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, P M Black, J E Burtonshaw, M C Child, J P Curtice, N J Davies, A M Day, P Downing, C R Doyle, M Durke, C R Evans, V M Evans, W Evans, E W Fitzgerald, R Francis-Davies, S J Gallagher, L S Gibbard, F M Gordon, K M Griffiths, D W Helliwell, T J Hennegan, C A Holley, P R Hood-Williams, B Hopkins, D H Hopkins, O G James, L James, Y V Jardine, L R Jones, M H Jones, M Jones, P K Jones, S M Jones, E T Kirchner, M A Langstone, H Lawson, A S Lewis, M B Lewis, R D Lewis, W G Lewis, C E Lloyd, P Lloyd, I E Mann, P M Matthews, P N May, H M Morris, D Phillips, C L Philpott, S Pritchard, J A Raynor, C Richards, K M Roberts, B J Rowlands, M Sherwood, R V Smith, A H Stevens, R C Stewart, D G Sullivan, D W W Thomas, L G Thomas, M Thomas, L J Tyler-Lloyd, G D Walker, L V Walton and T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 86 “Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report 2022-2023 – Consultation”.

 

2)           Councillors C Anderson, P M Black, J E Burtonshaw, M C Child, J P Curtice, N J Davies, A M Day, P Downing, C R Doyle, M Durke, C R Evans, V M Evans, W Evans, E W Fitzgerald, R Francis-Davies, S J Gallagher, L S Gibbard, F M Gordon, K M Griffiths, D W Helliwell, T J Hennegan, C A Holley, P R Hood-Williams, B Hopkins, D H Hopkins, O G James, L James, Y V Jardine, L R Jones, M H Jones, M Jones, P K Jones, S M Jones, E T Kirchner, M A Langstone, H Lawson, A S Lewis, M B Lewis, R D Lewis, W G Lewis, C E Lloyd, P Lloyd, I E Mann, P M Matthews, P N May, H M Morris, D Phillips, C L Philpott, S Pritchard, J A Raynor, C Richards, K M Roberts, B J Rowlands, M Sherwood, R V Smith, A H Stevens, R C Stewart, D G Sullivan, D W W Thomas, L G Thomas, M Thomas, L J Tyler-Lloyd, G D Walker, L V Walton and T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 87 “Councillors Safety & Support”.

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 4 November 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)            Condolences

 

i)             Michaela Robins, Sister of Councillor Elliott King

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Michaela Robins, sister of Councillor Elliott King.

 

ii)            Former Councillor Judith Irvin

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of former Councillor Judith Irvin (now Hinds). Judith represented the Castle Ward for a period until 1973 on Swansea Borough Council.

 

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

 

a)           Always a Bed Pledge

 

The Leader of Council stated that the Authority had reiterated the Always a Bed Pledge. This pledge gave a guarantee that a bed was always available for homeless people in Swansea. He thanked Councillor A S Lewis, Councillor A Pugh and relevant Officers for their work with homeless people stating that over 400 people had been helped off the street into permanent homes.

 

Councillor A S Lewis echoed the words of the Leader of Council and thanked the Officers and Agencies involved in helping the homeless.

 

b)           Right Wing Organisation – Videos

 

The Leader of Council stated that the video information being circulated by a Right Wing Organisation in Swansea about the use of a hotel in the City Centre for Refugees is incorrect.

 

Swansea Council has sought to support refugees i.e. those that are fleeing war, conflict or are in need. We do not believe that the use of hotels is the appropriate way to provide sanctuary. He stated that Swansea was proud to be a City of Sanctuary.

 

This Leader of the Largest Opposition Group and the Leader of the Conservative Group supported the Leader of the Council’s comments.

 

c)           Association of Jewish Refugees - Tree Planting

 

The Leader of the Council stated that an oak tree had been planted in the grounds of the Guildhall to mark the 80^th anniversary of the Association of Jewish Refugees. The Association of Jewish Refugees is a charity that supports Holocaust refugees and survivors across Britain. He thanked Norma Glass for her work with the Association.

 

d)           Human Rights Day – 10 December 2021

 

The Leader of the Council referred to the Human Rights Day to be held on 10 December 2021. He stated that the day would also be used to launch Swansea’s bid to become a Human Rights City. The intention being to send out a clear message that Swansea is a safe and welcoming place to live.

 

e)           Mumbles Skate Park. Transfer of Land

 

The Leader of the Council stated that Cabinet on 18 November 2021 had approved the transfer of land to Mumbles Community Council for the development of the Mumbles Skate Park. He stated that he was delighted at this at this decision.

 

f)            Storm Arwen

 

The Leader of the Council thanked the relevant Cabinet Member and Officers that had worked tirelessly to clean up the aftermath of Storm Arwen.

 

g)           Christmas Parade

 

The Leader of the Council thanked the relevant Cabinet Member and Officers for delivering an excellent Christmas Parade.

 

h)           Deferral of Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15

 

The Leader of the Council welcomed the decision of the Welsh Government for the 18-month deferral of TAN 15. He stated that the time would be used to work closely on flood defences with Welsh Government and National Resources Wales.

 

i)             Covid-19 Omicron Variant

 

The Leader of the Council referred to the Covid-19 Omicron Variant and reminded all to follow the rules and regulation set down to keep everyone safe in order to control the spread of the virus.

 

He thanked the Enforcement Officers and other Officers that were working to keep Swansea safe. The Council only ever takes appropriate action with regard to Covid-19.

Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk 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 submitted.

The Chair of the Standards Committee, Jill Burgess submitted for information the Standards Committee Annual Report 2020-2021. The report set out the work of the Standards Committee during that period.

The Economy, Finance & Strategy Cabinet Member 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 2022/2023. The Council is required to determine the Council Tax Bases by 31 December 2021.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)       The calculation of the Council Tax Bases for 2022/2023 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 2022/2023 shall be:

 

	For the whole area	93,114
	For the area of Community / Town Councils:
	Bishopston	2,024
	Clydach	2,639
	Gorseinon	3,288
	Gowerton	2,008
	Grovesend & Waungron	441
	Ilston	351
	Killay	2,144
	Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton	527
	Llangyfelach	965
	Llanrhidian Higher	1,606
	Llanrhidian Lower	340
	Llwchwr	3,477
	Mawr	758
	Mumbles	10,089
	Penllergaer	1,434
	Pennard	1,563
	Penrice	485
	Pontarddulais	2,327
	Pontlliw and Tircoed	1,034
	Port Eynon	478
	Reynoldston	324
	Rhossili	212
	Three Crosses	712
	Upper Killay	603
	For the area of the Swansea Bay Port Health Authority	64,857

 

The Cabinet Member for Delivery & Operations submitted a report that sought consideration and approval to the proposed amendments to the Gambling Policy.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The proposed amendments to the Gambling Policy be approved and the revised Policy attached at Appendix B to the report be adopted.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that had been recommended for adoption by the Democratic Services Committee held on 8 November 2021 The report presented an Action Plan setting out how Council could support the Diversity in Democracy Programme.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)           The Diversity in Democracy Action Plan be adopted.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report informing Council of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report 2022-2023 and outlined the determinations proposed by the IRPW. The report also contained the recommended draft response of the Democratic Services Committee of 8 November 2021 to the consultation.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The draft IRPW Annual Report 2022-2023 be noted.

 

2)              The comments and observations as set out in Appendix A of the report be adopted as the Authority’s formal response to the IRPW.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report seeking to provide support to all Councillors in discharging their role by agreeing in principal to the Council funding appropriate security measures where Councillors are at personal risk of significant threat.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              Where a Councillor is at personal risk or significant threat of harm in carrying out their role that consideration be given to funding appropriate security measures.

 

2)              Authority be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services and the Chief Finance Officer to consider and determine any request for such funding.

 

3)              A document relating to the Personal Safety of Councillors be included in the Local Government Elections 2022 Candidate Packs.

1)         Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Seven (7) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.  The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

 

No supplementary questions required a written response.

 

2)        Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Four (4) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.