Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

Councillor J C Bayliss – Minute No. 22 – Personal – Involvement with St. Helens Village Green Campaign and works for company, clients of which may be subject to new Open Space Strategy.

Councillor D W Cole – Minute No. 22 – Personal – Interest in Parc y Werin site, Gorseinon, which may be subject to new Open Space Strategy.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Development Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 21 October 2015 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Councillor Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing & Healthy City attended to provide the Committee with guidance on the work required for devising an Open Space Strategy for the City & County of Swansea.

The work stems from the statement “a safer, greener, smarter, fairer, healthier, richer Swansea”, in particular addressing the Greener and Healthier elements.  It would be a long-term strategy for the future use and management of the city’s green and open spaces.

Currently Swansea does not have an Open Spaces Strategy, a document or an understanding saying what we want for the people of Swansea, and analysis of what we have for the people of Swansea and then plan for how to improve our provision.  Without this document we are in a weaker position arguing for play areas, green space, sporting pitches, parks and environmental provision with developers.  Having a strategy would guide where the council targets efforts and resources in future, would be referenced in the Local Development Plan and used in the planning process to affect new builds and address identified deficiencies.

The aim of this work should include:

• Setting minimum stands of open / play space provision;
• Action plan for improvement of existing open / play space and access to them;
• Play areas;
• Playing pitches and sports facilities;
• Allotments and growing areas;
• Environment conservation and improvement.

The benefits of an active strategy would be to improve sustainability for people, place and the environment.

The Development Cabinet Advisory Committee would work alongside officers to produce a draft Open Space Strategy to bring to Cabinet and Council for adoption.

The aim of this work should be completed in approximately 12-14 months.

RESOLVED that:

1.         the request from the Cabinet Member be noted;

2.         the Chair to meet with the dedicated Officers to discuss the workplan         for the Open Space Strategy.

Gareth Pritchard, Anti-Social Behaviour Officer attended to provide the Committee with further information on the procedure for establishing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO’s).

He explained that PSPO’s came into force as a result of the Crime and Policing Act 2014 and outlined the designated process involved in PSPO’s which involved using the  SARA methodology of problem solving – Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment.  He highlighted the problems that could be encountered if insufficient research into obtaining a PSPO had not been carried out and reiterated that PSPO’s should be seen as a last resort.

PSPO’s are obtained by Local Authorities in consultation with the Police and Police & Crime Commissioner.  Public consultation should also be undertaken.  There were several groups in existence who were opposed to PSPO’s and they had been challenged via the High Court.

Members of the Committee asked questions of the officer, who responded accordingly.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

The Chair fed back to the Committee in relation to meeting that had been undertaken with Officers regarding the Ffynone and Uplands Conservation Area Review Task & Finish Group. 

RESOLVED that the report would be presented to Cabinet on 10 December 2015.

The Chair informed the Committee that he had written to all the Schools in the area in relation to their views on the Regional District Shopping Centres.  One school would like to undertake a project on the subject and had requested timings of when the review would be finalised.

RESOLVED that the review should be completed by February / March 2016.

RESOLVED that the Committee scheduled for 16 December 2015 receive reports / presentations on the following issues:

·         Update on Cumulative Impact Policy;

·         Update on S.106 agreements;

·         Update on Public Space Protection Orders.

Item for future meeting:

·         Feedback on Regional District Shopping Centres – second visit to Morriston;