Agenda and minutes

The Chair referred with sadness to the recent death of Councillor Sybil Crouch.

All present stood as a mark of sympathy and respect.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

Councillor D W Helliwell – Minute No. 86 – Councillor for Sketty Ward – Personal

Councillor P K Jones – Minute No. 86 – Councillor for Sketty Ward - Personal

Councillor W G Thomas – Minute No. 86 – Member of Mumbles Community Council and Councillor for Newton Ward - Personal

Councillor L Tyler-Lloyd – Minute No. 86 – Member of Mumbles Community Council and Councillor for Mayals Ward - Personal

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

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 members of the public which focussed on:

·            Long term financial gain and enjoyment of the areas

·            Tennis courts – long lease as opposed to the freehold to retain the land for future generations; other interest received for development of the Land at the Skate Ramp site

·            Importance of encouraging more active and year-round use of the prom with the Well-being Act considering ‘A Healthy Wales’ to be a top priority

·            Support for the skate park development and lack of free sport and leisure facilities in the Mumbles area for young people

·            Idea for the development of a Skate Park originated from Police Community Support Officers following complaints from residents about young people causing a nuisance in the area as they have nowhere to go

·            Weight given to objections

·            Plan for Traffic Restriction Orders (TROs) in the immediate vicinity of the skate park

·            Progress with the planning application by Mumbles Community Council for new Skate Park

·            Criteria for assessing the suitability of the Land and the Skate Ramp site against other potential sites for the new skate park

·            Requirement for public toilets, shops and parking at a skate park

·            The correct location for a skate park considering the iconic views, no supporting infrastructure, parking, proximity to busy road and ability to cope with major events

·            Previously held Skate Jam’s at existing site

A representative of the Swansea Bay Foreshore Group also addressed the Committee with their views.

The Cabinet Members and Officers responded to the questions accordingly and stated that all comments / viewpoints would be taken on board. The Client Services Manager confirmed that the Cabinet Report was to progress potential developments to the next stage, and not to make detailed decisions on any site as yet. In terms of the skate park there was no decision as to whether there should be a skate park, but further investigation / due diligence to ensure that it was located in the correct location. 

a)       Role of the Committee

b)       Consideration of Cabinet Report and Questions

c)       Committee’s View for Cabinet

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration & Tourism, the Head of Property Services and the Client Services Manager were present for the Committee’s consideration of cabinet report on ‘Foreshore Sites – Public Consultation and Procurement Responses Summary and Next Steps’

The Client Services Manager presented the report to the Committee. He briefly summarised the five sites considered for potential development and the findings for each site following the public consultation and procurement responses.

Further to the written report provided the Committee had received a link to an e-petition submitted as part of the public consultation, a response to the public consultation from Councillor Child and Councillor Thomas as well as a commercially sensitive response received from the PIN notice. 

Councillor Lynda-Tyler Lloyd addressed the Committee to express views as a local member about the location of the proposed skate park development by Mumbles Community Council and need for a full review of its suitability and consideration of alternative sites. 

Questions and discussions focussed on the following:-

·            Process of considering objections and weighting of those objections

·            Full consideration of proposals received from the next stage

·            Any development on land near to Blackpill Lido to take into account that Blackpill Beach is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest 

·            Need to link / co-ordinate development with Tourism and Development Strategic Plans

·            Consideration of all factors namely environmental, cultural etc. as well as financial

·            Maintenance of Council or community ownership of sites / no loss of free public access and facilities

·            Possibility of maintaining four tennis courts at Langland and the facilities required i.e. public toilets

·            Debate around the proposed development of a large-scale skate ramp

·            Future scrutiny of seafront development

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and Officers.

Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member outlining the views of the Committee, with feedback to be presented to Cabinet on 9 January 2020 ahead of decision on the cabinet report.

The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of an additional report on ‘Foreshore Sites – Public Consultation and Procurement Reponses Summary and Next Steps’ on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraphs 13 and 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

The Committee considered the additional report in full consideration of the cabinet report.

Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member outlining the views of the Committee, with feedback to be presented to Cabinet on 9 January 2020 ahead of decision on the cabinet report.