Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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

In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.

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

Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 11 November 2019 and the Minutes of the Special Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 18 November 2019 be approved and signed as a correct records.

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.

There were a number of questions from a member of the public which focussed on

1)          National Park City initiative

2)          Swansea Bay Metro project

3)          Relationships between Ministers and Planning Inspectors – Statutory challenges under s288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

4)          Embedding the Universal Charter of Human Rights into service delivery

The Leader and Deputy Chief Executive responded to the questions accordingly. Further information in respect of challenges under s288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 would be provided in writing, if held. 

The Leader presented a report on the key headlines of the Economy and Strategy Portfolio. The Deputy Chief Executive was also present to support the Question and Answer session.

Questions and discussions focussed on the following:-

·            Foreshore Sites - land / potential development at Langland

·            National Park City – criteria and process

·            Brexit – current position and impact on the Council; concern over loss of funding and support following exit from the EU as ensuring a fair share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and certainty of funding; discussions at regional / national level; continued use and disadvantage of the five case business model and the HM Treasury Green Book; continued risk on no-deal brexit; progress on advice to employees on the EU settlement scheme

·            5G network roll out - requirements for the roll out; potential need for more masts as well as possible alternatives; benefits of 5G; current health advice in respect of 5G and ongoing monitoring; independence of International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)

·            Climate Emergency – progress since the Council declaration in June 2019 and action plan

·            Castle Square - update and timescales for the Castle Square Development

·            Felindre Strategic Employment Site – further investment or potential for housing; desired improvement to traffic and congestion at Motorway junctions 44-47 inclusive

·            Hafod Morfa Copperworks – new masterplan being preparenl links with the Skyline project and leisure facility at Kilvey Hill

·            Student accommodation – Mariner Street scheme and other developments in the city centre; effect on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) numbers; reported drop in student numbers nationally

Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Leader, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.   

a)       Service Improvement & Finance (Councillor Chris Holley,

           Convener).

b)       Development & Regeneration (Councillor Jeff Jones, Convener).

Councillor Chris Holley presented the updates for the Service Improvement and Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel (as Convener of the Panel) and the Development and Regeneration Scrutiny Performance Panel (on behalf of the Convener, as a member of the Panel). He specifically highlighted the remit of each Panel and their key activities.

Resolved that the updates be noted.

The Chair presented a report on ‘Membership of Scrutiny Panel and Working Groups’

Resolved that Councillor Steve Gallagher be added to the Natural Environment Performance Panel.

Discussion on:

a)       Committee Work Plan.

b)       Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c)       Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

The Chair presented the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2019/20.

The Cabinet Member for Care, Health & Ageing Well and the Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure Management were due to attend the next Scrutiny Programme Committee on 10 February 2020.

The Chair urged Committee Members to consider topic areas ahead of the meeting.

As convener of the Tourism Scrutiny Working Group, Councillor Peter Jones referred to the report on ‘Scrutiny Inquiry on Tourism Cabinet Member Responses and Action Plan’ included in the agenda which outlined Cabinet’s response to the Working Group’s recommendations and its action plan. It was noted that not all scrutiny recommendations were agreed, mainly due to resources. The potential to follow up on progress of agreed recommendations in March was noted, as the Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism would be attending for a Q & A session.

Resolved that the report be noted.

The Chair presented a report on ‘Scrutiny Letters’ for information.

The Scrutiny Letters report was noted.

The Chair provided the Audit Committee Work Plan for information and noted that she was due to attend the Audit Committee on 11 February 2020 to talk about the scrutiny work programme.

The Audit Committee Work Plan was noted.

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