Agenda, decisions and minutes

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None.

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

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

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 27 October 2021 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Update noted.

Katie Spendiff, Children’s Rights Co-ordinator provided a verbal update on the Children and Young People’s Rights Scheme.

The consultation on the Children's Rights scheme and priorities for children and young people had concluded and a report had been approved by Council in November.

20 November marked Universal Children's Day and the 32nd anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).  A resource pack had been distributed to all schools and organisations within the Children's Rights Network in Swansea to mark the event.

Several workshops had been arranged for the children's rights network and for children and young people in respect of the action plan for participation and equality.

Six key themes had been devised, with the largest focussed on the following two safeguarding themes:

1.            Equality for the LGBTQ community of young people - being considered by the Regional Young People Safeguarding Board.  A resource pack, developed by 26 young people had been printed and launched for every school in Neath, Port Talbot and Swansea, funded by the Western Bay Safeguarding Board.

2.            Safety of young women in public spaces - various work was ongoing in terms of young women’s safety in Swansea including work with the Police and Crime Commissioner and South Wales Police to undertake forums.  A small working group consisting of representatives from Schools, the Education Authority, the domestic abuse hub, Police, Police and Crime Commissioner, Freedom Leisure and Swansea Council’s Sports Department had commenced.

Work with the Domestic Violence Unit and the Police regarding “White Ribbon Day” to develop educational resources around what young men could do to help protect and keep young women safe.

37 young people had taken part in local conversations to discuss the issues and what could be done in relation to young women’s safety.

·                    Votes at 16 - an officer had recently been appointed on a part-time basis to support the Democratic Services Team to engage with voters, including young people in relation to the requirements of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. Work was ongoing with the Children’s Commissioners Office to raise awareness regarding the ability to register to vote, to understand the voting process and where and how to access information.

·                    Protecting the local environment and climate change – young people had made links with head teachers, the Environment Centre and Natural Resource Wales.  A forum would be held in January to set priorities in order to protect local environment/spaces.

Human Rights City – work had progressed to engage with children and young people in the community, schools and community groups. Cllr Gibbard had visited schools to talk to children and young people about what it might mean to be a Human Rights City. So far, 93 children and young people from 7 primary schools and 2 secondary schools had participated with a further 4 schools taking part in the second week of December.

The Children’s Rights Co-ordinator stated that all of the forum work would focus on co-production with the children and young people.

The Chair thanked the Children’s Rights Co-ordinator for the update and looked forward to receiving further updates in due course.

Update noted.

Amy Hawkins, Interim Head of Adult Services, supported by Anthony Richards, Poverty & Prevention Strategy & Development Manager provided an update on Swansea Council’s Volunteering Strategy Development.

The Interim Head of Adult Services outlined the regional work that had progressed which included building on the lessons learned during the pandemic including the increase in volunteers, their support and the good practice including promoting the resources for volunteering.

As part of the wider focus on the region around winter pressures and how we link volunteers with support around winter pressures, an event entitled “Possibilities for People” had been held the previous week with a number of partners including, the Council and Local Health Board together with public, private, community and residents to consider how demand could be reduced on the statutory services with work progressing on several positive ideas that had been suggested.

In addition, work on how we support volunteers within care homes and turning volunteering into a career were also progressing.

The Poverty & Prevention Strategy & Development Manager explained that positive feedback had been received from both officers and Members of the People Policy Development Committee at the workshop held in October.  That feedback was being utilised to plan the other workshop sessions mentioned above and that working group would also consider ways in which the Strategy could be co-produced.

Discussions had been undertaken to ensure that budgets were in place with the relevant hosting teams within the Council in respect of expenses, etc. to ensure the core principles of volunteering were embedded throughout the Authority.

Research had been undertaken with other Local Authorities’ Volunteering Strategies and feedback had been received in terms of shaping what the working group would consider in order to develop the Strategy for Swansea.

Timescales, which were subject to amendment were outlined:

·                    The Working group sessions would take place during January and February;

·                    A draft Strategy would be presented to the People Policy Development Committee in February;

·                    Public consultation on the Draft strategy for a minimum of four weeks.

·                    Following consultation, work on the Integrated Impact Assessment process would take place to inform the final Strategy.

The Chair thanked the Officers for the informative update.

Update deferred.

Update deferred to the next meeting.

Approved subject to a discussion regarding the items for inclusion on the agenda for the 22 December 2021 meeting.

The Chair presented the Work Plan for 2021-2022.

Resolved that the Work Plan be approved subject to a discussion regarding the items for inclusion on the agenda for the 22 December 2021 meeting.