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 16 June 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting.  Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Questions will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

There were no public questions.

The Leader / Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy, the Chief Executive and the Director of Place, were present for the Committee’s consideration of the update on the Council’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and recovery planning. 

The Leader provided a presentation which included: -

·         Current Covid-19 Position

·         Key Decisions

·         Development of Test, Trace & Protect Programme

·         Recovery Planning Timetable / Outline

·         Current Challenges

Questions and discussions with the Leader and Officers covered a range of issues, including the following:

·            Current Covid-19 position and information on instances of Covid-19 in the area

·            Advice available to Community Centres and businesses to help with re-opening

·            Partnership working with other Authorities on Test, Trace & Protect Programme

·            £18 million underspend on expected budget outturn

·            Costs outlaid in respect of Covid-19 and potential recovery of costs

·            Swansea being a high land owning Council – additional exposure to loss of income

·            Financial support for Swansea Market and Freedom Leisure 

·            Current status regarding the acceptance of black bags at civic amenity sites and the re-opening of libraries and district housing offices

·            Continued testing in care homes

·            Resource / staffing implications of Test, Trace & Protect Programme

·            Intended focus of the Council’s recovery plan

·            The Welsh Government’s recovery plan

·            Impact of Covid-19 on future private sector investment

·            UK / Welsh Government investment into local infrastructure projects / schemes

·            The proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund and potential allocation following Brexit

·            Amount of City Centre businesses which have re-opened – approximately ¾ of hospitality remains closed until they can open indoors

·            The impact on bus services and current level of service

·            Dealing / learning to live with Covid-19 longer term

·            Support for asylum seekers and refugees – jurisdiction / lobbying for better or free travel

The Chair thanked the Leader, the Chief Executive and the Director of Place for attending.  

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

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