Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

·         None

·         Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting, and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period

·         Mr Jones – asked about affordability and questioned the openness of the financial process

·         Councillor Rob Stewart explained that reports on finance are made public and access to the information is available at all times online and by accessing public meetings

·         Councillor Rob Stewart – Cabinet Member for Economy and Strategy

·         Ben Smith - Head of Financial Services & Service Centre

·         Report makes clear some of the financial implications

·         Report indicated was affordable but members would have some difficult decisions on future budgets

·         Degree of public sector subsidy needed

·         Risks are known and manageable

·         There will be opportunity for scrutiny as the process goes along

·         Hoping City Deal business case to be signed off early December with money to then flow

·         Money goes to regional office (Carmarthenshire) then to approved projects

·         Rigid procedures in place to maintain quality and timescales including the Beyond Bricks and Mortar framework

·         Some comparisons with larger cities are unfair as population sizes and GVA are very different

·         City Deal is a catalyst  - creating future projects and opportunities

·         More students in the City Centre relieves surrounding areas from HMOs

·         Some private accommodation planned to help drive restaurants and shops

·         Biodiversity and green infrastructure are very important aspects of the development

·         New bridge more suitable and DDA compliant

·         Aim is to close the gap on regional financial performance

·         Difficulty if the arena doesn’t make a profit – large financial risk

·         Capital financing charges will increase but looking to limit the impact on frontline services

·         Questions over affordability

·         Councillor Rob Stewart – Cabinet Member for Economy and Strategy

·         Ben Smith - Head of Financial Services & Service Centre

·         Exempt items discussed