Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S E Crouch, A J Jones, D G Sullivan and C Thomas.

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Procurement 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:

 

Councillors

 

1)    Councillors J C Bayliss, P M Black, J E Burtonshaw, A M Day,

      P M Meara and J A Raynor declared a personal interest in Minute No.212 ‘’Public Presentation – Bay Campus, Swansea University Campus Development Strategy’’.

 

2)    Councillors J E Burtonshaw, J P Curtice, J A Hale, C Richards, and

      N M Woollard declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’. 

 

3)    Councillor P Downing declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and stated that he had received dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak and vote on any item relating to general staff Employment, on Budget matters and any other matters that affect Corporate Building Services, other than matters that directly affect his brother with specific reference to his post.

 

4)    Councillor F M Gordon declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and stated that she had received dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters and any other matters that directly affect Education other than matters that directly affect her son by specific reference to his post.

 

5)    Councillor C A Holley declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and stated that he had received dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay, speak and vote on any item relating to Social Services matters, general staff employment, on budget matters and other Social Services matters other than those that directly affect his daughter by specific reference to her post..

 

6)    Councillor G J Tanner declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and stated that she had received dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak but not vote on any item relating to general staff employment on budget matters other than  matters that directly affect her son by specific reference to his post.

 

7)    Councillor M Thomas declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and stated that he had received dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak but not vote on any item relating to general staff employment, on budget matters other than matters that directly affect his wife by specific reference to her post.

 

8)    Councillor T M White declared a personal interest in Minute No.213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and stated that he had received dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay and speak on any item relating to general employment, on budget matters other than matters that directly affect his daughter by specific reference to her post.

 

9)    Councillor C R Doyle declared a personal interest in Minute No.215 ‘’Admission Arrangements 2016/2017’’ as a School Governor of Birchgrove Comprehensive and Primary Schools.

 

10)  Councillor J W Jones declared a personal interest in Minute No.215 ‘’Admission Arrangements 2016/2017’’ as a School Governor and his grandchild is due to enter education.

 

11)  Councillor I M Richard declared a personal interest in Minute No.215 ‘’Admission Arrangements 2016/2017’’ in relation to having nine grandchildren in education in Swansea.

 

12)  Councillors J C Bayliss, D W Cole, A C S Colburn, A M Cook, M H Jones,

 E T Kirchner, A S Lewis, P Lloyd, C L Philpott, I M Richard,

 D W W Thomas and T M White declared a personal interest in Minute No.217 ‘’Local Development Plan Petitions’’ as members of the Planning Committee.  

 

Officers

 

1)    P Arran, L Harvey, M Hawes, P Meller, J Parkhouse, P Roberts, C Sivers, D Taylor and J Tinker declared personal and prejudicial interests in Minute No. 213 ‘’Pay Policy 2015/2016’’ and left the meeting prior to discussions on this item.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 24 February 2015 and Ordinary meeting of Council held on 3 March 2015.

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

 

1)       Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 24 February 2015.

 

2)       Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 3 March 2015.

1)       Condolences

 

a)       Janet Borsden, Wife of Gareth Borsden

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Janet Borsden.  Janet Borsden was a former employee of the City and County of Swansea and the wife of Gareth Borsden (Democratic Services).

 

All stood as a mark of respect and sympathy.

 

2)       Councillor Resignations

 

The Presiding member stated that three Councillors of the City and County of Swansea had resigned with immediate effect on 20 March 2015.

 

Councillor John Davies represented the Morriston Electoral Ward on Swansea City Council from 5 May 1983 to 31 March 1996 and the City and County of Swansea from 4 May 1995 to 20 March 2015.  This was a period of approximately 32 years.  Councillor John Davies had previously served as a Cabinet Member and was Lord Mayor in 2000-2001.

 

Councillor Nick Bradley represented the Townhill Electoral Ward on the City and County of Swansea from 1 May 2008 to 20 March 2015.  This was a period of approximately 7 years.  Councillor Nick Bradley had previously served as a Cabinet Member.

 

Councillor Mitch Theaker represented the Cockett Electoral Ward on the City and County of Swansea from 3 May 2012 to 20 March 2015.  This was a period of approximately 3 years.  Councillor Mitch Theaker had previously served as a Cabinet Member.

 

 

3)       MPs’ Standing Down

 

The Presiding Member indicated that two MPs’ for Swansea were    standing down – Martin Caton, who had        been an MP for Gower since        1997 and Sian James who had been an MP for Swansea East   since 2005. 

 

 

4)       Congratulations

 

          The Presiding Officer stated that youngsters from Blaenymaes school’s Rhodri’s Rangers Group had won a High Sheriff Award for their work in helping classmates with issues such as bullying and internet safety.

 

 

 

 

1)       Tribute to Councillor J Davies

 

          The Leader paid tribute to ward all his colleagues, but paid specific thanks to his ward colleague Councillor John Davies for his contribution over many years both as both as Cabinet Member and Ward Colleague.

 

2)       Marketing of Sites

 

          The Leader indicated that there had been keen interest in the marketing of sites and a shortlist had been prepared. A productive and positive meeting had also been had regarding the sale of the Liberty Stadium. 

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within 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)       Lis Davies asked the relevant Cabinet Member a question in relation to     Minute 218 – Council Questions  - Page 145

 

          (i) Which specific schools has the Labour Administration identified as         having ‘high market value sites with existing access arrangements’?

 

          (ii) Why has Swansea Council decided to effectively award schools five      per cent less money in the next financial year [delegated budget          cuts] when Neath & Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire councils have not    done so?

 

          The Cabinet Member for Education indicated that she would provide a       written response.    

 

2)       Lis Davies asked the relevant Cabinet Member a question in relation to     Minute No 215 – Admission Arrangements 2016/2017 - Page 54 –

 

          The report identifies that there are 79 Primary and 14 Comprehensive       Schools in Swansea and yet the Council only received (11) responses    to the consultation on Admission arrangements. 

 

          (i) A breakdown of the 11 responses - how many responses were             received from Primary Schools? and how many from Comprehensive Schools?

 

          (ii) has there been any further consultation with schools asking why           they failed to respond to the consultation?

 

          (iii) Was the lack of interest apathy on part of the schools who failed to      respond or further evidence of the dysfunctional relationship between     Swansea schools in general and the LA Education Department?

 

          The Cabinet Member for Education indicated that she would provide a       written response.

 

Professor  Iwan Davies gave a presentation on the Bay Campus, Swansea University Campus Development Strategy. He referred to the opportunity, excellence and impact that this development would create.

 

Questions were asked by members regarding this exciting project.

 

 

The Leader and the Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Strategy gave thanks for the presentation.

S Rees, Head of HR & OD, Neath Port Talbot County Council presented a report on the Pay Policy 2015/2016. The Pay Policy 2015/16 was attached as Appendix 1. Paragraph 4.3.5 of the pay policy was amended to state that the living wage was increasing from £7.45 per hour to £7.61 per hour, rather than per year.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       the Pay Policy 2015/2016 be approved.

 

2)       the pay offer for Chief Officers as outlined in paragraph 3.9 of the   report be approved.

 

3)       any future pay increases for JNC, NJC and Soulbury Staff be          implemented as and when they arise.

The Citizen, Community Engagement and Democracy Cabinet Member stated that an amended report had been circulated. The Leader had agreed that the following organisation be added to Council Outside Bodies:-

 

Vision Impaired West Glamorgan

         

Add Councillor T J Hennegan

Add Councillor Y V Jardine

Add Councillor G J Tanner

Add Councillor C Thomas

 

 

RESOLVED that the membership of the Council Bodies listed below be amended as follows:

 

1)       Scrutiny Programme Committee

 

          Remove Councillor A J Jones

          Add Councillor D J Lewis

2)       Audit Committee

 

          Remove Councillor P Downing

          Add Councillor J C Bayliss

 

3)       Engagement and Inclusion Cabinet Advisory Committee

 

          Remove Councillor D W Cole

          Add Councillor C R Doyle

 

 

The Cabinet Member for Education presented a report which sought to determine the Admission Arrangements for maintained schools for the academic year 2016/2017.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       the proposed Admission Arrangements for 2016/2017 for Nursery   Classes as set out in Appendix A be approved. 

 

2)       the proposed Admission Arrangements for 2016/2017 for Primary   Schools as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved.

 

3)       the proposed Admission Arrangements for 2016/2017 for Secondary         Schools as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved.

 

4)       the proposed Admission Arrangements/ Criteria for Entry for 2016/2017    for Sixth Forms set in Appendix B of the report be approved.

 

5)       the Schedule of Events at Appendix C of the report be approved.

 

6)       the Admission Numbers for primary and secondary schools be noted,        as set out in Appendix D of the report.

The Monitoring Officer presented the joint report of the Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services which sought to make amendments in order to outline the draft Council Diary 2015 – 2016 and to simplify, improve and/or add to the Council Constitution and to in relation to the following areas:-

 

1)       Part 4 – “ Council Procedure Rules”

 

2)       Part 4 – “Access to Information Procedure Rules”

 

3)       Part 4 – “ Cabinet Procedure Rules”

 

The draft Council Diary 2015 – 2016 was attached as Appendix A.

 

An additional report was circulated with the following further amendments to the Council Diary 2015 – 2016 :

 

4.2     Amendments to the cycle of meetings as follows:-

 

Communities CAC –                             amend from the 1^st Tuesday of every                                                       month to 2^nd Thursday of every                                                                month

 

Democratic Services Committee -        amend from the 2^nd Tuesday of every                                                      3^rd      month to 3^rd Tuesday of every                                                       3^rd month.

 

 

Appendix A – Council Diary 2015 – 2016

 

 

The date of the Cabinet meeting shown as 14 May 2015 be amended to 12 May 2015.

 

The date of General Licensing Committee shown as 15 May 2015 be amended to 14 May 2015.

 

 

RESOLVED:-

 

1)       The changes to the Council Constitution as outlined in paragraph 3 of        the report together with any further consequential changes be adopted;

 

2)       The Council Diary 2015 – 2016 be noted subject to the further        amendments in the additional report and be resubmitted to the Annual Meeting of Council on 19 May 2015 for formal adoption.

The Monitoring Officer presented the report of the Constitution Working Group which sought to agree a mechanism for all petitioners to proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) allocations to be heard. Amended recommendations were circulated.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)    The opportunity to present valid petitions be afforded to all petitioners objecting to proposed A and potential B-List LDP sites (including those sites subject of multiple letters of objection) and that site promoters be afforded the right to reply;

 

2)    All Petitions relating to the LDP will be directed to and heard by the Planning Committee who will then make a recommendation in a report to Council for a final decision to be made.  The report to Council will provide details of the representations made at Planning Committee in respect of each site.

 

3)    Consequential amendments be made to the Constitution and the Head of Legal, Democratic Services & Procurement be given authority to make those amendments.

 

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Eleven (11) 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 requiring a written response are listed below:-

 

(i)       Question 4  - Councillor M H Jones asked:-

 

          In relation to revised figures verbal provided by the Cabinet Member         do these include the staff who were on temporary contracts of under a       year and had already been given notice?(Councillor M H Jones    indicated that she would provide notes regarding this matter in the new     term)

 

          The Cabinet Member for Education indicated that she would provide a       written response.

 

(ii)      Question 4 – Councillor M H Jones further asked:-

 

          As a result of the emphasis on Numeracy and Literacy in recent years,      can the Cabinet Member indicate how schools were going to manage      to help all children to be able to read at their chronological reading age   when the staff schools are mainly losing Teaching Assistants that work      with these children? How do you expect them to  access the       Curriculum when they get to Secondary School. 

 

          The Cabinet Member for Education indicated that she would provide a       written response.

 

(iii)      Question 10 (2) – Councillor P M Meara asked:-

 

          How does the table produced in respect of the number of liability orders    issued in respect of the past financial years compared to the collection rate differ from that in other cities?

 

          The Leader indicated that he would provide a written response.

 

(iv)     Question 10 (4) – Councillor P M Meara asked:-

 

          What support do people get from the free debt advice organisations?

 

          The Leader indicated that he would provide a written response.

 

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

One (1) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ was submitted.

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

 

 

The meeting ended at 7.25p.m.