Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Development Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 16 November 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Interim Deputy Head of Legal & Democratic Services had been invited to attend the Committee to explain the procedure for Cabinet Advisory Committees (CAC’s) and the process for moving forward in relation to this item.

The remit of CAC’s is:

·                 To advise Cabinet members on matters relating to Policy Commitments”;

·                 To advise and support the work of Cabinet and Council…. advising the relevant Cabinet member on potential changes to Policy and the delivery of major service change……”

Therefore, the focus of the CAC’s work plan is forward looking eg policy development, changes to policy and service operation.

The remit of Scrutiny is:

·                 To challenge Cabinet and to act as a critical friend. (Article 6 of Constitution); 

·                 The focus of Scrutiny work plan is scrutinising decisions that have been made and is backward looking/lessons learnt.

It is advised that the CAC will need to focus on forward looking issues affecting Council policy or service delivery with a view to acquiring a better understanding of current policy and practice and whether there is scope for improvement eg:-

1.               The Council’s policy and practice on land acquisition. How the Council conducts due diligence and how the Council’s interests are protected?

2.               The Council’s commissioning and procurement process. How the Council conducts due diligence and how the Council’s interests are protected?

3.               The Council’s financial management and control of projects. How the Council conducts due diligence and how the Council’s interests are protected?

RESOLVED that the CAC initially focuses its work on the Council’s policy and practice on land acquisition. How the Council conducts due diligence and how the Council’s interests are protected.

The Group Leader Traffic & Highway Network Management presented a report to enable the Development Cabinet Advisory Committee to consider the results of the consultation conducted on the proposal to pedestrianise Wind Street and to note the next steps.

He thanked the City Centre Manager for her assistance in producing the questionnaire and arranging the delivery and collection of the questionnaires via the City Centre Rangers.

The return rate had been disappointing at just 23.5%, with the majority of the responses being received from businesses (41 out of 213).  Overall, the principal of pedestrianising Wind Street was supported by a majority of 66%.  Analysis of the returns made by businesses shows 68.2% being in favour, whilst those submitted by local residents are higher at 88.8% although this group represented a significantly smaller sample.

The Group Leader Traffic & Highway Network Management highlighted that further consultation would be required with various outside agencies such as the Police, Fire, Swansea Access for Everyone, etc.

The Chair thanked the Officers for all their hard work on this item, which he would now discuss with the relevant Cabinet Member.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The results of the consultation exercise as indicative of overall support for pedestrianisation among the immediate residents and business community be noted;

2.       The requirement to undertake a scoping and feasibility work and wider consultation to pedestrianise Wind Street according to several options be noted;

3.       How the project may be funded and resourced in the context of the wider master-plan for the City Centre and competing priorities for funding be considered;

4.       A detailed Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) will be required to identify specific equalities issues associated with this project be noted.

The Tree Services Unit Manager presented an amended “Introduction” to the Tree Policy together with a draft guidance document that would be published on the Council’s website.

The Committee went through the guidance and Members suggested a number of additions to the document.  They asked a variety of questions which the officer responded to accordingly.

Members also queried the position in relation to Council tenant responsibilities as well as Council properties that had previously been purchased by tenants.

RESOLVED that:

1)   The Introduction, Contents page, Public Information and Customer Advice be presented to the next meeting;

2)   Information regarding Council owned houses and Tenancy Agreements be presented to the next meeting.

The Chair presented the amended Work Plan for 2016-2017.

RESOLVED that:

1)       The amended Work Plan be noted;

2)       The Committee receive reports on Swansea Market and Tree Policy at its meeting scheduled for 18 January 2017.