Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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 P N Bentu, P Downing, M Durke, C M J Evans, Y V Jardine, L James, J W Jones, M H Jones, S J Rice, K M Roberts, G D Walker, T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 77 “Implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.”;

 

2)           Councillors N L Matthews declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 79 “Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea - Kevin Johns MBE” and left prior to the item being considered;

 

3)           Councillor C M J Evans declared a Personal Interest in Minute 80 “Councillors Questions – Q5”;

The Chief Legal Officer gave advice regarding the potential personal and prejudicial interests that Councillors and / Officers may have on the agenda.

 

She 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 P N Bentu, P Downing, M Durke, C M J Evans, Y V Jardine, L James, J W Jones, M H Jones, S J Rice, K M Roberts, G D Walker, T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 77 “Implementation of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.”

 

2)           Councillors N L Matthews declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 79 “Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea - Kevin Johns MBE” and left prior to the item being considered.

 

3)           Councillor C M J Evans declared a Personal Interest in Minute 80 “Councillors Questions – Q5”.

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

Approved

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

 

1)           Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 6 October 2022.

2)           Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on18 October 2022.

For Information

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

Meeting of Council.

 

Councillor C A Holley indicated that in relation to response 3, he had also sought information on the physical transfer of buildings.

 

The Corporate Services & Performance Cabinet Member stated that an updated written response would be provided.

For Information

 

a)            Condolences

 

i)             Iris Richard, Former Lady Mayoress

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death off Iris Richard, former Lady Mayoress. Iris was the wife of Honorary Alderman, former Lord Mayor & former Councillor Ioan M Richard.

 

ii)            Former Councillor Miles Thomas

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor Miles Thomas. Miles represented the Newton Ward on the City & County of Swansea from 21 October 2010 to 4 May 2017.

 

iii)          Former Councillor Sonya Morris

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor Sonya Morris. Sonya represented the Uplands Ward on Swansea City Council from 1992 to 1996.

 

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

 

b)           LAPF Awards 2022

 

The Presiding Member announced that the City & County of Swansea Pension Fund had been shortlisted in several categories in the LAPF Awards 2022. The Awards recognise excellence in the field of pension fund investment. The winners will be announced on 15 December 2022. The shortlisted categories being:

 

i)          LGPS Fund of the Year (Assets under £2.5 Billion at 31 March 2022).

ii)         LGPS Investment Strategy of the Year.

iii)       Best Climate Change Strategy.

 

c)            Estates Gazette Awards 2022

 

The Presiding Member announced that the City & County of Swansea had been shortlisted in the City of the Year Award category of the Estates Gazette Awards 2022. The Award seeks to celebrate the UK’s cities and the work they are doing to create liveable, successful places. The winners will be announced on 2 November 2022.

 

d)           Shortlisted entries for Welsh Housing Awards 2022

 

The Presiding Member announced that Swansea Council had been shortlisted in several categories for the Welsh Housing Awards 2022. The Awards celebrate excellence within Wales’ Housing sector. The winners will be announced on 18 November 2022. The shortlisted categories being:

 

i)             Category: Delivering High Quality Homes.

Shortlisted Project: Building Better Homes. Hillview.

Organisation: Swansea Council

 

ii)            Category: Housing Team of the Year.

Shortlisted Project: Housing Rents Team.

Organisation: Swansea Council.

 

iii)          Category: Working in Partnership.

Shortlisted Project: The Swansea Standard – Providing Affordable Low Carbon Housing for the Future. Submitted by Welsh School of Architects (WSA).

Organisation: Low Carbon Built Environment (LCBE), Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University & Swansea Council.

 

iv)          Category: Sustainability in Housing.

Shortlisted Project: Whole House Energy Retrofit of 6 Terraced Bungalows in Swansea driving towards Zero Carbon Targets. Submitted by Welsh School of Architects (WSA).

Organisation: Low Carbon Built Environment (LCBE), Welsh School of Architecture & Swansea Council.

 

            e)         26 January Council Meeting

                       

                        The Presiding Member announced that following                                consultation between herself and the Political Group                               Leaders and due to uncertainty around the budget                          announcements the meeting would be moved back a                                     week to 2 February 2022.  

                                   

                        An additional Council meeting would also need to be

                        arranged in January and updated information on both                                   meetings would be sent to Members by Democratic                             Services in due course.

 

            f)          Warm Blankets for Ukraine

 

                        The Presiding Member announced that various local                          supermarkets continue to collect items, and any                                  donations would be welcome.

For Information

a) Budget Update

 

The Leader outlined that the current position is extremely worrying in terms of finances for Local Government in Wales. The WLGA have estimated that the financial black hole across Wales could be £750 million.

 

This is driven largely through two factors which are that many of the current energy deals that various councils and public bodies have at the moment will come to an end early next year, which is the same time as the current cap being provided by the UK also comes to an end.

 

He indicated that hopefully further information and clarity would be provided on 17 November.

 

If the current cap is not extended it could see the Council’s energy bill rise from £5m to £20m.

 

Additional to that pay awards for staff are also close to being agreed. The monies for these pay awards is normally funded by UK and Welsh Governments but at the moment there is no commitment on this additional funding which could leave an extra £10m of pressure on this authority’s budget.

 

On top of that are the current inflationary pressures being faced by all Councils, businesses and individuals.

 

b) Economic Recovery Fund

 

He indicated that due to the budgetary pressures outlined above, he had agreed in conjunction with the Chief Finance officer that applications to the above fund would be suspended.

 

Applications that have been submitted will be examined and discussed in line with the various funding options available and Members will be made aware if they will proceed or be suspended for the time being.

 

c) Estates Gazette Awards

 

He outlined that he had attended the awards last night where Swansea was nominated into the final four for the ‘City of the Year’ award, unfortunately Swansea was not successful with Birmingham, who had hosted the Commonwealth games earlier in the year, winning the award.

 

It was the first time that Swansea had been nominated for such a prestigious award and he thanked Officers for the work they had undertaken in delivering the various projects across the City.

 

d) Together at Christmas

 

The Leader outlined that once again Swansea Council in partnership with JR Events & Catering will be running the Together at Christmas initiative again this year. The event aims to provide a free Christmas carvery lunch for the homeless, isolated and those in need. It will be held between 12-3.00pm on Tuesday, 6 December 2022 at the Brangwyn Hall. Councillors and others are encouraged to volunteer via email events@jr-eventsandcatrering.co.uk

 

e) Recent Bad Weather

 

He paid tribute to the work undertaken by Council staff across the board during the recent bad weather and outlined the huge demand for services due to the extreme amount of rain that fell in such a short period of time and led to flooding in some areas. Some issues were experienced with the ability to respond to the huge amount of calls/ e mails received in a such a short period which will be reviewed.

 

He indicated that unfortunately due to the bad weather forecast for the weekend, the Fireworks Event on November 5^th in Swansea Bay will  not be able to proceed but the Special Events Team will now focus on delivering the Christmas Parade on Sunday 20^th November .

 

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.

None

No public questions were submitted.

 

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Education & Skills presented a report which outlined and detailed the outcomes arising from the 2022 Estyn Inspection of Local Government Education Services in Swansea.

 

Resolved that the findings from the 2022 Estyn Inspection be noted.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation presented a report which sought to raise awareness of the Act and its implications and to consider the recommendation to end the use of introductory tenancies.

 

Resolved that

 

1) The implications of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 be noted.

 

2) Council agrees to end the use of Introductory Tenancies and allows

all existing Introductory Tenants to be issued with Secure Occupation

contracts on implementation of the Renting Homes Act.

 

3) All new Swansea Council tenants be issued with Secure Occupation Contracts from 1st December 2022.

 

#Note: The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation agreed to hold a Members Seminar to look at the Anti-Social behaviour issues raised during the debate on this item.

 

                

Approved

 

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service and Performance presented a report which presented the requirement to include an addendum to the HMO Licensing Policy 2020 with regards to the Waterfront Ward.

 

Resolved that addendum to the existing HMO Licensing Policy to change the ward names in the Policy to Uplands, Castle, St Thomas and Waterfront as set out in Appendices B, C, D and E to the report be approved and these appendices be added to the HMO Licensing Policy.

Approved

 

The Leader presented a report which sought consideration of the conferring of the Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea to Kevin Johns MBE.

 

Resolved that

 

1) The Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea be granted to

Kevin Johns MBE.

 

2) A ceremonial council meeting be held on 8 December 2022 at 2.00

pm to confer the title of Honorary Freedom.

For Information

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Fourteen (14) 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 Stuart Rice asked a question relating to the breakdown of          the investments relating to the various projects that the council is funding or is coming from private or public sector.

 

          The Leader stated that a written response would be provided.

 

          Question 10

          Councillor Angela O’Connor asked a question relating to the           employment of the community liaison officer and what stage of the process are we currently at with the appointment.

 

          The Leader stated that a written response would be provided.

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

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

 

 

 

Approved

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

 

Swansea is proud of its diversity and has a strong history of promoting cohesion and welcoming people from all over the world. Its residents have always united and supported each other in the fight against racism and discrimination in all its forms.

This Council therefore welcomes, endorses and adopts the working APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) definition of Islamophobia[1], including all of its examples in full cited as follows:

"ISLAMOPHOBIA IS ROOTED IN RACISM AND IS A TYPE OF RACISM THAT TARGETS EXPRESSIONS OF MUSLIMNESS OR PERCEIVED MUSLIMNESS."

Contemporary examples of Islamophobia in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in encounters between religions and non-religions in the public sphere could, considering the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

·       Calling for, aiding, instigating or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a racist/fascist ideology, or an extremist view of religion.

·       Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims as such, or of Muslims as a collective group, such as, especially but not exclusively, conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions; the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism and claims of a demographic ‘threat’ posed by Muslims or of a ‘Muslim takeover’.

·       Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims.

·       Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims.

·       Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the ‘Ummah’ (transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

·       Denying Muslim populations, the right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour.

·       Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, eg loyalty tests.

·       Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia.

·       Holding Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of any Muslim majority state, whether secular or constitutionally Islamic.

Therefore, we call on:

 

1.    The Leader of Council to write to the UK government asking them to listen to Muslim communities and the cross-party group of MPs and peers.

2.    The Council to formally adopt this definition of Islamophobia which classifies discrimination against Muslims as a form of racism.

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

 

For (59 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
C Anderson	C A Holley	P M Matthews
S Bennett	P R Hood-Williams	J D McGettrick
P N Bentu	B Hopkins	H M Morris
P M Black	D H Hopkins	F D O’Brien
J P Curtice	L James	A J O’Connor
P Downing	Y V Jardine	C L Philpott
C R Doyle	A J Jeffery	J E Pritchard
M Durke	D H Jenkins	S Pritchard
C R Evans	J W Jones	S J Rice
C M J Evans	L R Jones	K M Roberts
V M Evans	M H Jones	B J Rowlands
E W Fitzgerald	S M Jones	R V Smith
R A Fogarty	S A Joy	A H Stevens
N Furlong	H Lawson	R C Stewart
L S Gibbard	A S Lewis	L G Thomas
F M Gordon	M B Lewis	M S Tribe
K M Griffiths	W G Lewis	G D Walker
H J Gwilliam	P Lloyd	L V Walton
J A Hale	M W Locke	T M White
V A Holland	N L Matthews

 

Against (0 Councillor(s))
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
-	-	-

 

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.