Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P M Black,

V M Evans, E T Kirchner and R D Lewis.

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, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Ordinary meeting of Council held on 18 March 2014.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 31 March 2015 be approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendment: -

            Minute No.218 – Councillors’ Questions

            Amend Councillor Question requiring a written response listed below to the following: -

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

            What support does the Authority give to free debt advice organisations?

1)         Lindsay Harvey, Chief Education Officer

The Presiding Member welcomed Lindsay Harvey, Chief Education Officer to his first Council meeting and wished him luck in his new role.

2)         Condolences

a)         Sergeant Louise Lucas, South Wales Police

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent tragic death of Police Sergeant Louise Lucas on the Kingsway. 

b)        Thomas, son of Sharon Jones

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Thomas, son of Sharon Jones who has worked in Building Control for many years. 

All present stood as a mark of respect and sympathy.

The Presiding Member stated that pursuant to paragraph 100B (4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, he considered that the report of the Monitoring Officer should be considered as a matter of urgency.

Reason for Urgency

To ensure continuity of the statutory office due to an unforeseen absence.

Report on the Appointment of Interim Chief Social Services Officer

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to appoint an officer as Interim Chief Social Officer.

RESOLVED that David Howes be appointed Chief Social Services Officer until such time as Deborah Driffield returns to work, at which time the designation will revert immediately to her.

1)         Condolences – Sergeant Louise Lucas, South Wales Police

            The Leader echoed the condolences of the Presiding Member when          referring to the tragic death of Sergeant Louise Lucas, South Wales             Police and informed Council that he had attended her funeral in Cardiff.

            He referred to the Experimental Traffic Order and temporary barriers            erected on the Kingsway and Westway to encourage pedestrians to cross the road in the correct places and to establish a more uniformed           flow of traffic.  He added that the measures were temporary and did not             represent the long term development plan for the Kingsway. 

2)         Sale of Surplus School Land

            The Leader stated that further to the announcement of the Cabinet             Member for Education during Council budget discussions, he wished to confirm a freeze on the sale of surplus school land, subject           to an ongoing review.  The priority is for new schools to be built in the        future. 

3)         Blue Badge Scheme

            The Leader announced that the Authority would be ceasing with the          Welsh Assembly Government toolkit and would be reverting back to      the previous Welsh Assembly guidance.  He paid tribute to the hard     work of the staff involved in the change and said that the reason for the    change was not a reflection on them.

4)         Marketing of Sites

            The Leader announced that five consortium bids had been shortlisted       in respect of the Civic Centre and St David’s sites.  The proposals were         very detailed and it was hoped to appoint a preferred developer in the autumn. 

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

Questions were asked by members of the public.  The Leader and relevant Cabinet Member responded accordingly. 

No Public Presentations were received.

There were no changes put forward to the membership of Committees/Outside Bodies.

The Chief Executive presented a report in order to agree a response to the consultation on the White Paper “Reforming Local Government - Power to Local People”.  A Briefing Paper on the proposals set out within the White Paper was attached at Appendix A.  The Welsh Government had issued a consultation on the White Paper and had invited responses.  The report set out the City and County of Swansea’s response to the consultation. 

The City and County of Swansea’s response drew upon the Council’s original response to the Williams Commission, commented on the role of Welsh Government and made the case for wider public service change.  The Council’s response to the Williams Commission was attached at Appendix B.  A response by the Democratic Services Committee to relevant questions set out within the Welsh Government Consultation Document was attached at Appendix C.  It was also proposed that Council fully supports the Welsh Local Government Association Response to the White Paper Consultation and a summary of this Response was attached at Appendix D.

RESOLVED that the Draft Response to the Consultation on the White Paper “Reforming Local Government - Power to Local People” be agreed.

(1)       Part A “Supplementary Questions”

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 questions requiring a written response are listed below:

(i)       Question 1 - Councillor E W Fitzgerald asked:-

Would the Cabinet Member provide figures regarding the number of additional school pupils in Swansea when they are available?

The Cabinet Member for Education indicated that she would provide a written response when the information became available.

(ii)       Question 2 - Councillor C A Holley asked:-

Would the Leader explain the figure regarding backlog maintenance?

The Leader indicated that he would provide a written response.

(2)       Part B “Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions”

            There were none.

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Procurement submitted a For Information Report setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 31 March 2015.