiding Member (Presiding)

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance submitted a report that sought approval of the nominations / amendments to various Council Bodies.

 

The report also listed a change to the Outside Bodies that the Leader of the Council had made.

 

Poverty Truth Commission

Add Councillors A S Lewis & A Pugh.

 

Resolved that the membership of the Council Bodies listed below be amended:

 

1)              Climate Change Corporate Development Committee

Remove Councillor E T Kirchner.

Add Councillor H Lawson.

 

2)              Corporate Parenting Board

Remove Councillor E J King.

Add Councillor H J Gwilliam.

 

3)              General / Statutory Licensing Committees & Sub-Committees

Remove Councillor S Bennett.

Add Councillor M W Locke.

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Eight (8) 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 required a written response are listed below.

 

Question 7

 

Councillor E W Fitzgerald asked for locations of the 12 pilot schemes where solar panels were to be installed and an indicative cost of each scheme.

 

The Service Transformation Cabinet Member stated a written response would be provided.

 

Question 8

 

Councillor C A Holley stated that the list of all sites and buildings transferred through asset management to community groups had not been circulated.

 

The Corporate Services & Performance Cabinet Member stated a written response would be provided.

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Two (2) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.

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

 

“Swansea Council notes 2022 marks 40 years since Wales was declared ‘nuclear free’ when all the then County Councils, including West Glamorgan, passed resolutions declaring themselves “nuclear free zones”.

 

Swansea Council declares its support for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a historic treaty which prohibits its signatories from developing, testing, and using nuclear weapons.

 

Swansea Council recognises the necessity of creating a nuclear weapons-free world and as such denounces the United Kingdom government’s refusal to sign or ratify this landmark treaty.

 

Swansea Council calls on the United Kingdom government to work for global denuclearisation by:

 

•                  Signing and ratifying the TPNW, thereby joining the global majority of countries opposed to nuclear weapons, and

•                  Utilising all diplomatic avenues possible to work towards a nuclear-free world.”

 

Councillor C A Holley proposed an amendment to the Notice of Motion. The amendment to amend the title to specifically include the word “weapons”. The title would therefore be “Notice of Motion - Nuclear Weapons Free Wales”.

 

Councillor L S Gibbard indicated her support to the amendment. The amended Notice of Motion now being:

 

“Notice of Motion – Nuclear Weapons Free Wales.

 

Swansea Council notes 2022 marks 40 years since Wales was declared ‘nuclear free’ when all the then County Councils, including West Glamorgan, passed resolutions declaring themselves “nuclear free zones”.

 

Swansea Council declares its support for the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a historic treaty which prohibits its signatories from developing, testing, and using nuclear weapons.

 

Swansea Council recognises the necessity of creating a nuclear weapons-free world and as such denounces the United Kingdom government’s refusal to sign or ratify this landmark treaty.

 

Swansea Council calls on the United Kingdom government to work for global denuclearisation by:

 

•                  Signing and ratifying the TPNW, thereby joining the global majority of countries opposed to nuclear weapons, and

•                  Utilising all diplomatic avenues possible to work towards a nuclear-free world.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30 “Voting” a recorded vote was requested. The voting on the amendment was recorded as follows:

 

For (56 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
C Anderson	J A Hale	P Lloyd
M Bailey	V A Holland	M W Locke
S Bennett	C A Holley	N L Matthews
P N Bentu	B Hopkins	J D McGettrick
P M Black	D H Hopkins	C L Philpott
J P Curtice	L James	J E Pritchard
A Davis	O G James	S Pritchard
P Downing	Y V Jardine	A Pugh
C R Doyle	A J Jeffery	S J Rice
M Durke	D H Jenkins	K M Roberts
V M Evans	J W Jones	R V Smith
E W Fitzgerald	M Jones	A H Stevens
R A Fogarty	S M Jones	R C Stewart
R Francis-Davies	S A Joy	L G Thomas
N Furlong	S E Keeton	G D Walker
L S Gibbard	H Lawson	L V Walton
F M Gordon	A S Lewis	T M White
K M Griffiths	M B Lewis	R Andrew Williams
H J Gwilliam	W G Lewis	-

 

Against (4 Councillor(s))
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
L R Jones	B J Rowlands	W G Thomas
A J O’Connor	-	-

 

Abstain (0 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
-	-	-

 

Withdrawn from meeting due to declarable interest (0 Councillors)
Councillor	Councillor	Councillor
-	-	-

 

Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.

 

Note: Councillor D Phillips did not vote as he had not been present for the whole discussion.