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Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest. Minutes: In accordance with the Code
of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest
was declared: Councillor
G J Tanner - personal - Minute Nos.134- Welsh Quality Housing Standard – I am a
Council Tenant. |
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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. |
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To approve and sign the
Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 9 January 2017 be approved as a correct record. |
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Public Question Time. Questions for Cabinet Members in attendance or Chair of the Committee in relation to the Scrutiny Work Programme. Minutes: There were no public questions. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Next Generation
Services, provided a verbal address further to the written report circulated
and highlighted the following areas: ·
The More Council Homes Project and Progress –
she referred to the upcoming
viability study of housing land; and the need for further affordable housing. She talked about the need
to procure a development partner for
capacity to extend house building plans beyond
the pilot projects ·
Progress and improvements in relation to the
Welsh Housing Quality Standard
Programme ·
Commercial Services and their importance in
supporting staff and departments
in relation to income generation and efficiencies ·
Corporate Building and Property Services and her
involvement in the Education
Capital Programme. Questions and discussions with the Cabinet Member focussed on
the following: - ·
More Council Homes Project - progress with first development at
Milford Way - allocation of new homes - costs - house building capacity - learning from others ·
Welsh Housing Quality Standard – actions
following recent Scrutiny Working
Group (including focus on improving engagement with tenants and Local Ward Members) ·
Corporate apprenticeships and training – success
in achievement of qualified tradespersons,
and focus on building local skills ·
Housing Voids ·
Progress on reducing times for Disabled Facility
Grants ·
Progress in respect of Gypsy Traveller Site
provision. RESOLVED that the Chair of the Scrutiny
Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and
sharing the views of the Committee. |
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Final Scrutiny Inquiry Report: Tackling Poverty (Councillor Sybil Crouch, Convener). PDF 77 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Sybil Crouch, Convener, presented the final report regarding the work that has been undertaken in relation to the Tackling Poverty Scrutiny Inquiry. The inquiry focussed on how the Council’s Tackling Poverty Strategy could be improved. She summarised the key findings, conclusions and recommendations as noted in the circulated final report. Amongst the recommendations she highlighted the need to: · involve those experiencing poverty in the strategy and set up a Poverty Truth Commission, following the Leeds model · develop a new ‘whole Council’ Action Plan · include specific Tackling Poverty responsibilities within each Cabinet portfolio The Chair referred to correspondence she had received from the Cabinet Member for Anti-Poverty & Communities about the final inquiry report. A discussion ensued about the contents of the report and whether it should be submitted to Cabinet for decision. In doing so the committee considered whether sufficient evidence has been gathered in order to address the question that the inquiry aimed to answer. The committee noted a number of areas for future scrutiny had been identified by the Panel. The Chair stated that these suggestions would be fed into the next Scrutiny Work Planning Conference in the new municipal year. The Chair thanked the Convener and Panel Members for their work. RESOLVED that: 1) the report proceeds to Cabinet for decision; and 2) a link to the Panel’s published ‘Evidence Pack’ be provided to Committee Members. |
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Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Reports. PDF 63 KB (a) Schools (Councillor Fiona Gordon, Convener). Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee was provided with a progress report on the work of the Schools Performance Panel. RESOLVED that the report be noted. |
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Scrutiny Work Programme 2016/17. PDF 108 KB Discussion on: (a) Committee Work
Plan. (b) Opportunities
for Pre-Decision Scrutiny. (c) Progress with Current Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair presented the Scrutiny Work Programme 2016/2017 for review. She indicated that there would be a special meeting of the Committee to be held on 9 March 2017 for the annual session on crime and disorder. She added that in order to manage the Committee’s workload the routine standing items in relation to the Work Programme and Committee Business would also be dealt with on 9 March. This will enable the Committee to focus on the items due to be discussed at the scheduled meeting on 13 March. This was expected to include pre-decision scrutiny of Cabinet reports on Castle Square, and City Centre Regeneration. RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted. |
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Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. PDF 61 KB Minutes: The Chair presented a report outlining proposed revisions to
the scrutiny panel / working group memberships. RESOLVED that the following
amendments to the panel / groups, as outlined in the report be endorsed: Digital Inclusion Working Group Remove Councillor Tony Colburn |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair reported the Scrutiny Letters Log. RESOLVED that the
Scrutiny Letters Log and update be noted. |
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Feedback from Recent Scrutiny Events. Minutes: There had been no recent Scrutiny Events. |
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Upcoming Scrutiny Events. Minutes: There were no upcoming Scrutiny Events. |
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Audit Committee Work Plan (For Information). PDF 38 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Audit Committee Work Plan for 2016/2017 was noted. The Chair indicated that she was due to attend an upcoming meeting of the Audit Committee. |
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Date and Time of Future Committee Meetings for 2016/17 Municipal Year (all at 4.30 pm). Minutes: The dates and times of future Committee meetings for the
2016/2017 Municipal Year were noted. |
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Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings. Minutes: The date and time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings
were provided for information. |