Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J P Curtice, D J Lewis, E W Fitzgerald, G J Tanner and Mr D Anderson-Thomas.

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 as a correct record the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 9 November, 2015 and the Special Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 18 November, 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 9 November, 2015 and 18 November, 2015, be agreed as a correct record.

The Chair presented a report which sought Committee approval for the co-option of Scrutiny Performance Panel Conveners to enable attendance at Committee meetings.

Members noted the guidance on co-option and co-option to the Scrutiny Programme Committee.

RESOLVED that the Performance Panel  Conveners be co-opted to the Scrutiny Programme Committee:

Service Improvement & Finance     –        Cllr. Chris Holley

Child & Family Services                 –        Cllr. Paxton Hood-Williams

Schools                                        –        Cllr. Fiona Gordon

(Councillor Paxton-Hood Williams).

The Convenor of the Child & Family Services Scrutiny Performance Panel, Councillor Paxton Hood-Williams, presented a panel update.

He referred to the findings of the recent CSSIW report which the Panel will continue to monitor.

He referred to the work carried out over the last few months and the update report. 

He stated that the Panel had also been engaged in scrutinising the development of Post 16 Service over the last 2 years and had been able to give views on important aspects of the development.  He reported that the Panel was pleased that the new contract had been awarded and it had been agreed to engage with Barnardo’s once the service was up and running. The Panel would continue to receive monitoring reports on the new service.

In response to Member questions, the Convenor stated that:

·       sickness absence remained a problem within Child and Family Services.  A lot of work was on-going with the Department to address the situation;

·       The numbers of Looked After Children has fallen from 610 and the LAC reduction strategy was in place and being monitored; and

·       The issues raised in relation to Children in Need (CIN) and numbers of unborn and under 3-month babies on the Child Protection Register was being closely monitored.  It was noted that the increase was a national problem.

The Chair thanked the Convenor of the Child & Family Service Scrutiny Performance Panel for his informative update. 

RESOLVED that the update report be NOTED.

(Councillor Rob Stewart).

The Committee took the opportunity to question Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council (Chair of Cabinet).

The questions session focused on Councillor Stewart’s role as Leader, in terms of priorities, actions, achievements and impact.

Councillor Stewart was invited to make any opening remarks before taking questions from the committee.

The question session led to discussion of the following:

·       The current challenging financial position and projections

·       Anti-poverty work

·       Development of the City Region and benefits

·       Progress with the marketing of Civic Centre and St. David’s sites

·       Role of the cabinet advisory committees

·       Leader’s programme of visiting all wards

·       Challenges in the next 12 months (including financial, joint working ahead of formal local government reorganisation)

·       Expectations for the year ahead (including progress on city centre development, continuation of rebuilding schools programme, completion of commissioning reviews, developments in housebuilding, creation of a more commercial council, innovation)

In response to Member questions the Leader confirmed that:

·       The Council had made savings of £26m which equated to 80% of the target;

·       The overall financial position can not be determined until the grants (e.g., Communities First, EMLAS, Flying Start etc) figure is known;

·       Schools must not get into the trap of thinking that the reduced funding will only affect this year.  Austerity will continue for next 3 years.  Very clear with headteachers and Governors continue to plan for up to 2019.  This year easy for schools as the Minister is giving £1.8m protection, £2.5 NI, teachers pay award not funded, additional pressures faced by schools.  Make sure we can try to mitigate implications of austerity.  Not sure of level of impact. 3-4 years time we will not be able to fund education in the way we are doing now.  Bleak future;

·       On track to achieve savings of 100% (£26m) by the end of the year;

·       With regard to the 21 Century Schools Programme, there remains a funding gap of £57m.  The Capital Budget will always have a funding gap.  Development of Civic Centre and sale of Penllergaer hope to realise assets programme for disposal;

·       Unable to confirm the exact cut for Education and Social Services yet, however, funding will likely reduce by 5% a year;

·       Whist it is not yet known what cuts are to be made to services and what buildings would be closed/disposed of prior to January 2016 when Community Councils set their budgets, there is an asset transfer if Community Councils want to take over assets.  In terms of service and how they will be reformed and changed.  Commissioning reviews (Education, Highways).  Cannot give definitive answer as it depends on what service is being discussed.

The Chair thanked the Leader for his attendance.

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

The Chair presented a report which provided guidance on pre-decision scrutiny ahead of consideration of the Cabinet report on ‘City Centre Development Sites – Selection of Preferred Developer(s)’.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during

the consideration of the item of business identified in the recommendations

to the report on the grounds that it/they involved the likely disclosure of

exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of 12A of the Local

Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to

Information)(Variation)(Wales) Order 2007 relevant to the item of business as

set out in the report.

The Committee considered the public interest test in deciding to exclude the

public from the meeting for the items of business where the public interest test

was relevant, as set out in the report.

RESOLVED that the public be excluded for the following items of business.

CLOSED SESSION

a.     Presentation of Cabinet Report and Questions.

b.     Committee’s Views for Cabinet.

The Director of Place, assisted by the Head of Regeneration and Planning, presented the report which detailed the initial developer role to progress regeneration  proposals for St David’s and Civic Centre Sites and confirmation of funding for work up costs.

The Committee highlighted a number of issues contained in the report.

RESOLVED that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee presents the views, conclusions and recommendations regarding the report to the Special Cabinet meeting on 17 December, 2015, prior to the Cabinet decision.

OPEN SESSION

OPEN SESSION

The report of the Chair reviewed the scrutiny work programme.

The report provided the committee with:

·       The current scrutiny work programme

·       A plan for future committee meetings

·       A progress report on the various existing Panels and Working Groups

·       Cabinet forward plan for opportunities for pre-decision scrutiny

The chair referred to the introduction of a Public Question Time in order to develop opportunities for public participation. 

Councillor U Clay sought approval for the Transformation of Adult Social Services undertake pre decision scrutiny in respect of a report scheduled for Cabinet on 21 January, 2016 entitled ‘Review of Abergelli and The Beeches’

RESOLVED that:

1)    the committee work plan be accepted;

2)    Public Question Time be introduced on all future Scrutiny Programme Agendas taking effect from 11 January, 2016; and

3)    The request for pre-decision scrutiny in respect of the Review of Abergeli and The Beeches Report scheduled for Cabinet on 21 January, 2016, be agreed and considered at the next meeting of the TASS Panel on 11 January, 2016. 

The Chair presented a report which advised of changes to the membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Chair reported the Scrutiny Letters Log and referred to the recent correspondence between Scrutiny and Cabinet Members.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Letters Log be NOTED.

None.

None.

RESOLVED that the Audit Committee work plan be NOTED.

The date and time of future Committee Meetings for the 2015/16 Municipal Year was noted.

The date and time of upcoming Panel/Working Group meetings were provided for information to help increase the visibility of this work and encourage participation.