Agenda 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 M Child, R Francis-Davies, J Harries, C Lloyd, J Raynor, C Richards, R Stewart and Officers S Martin, A Lowe, S Richards & J Whitmore - Minute No. 18 (B2) Community Action Transformation Fund – Personal – the applicant is a City & County of Swansea employee and known to us.

Councillors R Francis-Davies & Cllr A Lewis – Minute No. 18 (B4 & B5) Community Action Transformation Fund – Personal – within the Morriston ward.

Councillor A Lewis – Minute No. 17 - Welsh Government Warm Homes / Zones Arbed 2016/17 Sandfields Renewal Area Bid – Personal & Prejudicial – As Cabinet Member I gave approval for the Arbed 2016/17 bid which came retrospectively to the Committee.  Cllr Lewis took took no further part in discussions nor voting on this item.

Councillor R Stewart – Minute No. 18 (B1) Community Action Transformation Fund – Personal - The applicant is known to me.  Cllr Stewart took no part in voting on this item.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the External Funding Panel held on 3 August 2016 be approved as a correct record.

The Principal Accountant, Social Services presented the Enable Capital Grant on behalf of the Head of Adult Services.  The purpose being to approve the Enable Capital Grant from the Welsh Government and include the expenditure in the capital programme for 2016/17.

The total grant allowance of £280,349 would be allocated to Care and Repair with a mandate to continue with the Healthy Home Grant scheme which was positively evaluated after the ICF allocation of 2014/15 and practical work would include:

·       Mid-level adaptations, with priority for works that assist hospital discharge, prevent falls in the home or provide targeted support for older people;

·       Mid-level intervention and adaptations to the homes of older people aged over 60 who are living in their own home or privately rented accommodation.

RESOLVED that the recommendation to comply with Financial Procedure Rule No. 7 (Capital Programming and Appraisals) to commit and authorise schemes onto the capital programme be approved.

The Community Housing Services Manager presented a report to provide details of the Bid for Welsh Government Warm Homes / Zones Arbed Funding 2016-17 for the Sandfields Renewal Area.

Arbed (Welsh for ‘save’) is the Welsh Government’s strategic energy performance investment programme helping meet commitments to reduce climate change, help eradicate fuel poverty and boost economic development and regeneration in Wales.

The latest round of Arbed funding called ‘Welsh Government Warm Homes and Warm Zones’ has been announced to support local authority led area-based energy efficiency schemes, maximise the number of homes improved and lever in funding from other sources such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) to maximise investment.

He reported that due to a very short timeline for bid submission imposed on the Council by Welsh Government, the bid has already been submitted, after advice being sought and permissions obtained from the Director of Place, Head of Housing & Public Protection and Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services.

RESOLVED that the bid for Welsh Government Warm Homes / Zones Arbed Funding 2016-17 for Sandfields Renewal Area be approved.

The Third Sector Co-Ordinator presented a report regarding the applications for the fifth round of funding of the Community Action Transformation Fund.  The background and principles underlying the Fund, together with the criteria that applications should meet and what they could be used for was detailed in the report.

The Panel noted that one deferred and four new applications had been received by the closing date for the fifth round of the fund on 26 August 2016 as follows:

1.       Whitehead-Ross Educating and Consulting Limited;

2.       Llanrhidian Higher Community Council;

3.       Parc Y Werin Bowling Association;

4.       Morriston Tabernacle Congregation Building Trust – Clock;

5.       Sacred Heart Mother and Toddler Group.

Third Sector Co-Ordinator discussed the summary of applications detailed in Appendix A and Appendices B1 – B5.

Members’ debated the applications and asked questions of the Officer, who responded accordingly.

The Panel AGREED that:

1.       The application submitted by Whitehead Ross Educating and Consulting Ltd be REFUSED due to the change of priorities within the City & County of Swansea in relation to the Youth Service as a whole;

2.       The application submitted by Llanrhidian Higher Community Council be APPROVED to the sum of £23,800;

3.       The application submitted by Parc Y Wern Bowling Association be APPROVED to the sum of £11,240;

4.       The application submitted by Morriston Tabernacle Congregation Building Trust be APPROVED to the sum of £6,276;

5.       The application submitted by Sacred Heart Mother and Toddler Group be REFUSED as it was ineligible for the Community Action Transformation Fund based on the fact there is no saving for the authority.  There is no transfer of asset or service involved in the application.  The applicant would be offered advice on appropriate alternative sources of funding that could be applied for. 

The Panel did not discuss whether additional funding to allow for the scheduled sixth funding round and any allocation from this round over the £48,700 remaining of the original £300,000 allocated to the Community Action Transformation Fund.

The European & External Funding Programme Officer provided an overview to seek approval on Welsh Government (WG) Grant to support a Project Appraisal Report for the Swansea Central Area Strategic Flood Risk Mitigation Project.

WG have launched a Coastal Risk Management funding programme which provides a one off opportunity for local authorities to implement coastal flooding management projects with WG contributing 75% of the project costs.  As part of this programme local authorities are expected to identify potential projects, prepare a business case and secure 25% match funding.

It would support Local Authorities in developing the necessary business case Welsh Government are providing 100% grant funding for the preparation of Project Appraisal Reports, which would include tidal monitoring work, feasibility studies and consideration of wider economic and regeneration opportunities and identify a preferred way forward to manage flooding and make a case for further investment.

RESOLVED that the External Funding Panel endorses the application to Welsh Government for a 100% grand to proceed with a Project Appraisal Report for the Swansea Central Area Strategic Flood Risk Mitigation Project.