Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

The Deputy Head of Legal and Democratic Services 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 J A Hale and C E Lloyd declared a Personal Interest in Minute 42 “Standards Committee Annual Report 2015-2016”;

 

2)            Councillors A C S Colburn, S E Crouch, E W Fitzgerald, P R Hood-Williams, M H Jones, E J King, D J Lewis and P M Meara declared a Personal Interest in Minute 43 “Scrutiny Annual Report 2015-2016”;

 

3)            Councillors C A Holley and M Thomas declared a Personal Interest in Minute 45 “Appointment of Chief Social Services Officer” and stated that they had dispensations from the Standards Committee.

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 16 June 2016.

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

1)       Condolences

 

a)              Michael Cura, Bishop Vaughan Catholic School

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Michael Cura, a pupil of Bishop Vaughan Catholic School.  Michael died whilst on a 560 mile school cycle trip making a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in the Galicia region, Spain.

 

All present stood as a mark of sympathy and respect.

 

2)       Congratulations

 

a)       Wales Football Team

 

The Presiding Member was delighted to congratulate the Wales Football Team following their recent performance in Euro 2016.  They Team, managed by Chris Colman of Swansea reached the Semi Finals, having finished top of their group during the group stages.

 

Following Euro 2016, Wales moved above England and up to 11^th in the FIFA World Rankings.  Hopefully, the Euro 2016 campaign will set Wales up well for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers which commences in September 2016.

 

3)       Council Meetings

 

The Presiding Member stated that the Council Meeting scheduled for 25 August 2016 has been cancelled.

 

He also stated that the Ceremonial Meeting of Council (Inauguration of the Lord Mayor) scheduled for 19 May 2017 has been re-scheduled.  The meeting will not be held at 2.00pm on Friday, 26 May 2017.

 

4)       Meirion Howells “Chair of Standards Committee”

 

The Presiding Member thanked the Chair of Standards Committee, Meirion Howells for his service in raising ethics and standards of this Authority.  Meirion Howells was appointed to the Standards Committee on 1 August 2008.  Having served 2 terms, his term of Office ends of 31 July 2016.

 

During his 8 years on the Standards Committee, Meirion Howells dealt with a number of Code of Conduct complaints; however it was pleasing to note that in the past few years, their work has diminished significantly…hopefully due to the improved conduct of Councillors.

 

5)       Changes / Amendments to the Council Summons

 

1)       Agenda Item 14 “Membership of Committees”

 

The Presiding Member stated that an amended report has been circulated.

 

2)       Agenda Item 15 “Amendments to the Council Constitution”

 

The Presiding Member referred to the following changes required to the Amendments to the Council Constitution report.

 

i)        Page 65, Paragraph 4.2, Transformation & Performance Cabinet Portfolio Table.

 

Sustainable Development.  This should be shown as “Add” and not “Delete” in column 2.

 

ii)        Page 69, Next Generation Services Table.

 

Item 1) “Commercial Services; Identify and Implement New Commercial Models”.  Add the following to the “CM Consultee” column:

 

“All relevant Cabinet Members”.

 

iii)       Page 69, Next Generation Services Table.

 

Delete Item 15) “Sustainable Development” and add to the Transformation and Performance Table shown on Page 70.  Also, Add the following to the “CM Consultee” column:

 

“All relevant Cabinet Members”.

 

3)       Agenda Item 17 “Notice of Motion”

 

The Presiding Member stated that an amended Notice of Motion has been circulated.

1)         Brexit – Letter to Prime Minister

 

The Leader of the Council stated that he had circulated his letter to the Prime Minister to all Councillor earlier.  In the letter he sought assurances that the UK Government would match or exceed current levels of funding provided from the EU.

 

2)         Swansea City Football Club – Liberty Stadium Future Intentions

 

The Leader of the Council stated that he was in the process of discussing with football club their intention for the Liberty Stadium and whether this included expansion, sale or both.

 

3)         Inaugural Lord Mayor’s Summer Honours

 

The Leader of the Council was pleased to state that 45 tables had been sold for the Inaugural Lord Mayor’s Summer Honours Ball.  He thanked J R Events for their support in promoting the event.

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)        Tony Beddow asked the Enterprise, Development and Regeneration Cabinet Member questions in relation to Minute 44 “City and County of Swansea Community Benefit Policy”.

 

“With regard to Section 106 agreements, is it legal for the Authority to bolster the requirement by placing a deposited bond requirement on developers so as to ensure that the planning gain element is guaranteed?”

 

The Enterprise, Development and Regeneration Cabinet Member stated that a written response would be provided.

 

2)        Lis Davies asked the Wellbeing and Healthy City Cabinet Member a question in relation to Minute 49 “Councillors’ Questions – Question 11”.

 

“What is the name of the weed killer used by the Authority on highways and footpaths?”

 

The Wellbeing and Healthy City Cabinet Member stated that a written response would be provided.

No Public Presentations were received.

The Chair of the Standards Committee, Meirion Howells presented the Standards Committee Annual Report 2015-2016 for information.  The report set out the work of the Standards Committee and Community / Town Councils Standards Sub Committee from June 2015 to May 2016.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee submitted for information the Scrutiny Annual Report 2015-2016.  The report outlined the work of scrutiny during that period.

The Enterprise, Development and Regeneration Cabinet Member submitted a report which updated the Beyond Bricks and Mortar initiative to form a Community Benefit Policy covering all of the Authority’s activities where community benefits can add value.  This includes planning applications, works, services and supply contracts, sale of land for development as well as construction and regeneration projects.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)        The original scope of the Beyond Bricks & Mortar initiative be widened to cover all activities where community benefits add value as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

 

2)        The City & County of Swansea Community Benefit Policy document appended to the report be approved.

 

 

The Chief Executive submitted a report which sought to confirm the appointment of the Chief Social Services Officer.

 

RESOLVED that David Howes be confirmed in post in respect of the role of the Chief Social Services Officer.

The Leader of the Council submitted a report which sought consideration of whether to confer the Honorary Freedom of the City and County of Swansea to Chris Coleman in recognition of his contribution to sport and the City, specifically his leadership and success with the Wales Football Team.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)        The Honorary Freedom of the City and County of Swansea be conferred on Chris Coleman in recognition of his contribution to sport and the City, specifically his leadership and success with the Wales Football Team.

The Transformation and Performance Cabinet Member submitted an amended report which sought approval of the nominations / amendment to the membership of Council Bodies.

 

He referred to the report stating that the Leader of the Council had not made any changes to the membership of the Authority’s Outside Bodies.

 

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

 

i)             Appeals & Awards Committee

Remove Councillor R D Lewis

Add Councillor J W Jones

 

ii)            Appointments Committee

Remove Councillor D W Cole

Add Councillor M Thomas

 

iii)          Chief Officer Disciplinary Committee

Remove Councillor D G Sullivan

Add Councillor R D Lewis

 

iv)          Chief Officer Disciplinary Appeals Committee

Remove Councillor D J Lewis

Add Councillor P N May

 

v)           Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC)

Remove Councillor D W Cole & Conservative Group Vacancy

Add Councillors R D Lewis & Y V Jardine

 

vi)          Corporate Services CAC

Remove Councillor J E Burtonshaw & Conservative Vacancy

Add Councillors R D Lewis & H M Morris

 

vii)         Development Cabinet Advisory Committee (CAC)

Remove Councillor D W Cole & Conservative Group Vacancy

Add Councillors R D Lewis & G J Tanner

 

viii)       Joint Resilience Committee

Remove Councillor D W Cole

Add Councillor C E Lloyd

 

ix)          General Licensing Committee & General Licensing Sub Committee

Remove Councillor D W Cole

Add Councillor C Anderson

 

x)           Statutory Licensing Committee & Statutory Licensing Sub Committee

Remove Councillor D W Cole

Add Councillor C Anderson

 

xi)          Planning Committee

Remove Councillor I M Richard

Add Councillor H M Morris

 

xii)         Scrutiny Programme Committee

Remove Councillor D W Cole

Add Councillor F M Gordon

 

xiii)       Challenge Panel

Add Councillor P N May

 

xiv)       L A Governor Panel

Remove D W Cole

Add Councillor U C Clay

 

xv)        Trustees Panel

Remove Councillor M B Lewis

 

xvi)       Social Services Rota Visits Group

Add Councillors R D Lewis & P N May

 

xvii)      Gower AONB Partnership Group

Remove Councillor R D Lewis

Add Councillor L James

The Presiding Member, Deputy Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly submitted an information report which outlined a number of changes that the Leader of the Council had made to the Cabinet Portfolios within the Council Constitution.

 

The Head of Democratic Services stated that the report had been amended as outlined in the Presiding Members Announcements.

 

Councillor P M Black asked that an updated list of Cabinet Portfolios and areas of responsibility be circulated to all Councillors.

 

The Head of Democratic Services stated that he would distribute the information.

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Ten (10) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.  The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

 

The following supplementary question(s) required a written response.

 

a)              Question 1.  Councillor P M Black asked:

 

“Did the additional cost of the removal of asbestos at the former Oceana building distort the tender process?”

 

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

 

b)       Question 3.

 

i)                 Councillor M H Jones asked:

 

“What will happen to the Pavilions and the maintenance of Pavilions if a bowls club refuses to take over maintenance of the greens or if there is no bowls club locally to do so?”

 

The Wellbeing and Healthy City Cabinet Member indicated that a written response would be provided.

 

ii)               Councillor J Newbury asked for a full breakdown and update of the position relating to each of the bowling greens within the Authority.

 

The Wellbeing and Healthy City Cabinet Member indicated that a written response would be provided.

 

c)       Question 6.  Councillor P M Black asked:

 

“How many City and County of Swansea Council houses had been brought up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard?”

 

The Next Generation Services Cabinet Member indicated that a written response would be provided.

 

d)       Question 7.  Councillor C A Holley asked:

 

“It appears that Council staff who park at the Civic Centre are required to purchase a car parking permit whilst staff worked for the NHS in the Civic Centre do not need to pay for a car parking permit.  Why?”

 

The Transforming and Performance Cabinet Member indicated that a written response would be provided.

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

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

Following the recent Referendum, this Council reiterates that it stands and supports all members of society regardless of their age, race, gender religion or sexual orientation. Swansea remains a City of Sanctuary. We are all appalled by reports of discrimination and hate against members of the public, staff and school children. We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate have no place in our city and country. As a Council, we condemn such actions unequivocally. We will not allow such expressions of hate to become acceptable.  

 

We the Councillors of the City and County of Swansea Council will continue to work closely with partners, local bodies, and the public to stand up to racism, xenophobia, discrimination, and hate in all its forms. 

 

We will stand together with individuals and organisations who work to promote peaceful co-existence of all groups in our communities, and, wherever possible, provide the support and resources needed.

We reassure all people living in the City and County of Swansea that they are valued members of our community.

 

Councillor R C Stewart stated that an amended motion had been circulated.  He stated that the amended motion was supported by those that initially proposed the motion.  The amended motion was the substantive motion for discussion.

 

The amended motion was proposed by Councillor R C Stewart and seconded by Councillor C A Holley.

 

Following the recent Referendum, this Council reiterates that it stands and supports all members of society regardless of their age, race, gender religion or sexual orientation. Swansea remains a City of Sanctuary. We are all appalled by reports of discrimination and hate against members of the public, staff and school children. We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate have no place in our city and country. As a Council, we condemn such actions unequivocally. We will not allow such expressions of hate to become acceptable.

 

We the Councillors of the City and County of Swansea Council will continue to work closely with partners, local bodies, and the public to stand up to racism, xenophobia, discrimination, and hate in all its forms.

 

We will stand together with individuals and organisations who work to promote peaceful co-existence of all groups in our communities, and, wherever possible, provide the support and resources needed.

 

As an employer, we will lead by example.  We promote diversity and our policy states that discrimination due to race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic origin) is a matter of Gross Misconduct.  All employees must treat all their colleagues and members of the public with respect. We encourage other employers in Swansea to set similar standards for their employees.

 

We reassure all people living in the City and County of Swansea that they are valued members of our community.

 

RESOLVED that the motion as outlined above be approved.