Agenda and minutes

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

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

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Poverty Reduction Policy Development Committee were approved as a correct record.

The Chair verbally reported that following the presentations at the previous meeting from Room to Grow Project and Lend and Tend, the Council had looked at other organisations other than itself to set a garden sharing project up.  Tend and Lend were realistically the only one which could host the project.

She added that the Council would seek ways of supporting both projects and recommend that people join them with no liability against the Authority.

The Vice-Chair stated that there was genuine interest in the scheme in his Ward and he highlighted that different options of linking people should be investigated.  He also commented that ongoing Covid 19 restrictions would cause difficulties until they were lifted.

Resolved that further discussions take place at a Working Group meeting.

The Chair provided a verbal update and stated that Joanne Portwood, Strategy and Policy Officer had drafted a policy which required further discussions at Councillor and Officer Working Group meetings.

The Chair provided a verbal update regarding the Campaign to Increase Benefits Take Up.

She stated that following the presentation provided at the previous meeting, Officers had reported that take-up numbers were low and the helpline had not received a high volume of calls.

She added that further discussions were required at a Working Group to agree the best method to promote benefit take-up.

Resolved that further discussions take place at a Working Group.

The Chair verbally reported that the Policy development was currently under Martin Nicholls, Director of Place and further progress was required in order for the policy to be adopted.

Anthony Richards, Poverty and Prevention Strategy and Development Manager verbally updated the Committee regarding Promoting Affordable Credit Policy.

He outlined that the draft policy had been agreed by the Corporate Management Team and was currently with Welsh translators prior to being circulated for consultation.

Resolved that the contents of the report be noted.

The Chair verbally reported that further discussions would have to take place at a future Working Group meeting in order to make progress.

The Chair verbally updated the Committee regarding Socio-Economic Duty and how it would affect strategic decision making in the Authority from 31 March 2021.  She added that briefing sessions had been scheduled for all Councillors to attend in order to be up to date with the current position and she would circulate a link regarding guidance to the Committee.

The Chair provided an updated Work Plan 2020-2021.  She commented that the Committee had not looked at Socio-Economic Duty or Public Transport.  She added that two other Committees were examining public transport, each from their own perspective and there was a possibility that a joint meeting of all three Committees be scheduled to discuss the topic.

Resolved that the contents of the report be noted.