Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 3 - Civic Centre, Swansea. View directions
Contact: Scrutiny 636292
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Disclosure of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: None |
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Public Questions Minutes: None |
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Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 2017/18 PDF 115 KB · Clive Lloyd – Cabinet Member for BusinessTransformation and Performance · Julie Nicholas-Humphreys - Customer Services and Complaints Manager Additional documents: Minutes: · The Welsh Language Standards Annual Report 17/18 has already been to Cabinet · The standards were introduced for the public sector to comply with · There are variations between how Councils adhere to the rules · Swansea Council work within cost parameters to implement the standards the best they can · It should be day to day business for all services · Staff are far more aware of promoting the Welsh language now · There is a page on the intranet where staff can get common phrases and words · There will be a relaunch of the standards and the Welsh Translation Unit · Want to improve links with the Welsh Language Commissioner · Perhaps the word interpretation should be used rather than translation · The translation unit in Swansea has 12 people employed there which is a joint project with Neath Port Talbot Council as a 60/40 split · Around £42,000 of translation work is sent externally at the moment due to capacity issues but this is being reviewed · Welsh and English options should be completely equitable · Potential to commercialise the work of the Welsh Translation Unit going forward · There could also be wider opportunities with regional working · There will be a review of the Welsh Language Champion role · Need to ensure there are basic language skills e.g. phone greetings be bilingual to meet standards obligations |
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· Chris Williams – Head of Commercial Services Additional documents:
Minutes: · This is a repeat exercise – an item on charges came to the Panel last year · This item covers the whole of the Councils fees and charges · This item can be used as the start of the review process and enables the Panel to focus on any specific areas they want to · It is an aggregate set of data harmonised for review – each service area populates their own data · It is difficult to compare charges between local authorities as it is packaged differently between local authorities · Swansea Council seeks to be fair and transparent with charges · Charging is considered as part of the budget process · Swansea Council tries to ensure increases are not excessive in comparison to other Councils · There are areas where Swansea don’t charge and other Councils do such as garden waste · A question was raised over the charging policy for boats at Southend Pier – department will respond · There is a fair, reasonable and measured approach to charging · Potential new powers for Wales called ‘General Power of Competence’ will allow Councils to act in a more commercial way to generate income · Rather than the whole report – the charges item going forward can be limited to those which rise above inflation for any reason or any which are new or being changed substantially |
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Charges Chris Williams – Head of Commercial Services Minutes: · Discussed exempt items |