Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

There were no disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests.

None.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting(s) and agree as an accurate record.

Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Scrutiny scrutiny@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows. Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

There were no public questions received.

Cllr David Hopkins – Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance

Lee Wenham – Head of Communications and Marketing

Richard Rowlands – Strategic Delivery & Performance Manager

Audit Wales Officers

Jeff Brown attended to present the report from Audit Wales and Richard Rowlands gave feedback on the Council response to the report. The following was noted –

•         This report is part of a rolling programme where the Auditor General must assess the extent to which bodies have acted in accordance with the sustainable development principle in setting their well-being objectives.

•         Audit Wales stated that Swansea Council has applied the sustainable development principle in setting its well-being objectives and embedding its approach to engagement and performance monitoring will further strengthen this.

•         Audit Wales provided examples of good practice and areas of improvement from Swansea Council as a summary of the report.

•         Whilst the report reflects that the Swansea Councils consultation did not reflect the full diversity of the population, there was reflection that public consultation can be challenging and there is currently no existing benchmarks for public consultation.

•         The Council was pleased with the report. It recognises the suggested areas for improvement and has made progress in these. Engagement methods are currently being increased and expanded and performance measures have recently been reviewed however a national outcomes framework would be beneficial.

Cllr Elliott King – Cabinet Member Equalities, Human Rights and Culture

Karen Gibbins – Library Services Manager

Bethan Lee – Principal Librarian

Cllr Elliott King introduced the Annual Report with Karen Gibbin and Bethan Lee. The following was noted- 

•         The Panel were presented with the Welsh Public Library Standards, Welsh Government assessment for Swansea Libraries for 2021-22 and the library service submission for 2022-23.

•         Swansea libraries are still recovering from affects of the Covid pandemic and have not yet reached pre covid levels of usage, however usage is increasing.

•         Swansea reinstated library fines in April 23 due to a revenue budget income target for overdue book fines.

•         Library services highlighted the following, work with the Good Things Foundation, the Education Programme for Patients, an increase in Wi-Fi usage over PC usage, printing services, reservation services, warm spaces initiative, work with schools and an increase in bilingual services and resources in other languages.

•         The Central library will be moving to Y Storfa will be aided by a Welsh Government Grant for £300,000 covering new shelving and digital equipment.

•         A building conditions audit has been carried out and that work is being considered as part of the wider mapping process around the Community hubs model.

The work plan was noted.