Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Anderson, J E Burtonshaw, M C Child, S E Crouch, C R Doyle, J E C Harris, P R Hood-Williams, E J King, H M Morris, B G Owen, D Phillips, C M R W D Thomas and L G 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:

 

1)       Councillors P Downing, J A Hale and C E Lloyd declared a Personal Interest in Minute 26 “Community / Town Standards Sub Committee Merger with Standards Committee””;

 

2)       Councillors C A Holley and J Newbury declared a Personal Interest in Minute 27 “Councillors’ Questions”.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Ceremonial and Annual Meetings of Council held on 19 May 2015.

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

 

1)       Ceremonial Meeting of Council held on 15 May 2015;

 

2)       Annual Meeting of Council held on 19 May 2015.

1)       Condolences

 

a)       Former Councillor Peter Williams

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor Peter Williams.  Peter Williams served the Killay South Electoral Ward on the former Swansea City Council.

 

b)       Arthur Day, Father of Councillor A M Day

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Arthur Day, father of Councillor A M Day.

 

All present were asked to stand as a mark of respect and sympathy.

 

2)       Queen’s Birthday Honours 2015

 

The Presiding Member congratulated the Citizens of Swansea who received awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

 

a)       Knights Bachelor (Kt)

 

i)        Dr Karl William Pamp Jenkins, CBE. Composer. For services to Composing and Crossing Musical Genres. (London).

 

b)       Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)

 

i)        Tracy Annette Watkins, MVO. Secretary to the Lord Chamberlain, Royal Household. (Morriston).

 

c)       Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)

 

i)        Frances Matthews. Private Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan.

 

d)       Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

 

i)        Huw Morgan Jenkins. Chair Swansea City Football Club. For services to Sport in Wales. (Neath, Neath Port Talbot).

 

ii)       David Gareth Madge. Director of Legal Services South Wales Police. For services to Policing. (Clydach, Swansea).

 

e)       Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

 

i)        Joan Elisabeth Jones. Quality and Regulatory Compliance manager, Welsh Blood Service. For services to Blood Transfusion in Wales and the UK. (Morriston, Swansea).

 

ii)       Joseph Barrie Owen. President Swansea Harriers Athletic Club. For services to Welsh Athletics.

 

iii)       Steve Taylor. Foster Carer. For services to Young People in Swansea. (Swansea).

 

iv)      Wendy Taylor. Foster Carer. For services to Young People in Swansea. (Swansea).

 

f)        British Empire Medal (BEM)

 

i)        Peter Carter Jones. For services to the Establishment of the Welsh National First World War Memorial in Flanders Belgium. (Swansea).

 

ii)       David Anthony Small. Founder and Musical director Penclawdd Brass Band. For services to Music in Swansea. (Swansea).

 

3)       Councillor H M Morris

 

The Presiding Member referred to Councillor H M Morris’ ill health and gave his best wishes.

 

4)       Corrections / Amendments to the Council Summons

 

i)        Item 8b “Membership of Committee” - Please note that an amended report has been circulated.

 

ii)       Item 11 “Councillors’ Questions” - Question 1.  Amend the response as follows:

 

Ø    Paragraph 1.  Last sentence.  Delete the word “debt”;

Ø    Paragraph 2.  Amend the word “supported” to read “support”. Amend the word “dent” to read “debt”.

1)       Tidal Bay Lagoon

 

The Leader of the Council referred to the excellent news that Swansea was leading the way with the technology involved with the Tidal Bay Lagoon Project.

 

2)       Ftr Metro

 

The Leader of the Council welcomed the decision of First Cymru to withdraw the Ftr Metro aka “Bendy Bus” from the roads of Swansea.

 

3)       Child and Family Services

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council congratulated the Child and Family Services Team on winning the “Leadership to Achieve Confident, Competent and Professional Workers” award at the Care Council for Wales Accolades held at City Hall, Cardiff.

 

The award was given in recognition of the Authority’s innovative approach to Social Work called ‘Signs of Safety’ which has already attracted UK and international interest. The City and County of Swansea is the first Children’s Services in Wales to form partnerships with families and professionals to help children live safer lives.

 

This innovative way of working has given a much needed voice to children. The judges were impressed that there was much greater satisfaction from families and staff, with every child understanding why they were looked after, and what learning was being shared across partner agencies.

 

The dramatic improvement in performance during recent years has been a real Team effort.  She congratulated the whole Team on the achievement.

 

4)       Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council referred to the fact that the Authority had been shortlisted for an MJ Award (The Oscars for Councils) in recognition of its excellence in Local Government services across the UK. The Authority’s work in safeguarding children, promoting and protecting children’s rights earned a place as a finalist in the Children’s Services category.

 

The Authority did not win the Award however its submission recognised the work being done across the Council as well as ith other partner Organisations that support children and families to make the most of their lives.

 

The City and County of Swansea is the only Council in the UK to have embedded the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in all that it does.  The Authority’s work with children and their families to intervene early when needed helps keep them all safe.

 

The MJ award shortlisting is not just recognition of Teams in Children’s Services. It also reflects how the Council’s work to support children is a priority for other Departments.

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 Leader of the Council questions in relation to Minute 27 “Councillors’ Questions (Question 2)”.

 

“Page 57. A cost of £11.6 million relating to sickness at Coventry Council and the position of CCS between 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.  However the response made no reference to costs.

 

What were the monetary costs to CCS relating sickness levels between 2013-2014 and 2014-2015?”

 

The Leader of the Council stated that a written response would be provided.

 

2)       Lis Davies asked the Leader of the Council questions in relation to Minute 27 “Councillors’ Questions (Question 4)”.

 

“i)       Page 63. Have the estimated Capacity figures for 2022 within the report taken into account the proposed new build allocations in the Draft LDP? Prime example being the student village, Sketty.  If 300 houses were approved for the student village where would the children be educated? Parklands, Sketty and Hendrefoilan Schools are either near or at full capacity.

 

ii)       Page 63. I also question the inaccurate figures relating to Dunvant School Number on roll – 276 Capacity - 322 unfilled places - 46. There are presently 337 pupils attending Dunvant Primary; 61 more pupils than recorded in the report and 15 more than capacity. In view of the discrepancies, one would have to question the accuracy of the content within the report as a whole”.

 

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

Lynn Minshall gave a presentation on ‘Tackling Slavery - The Welsh Perspective’.  She outlined the issues associated with modern day slavery and the extent of it within Wales and beyond. She stated that a one hour training session was now available should Councillors be interested.

 

The Leader of the Council welcomed the offer of training and supported its inclusion in the Councillors Training Programme.

 

Councillor Erika T Kirchner (Domestic Abuse Member Champion) gave thanks for the presentation.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted an information report which presented the amount of allowances and expenses paid to each Councillor and Co-opted Member during 2014-2015 under the Councillors Allowances Scheme.

The Transformation and Performance Cabinet Member stated that an amended report had been circulated.

 

He referred to the report stating that the Leader of the Council had made the following changes to the Authority’s membership on Outside Bodies:

 

1)       Caer Las Cymru

Remove Councillor D H Hopkins.

Add Councillor T J Hennegan.

 

2)       Local Government Association

Remove Councillors N S Bradley and D Phillips.

Add Councillors C E Lloyd and R C Stewart.

 

3)       Local Government Association Urban Commission

Remove Councillor N S Bradley.

Add Councillor E J King.

 

4)       National Waterfront Museum (Swansea) Ltd

Remove Councillors N S Bradley and J C Bayliss.

Add Councillors J A Hale and E T Kirchner

 

5)       Religious Education in Wales

Remove Councillor P B Smith.

Add Councillor E J King.

 

6)       Swansea Council for Voluntary Service

Remove Councillor G J Tanner.

Add Councillor C R Evans.

 

7)       Swansea Economic Regeneration Partnership

Remove Councillor N S Bradley.

Add Councillor R C Stewart.

 

8)       Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts

Remove Councillors N M Woollard and D Phillips.

Add Councillors C Anderson and T J Hennegan.

 

9)       West Wales Valuation Tribunal

Remove Councillor A S Lewis.

Add Councillor N J Davies.

 

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

 

1)       Audit Committee

Remove Councillors J C Bayliss and A M Cook.

Add Councillors C Anderson and T M White.

 

2)       Business & Administration Cabinet Advisory Committee

Remove Councillor B G Owen.

Add Councillor C Thomas.

 

3)       Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee

Remove Councillor P Downing.

Add Councillor A M Cook.

 

4)       Chief Officers Disciplinary Committee

Remove Councillor A J Jones.

Add Councillor C Thomas.

 

5)       Economy & Investment Cabinet Advisory Committee

Remove Councillors B G Owen and N M Woollard.

Add Councillors D W Cole and C Thomas.

 

6)       Engagement & Inclusion Cabinet Advisory Committee

Remove Councillor A J Jones.

Add Councillor C R Evans.

 

7)       Joint Consultative Committee

Remove Councillor M H Jones.

Add Councillor C A Holley.

 

8)       LA Governor Panel

Remove Councillor J W Jones.

Add Councillor C A Holley.

 

9)       Pensions Board

Add Councillor D W Cole.

 

10)     Planning Committee

Remove Councillor J C Bayliss.

Add Councillor P B Smith.

 

11)     West Glamorgan Archives Committee

Remove Councillor J Newbury.

Add Councillor P M Meara.

The Communities and Housing Cabinet Member submitted a report which sought to outline proposed amendments to the current Private Sector Housing Renewal and Disabled Adaptations: Policy to Provide Assistance 2012-2017.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       The amendments to Sections 3 and 5 of the documents detailed within the report be approved;

 

2)       A revised Policy be published.

The Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly submitted a report which sought to make amendments in order to simplify, improve and / or add to the Council Constitution in relation to the following areas:

 

1)       Part 3 – Scheme of Delegation;

 

2)       Part 4 – Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

 

RESOLVED that the changes to the Council Constitution as outlined in Paragraph 3 of the report together with any further consequential changes be adopted.

The Head of Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer jointly submitted a report which sought to provide the feedback on the consultation with the Community / Town Councils and to recommend a way forward to merge the Community / Town Councils Standards Sub Committee with the Standards Committee.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)       The consultation responses as outlined in Appendix A be noted;

 

2)       The Community / Town Council Standards Sub Committee be merged with the Standards Committee;

 

3)       The proposed terms of reference of the Standards Committee as outlined in Appendix B be adopted;

 

4)       Community / Town Councils be approached asking them either to propose Community / Town Councillors as suitable candidates and / or for applications of interest to be submitted for a place on the merged Standards Committee;

 

5)       Standards Committee be authorised to shortlist and interview Community / Town Councillors that have applied to sit on the merged Standards Committee;

 

6)       It be noted that Council itself will make the appointment based on the recommendation of the interviewing body.

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.

 

The following question(s) required a written response:

 

a)       Question 2. Councillor E W Fitzgerald asked the following supplementary question(s):

 

“What is the cost of sick absence to the Authority and what are the reasons for the sickness?”

 

The Leader of the Council stated that a written response would be provided.

 

b)       Question 4. Councillor A M Day asked the following supplementary question(s):

 

“The surplus capacity figures for Primary Schools of 12.08% as outlined on page 59, hides the difference between English and Welsh education.  The Authority needs to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for Welsh medium education.

 

What measures and mechanisms are in place to address this?”

 

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

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

No Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were 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.