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 the following interests were declared:

 

1)           Councillors C Anderson, J P Curtice, P Downing, C A Holley, L R Jones, M B Lewis, R D Lewis, C E Lloyd, P Lloyd, R V Smith, D G Sullivan, D W W Thomas & T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 82 “Revenue Budget 2021/2022”.

 

Note:

Councillor C A Holley had been granted dispensation to Stay, Speak, Vote and make oral and written representations in respect of issues involving Adult Social Services.

 

Councillor C E Lloyd had been granted dispensation to Stay, Speak, Vote and make oral and written representations in respect of issues involving social services matters including provision of care.

 

2)           Councillor R C Stewart declared a Personal Interest in Minute 83 “Capital Budget and Programme 2020/21-2026/27”.

 

3)           Councillor Y V Jardine declared a Personal Interest in Minute 84 “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - Revenue Budget 2021/22”.

 

4)           Councillor Y V Jardine declared a Personal Interest in Minute 85 “Housing Revenue Account – Capital Budget & Programme 2020/21–2024/25”.

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 28 January 2021.

 

2)           Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 1 February 2021.

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

There were no announcements.

1)            Recovery Fund

 

The Leader of the Council stated that a £20m, Recovery Fund to help businesses and the public to recover from the effects of Covid-19 had been created. The fund would specifically target:

 

Ø    Community.

Ø    Local Economy.

Ø    People & Jobs.

Ø    Wellbeing.

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.

There were no public questions.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that set out the rationale and purpose of the Medium Term Financial Plan, detailed the major funding assumptions for the period, and proposed a strategy to maintain a balanced budget.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            The Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26 be approved as the basis for future service financial planning.

The Presiding Member set out the process that he would be followed for this item.

 

The Section 151 Officer gave a technical presentation. Councillors asked technical questions of the Section 151 Officer.  The Section 151 Officer responded accordingly.

 

The Presiding Member stated that two budget amendments had been received. One from the Labour Group and one from the Liberal Democrats / Independent Opposition Group. The budget amendments would be dealt with in the order received, therefore the Labour Group amendment would be considered first.

 

The Leader of the Council gave a presentation of the budget including the Labour Group amendment. The Labour Group amendment was proposed by Councillor R C Stewart and seconded by Councillor D H Hopkins.

 

Labour Group Amendment

 

“We said we would continue to monitor changes in funding allocations and announcements by Welsh Government and U.K. Government budgets as we came to set the final Council Tax rate for Swansea.

 

Given recent announcements and to recognise the struggle many families and residents will face coming out of the pandemic we intend to act to support our communities. Therefore, we can announce we intend to reduce the stated rise in Council Tax by a further 1% over the previous 3.99%, which in itself was reduced from the 5% planning assumption.

 

This will be funded by reallocating monies available as part of a reduction in our capital charges costs of £1.166m and a consequential reduction in council tax reduction scheme costs of £0.154m. Therefore we can utilise £1.320m in total to reduce Council Tax for the coming year to 2.99%.”

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30 “Voting” a recorded vote was requested. The voting on the amendment was recorded as follows:

 

For (43 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
C Anderson	D H Hopkins	A Pugh
J E Burtonshaw	O G James	J A Raynor
M C Child	Y V Jardine	C Richards
J P Curtice	E T Kirchner	K M Roberts
N J Davies	A S Lewis	M Sherwood
P Downing	M B Lewis	R V Smith
C R Doyle	W G Lewis	A H Stevens
M Durke	C E Lloyd	R C Stewart
C R Evans	P Lloyd	M Sykes
V M Evans	P M Matthews	D W W Thomas
W Evans	P N May	M Thomas
R Francis-Davies	H M Morris	G D Walker
L S Gibbard	D Phillips	L V Walton
F M Gordon	S Pritchard	T M White
B Hopkins	-	-

 

Against (0 Councillor(s))
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
-	-	-

 

Abstain (18 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
P M Black	C A Holley	S M Jones
A M Day	P R Hood-Williams	C L Philpott
E W Fitzgerald	L James	B J Rowlands
S J Gallagher	J W Jones	D G Sullivan
K M Griffiths	L R Jones	L G Thomas
D W Helliwell	M H Jones	L J Tyler-Lloyd

 

Withdrawn from meeting due to declarable interest (0 Councillors)
Councillor	Councillor	Councillor
-	-	-

 

The amendment was supported and becomes part of the substantive recommendation.

 

The Liberal Democrats / Independent Opposition Group amendment was proposed by Councillor C A Holley and seconded by Councillor M H Jones.

 

Liberal Democrats / Independent Opposition Group Amendment

 

“It goes without saying that the global pandemic has had a huge financial impact on the lives of Swansea Council tax payers. We call on the Labour Council to reduce the proposed council tax rise of 3.99% to a more affordable 1.99%.

 

We propose funding the reduction with a one off drawdown from the capital equalisation reserve of £2.200m, to be shown as a contribution from earmarked reserves in the revenue budget of the same sum, and a consequential £0.440m reduction to the budgeted anticipated costs of Council Tax Reduction Scheme as a result of that proposed overall lower council tax increase.

 

We ask for the above amendments to the approved Cabinet report of 18^th February 2021 be reflected in the final revenue budget to be agreed at Council.

 

Our proposed amendment would undoubtedly help the household budgets of All Swansea citizens on the road to recovery from the pandemic.”

 

The Liberal Democrats / Independent Opposition Group amendment was put to the vote and lost. The Labour Group amendment therefore remained as the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30 “Voting” a recorded vote was requested on the substantive motion. The voting on the amendment was recorded as follows:

 

For (43 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
C Anderson	D H Hopkins	S Pritchard
J E Burtonshaw	O G James	A Pugh
M C Child	Y V Jardine	J A Raynor
J P Curtice	E T Kirchner	C Richards
N J Davies	A S Lewis	K M Roberts
P Downing	M B Lewis	M Sherwood
C R Doyle	W G Lewis	R V Smith
M Durke	C E Lloyd	A H Stevens
C R Evans	P Lloyd	R C Stewart
V M Evans	I E Mann	M Sykes
W Evans	P M Matthews	D W W Thomas
R Francis-Davies	P N May	M Thomas
L S Gibbard	H M Morris	L V Walton
F M Gordon	D Phillips	T M White
B Hopkins	-	-

 

Against (0 Councillor(s))
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
-	-	-

 

Abstain (18 Councillors)
Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)	Councillor(s)
P M Black	C A Holley	S M Jones
A M Day	P R Hood-Williams	C L Philpott
E W Fitzgerald	L James	B J Rowlands
S J Gallagher	J W Jones	D G Sullivan
K M Griffiths	L R Jones	L G Thomas
D W Helliwell	M H Jones	L J Tyler-Lloyd

 

Withdrawn from meeting due to declarable interest (0 Councillors)
Councillor	Councillor	Councillor
-	-	-

 

Resolved that:

 

1)           The Revenue Budget for 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix A of the report as amended be approved.

 

2)           A Budget Requirement and Council Tax Levy for 2021/22 as detailed in Section 9 of the report as amended be approved.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that proposed a revised capital budget for 2020/21 and a capital budget for 2021/22 - 2026/27.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)           The revised capital budget for 20120/21 and a capital budget for 2021/22 - 2026/27 as detailed in Appendices A, B C, D, E, F and G of the report be approved.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that proposed a Revenue Budget for 2021/22 and a rent increase for properties within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            Rents be increased in line with the Welsh Government policy as detailed in Section 3 of the report;

 

2)            Fees, charges and allowances as outlined in Section 4 of the report be approved.

 

3)            The Revenue Budget proposals as detailed in Section 4 of the report be approved.

The Section 151 Officer and Director of Place submitted a joint report that proposed a revised Capital Budget for 2020/21 and a Capital Budget for 2021/22 - 2024/25.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            The transfers between schemes and the revised budgets for schemes in 2020/21 be approved;

 

2)            The budget proposals for 2021/22 - 2024/25 be approved;

 

3)            Where individual schemes in Appendix B are programmed over the 4 year period described in this report, then these are committed and approved and that their financial implications for funding over 4 years be approved.

 

4.         The Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) compliance levels and deadline extension be noted.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report which outlined a number of statutory resolutions to be made in accordance with the Regulations in the setting of the Council Tax 2020-2021.

 

As a result of the amendments made to the Revenue Budget 2021-2022, the figures within the Statutory Resolution were amended.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)         The statutory resolutions as set out below be noted and adopted;

 

2)         It be noted that at its meeting on 5 December 2020 the Council calculated the following amounts for the year 2021/2022 in accordance with Regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended):

 

a)           94,051 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, as its Council Tax base for the year;

 

b)           Parts of the Council’s Area:

 

Bishopston	2,064
Clydach	2,676
Gorseinon	3,319
Gowerton	1,992
Grovesend & Waungron	420
Ilston	364
Killay	2,151
Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton	536
Llangyfelach	971
Llanrhidian Higher	1,640
Llanrhidian Lower	338
Llwchwr	3,508
Mawr	768
Mumbles	10,349
Penllergaer	1,451
Pennard	1,518
Penrice	479
Pontarddulais	2,348
Pontlliw and Tircoed	1,039
Port Eynon	484
Reynoldston	335
Rhossili	208
Three Crosses	713
Upper Killay	583

 

being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax base for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate;

 

3)        The following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2021/2022 in accordance with Section 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

 

(a)          £782,726,713 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Sections 32(2)(a) to (d) of the Act;

 

(b)          £292,642,850 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Sections 32(3)(a), 32(3)(c) and 32(3a) of the Act;

 

(c)          £490,083,863 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year;

 

(d)          £352,223,557 being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its Council Fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates, and revenue support grant less discretionary Non Domestic Rate relief;

 

(e)          £1,465.80 being the amount at (3)(c) above less the amount at (3)(d) above, all divided by the amount at (2)(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;

 

(f)           £1,641,440 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act;

 

(g)          £1,448.35 being the amount at (3)(e) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (3)(f) above by the amount at (2)(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special items relate;

 

(h)          Parts of the Council’s Area:

 

Bishopston	1,477.42
Clydach	1,493.93
Gorseinon	1,487.35
Gowerton	1,465.35
Grovesend & Waungron	1,468.59
Ilston	1,463.53
Killay	1,458.11
Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton	1,463.09
Llangyfelach	1,473.07
Llanrhidian Higher	1,533.97
Llanrhidian Lower	1,457.23
Llwchwr	1,474.22
Mawr	1,534.29
Mumbles	1,506.34
Penllergaer	1,456.62
Pennard	1,500.26
Penrice	1,472.83
Pontarddulais	1,498.06
Pontlliw and Tircoed	1,485.09
Port Eynon	1,460.75
Reynoldston	1,485.66
Rhossili	1,467.58
Three Crosses	1,490.59
Upper Killay	1,480.94

 

being the amounts given by adding to the amount at (3)(g) above the amounts of the special items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above divided  in each case by the amount at (2)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate.

 

(i)            Parts of the Council’s Area:

 

	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bishopston	984.95	1,149.10	1,313.26	1,477.42	1,805.74	2,134.05	2,462.37	2,954.84	3,447.31
Clydach	995.96	1,161.94	1,327.94	1,493.93	1,825.92	2,157.90	2,489.89	2,987.86	3,485.83
Gorseinon	991.57	1,156.82	1,322.09	1,487.35	1,817.88	2,148.39	2,478.92	2,974.70	3,470.48
Gowerton	976.90	1,139.71	1,302.53	1,465.35	1,790.99	2,116.62	2,442.25	2,930.70	3,419.15
Grovesend & Waungron	979.06	1,142.23	1,305.41	1,468.59	1,794.95	2,121.30	2,447.65	2,937.18	3,426.71
Ilston	975.57	1,138.16	1,300.75	1,463.35	1,788.54	2,113.73	2,438.92	2,926.70	3,414.48
Killay	972.08	1,134.08	1,296.10	1,458.11	1,782.14	2,106.16	2,430.19	2,916.22	3,402.25
Llangennith, Llanmadoc & Cheriton	975.40	1,137.95	1,300.52	1,463.09	1,788.23	2,113.35	2,438.49	2,926.18	3,413.87
Llangyfelach	982.05	1,145.72	1,309.39	1,473.07	1,800.42	2,127.77	2,455.12	2,946.14	3,437.16
Llanrhidian Higher	1,022.65	1,193.08	1,363.53	1,533.97	1,874.86	2,215.73	2,556.62	3,067.94	3,579.26
Llanrhidian Lower	971.49	1,133.40	1,295.31	1,457.23	1,781.06	2,104.89	2,428.72	2,914.46	3,400.20
Llwchwr	982.82	1,146.61	1,310.42	1,474.22	1,801.83	2,129.43	2,457.04	2,948.44	3,439.84
Mawr	1,022.86	1,193.33	1,363.81	1,534.29	1,875.25	2,216.20	2,557.15	3,068.58	3,580.01
Mumbles	1,004.23	1,171.59	1,338.97	1,506.34	1,841.09	2,175.82	2,510.57	3,012.68	3,514.79
Penllergaer	971.08	1,132.92	1,294.77	1,456.62	1,780.32	2,104.01	2,427.70	2,913.24	3,398.78
Pennard	1,000.18	1,166.86	1,333.56	1,500.26	1,833.66	2,167.04	2,500.44	3,000.52	3,500.60
Penrice	981.89	1,145.53	1,309.18	1,472.83	1,800.13	2,127.42	2,454.72	2,945.66	3,436.60
Pontarddulais	998.71	1,165.15	1,331.61	1,498.06	1,830.97	2,163.86	2,496.77	2,996.12	3,495.47
Pontlliw and Tircoed	990.06	1,155.07	1,320.08	1,485.09	1,815.11	2,145.13	2,475.15	2,970.18	3,465.21
Port Eynon	973.84	1,136.13	1,298.44	1,460.75	1,785.37	2,109.97	2,434.59	2,921.50	3,408.41
Reynoldston	990.44	1,155.51	1,320.58	1,485.66	1,815.81	2,145.95	2,476.10	2,971.32	3,466.54
Rhossili	978.39	1,141.45	1,304.51	1,467.58	1,793.71	2,119.84	2,445.97	2,935.16	3,424.35
Three Crosses	993.73	1,159.34	1,324.97	1,490.59	1,821.84	2,153.07	2,484.32	2,981.18	3,478.04
Upper Killay	987.30	1,151.84	1,316.39	1,480.94	1,810.04	2,139.13	2,468.24	2,961.88	3,455.52
All other parts of the Council area	965.57	1,126.49	1,287.42	1,448.35	1,770.21	2,092.06	2,413.92	2,896.70	3,379.48

 

being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at (3)(g) and (3)(h) above by the number which, in the population set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of the categories of dwellings listed in the different valuation bands;

 

4)         It be noted that for the year 2021/2022 the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwelling shown below:

 

	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales	191.81	223.78	255.75	287.72	351.66	415.60	479.53	575.44	671.35

 

5)        Having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (3)(I) and (4) above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2021/22 for each of the categories of dwelling shown below:

 

	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bishopston	1,176.76	1,372.88	1,569.01	1,765.14	2,157.40	2,549.65	2,941.90	3,530.28	4,118.66
Clydach	1,187.77	1,385.72	1,583.69	1,781.65	2,177.58	2,573.50	2,969.42	3,563.30	4,157.18
Gorseinon	1,183.38	1,380.60	1,577.84	1,775.07	2,169.54	2,563.99	2,958.45	3,550.14	4,141.83
Gowerton	1,168.71	1,363.49	1,558.28	1,753.07	2,142.65	2,532.22	2,921.78	3,506.14	4,090.50
Grovesend & Waungron	1,170.87	1,366.01	1,561.16	1,756.31	2,146.61	2,536.90	2,927.18	3,512.62	4,098.06
Ilston	1,167.38	1,361.94	1,556.50	1,751.07	2,140.20	2,529.33	2,918.45	3,502.14	4,085.83
Killay	1,163.89	1,357.86	1,551.85	1,745.83	2,133.80	2,521.76	2,909.72	3,491.66	4,073.60
Llangennith, Llanmadoc & Cheriton	1,167.21	1,361.73	1,556.27	1,750.81	2,139.89	2,528.95	2,918.02	3,501.62	4,085.22
Llangyfelach	1,173.86	1,369.50	1,565.14	1,760.79	2,152.08	2,543.37	2,934.65	3,521.58	4,108.51
Llanrhidian Higher	1,214.46	1,416.86	1,619.28	1,821.69	2,226.52	2,631.33	3,036.15	3,643.38	4,250.61
Llanrhidian Lower	1,163.30	1,357.18	1,551.06	1,744.95	2,132.72	2,520.49	2,908.25	3,489.90	4,071.55
Llwchwr	1,174.63	1,370.39	1,566.17	1,761.94	2,153.49	2,545.03	2,936.57	3,523.88	4,111.19
Mawr	1,214.67	1,417.11	1,619.56	1,822.01	2,226.91	2,631.80	3,036.68	3,644.02	4,251.36
Mumbles	1,196.04	1,395.37	1,594.72	1,794.06	2,192.75	2,591.42	2,990.10	3,588.12	4,186.14
Penllergaer	1,162.89	1,356.70	1,550.52	1,744.34	2,131.98	2,519.61	2,907.23	3,488.68	4,070.13
Pennard	1,191.99	1,390.64	1,589.31	1,787.98	2,185.32	2,582.64	2,979.97	3,575.96	4,171.95
Penrice	1,173.70	1,369.31	1,564.93	1,760.55	2,151.79	2,543.02	2,934.25	3,521.10	4,107.95
Pontarddulais	1,190.52	1,388.93	1,587.36	1,785.78	2,182.63	2,579.46	2,976.30	3,571.56	4,166.82
Pontlliw	1,181.87	1,378.85	1,575.83	1,772.81	2,166.77	2,560.73	2,954.68	3,545.62	4,136.56
Port Eynon	1,165.65	1,359.91	1,554.19	1,748.47	2,137.03	2,525.57	2,914.12	3,496.94	4,079.76
Reynoldston	1,182.25	1,379.29	1,576.33	1,773.38	2,167.47	2,561.55	2,955.63	3,546.76	4,137.89
Rhossili	1,170.20	1,365.23	1,560.26	1,755.30	2,145.37	2,535.44	2.925.50	3,510.60	4,095.70
Three Crosses	1,185.54	1,383.12	1,580.72	1,778.31	2,173.50	2,568.67	2,963.85	3,556.62	4,149.39
Upper Killay	1,179.11	1,375.62	1,572.14	1,768.66	2,161.70	2,554.73	2,947.77	3,537.32	4,126.87
All other parts of the Council area	1,157.38	1,350.27	1,543.17	1,736.07	2,121.87	2507.66	2,893.45	3,472.14	4,050.83

 

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that sought approval of the Capital Strategy which informs the seven year capital programme.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            The Capital Strategy 2020/21-2026/27 be approved.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that recommended the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2020/21 for approval.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)            The Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators (Sections 2-7 of the report) be approved;

 

2)            The Investment Strategy (Section 8 of the report) be approved;

 

3)            The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) (Section 9 of the report) be approved.

1)         Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Five (5) 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:

 

Question 3

 

Councillor B J Rowlands asked:

 

“The number of Fixed Penalty Notices relating to fly tipping seems very low. Please explain how fly tipping Fixed Penalty Notices are issued and applied?”

 

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

 

2)        Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Six (6) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.