Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

The 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 no interests were declared.

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 5 March 2020;

 

2)              Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 26 March 2020.

The Chief Legal Officer submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council.

1)              StreetGames National Award - May 2020

 

The Presiding Member stated that he was delighted to announce that the Sport and Health Team were recently shortlisted in two categories of the StreetGames UK National Awards.  StreetGames encourage young people from disadvantaged background to participate in sport and volunteer as leaders and coaches within their local communities.  StreetGames Wales consider Swansea Council one of the leading Authorities in delivering this agenda.

 

The Us Girls project won the “Engaging Women and Girls Category”, with Olympic Games medallist Beth Tweddle announcing the award live online.  The Manselton Youth project was runner-up in the Promoting Sustainability category.

 

The Us Girls project is designed to target girls within areas of poverty that traditionally take very little part in sport and physical activity.  It was developed as a concept by StreetGames UK and delivered locally by the Sport and Health Team to the level where it is now considered the best example of the Us Girls brand in the UK and the best overall project aimed at engaging Women and Girls in positive activities through sport.

 

The Manselton Youth project is delivered in partnership with volunteers who now run the youth club independently following the Council’s initial support and includes healthy eating and food preparation alongside sport and physical activity.  The Manselton Youth project was runner-up in the National Awards.

 

He thanked Jenna Thomas and Yasmin Davies for their excellent work on these projects which led to these awards.

1)              Amendments to Cabinet Portfolios

 

The Leader of the Council stated that he had made amendments to the Cabinet Portfolios which took effect from 28 May 2020.  A sheet outlining the changes was circulated and the new Portfolios would be placed within the Council Constitution.

 

This amended list was circulated on 2 June 2020 and the Council Constitution will be updated accordingly.  The list has been amended slightly as follows:

 

Better Communities

Ø    Add “Employability”;

Ø    Add “Swansea Working”;

Ø    Add “Lifelong Learning”.

 

Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management

Ø    Add “Community / Public Transport”;

Ø    Add “Parks Maintenance”.

 

Investment, Regeneration & Tourism

Ø    Add “Parks & Play Development”.

 

The amended Cabinet Portfolios are outlined below:

 

Councillor	Cabinet Portfolio
Rob C Stewart	Ø Leader of the Council Ø Economy, Finance & Strategy
Clive E Lloyd	Ø Adult Social Care & Community Health Services
Alyson Pugh	Ø Better Communities
Andrew H Stevens	Ø Business Improvement & Performance
Sam Pritchard Elliott J King	Ø Children Services (Young People - Lead) Ø Children Services (Early Years - Lead)
David H Hopkins	Ø Joint Deputy Leader of the Council Ø Delivery & Operations
Jennifer A Raynor	Ø Education Improvement, Learning & Skills
Mark Thomas	Ø Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management
Andrea S Lewis	Ø Joint Deputy Leader of the Council Ø Homes, Energy & Service Transformation
Robert Francis-Davies	Ø Investment, Regeneration & Tourism

 

2)              Notice of Motion on Carbon Based Initiatives

 

The Leader of the Council stated that Council on 24 October 2019 agreed a Motion in relation to Carbon Based Initiatives.  As part of the Motion, Council resolved that a report be brought back within 6 months; however due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this has not been possible.

 

He stated that he had raised the issue with Councillor C E Lloyd and the Deputy Chief Finance Officer and agreed that the report be presented to Council on 4 September 2020.  He apologised for the delay.

 

3)              Work During Covid-19 Pandemic

 

The Leader of the Council stated that there work had continued during the Covid-19 pandemic.  He outlined a number of examples of that work including:

 

Ø    Arena;

Ø    Major Building Projects being progressed;

Ø    Hundreds of new trees, shrubs and plants now in place;

Ø    Penderyn whisky distillery @ Copperworks;

Ø    Architects designing the Palace Theatre building design / layout;

Ø    Deal finalised on restoration of the Albert Hall;

Ø    Kingsway nearly complete and a two way traffic will return soon;

Ø    More details of Phase 2 of Swansea Central will be announced shortly with a major announcement on 1000’s of jobs for Swansea;

Ø    Planning has been approved for 71-72 Kingsway.

 

4)              Thanks to Staff / Volunteers for the Response to Covid-19

 

The Leader of the Council thanked Staff, Volunteers and workers throughout Swansea for their tremendous work in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Their work and dedication is a tribute to the residents of Swansea.

 

5)              Restart of Schools

 

The Leader of the Council outlined the process for the restart of Schools for later in June 2020.

 

6)              Track & Trace

 

The Leader of the Council outlined the work already carried out in relation to Track and Trace.  He thanked all involved.

 

7)              George Floyd - Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Campaign

 

The Leader of the Council offered his condolences on behalf of the Authority in relation to the recent death of George Floyd and to express our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Campaign.  He stated that Swansea is a City of Sanctuary and that the Guildhall would be lit up in purple on Saturday evening to show support.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No questions were received.

The Delivery & Performance Cabinet Member submitted an information report which outlined the process of appointing and details of the role of a Lord Mayor’s Cadet starting from the 2020-2021 Municipal Year.

The Delivery & Performance Cabinet Member submitted a report which sought Council approval to the nominations / amendments to the membership of Council Bodies.  He also added a further amendemnt.

 

He stated that the Leader of the Council had made the following changes to the Authority’s Outside Bodies:

 

i)               South Wales Police & Crime Panel

 

Remove Councillor E T Kirchner.

Add Councillor W Evans.

 

ii)              West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board (Formerly known as Western Bay Regional Partnership Board)

 

Remove Councillor M C Child.

Add Councillor C E Lloyd.

 

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

 

1)              Democratic Services Committee

Remove Councillor P M Black.

Add Councillor L James.

 

2)              Pension Fund Committee.

Remove Councillor M B Lewis.

Add Labour Vacancy.

 

3)              Scrutiny Programme Committee

Remove Councillors M Durke & M H Jones.

Add Councillors P M Black & T M White.

 

4)              Local Pension Board

Remove Councillor T M White.

Add Councillor M B Lewis.

 

Note: Following the vote, the Leader of the Council and the Political Group Leaders thanked Councillor M H Jones for her work as outgoing Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee.

 

Councillor M H Jones thanked them for their kind words.  She also paid tribute to the support given by Officer and Councillors during her term of Chair.

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” - “Terms of Reference” - “External Funding Panel”.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The “External Funding Panel” be abolished and removed from the Terms of Reference within the Council Constitution;

 

2)              Any further consequential amendments be approved.

1)        Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Two (2) 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 A M Day asked the relevant Cabinet Member:

 

“Can Councillors be provided with a briefing note outlining the current arrangements for looking after these young people in the Youth Offending Service outlined in the response during the Covid-19 pandemic?”

 

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

 

2)        Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Three (3) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.