Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Swansea. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services - 636824
No. | Item | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: Chief Legal Officer 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 C Anderson, J A Hale, M B Lewis, C E Lloyd, P
Lloyd, R V Smith & T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 104
“Council Tax Base Calculation 2020/2021”; 2) Councillors C Anderson, J E Burtonshaw, M C Child, N J Davies, A M Day, C R Doyle, M Durke, C R Evans, V M Evans, E W Fitzgerald, K M Griffiths, J A Hale, D W Helliwell, T J Hennegan, C A Holley, B Hopkins, D H Hopkins, L James, O G James, Y V Jardine, J W Jones, M H Jones, P K Jones, S M Jones, A S Lewis, M B Lewis, W G Lewis, C E Lloyd, P Lloyd, I E Mann, P M Matthews, P N May, C L Philpott, S Pritchard, A Pugh, J A Raynor, P B Smith, R V Smith, R C Stewart, M Sykes, D W W Thomas, M Thomas, W G Thomas, L Tyler-Lloyd, L V Walton, G D Walker & T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 106 “Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report 2020-2021 - Consultation”. 3) Councillor N J Davies declared a Personal
Interest in Minute 108 “Reimbursement
of Costs of Care”. 4) Councillor W G Thomas declared a Personal &
Prejudicial Interest in Minute
99 “Public Questions” and withdrew from the meeting during
a question on Councillors Question 4. Officers 1) A Hill declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in
Minute 102 “Amendments to the Council Constitution” and withdrew from the
meeting prior to its discussion. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Minutes: Resolved that the following Minutes be approved and
signed as a correct record: 1) Ordinary Meeting of
Council held on 24 October 2019. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council. PDF 206 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chief Legal Officer
submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions
asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Announcements of the Presiding Member. Minutes: 1)
Condolences i)
Former Councillor Bill Hughes The
Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor
Bill Hughes. Bill served the Mumbles Community
on the former Swansea City Council and former West Glamorgan County Council. ii)
Former Councillor Jean Taverner The
Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor
Jean Taverner.
Jean served the Uplands Community on the former Swansea City Council. All present stood
as a mark of sympathy and respect. 2)
Filming, Recording and
Photography at Council Meetings The Presiding Member stated that under the
Authority’s “Filming, Recording and Photography at Council Meetings” Policy
(adopted on 24 November 2011), he had allowed a film crew from Amazon News
Media to film this Council Meeting. 3)
Local Authority Pension
Fund (LAPF) Investment Awards 2019 The Presiding Member stated that the City and
County of Swansea Pension Fund had won the Best Approach to Sustainable
Investing Award at the recent LAPF Investment Awards 2019. The LAPF Investments Awards were established
in 2015 in order to celebrate outstanding achievement in the Local Government
Pension Schemes (LGPS). Over the years,
an award from LAPF Investments Awards has come to be recognised as mark of
excellence in the field of pension provision in the LGPS. Karen Cobb from the Pension Team and
Councillor C E Lloyd were present to receive the award. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Announcements of the Leader of the Council. Minutes: 1)
Men Shed Imitative The
Leader of the Council stated that he had set aside a £25,000 fund aimed at
supporting the Men Shed Initiative. 2)
Swansea Christmas Parade 2019 The
Leader of the Council congratulated Swansea’s Special Events Team and
Councillor Robert Francis-Davies for their work in ensuring a very successful Christmas
Parade 2019. The
Parade formed part of the 50th Anniversary of City status and saw hundreds
of local people taking part. Thousands
of people turned up to enjoy the excellent event. 3)
Together at
Christmas 2018 The
Leader of the Council stated that JR Events & Catering were working with
the Authority to deliver the Together at Christmas 2019 event on 19 December 2019. A free two course Christmas lunch will be provided at
the Brangwyn Hall between 12 noon and 3.00pm to the Homeless, Vulnerable and those
In Need. He thanked all for assisting
during the event. 4)
Swansea Central Phase 1 “The
Arena” The Leader of the Council stated that work on the
Arena project had commenced earlier in the week. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Public Questions. Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period. Minutes: A
number of questions were asked by members of the public. The
relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded. Those
questions requiring written responses are listed below: a)
Janet Lovell and Shey
Edlington Douglas submitted the following questions
respectively; relating to Minute 109 “Councillors’ Questions” – Questions 5
& 10, 5G: i)
“Given
the repeated evidence of the collapse of bee colonies following exposure to
quite small quantities of WiFi radiation, what steps are the council taking to
protect local parks, wild life and bee colonies from the proven damaging
effects of 5G radiation when it is activated in Swansea?” ii)
“Swansea council has officially declared a climate emergency
so how can councillors stand back as the tech industry installs the
infrastructure for 5G given that the anticipated carbon foot print of just 4G
equivalent to the whole world’s aviation industry combined is set to double by
2020 but will exponentially increase with 5G?” The Leader of the Council stated that a written
response would be provided. Note: The Leader
of the Council also offered to meet with Susie Jewell, Janet Lovell and Shey Edlington Douglas in order
to discuss the questions. b)
Nortridge Perrott submitted
the following questions, relating to Minute 109 “Councillors’ Questions”
(Questions 7 & 11, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)): i)
“Could the Council say if this PINS decision is susceptible to
similar s288 Statutory Challenge/Review as the sandwiching policy within H9 was
not considered in the reasoning given? ii)
Whose view of the Sustainable Devt Principle, Well Being objectives and the WBFG Act
–Goal of Cohesive Communities should prevail or be preferred? iii)
What specific actions are being
undertaken by the Council to rectify, remedy or otherwise correct this PINS
challenge to the H9 policy and say how and when during the AMR Process the CCS
will reflect any procedural and substantive deficiencies in the operation of
the LPA or H9 policy? iv)
What statutory guidance and /
or ministerial directions to PINS Inspectors could be litigated to achieve
consistency and comprehensibility and does the CCS think that the WFG Act
Commissioner [Menu for Action for Planning actors] is
helpful / useful? v)
Is this accurate for the
Council [CCS] and say what is the basis of the £2.4mn
investment figure & say if the s13A Provisions were used? vi)
Does the
Council have any plans to promote, instigate or otherwise facilitate the above
modus operandi within the CCS area and describe the consequent use of the s13A
Provisions?” The Delivery & Performance Cabinet Member stated
that a written response would be provided. Note: The Delivery & Performance Cabinet
Member also offered to
meet with Nortridge Perrott in order to
discuss the questions. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Presentation - None. Minutes: No presentations were
received. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standards Committee Annual Report 2018-2019. PDF 275 KB Minutes: The
Chair of the Standards Committee, Jill Burgess submitted the Standards Committee
Annual Report 2018-2019 for information.
The report set out the work of the Standards Committee during that
period. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendments to the Council Constitution. PDF 323 KB Minutes: The Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services
jointly submitted a report seeking to amend in order to simplify, improve and /
or add to the Council Constitution in relation to the following areas: a)
Part 3 “Responsibility for Functions” - “Chief Executive’s Appraisal
& Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference”; b)
Part 4 “Rules of Procedure” - “Land Transaction Procedure Rules”. Resolved that: 1)
The Chief Executive’s Appraisal & Remuneration Committee’
Terms of Reference” be amended to read: “This Committee is exempt from the
Committee Balance Rules in order to allow the following membership: ·
Leader & Deputy Leader
of the Ruling Group; ·
Leader and Deputy Leader of
Largest Opposition Group; ·
Leader only of other
Political Groups; ·
3 other Councillors from the
Ruling Group. a)
Responsible for the
Performance Appraisal and objective setting of the Chief Executive. b) Assisting the Chef
Executive in the annual appraisal of the Deputy Chief Executive and endorsing
the objectives set for the Deputy Chief Executive and agreeing the Deputy Chief
Executive’s salary banding for performance related pay. Note: Where
the Authority proposes to appoint a Chief Officer or Deputy Chief Officer, and
the remuneration which it proposes to pay to the chief officer is £100,000 or
more per annum, it must: i)
Draw up a statement
specifying: ·
The duties of the officer
concerned, and ·
Any qualifications or
qualities to be sought in the person to be appointed. ii)
Make arrangements for the post
to be publicly advertised in such a way as is likely to bring it to the
attention of persons who are qualified to apply for it; and iii)
Make arrangements for a copy
of the statement mentioned in a) to be sent to any person on request. The
Authority is not required to publicly advertise, if it proposes to appoint the
Chief Officer for a period of no longer than 12 months.” 2)
Paragraphs
3 and 4 of Appendix 1 "Concessionary Letting Policy” of the Land
Transaction Procedure Rules be amended to read: “3 The General Disposal Consent (Wales) 2003 Order came into
force on 31 December 2003. This Order
removed the former requirement for the Council to seek a specific consent for a
disposal at an undervalue where the Council considers that the disposal is in
the interests of the economic, social or environmental well-being of the whole
or part of its area, or any or all persons resident or present in its area and the undervalue is up to and including £2,000,000 or less. 4 Under the Council’s Constitution a Responsible Officer has
delegated authority to exercise functions for which he or she has budgetary,
managerial, operational or statutory authority provided that the Cabinet does
not itself make a decision in a particular case. At present, the exercise of the executive
functions by an Officer in relation to estate management on the disposal of a
freehold or leasehold interest is limited up to and including £500,000.” |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendments to the Council Constitution. PDF 307 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services
jointly submitted a report seeking to amend in order to simplify, improve and /
or add to the Council Constitution in relation to the following areas: a)
Part 4 “Rules
of Procedure” - “Contract Procedure Rules”. Resolved that: 1)
The Contract
Procedure Rules be replaced with the version as outlined in Appendix A of the
report. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Council Tax Base Calculation 2020/2021. PDF 280 KB Minutes: The Leader of the Council submitted a report
detailing the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the City and County of
Swansea, its Community / Town Councils and the Swansea Bay Port Health
Authority for 2020-2021. The Council is required
to determine the Council Tax Bases for 2020-2021 by 31 December 2019. Resolved that: 1) The
calculation of the Council Tax Bases for 2020-2021 be approved; 2) In accordance with the Local Authorities
(Calculation of Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, the calculation
by the City and County of Swansea Council for the Year 2020-2021 shall be:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury Management – Interim Year Review Report 2019/20. PDF 713 KB Minutes: The Section 151 Officer submitted an information report to receive and note the Treasury Management Interim Year Review Report 2019/2020. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minutes: The Head of
Democratic Services submitted a report informing Council of the Independent
Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report 2020-2021 and outlined
the determinations proposed by the IRPW.
The report also contained the recommended draft response of the
Democratic Services Committee of 6 November 2019 to the consultation. The Head of
Democratic Services also referred to a proposed determination of the IRPW in
relation to publication of the costs of Reimbursement of Costs of Care. He stated that “relevant authorities should only publish the total amount reimbursed
during the year”. As the publication
of the Reimbursement of Costs of Care against as individual was a barrier for
those with caring responsibilities to claim, he proposed that this element of
the IRPW report be implemented with immediate effect. Resolved that: 1)
The
comments and observations as set out in Appendix A of the report be adopted as
the Authority’s formal response to the IRPW; 2) The Authority cease the publication of the amounts claimed by individual Councillors in relation to the Reimbursement of Costs of Care and that an annual amount of the total claimed by Councillors and Co-opted members be published. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scrutiny Dispatches – Quarterly Impact Report. PDF 228 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme
Committee submitted an information report setting out the Scrutiny Dispatches -
Quarterly Impact Report. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reimbursement of Costs of Care. PDF 338 KB Minutes: The Head of
Democratic Services submitted an information report aimed at promoting the take
up of the Reimbursement of Costs of Care. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Councillors' Questions. PDF 328 KB Additional documents: Minutes: 1) Part A
‘Supplementary Questions’ Six (6) Part A
‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.
The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers
contained in the Council Summons. Those
supplementary question(s) required a written response are listed below: Question 1 Councillor C A
Holley asked the relevant Cabinet Member: “Can you please specifically outline what the surplus
car park monies were used for?” The Environment
& infrastructure Management Cabinet Member stated that a written response
would be provided. Question 2 Councillor SM
Jones asked the relevant Cabinet Member: “Could the Cabinet Member look into the possibility
of placing an Amnesty Skip at Civic Amenity Sites at certain periods of the
year?” The Environment
& infrastructure Management Cabinet Member stated that he would look into
the possibility of providing an occasional amnesty skip. 2) Part B ‘Questions not requiring
Supplementary Questions’ Five (5) Part B ‘Questions
not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. |