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 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)              Councillor T J Hennegan declared a Personal Interest in Minute 40 “Report of Audit Wales – Audit of Accounts Report – City & County of Swansea.

2)              Councillors C Anderson, M C Child, J P Curtice, R Francis-Davies, C Evans, F M Gordon, J A Hale, T J Hennegan, C A Holley, E T Kirchner, M B Lewis, P Lloyd, H M Morris, B J Rowlands, R V Smith, D W W Thomas and T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 41 “Statement of Accounts 2020/21”.

3)              Councillor M C Child declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in Minute 43 “Councillors' Questions – Question 3” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its discussion.

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 29 July 2021.

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

a)              APSE “Association for Public Service Excellence” - 2021 Awards

The APSE Awards recognise the very best in Local Government frontline services across the UK. The winners will be announced at the APSE Annual Charity Awards Dinner, in aid of Parkinson’s UK, on 9 September 2021. The Presiding Member stated that Swansea Council has been shortlisted as Overall Council of the Year and also in a further 3 categories in the APSE Awards 2021.

i)                Best Service Team Housing & Construction Initiative. More Homes Delivery Team. Building Services & Housing.

ii)               Best Housing, Regeneration or New Build Initiative. More Homes Swansea Standard / HAPS (Homes as Power Stations) Developments. Housing & Building Services.

iii)             Best Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship Initiative. Commercial Development Focus. Commercial Services.

b)              Welsh Housing Awards 2021

The Welsh Housing Awards recognise and celebrate the creativity, passion, and innovation of housing organisations and individuals across the sector in Wales. The winners will be announced on 30 September 2021. The Presiding Member stated that Swansea Council has been shortlisted in 2 categories in the Welsh Housing Awards 2021.

i)                 Partnership Working Category. Tŷ Tom Jones.

ii)               Innovation in Housing Category. Swansea Council in partnership with Welsh School of Architecture.

The Council also nominated Organisations for awards but the Council was not leading the projects:

i)                Supporting Communities Category. Swansea Together Food Project.

ii)               Excellence in Health and Wellbeing Category. Swansea’s Specialist Homelessness Nurse.

c)              Paralympics – Para Table Tennis – Paul Karabardak

The Presiding Member congratulated Paul Karabardak of Waunarlwydd on his recent Bronze Medal at the Paralympics 2021 in Para Table Tennis. Paul has previously won a number of European Medals following hard work and perseverance.

d)              Pinc List 2021 - Wales' most influential LGBT+ People

The Pinc List recognises Wales’ most influential LGBT+ People. The Presiding Member stated that Councillor Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Children Services, Chair of Swansea’s LGBT+ Forum and lead on Swansea Pride is on that list.

1)            Kabul, Afghanistan & Swansea City of Sanctuary

The Leader of the Council referred to the awful scenes at Kabul, Afghanistan recently. He reassured the Council that Swansea was a City of Sanctuary and it was helping those refugees fleeing persecution to re-settle in Swansea.

2)            Covid-19 Update

The Leader of the Council provided an update on the Covid-19 pandemic.

3)            Free Bus Travel within City & County of Swansea

The Leader of the Council stated that the Authority had recently funded free bus travel within the City & County of Swansea for the duration of the summer holidays. This scheme was aimed as a boost for families, tourism and business. It had been an outstanding success.

The Leader of the Council stated that the Authority hoped to run the promotion again during half term and also during the Christmas holidays.

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.

Jason Garcia, Audit Wales presented the “Audit Wales, Audit of Accounts Report 2020-2021 for the City and County of Swansea”.

Jason Garcia (Audit Wales) responded to questions of a technical nature whilst Ben Smith (Section 151 Officer) responded to questions relating to the position of the City and County of Swansea.

Resolved that:

1)              The Final Letter of Representation be approved and signed.

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that sought approval of the Statement of Accounts 2020-2021 on or before 15 September 2020.

Resolved that the 2020-2021 Statement of Accounts attached at Appendix A of the report be approved.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee submitted an information report, which outlined the Scrutiny Annual Report 2020-2021 setting out the work of Scrutiny over that period.

1)              Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

Four (4) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

Those supplementary questions required a written response are outlined below:

Question 1

Councillor C A Holley stated that following the closure of the Felindre Works the former Welsh Development Agency and former Lliw Valley Borough Council owned the brown field and green field site totalling approximately 750 acres. This land was earmarked for a 750-acre Business Park.

The Business Park now only equates to approximately 150 acres with the remaining land allocated as land for housing under the Local Development Plan (LDP).

When was the decision made to remove the land from Business Park use and why?

The Investment, Regeneration & Tourism 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.

Proposed by Councillor S Pritchard and Seconded by Councillor R C Stewart.

The Council Notes

1.               That Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can leave people locked in a failing body, unable to move, talk and eventually breathe.

2.               A person’s lifetime risk of developing MND is up to 1 in 300. It can affect people from all communities and backgrounds.

3.               This disease kills around 30% of people within 12 months of diagnosis, more than 50% within two years. It affects people from all communities

4.               Currently there is no cure to Motor Neurone Disease.

The Council Believes

1.               People with MND have the right to an early diagnoses and information.

2.               People with MND have the right to access quality care and treatments.

3.               People with MND have the right to be treated as individuals and with dignity and respect.

4.               People with MND have the right to maximise their quality of life.

5.               Carers of people with MND have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well-supported.

The Council Resolves

For the Council to sign up to the MND charter.

https://www.mndassociation.org/app/uploads/2016/02/champion-the-mnd-charter-full.pdf

Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.