Agenda and minutes

The Head of Democratic Services stated that the Presiding Member was having a technical difficulty with his speakers and would be a few minutes late joining the Meeting.

 

Resolved that Councillor M C Child (Lord Mayor) be elected Chair Pro Tem.

 

Councillor M C Child (Lord Mayor) Presiding

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 the following interests were declared:

 

1)           Councillors M Durke, C A Holley and A Pugh declared a Personal Interest in Minute 50 “Annual Report 2019-2020 - Director of Social Services”.

 

2)           Councillor H M Morris declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 51 “Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its discussion.

 

3)           Councillors M C Child, R Francis-Davies & R V Smith declared a Personal Interest in Minute 55 “Councillors’ Questions - Question 9”.

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 3 December 2020.

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

 

Councillor D W W Thomas (Presiding Member) Presiding

1)            Condolences

 

a)            Honorary Alderman & Former Councillor W John F Davies

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Honorary Alderman & Former Councillor W John F Davies. John represented the Morriston Ward for almost 30 years serving:

 

Ø    Swansea City Council - 1983 to 31 March 1996.

Ø    City & County of Swansea - 4 May 1995 to 3 May 2012.

 

John was Lord Mayor 1999 to 2000. He was also a former Chair of the Housing Committee and Cabinet Member for Social Services.

 

Each of the Political Group Leaders or their Nominated Representative, paid tribute to Honorary Alderman and Former Councillor W John F Davies.

 

b)           Tony Mann, Husband of Councillor Irene Mann.

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Tony Mann. Tony was the husband of Councillor Irene Mann.

 

c)            Former Councillor Dai Howells

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Former Councillor Dai Howells. Dai represented the Pontarddulais Ward for 4 years serving:

 

Ø    City & County of Swansea - 1 May 2008 to 3 May 2012.

 

All present sat silently as a mark as sympathy and respect.

 

2)         New Year’s Honours

 

The Presiding Member referred to the Citizens of Swansea who received awards in the New Year Honours.

 

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

 

i)             Professor Farah Bhatti. Consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Morriston Hospital. Services to diversity in NHS Wales.

 

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

 

i)             Alan Curtis. Services to Welsh football.

 

ii)            Carol Cecilia Doggett. Senior matron intensive care Morriston Hospital. Services to leadership and nursing care for intensive care patients and staff.

 

iii)           Catherine Julie Palmer. Head of change governance DVLA. Services to motorists.

 

b)        British Empire Medal (BEM)

 

i)             Reverend William Glynne George James. Principal Police Chaplain South Wales Police. Services to Police chaplaincy and the community in Gorseinon.

 

ii)            Karen Jane Kembery. Clinical Nurse Specialist NPT Hospital. Services to nursing in West Glamorgan.

 

3)            Corrections / Amendments to the Council Summons

 

The Presiding Member referred to the correction / amendments required to the Council Summons.

 

i)             Item 9 “Annual Report 2019-2020 - Director of Social Services

Amended Recommendation “The Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2019-2020 be approved for publication.”

 

ii)            Item 14 “Notice of Motion - Fireworks”

This item has been withdrawn.

1)           Covid-19 Vaccination

 

The Leader of the Council provided the latest statistics relating to the roll out of the vaccinations locally. He paid tribute to the efforts being made by all.

 

2)            Welsh Government Award of Funding – To Tackle Homelessness in City

 

The Leader of the Council referred to an award of funding grant from the Welsh Government. The grant of £4.4 Million would assist the Authority in its effort to tackle homelessness in the City.

 

3)            Arena & Copr Bay Development

 

The Leader of the Council provided an update on the Arena and Copr Bay Development. The first panels of the skin had been delivered and the bridge was scheduled to be lifted into place in March 2021. The Arena is due to be completed in Autumn 2021.

 

4)            Outline Budget

 

The Leader of the Council referred to the outline budget, stating that Scrutiny had commenced work on it.

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.

Two Public Questions were received.

 

The first was from Andrew Rowley in relation to Minute 55 “Councillors’ Questions - Question 3 (Mayals Road, Clyne and Sketty Park Active Travel Links).

 

The second question was from Hannah Lawson in relation to Minute 55 “Councillors’ Questions - Question 9 (Site 9, Swansea Marina).

 

The questions were responded to by the relevant Cabinet Members.

The Chair of the Standards Committee (Jill Burgess) submitted an information report which set out the work of the Standards Committee 2019-2020.

The Director of Social Services submitted a report which set out his account of the Council’s improvement journey to 2019-2020, and how well the Council is meeting statutory requirements under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014. The report looks back at last year’s areas for improvement, the challenges faced and sets new priorities for 2020-2021. It tells the story of changes that have taken place within social services to achieve progress towards national well-being outcomes.

 

The Head of Adult Services, Head of Child & Family and Head of Integrated Services also provided an update on their work during the period.

 

Resolved that the Annual Report of the Director of Social Services 2019-2020 be approved for publication.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report which explained the requirement to annually consider whether to revise or replace the Council’s existing

Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the requirement to either adopt a new scheme or readopt the existing scheme by 31 January 2021. The report recommended that the current scheme be re-adopted as set out in Section 3 of the report from 2021-2022.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            The Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013 (“the Prescribed Requirements Regulations”) by the National Assembly for Wales (Now the Senedd Cymru) on 26 November 2013, as amended be noted.

 

2)            The amendments to “the Prescribed Requirements Regulations” contained in The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, considered and approved by the Senedd Cymru on 12 January 2021 be noted.

 

3)            The outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council in November 2018 on the discretionary areas of the current scheme be noted.

 

4)            The current scheme (2020-2021) in relation to the discretionary areas (as set out in section 3) remain unchanged from 2021-2022.

 

5)            The Council adopts the scheme as set out in section 3 of this report and that any amendments to the regulations made by the Senedd Cymru are reflected in the scheme.

The Section 151 Officer submitted an information report outlined the Treasury Management Interim Year Review Report 2020-2021.

 

Note: Councillor P M Black asked “Why is there a £40m difference between the authorised limit for external debt and the operational boundary for external debt?"

 

The Section 151 Officer stated that a written response would be provided.

The Delivery & Operations Cabinet Member submitted a report which sought Council approval to the nominations / amendments to the membership of Council Bodies.

 

He stated that the Leader had made the following amendment to Outside Bodies:

 

Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Authority

Remove Councillor M B Lewis.

Add Councillor P Downing.

 

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

 

1)            Appointments Committee - To take effect from 2 February 2021.

Remove Councillor R Francis-Davies.

Add Councillor D H Hopkins.

 

2)            Planning Committee

Remove Councillor C Richards.

Add Councillor J E Burtonshaw.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4 the Presiding Member adjourned the meeting in order to facilitate a 10-minute comfort break.

1)            Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Fifteen (15) 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 3

 

Councillor C L Philpott asked a question:

 

“An Ecologist Report on the Olchfa link was commissioned by Swansea Council in December 2020 and carried out in January 2021. Why was this carried out so late in the process and what actions will be taken in respect of the report?”

 

Councillor E W Fitzgerald asked a question:

 

“A cycle route is planned for Gorseinon Road in my Ward. It appears that I’m the only person that has been consulted. The Community Council and local residents have not been consulted. This is contrary to the Active Travel guidance set out by Welsh Government. Can you explain?”

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement & Infrastructure Management stated that written responses would be provided.

 

Question 6

 

Councillor C A Holley asked a question:

 

“I understand that there is a live legal process underway in relation to the former Oceana building. However, could the Leader of the Council provide an outline of timescale?”

 

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

 

2)            Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

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

This item was withdrawn.