Agenda item

(a) Portfolio Q & A.

(b) Planning Performance and Effectiveness.

 

Councillor Francis-Davies provided opening remarks, in support of his written report, prior to taking questions from the Committee.

 

Phil Holmes, Head of Economic Regeneration & Planning and Ryan Thomas, Planning Control Manager assisted the Cabinet Member in relation to questions on Planning performance and effectiveness. A report was provided to the committee following concerns raised by scrutiny councillors about the current planning system and operation of the Planning Committee.

 

The question session led to discussion around the following topics:

 

Portfolio Q&A

 

·                 Plans for the £8.3m Vibrant and Viable Places grant provided by the Welsh Government, and outcomes, including how job creation would be achieved. It was noted that the focus was on regeneration projects and creating the right infrastructure to attract investment and jobs e.g. creation of a technology hubs and office accommodation on the Kingsway;

·                 Student accommodation which would result in more people living and working in the City and more income generation within Swansea;

·                 Clarification was provided that Health & Wellbeing, Sport and Recreation fell within the Wellbeing and Healthy City Cabinet Portfolio, whilst Culture and Tourism including the Grand Theatre and Libraries sat within the Enterprise, Development & Regeneration portfolio;

·                 As part of the wider Sustainable Swansea Fit for the Future programme, the whole of Cultural Services was taken through the Council’s Commissioning Review.  Although some areas of efficiencies and in-house transformation have been identified this process has resulted in market testing to invite interest from external parties that could sustain services. The committee expressed concern about the possible impact of cuts on cultural services such as museums and how the authority’s vision and plans would be consistent with national objectives to protect heritage (Wellbeing & Future Generations Act). It was noted that this process also included the libraries service. The Cabinet Member stated that any interest in the culture portfolio would be carefully analysed, assessed and challenged. The scrutiny of proposed decisions arising from this process was discussed;

·                 Wind Street pedestrianisation – plans to move towards a more restaurant rather than pub culture were noted,  supported by an increase in the number of people working in the city centre that should create more vibrancy and a better night time economy. The increase in the number of students in Swansea, and impact on such plans and the city centre in general, was also discussed;

·                 The Mariner Street mixed-use development was expected go to Planning Committee in May, with the intention to be on site in June and the delivery of student accommodation ready for occupation within two years;

·                 Business Improvement District (BID) – the continuation of the BID following recent renewal ballot was noted. The Cabinet Member confirmed that himself and the Leader would continue to sit on the BID Board and talked about the benefits from the BID to the city centre;

·                 Opportunities to expand upon running events in Swansea and host a marathon;

·                 The Glyn Vivian Art Gallery refurbishment was complete however work on the pavements was now underway, with anticipated opening in the autumn;

·                 The Cabinet Member was asked to consider how the image of taxi drivers operating in Swansea could be improved, such as the introduction of a dress code – the Cabinet Member stated that he would ask his Cabinet Advisory Committee to look at this;

·                 The need to consider more imaginative ways of providing information to visitors as a result of the closure of the Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

 

Planning Performance and Effectiveness

 

·                 The new Planning Committee structure, including the call in procedure was discussed.  Some Members felt the Committee was too small and they were not involved sufficiently in and lacked confidence in, the current process.   There was also concern at the lack of a review of the current arrangements expected by councillors;

·                 The Cabinet Member and Officers re-iterated that the Authority had undergone significant change process during 2014-2015, partly as a result of budgetary pressures, and partly in response to Welsh Government (WG) proposals with the Planning (Wales) Act 2015.  The Authority had therefore adopted the WG model for Committee structure and scheme of delegation;

·                 The Performance framework statistics indicated that significant progress was being made and the speed and quality of the decision making was also reflected in the figures;

·                 Various improvements have been made in efficiencies through the introduction of an electronic document management system, and restructure of planning teams;

·                 The Cabinet Member felt that it was better to have a small number of skilled councillors on a committee to speed up decision-making and ensure consistency, but that there were ways for other councillors as local members to be engaged in the process, without conflict of interest;

·                 The WG had previously criticised the Authority for having all 72 members on the Planning Committee.  The new pre-application consultation requirements (which come into force on 1 August) would focus on member engagement prior to formal applications being submitted;

·                 The Planning Control Manager confirmed that all members had received Planning training following the 2012 elections.  In addition, various training had been delivered including full day refresher training and various sessions on legislation changes;

·                 A new Committee protocol would be presented to Planning Committee in May for consideration, and further WG advice is expected which clarifies requirements in relation to issues such as call-in procedures;

·                 The Authority’s current performance in relation to member made decisions against officer advice was in line with the Wales average;

·                 The policy framework in relation to S.106 planning agreements was discussed.

 

In response to Member questions the Cabinet Member confirmed that:

 

1)       Further information in relation to the Vibrant & Viable Places grant would be provided in writing;

 

2)       An opportunity for scrutiny would be built into the time-table for decisions on Cultural Services;

 

3)       The Development CAC would be asked to consider a minimum standard of dress code for taxi drivers as part of their work plan;

 

4)       He would consider arranging seminars for all Councillors (not just the Planning Committee) when new Planning regulations are received;

 

5)       The viability of introducing a Community Infrastructure Levy was being explored;

 

6)       A session providing feedback on last year’s appeal decisions will be arranged for the Planning Commission by July.

 

The Chair thanked Councillor Francis-Davies and the officers for attending.  She added that any further scrutiny of planning would be considered as part of the Annual Work Planning Conference discussions.

 

RESOLVED that the Chair of Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.