Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 2, Civic Centre
Contact: Democratic Services - Tel: (01792) 637292
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apologies for Absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were
received from Councillors A M Cook, J P Curtice and R
V Smith. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest. PDF 30 KB Minutes: In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests was declared: Councillor C E Lloyd - personal - Minute No. – Work for the DVLA. Councillor D J Lewis - personal - Minute No. – Work for the DVLA. Mrs S Joiner– personal – Minute no. – Member of Friends of Pennard Library. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prohibition of Whipped Votes and Declaration of Party Whips. Minutes: In accordance with the Local
Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party
Whips were declared. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To approve and sign as a
correct record the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 16
March, 2015. Minutes: RESOLVED
that the minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 16 March, 2015, be
agreed as a correct record. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cabinet Member Question Session: PDF 371 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: a.
Cabinet
Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration Members noted the short report on
‘headlines’ in relation to portfolio objectives which assisted the Committee in
focusing on priorities, actions, achievements and impact. The Cabinet Member referred to the City Centre Strategic Framework idea came from the Leader, key as Welsh Government have said so. Priority started in Wales City Regions, unless strong vibrant City Centre then the Region will not be strong region. St Davids and City Centre which will create more vibrancy which will help regenerate the City Centre. Not enough people living in the City Centre, should be 30%. Discussion about footfall in City Centre, implication of Enterprise Zone on City Centre took a lot out of the City Centre. 29% of retailing carried out on line. Proposals, plans, strategy, accommodation in the City Centre is student accommodation, 35 weeks of the year and retail expenditure is limited. Concerns about relocation of Central Library and Archives Expansion of University will create 8,000 more studnets, 1014 accommodation needs. University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) developing SA1. There will be a lot more student accommodation in City Centre. Good quality rather than HMOs. Relocation Library, anchor. Carmarthen Swansea University need new archive provision, share with other universities. In discussion with those people. A lot of people cross through eachother. Not just students want people to be working, looking at areas, North Dock. This is in the City Centre Strategic Framework. Retail core, small but strong based around Oxford Street/St Davids. Local Develoment Plan indicates 3100 new homes in City Centre assume not student accommodation? 14,700 new homes. Mentioned North Dock, realistic by 2025. Civic Centre, Mariner Street (Student accommodation which will bring life in the top end of High Street). St Davids start to link to waterfront Museum. Ask developers who have replied to PQM exercise of scoring before developer shortlisted. Waiting to see what developers come up but most come through the process. Welsh Government support throughout Swansea. City of Culutre and Creative City, second to Hull, plans to build next time. Hope that we do bid next time, a lot depends on the budget and whether the Council decides as priorities. 2021 next UK City of Culture. BBC Proms, Local Arts working with Swansea Festival, Abertawe Festival, Taliesin, Vivian Arts Gallery. Working on Cultural Strategy hope with enough support that people look at Culture and Arts in Swansea so important but its down to everyone in this room as well. Civic Centre, have we got set price that you cannot go below? Lowest disposable income in any City in the UK. What types are opening and closing? PQQ Offers must be right. Welsh Government and City Regions saying this is the priority no 1 in Wales. Why are shops closing in the City Centre? Bridge divide between Waterfront and St Davids never worked. When Swansea developed in the 1960’s shops too small. Science City, no reference to anything in the papers. UWTSD sing not far off signing, on with Swansea University, Sir Terry Matthews wants to work with universities. Most work in partnership with universities. Swansea Traithlon, Marathon. Page 19, City Centre Strategic Framework consultation when will response and officer comments be available? Cannot give exact date but will be available for Councillors. Grand Theatre, reduce fees to get people in. Reduce fees, might get more people (already highly subsidised but cost of performance must work, needs to be a varied programme. Page 18 key findings, creation of meaningful officer locations, page 20 felindre. Junction 46 not in my Ward many calls about junction 46 (roundabout) unsafe difficult to see what is coming around. Motorways Welsh Government function. Most accessible, do not find it a problem. Meaningful office location, relocate staff to the City Centre. Purchase Oceana as part of programme for office space on the Kingsway. Meaningful accommodation to house officers. Temporary barriers are ‘temporary’ assure us you will be drawing on experience and innovation elsewhere, needs of pedestrians, retailers and cyclists. Not my portfolio cannot have thriving City Centre share your concerns. Looking at barriers safety of people in Swansea utmost in mind. New Kingsway, did not cope traffic going both ways. Oxford Street, design risk of people being assaulted restaurants/pubs. Must get Kingsway right, office block, difficult to by-pass Swansea on Road in and out. 14000 coming into Swansea each day to work. Needs input of a lot of people. Library review timescale? Review carried out but don’t have information. Want a review that is meaningful. Review may be middle of may. Kingsway soming bad happened. Erection of barriers looks like reaction to something that is car based, hope its temporary. Looking elsewhere for best practice, not everyone walks or cycles. Don’t have public transport, difficulties with public transport. Cannot solve one part without solving the other. Wary of anything that snot holistic for the Kingsway. Need to get holistic approach Swansea is different to other places. Look at how we bring standards in. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for attending. RESOLVED
that the Chair of Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member reflecting
the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee. b. Cabinet Member for Transformation and Performance The Committee took the opportunity
to question Councillor C E Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Transformation and
Performance. Members noted the short report on
‘headlines’ in relation to portfolio objectives which assisted the Committee in
focusing on priorities, actions, achievements and impact. The Cabinet Member advised that the portfolio exists in many guises. Portfolio in 5-6 key areas. Spend time developing sustainable Swansea and Budget. Exciting things taking place despite difficult financial circumstances. Start of Innovation Change Programme throughout the Council looking at areas. Size of documentation you expect Members of the Public to read. Reduce version of the Corporate Plan with 5 key priorities. Keen to develop progressive digital culture (lack of investment over many years). Commercial culture, generate income when you see budgets reduce, Local Authorities to be risk aware, should be looking at opportunities to create commercial environment. Question from Member of the Public who is sitting behind you. Mr Alexander, EEESafe - Would
Clive be embarrased if a Swansea Company were to
establish itself in Spain, before Wales? Know Mr Alexander from St Thomas. Yes, I would be , but this Authorityhas led way in Sustainable Development, Welsh
Government recognised us, looking at district heating Scheme (Councillor Crouch
did a lot of work in this area). Sustainable
Development becomes part of Local Authority day to day thinking. Balance scorecard, maximise that Sustainable
Development becomes key in developing scorecards. Mr Alexander welcome
to see me. Commissioning reviews under sustainable Swansea, work
streams about procurement of service which are employment and service related other than where boards of scrutiny have
chosen to get involved what is elected member involvement in that process. These reviews have been going on for some
time, not sure what is going on behind closed doors. If we have Officers looking at costs, where(who) is the input in terms of standards. TASS scrutiny looking at procurement of
domiciliary care, looking at people who have zero hours contracts, what is
mechanism for elected Members? Public to
feed in and say we would hope that these are the standards that you expect to
be met. I have overseeing of reviews, specifics are with each
Cabinet Member, scoping exercise within each review, lead
will be Director, Head of Services and Cabinet Member to agree scoping
mechanism. Expect that Scrutiny play
important and active role in these reviews. Wellbeing of future
generations. Duty on public bodies like
Swansea, given more information on pages and leadership role within Bill. Wellbeing Bill covers renewable energy, regeneration,
social justice, fuel poverty, naturalisation of fuel. Will report back. Did attend sustainability panel, happy to go
through and best deal for Swansea.
Mutualisation and looking at best process for Swansea. WLGA Peer Review, exchange with Nottingham. Happy to attend Sustainable
Panel. First generations bill is
huge. Key Questions about Sustainable
Development in Swansea happy to follow up. Good to see more commercialised organisation. Captive customers now alternative
to go any where else. People will be prepared to pay for services provided they
get right service. How we best measure
and improve customer service. Not sure
we get right information about what customers think about use. Swansea survey does it ask the right
questions. Determined
management not sure. Keeping
customers informed. Customer services
manager will be appointed within next week. Innovation met with some staff who attend
purple room, good meeting. Commercial
arm,. A lot of this about empowering
people to take the risk. Commercial part of your portfolio looking at private
sector are we also lookg at private sector (Interest
work for the DVLA). DVLA good example big public sector organisations looking
to get planning from them, services from them on economies of scale, yes at
early stage. Financial benefits from sustainable development, examples
of sustainable development where financial benefits and how much did you get? Could not give you figures. Digital culture, rural
deprivation. How do you do this in Gower? Have Council buildings that the local community can
access. Develop programs, digital inclusion
strategy, 3rd sector organisations, digital
exclusion strategy. Page 47 budget savings, proposals and reductions any
update? Still Waiting. Transition Capgemini? Transition phase now working with Capgemini senior managers,
plan in place, Sarah Caulkin. IT Advisory service also
being used. Continual
journey happy to report back. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for attending. RESOLVED that the Chair of Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report - Local Service Board (Councillor Mary Jones). PDF 28 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair paid tribute to the former Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee who established the Local Service Board Scrutiny Performance Panel. The Chair referred to the achievements/impact and the future work programme. RESOLVED
that the report be NOTED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual Work Programme Review 2014-15. PDF 104 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair referred to the Scrutiny Questionnaire, copies of which were circulated to those Members who had not previously completed the questionnaire. The Chair urged Councillors to complete the questionnaire as only 27 had been received to date. The Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator stated that the purpose of the report was to assist Councillors take stock of the work done during the municipal year and reflect on the experience. The Committee were also urged to consider topics that may be examined by the Scrutiny Programme Committee in the forthcoming municipal year. Members’ discussed the summary of work completed and raised the following issues: a. The impact of school transport on faith schools; b. Blue Badges c. Work Planning Conference (the tentative date is 8 June, 2015 and need to take into consideration the impact of the Corporate Improvement Plan); d. Scrutiny deemed to be ‘bitty’ and not covering issues comprehensively this is particularly the case when scrutinising Cabinet Members; e. Pre-decision scrutiny on Underhill Park was a success; f. Perception that Officers do not take scrutiny seriously; g. Obtaining answers in relation to commercial sensitivity (e.g., plans for the City Centre); h. Procedure for sensitive information being shared with lay Members. RESOLVED that the
report be NOTED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. PDF 28 KB Minutes: The Chair presented a report which advised of changes
required to the membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. RESOLVED that Councillor J Stanton be added to the Membership of the Transformation of Adult Social Services Panel. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair reported the updated Scrutiny Letters Log and referred to the recent correspondence between Scrutiny and Cabinet Members. The Chair referred to a further letter from Parklands Primary School regarding the Childrens’ Rights Impact Assessment and stated that there was nothing to scrutinise as no decision had been made. RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Letters Log be NOTED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feedback from Recent Scrutiny Events: Minutes: The Chair referred to the National Conference on Scrutiny, Partnership, Collaboration and Regulation which took place on 27 March, 2015 and the Welsh Government Regional Engagement Event: White Paper (Reforming Local Government): 31 March, 2015. In relation to the Welsh Government Regional Engagement Event, the purpose was to raise awareness of the proposals set out in the White Paper and engagement on the vision for Local Government in Wales. This is out for consultation which is open until 28 April. The Key points were: ·
Whilst the paper contains some clear provisions
for legislation some aspects are a little less clear and require debate, and WG
invite and will consider comments ·
He talked about the drivers for change: -
Financial situation -
Local Government resilience / changing nature of
service delivery -
Increased devolution to WG RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator circulate the web link to all Committee Members. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For Information: Audit Committee Work Plan. PDF 20 KB Minutes: RESOLVED that the Audit Committee Work Plan be NOTED. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings:
Minutes: The date and time of upcoming Panel/Working Group meetings were submitted for information to help increase the visibility of this work and encourage participation. |