Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J E Burtonshaw and G J Tanner.

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:

Officer – S Woon – Minute No. 9 – Personal - Reviewing the Tackling Poverty Strategy – I am a volunteer for Swansea Council for Voluntary Action.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meetings held on 14 April, 2016, 12 May 2016 and 19 May, 2016 be approved and signed as a correct records.

[Members referred to previous discussions regarding community growing.  The Head of Poverty and Prevention provided an update on the current situation in so far as community growing covers many service areas and would need to be aligned with the Allotments Policy].  The Chair stated that he would consider this as part of the work plan for 2016-2017 with Councillor U Clay chairing a task and finish group].

The Head of Poverty and Prevention presented an overview of the Tackling Poverty Strategy, Action Plan and its implementation.

Members discussed the proposed Tackling Poverty Review to be undertaken by Scrutiny.  As Members were keen to avoid duplication, the Cabinet Member and the Head of Poverty and Prevention suggested that the Committee focus on the Action Plan Members support in the delivery of the actions which would be a separate role to that being undertaken by scrutiny.

The Head of Poverty and Prevention referred to the Action Plan.  She stated that the plan covered 5, 10, 15 years and was currently updated on a bi-monthly basis.  As the Tackling Poverty strategy is a whole Council strategy, the Action Plan was intended to be cross cutting and required input from other service areas.

The Head of Poverty and Prevention sought assistance from the Committee on the following issues contained within the Poverty Strategy, Action Plan and Progress Log:

a)    Empowering Local People, no. 5 - Develop a Community Action Learning Programme for local people,

b)    Empowering Local People no 6 - (Devise action plans to develop social capital across Council Services),

c)     Empowering Local People no 7 - Embed community development in ward member roles

d)    Empowering Local People, no. 9 – Strategy for use of community buildings;

e)    Changing Cultures – no. 12 – Employee Pledge on Volunteering;

f)      Changing Cultures – no 15 – Learning for Council Leaders.

Members discussed items 5, 6 and 7 which were cross-cutting.  The Chair referred to the previous community development training and the Committee’s conclusion that future training needed to be specific to geographical areas.  The work undertaken by Councillor T J Hennegan and colleagues in the Penderry ward offered an opportunity to devise specific training for Members, with the possibility of the approach used in Penderry being replicated in other parts of the City.

Members felt that they could provide input into the strategy for: use of community buildings; the employee pledge on volunteering and learning for council leaders.

A discussion ensued regarding life expectancy within Swansea.  The Head of Poverty and Prevention stated that a ‘hot-spot’ map had been devised which tracked differences in outcomes for residents in Swansea.  The information was a collection of environmental and social issues and was very complex. 

Members discussed differing styles for eradicating poverty.

RESOLVED that:

1)    Colleagues from the Tackling Poverty Unit Section work with Penderry Members to develop a presentation on the community development work they have undertaken and present the findings to all Members as part of a training programme;

2)    The Committee examine the strategy for use of community buildings;

3)    The Committee provide observations on the employee pledge on volunteering during the consultation process;

4)    The Committee are to research tackling poverty activities in other Local Authorities and share these with Cllr Evans

5)    The Head of Poverty and Prevention to pick up on the issues of inequality of outcomes and provide information to the CAC in the future.

The Chair thanked the Head of Poverty and Prevention for her informative report.

The Chair stated that he would be meeting with the Cabinet Members for Next Generation Services and Poverty and Communities to discuss potential topics for inclusion in the Work Plan 2016/2017. 

RESOLVED that items for the next meeting comprise:

a)    A report on the Food Community Interest Company; and

b)    A housing issue.