Toggle mobile menu visibility

Bank holiday information - Easter

Bank holiday information for our services, including opening times and emergency contacts. All recycling collections will take place on the usual days.

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Swansea. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services - Tel (01792) 636923 

Items
No. Item

122.

Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

 

123.

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.

124.

Minutes. pdf icon PDF 122 KB

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.  

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 5 March 2018 and 12 March 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

125.

Public Question Time.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

 

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

126.

Cabinet Member Question Session: Cabinet Member for Future Generations. (Councillors June Burtonshaw and Mary Sherwood) pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Members for Future Generations presented a report on Key Headlines for the Future Generations Portfolio.

 

For clarification some of the responsibilities listed under the Future Generations Portfolio were the responsibility of alternative Cabinet Members.  A Constitutional Changes report to Council would clarify in due course.

 

Questions and discussions with the Cabinet Members focussed on the following:

 

Risk & Resilience

·                     Has been moved to the Service Transformation & Business Operations portfolio, however the Cabinet Members for Future Generations were responsible for assessing risk as part of the Future Generations Act.  The Corporate Risk Register and risk assessments were being reviewed in order to focus on prevention.   There were not many corporate risks but they were high level and cut across more than one directorate so all departments would be involved;

·                     The Cabinet Members expressed concern about environmental risk, including:

o      The importance of enhancing biodiversity;

o      Replacing trees wherever possible;

o      Work was ongoing to move towards a more sustainable approach of dealing with weeds such as voluntary groups assisting in the manual removal of weeds rather than the use of pesticides / weed killers;

Future Generations Act

·                     As part of the Swansea Public Services Board (PSB), the Council was working with the other public bodies such as Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue, the Local Health Board, etc in order to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales by achieving the wellbeing goals.  The Wellbeing Plan had recently been approved by the PSB and was in the process of being approved by the individual statutory members.  Approval would be sought at Council on 26 April 2018;

Engagement

·                     Currently in the process of commissioning reports from every department in the Authority in order to improve overall engagement with the public.  The Cabinet Members welcomed scrutiny’s assistance in this by asking them to consider it as a future topic for scrutiny.

·                     Welfare Reform / Universal Credit (now sits under the Anti-Poverty Portfolio) is still an issue but work is ongoing to assist those affected;

Suburban Centres & Community Regeneration Initiatives

·                     A co-productive approach is being taken to the development of community hubs in certain areas.  This will see the co-location of various public, third sector and community-led services. Looking at pilot areas in Blaenymaes, Clydach & Townhill;

Members Community Budget Scheme

·         Process under review but Councillors were reminded that requests must go directly to the nominated officer, Jayne Hunt, and not via individual departments.

Councillor Champions

·                     It was clarified that Councillor Champions provided a voice for traditionally underrepresented groups, or issues which should be kept at the forefront of Council business.

Future Priorities of the Cabinet Members for Future Generations:

·                     To create a truly collaborate approach with our partners to achieve the wellbeing goals as part of the Wellbeing Plan in a joined up way by delivering services according to what the people of Swansea want / need. 

·                     To put the natural environment at the forefront as it is felt that it has been neglected.  There was evidence that the environment and open green spaces could help reduce heart rate, anxiety, resulting in people being less likely to require medical intervention.  There were higher death rates than smoking where there was less greenery and higher pollution. 

·                     For the Future Generations Act to be embedded in all departments and considered meaningfully in all reports to Cabinet / Council.

·                     That Scrutiny also consider ‘Prevention’ as a future topic of scrutiny given that a new Prevention Strategy having recently been approved.

 

Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member(s), reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

127.

Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Reports: pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Development & Regeneration (Councillor Jeff Jones, Convener)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

As Convener of the Panel, Councillor Jeff Jones presented a report on the progress of the Development & Regeneration Performance Panel. 

 

The Panel had met on three occasions and, as a new Panel, has been trying to get an overview of the development and regeneration picture in Swansea and gathering information on specific projects.

 

The Panel hoped to include the following items in next year’s work programme, and focus on:

 

·                     Swansea Enterprise Zones and Business Parks;

·                     Planning and Student Accommodation;

·                     City Deal;

·                     Housing Developments in Swansea;

·                     SA1.

 

Resolved that the update be noted.

128.

Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. pdf icon PDF 107 KB

Minutes:

The Chair presented a report on the Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

 

In addition, the Scrutiny Team Leader informed the Committee that in accordance with legislation, a representative from the Church in Wales, Mr John Meredith, will be appointed to participate in education scrutiny and would be joining the Committee in May.  Further information in relation to the appointment of Parent Governor Representatives would be provided at the next meeting.

 

Resolved that the following amendments be approved:

 

1)            Add Councillors Sam Pritchard and Will Thomas to the Natural Environment Inquiry Panel;

2)            Add Councillor Hazel Morris to the Schools Performance Panel.

129.

Scrutiny Dispatches - Quarterly Impact Report. pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair presented a draft of the quarterly report from the committee that would be presented to Council on the impact of scrutiny.

 

The report intended to demonstrate scrutiny achievements and outcomes and the impact and difference made.

 

Resolved that the content of the draft Scrutiny Dispatches be agreed and submitted to Council on 26 April 2018.

130.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/18. pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Discussion on:

a)         Committee Work Plan.

b)         Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c)         Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair presented a report in order to review progress with the agreed scrutiny work programme for 2017/18.  It was highlighted that the Cabinet Member for Commercial Opportunities & Innovation would be attending the next Scrutiny Programme Committee for the Question and Answer session.  The Committee was prompted to give thought to possible questions regarding this new cabinet portfolio

 

She also informed committee members that an Improvement & Development Workshop would be held on 3 May at 4.30pm to consider findings from the recent annual councillor scrutiny survey and possible actions about future process and practice.

 

Members were also reminded that there would be no extra committee meeting on 16 April for pre-decision scrutiny as the report of interest on the second More Homes Scheme at Parc Yr Helyg was now not being considered at the cabinet meeting on 19 April.

 

Resolved that the update be noted.

131.

Scrutiny Letters. pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Sam Pritchard, Convener updated the Committee on the work undertaken by the Roads and Footway Maintenance Working Group.  He highlighted the issues raised in the letter to the Cabinet Member for Environment Services following the meeting of the Working Group on 31 January 2018 and the subsequent response from the Cabinet Member dated 14 March 2018 to the recommendations made.

 

Councillor Pritchard stated that he was pleased with the Cabinet Member’s response and agreed actions.  The convener emphasised the view of the Working Group that this topic, which is of public interest, could be subject of more in-depth work in the future.

 

Resolved that the letters be noted.

132.

Audit Committee Work Plan (For Information). pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Minutes:

The Audit Committee Workplan was noted. 

133.

Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings. pdf icon PDF 44 KB

Minutes:

The dates and times of upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings were noted.

Letter to Cabinet Member - Q & A Session pdf icon PDF 198 KB