Agenda, decisions and minutes

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:

Councillors T J Hennegan, H Lawson and S Pritchard – Personal – Minute No. 5  – Scrutiny of Swansea Public Services Board.

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 16 August, 2022, be signed and approved as a correct record.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows.  Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

There were no public questions.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy (Leader), the Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Service Transformation (Deputy Leader and Chair of Swansea PSB Joint Committee), the Vice-Chair of Swansea PSB Joint Committee and the Strategic Delivery and Performance Manager were all present for Scrutiny of the Swansea Public Services Board (PSB). They were joined by officers who coordinated the work of the PSB, operational leads working on the delivery of PSB Well-being Objectives, and other strategic representatives of the PSB.

Provided to the Committee in support of the session, for questions, were:

·         the recently published PSB Annual Report 2021/22, showing the delivery of PSB well-being objectives

·         work being done to improve the PSB’s performance framework (following issue raised by the Committee at previous Scrutiny session)

·         the new Assessment of Local Well-being (published in May 2022), and

·         a paper on progress with development of a new Local Well-being Plan which must be in place by May 2023.

Committee questioning and discussion regarding the performance of the PSB focussed on the following:

1)        Efforts to improve the way the PSB measures its performance to facilitate Scrutiny, and challenges around this;

2)        PSB funding and resources;

3)        Impact of the pandemic on the PSB;

4)        Public engagement in the work of the PSB and development of the new Assessment of Well-being;

5)         How the PSB Annual Report could be improved, e.g., as well as focus on progress in the delivery of PSB well-being objectives, led by individual statutory members, examples of effective collaborative working on issues;

6)        Local Well-being Indicators, including performance in relation to community safety and air quality; and

7)        The involvement of the Scrutiny Programme Committee in scrutinising the draft PSB Well-being Plan.

The Chair thanked all Members, Officers and Board Members.

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

 The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation assisted by the Head of Digital and Customer Services, were present for pre-decision scrutiny of the Cabinet report on Oracle Project Investment Update. The report was being presented to Cabinet on 20 October for decision.

The Joint Report of the Cabinet Member for Economy, Strategy & Finance and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation provided an update on the Oracle Fusion project and sought Cabinet approval for additional investment in the project to meet unavoidable costs associated with the pandemic and recovery from it. It asked Cabinet to approve the revised plan and timeline for the implementation of the Oracle project (completion by 1 April 2023) together with further investment (£2.8m) as outlined.

Committee questions focussed on reasons for the project delay, concerns around the financial implications, exploration of the specific areas of spending listed in Table 1 (para. 4.1 of the Cabinet report), and reasons for the additional activities stated. Clarification was sought in regard to total project costs, the risk of a further escalation of costs given variables reported that may be out of the Council’s control, (e.g., the timing of the teachers’ and local government pay award implementation).

The Chair thanked Members and Officers.

Resolved that the Chair write to Cabinet Members outlining the view of the Committee ahead of Cabinet on 20 October 2022.

Further to written report, some changes were verbally reported for agreement:

·         Adult Services Performance Panel – Add Cllr Cheryl Philpott

·         Child & Family Services Performance Panel – Add Cllr Cheryl Philpott

·         Road Safety Working Group – Add Cllr Sara Keeton

Resolved that the membership of the Panels and Working Groups as reported, be agreed.

Discussion on:

a) Committee Work Plan.

b) Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c) Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

The Chair presented the agreed Scrutiny Work Programme for 2022/23 which the Committee is responsible for monitoring.

As per Committee work plan, the plan for next meeting on 15 November is:

-        Scrutiny of Cabinet Member Portfolio Responsibilities: Fly Tipping

-        Annual Corporate Safeguarding Report

-        Follow Up: Workforce Scrutiny Working Group

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

The Chair referred to the date and time of upcoming Scrutiny Panel/Working Group Meetings, for information.