Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Swansea. View directions
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Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: The Head of Legal,
Democratic Services and Business Intelligence gave advice regarding the
potential personal and prejudicial interests that Councillors and Officers may
have on the agenda. The Head of Democratic Services
reminded Councillors and Officers that the “Disclosures of Personal and
Prejudicial Interests” sheet should only be completed if the Councillor /
Officer actually had an interest to declare.
Nil returns were not required.
Councillors and Officers were also informed that any declarable interest
must be made orally and in writing on the sheet. In accordance with the
provisions of the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea the
following interests were declared: 1)
Councillors J P Curtice, S J Gallagher, T J Hennegan, R D Lewis, G J
Tanner, D W W Thomas and G D Walker declared a
Personal Interest in Minute 126 “Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service -
Presentation by Chief Fire Officer”; 2)
Councillors T J Hennegan, P R Hood-Williams, L James, O G James, J W
Jones, P Jones, M B Lewis, D Phillips, S Pritchard, W G Thomas, L V Walton and
T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 127 “Audit Committee Annual
Report 2016/17”. |
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To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED that the following Minutes be approved and
signed as a correct record: 1) Ordinary Meeting of
Council held on 23 November 2017. |
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Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council. PDF 94 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Legal,
Democratic Services and Business Intelligence submitted an information report
setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary
Meeting of Council. |
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Announcements of the Presiding Member. Minutes: 1)
Condolences a)
Honorary
Alderman & Former Councillor David I E Jones The Presiding Member
referred with sadness to the recent death of Honorary Alderman and Former
Councillor D I E Jones. Honorary
Alderman Jones commenced his Local Government service with Dacorum
Borough Council in November 1980 before serving the Penyrheol Electoral Ward
with the former Lliw Valley Borough Council from May 1994 to 31 March 1996. He also served the
Penyrheol Electoral Ward with the City and County of Swansea from 1 April 1996
to May 2012. He served as
Lord Mayor for the period 1998-1999. All present stood as a mark of sympathy and respect. 2)
Snowflake Award The
Presiding Member referred to last year’s launch of the Family Information
Service (FIS) Snowflake Award where the Authority celebrated the hard work of
registered childcare providers and the children in their care by presenting
awards in various categories in respect of the Christmas displays they had
undertaken. He stated that he was delighted to announce that the
Snowflake Award had been a success again this year. 3)
Morfa Distributor Road won the Environmental Sustainability
Project of the Year Award at the Chartered Institution of Highways and
Transportation (CIHT) Wales Awards 2017 The
Presiding Member was delighted to announce that the Morfa Distributor Road had won
the Environmental Sustainability Project of the Year Award at the recent Chartered Institution of Highways and
Transportation (CIHT) Wales Awards 2017. The
project was supported by the City and County of
Swansea, Welsh Government and private developer contributions. The design and supervision of the project has been provided by the City and County of Swansea, with
the phased construction delivered by the Authority’s in-house Highway
Construction Unit, T. Richard Jones Ltd and Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd.
The majority of the routes alignment traces that of the former Swansea Canal,
through the historically sensitive area known as the Hafod Copperworks. Not
only does the project evidence examples of design best practice in a
challenging environment, but the manner in which the
project was delivered illustrates the key role that Local Authorities have in
providing a holistic solution to regeneration. Rarely can such projects
evidence the support of both local and regional transport forums, as well as
private developers, ecologists and historical preservation groups. Such is the
challenge that was overcome by the Morfa Distributor
Road scheme. David
Hughes and Alun Thomas were present to receive the award. 4)
Correspondence from the Minister for Children & Social
Care The
Presiding Member stated that the Minister for Children & Social Care (Huw Irranca-Davies AM) has recently written to the Authority in
order to congratulate it on the success of the Team Around
the Family (TAF) in Schools Partnership at the recent Guardian Public Service
Awards. He
states, “effective collaboration and partnership
working are essential to the delivery of good quality family support and Team
Around the Family in Schools is a very good example of how this can be
achieved. By working together with
schools, this project is enabling more families to receive the right level of
support at the right time which will help more children to achieve positive
wellbeing and reach their potential.” Congratulations
to all involved with the scheme. |
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Announcements of the Leader of the Council. Minutes: 1)
Christmas Celebrations & Mince Pies The Leader of the Council thanked the Presiding Member
and Deputy Presiding Member for hosting and providing at their own cost a pre
Council meeting Christmas Celebration with home baked Mince Pies, sausage rolls
and pasties. 2)
‘Together at Christmas’ Event - 12 December 2017 The
Leader of the Council referred to the ‘Together at Christmas’ Event held at the
Brangwyn Hall on 12 December 2017. The
event was aimed to assist the homeless, vulnerable and isolated within society
by hosting a free Christmas dinner and party in Swansea More
than 200 people went along to the 'Together at Christmas' event, which was held for the second year running. The event organised by JR Events and
Catering, with support from the Authority included a free, two-course Christmas
dinner, a Christmas tree, Christmas crackers, live music, singers, a DJ and a
photo booth. Additionally,
information points on housing support, benefits and employment schemes were set
up at the event. Courtesy of local
businesses, free haircuts and dental checks were also made
available. The
Authority’s Trading Standards Team also arranged for 120 counterfeit jumpers
and hoodies to be given to people in need. The fake clothing had
previously been confiscated during raids and donated to the His Church charity.
The church regularly passes on counterfeit clothing to charities
for redistribution to those in need. The
Leader of the Council congratulated all of the Councillors, Officers and
Volunteers who helped make the event a huge success. 3)
UK City of Culture The Leader of the Council stated that whilst Swansea
had not been granted UK City of Culture 2021; he was extremely
proud of the bid and the incredible efforts of all involved. He congratulated Coventry on their success
and stated that he had approached the Welsh Government in order to see if
Swansea could retain the £4,000,000 promised should it be granted
the UK City of Culture 2021. 4) Live Verde – Signing of Memorandum of Understanding The
Leader of the Council stated that the Authority had recently signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with Live Verde.
The operating platform of Live Verde was launched
to address the UK’s housing deficit by capitalising on partner’s strengths,
methodology, energy solutions and financial support. 5) Santander Cycles University Challenge The
Housing, Energy & Building Services Cabinet Member stated that Swansea
University Authority had recently won the Santander Cycles University Challenge
meaning that the it will receive £100,000 worth of equipment and infrastructure
to establish a bike share scheme for the community. She
stated that the scheme was open to Councillors and Officers of the Council with
half price membership. |
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Public Questions. Questions must relate to
matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within
a 10 minute period. Minutes: No
questions were asked by members of the public. |
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Public Presentation - None. Minutes: No Public Presentations were
received. |
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Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service - presentation by Chief Fire Officer. Minutes: Chris Davies (Chief Fire Officer) gave a presentation on the work of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. A number of questions were asked of the Chief Fire Officer. Councillor J P Curtice, Deputy Presiding Member gave thanks for the presentation. |
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Audit Committee Annual Report 2016/17. PDF 2 MB Minutes: The Vice Chair of the
Audit Committee presented the Audit Committee Annual Report for the 2016-2017
municipal year for information. |
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Gypsy and Traveller Policy 2017. PDF 107 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Environment Services and Housing, Energy & Building Services
jointly submitted a report, which sought approval for the new Gypsy and
Traveller Policy. Resolved that: 1)
The Gypsy and Traveller Policy be approved and
published. |
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Review of Councillors Handbook. PDF 162 KB Minutes: The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report, which outlined the
recent review of the Councillors Handbook by the Democratic Services Committee
on 7 November 2017. The Committee
recommended that Appendix A of the report be recommended
to Council for adoption. He asked that the
following amendments be made to Appendix A of the
report: i)
Add a
paragraph 8.4 “A passenger allowance is permitted when a Councillor carries a
passenger(s) on Authority business. The
rate payable is in line with the determinations of the Independent Remuneration
Panel for Wales (IRPW)”; ii)
Add a new
paragraph 14 as follows: 14. “Travel by Motor cycles 14.1 A motor cycle allowance is available as
outlined by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW)”; iii)
The
remaining paragraphs be renumbered accordingly. Resolved that: 1)
The amended Councillors Handbook as set out in
Appendix A of the report together with the amendments above be adopted. |
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Amendments to the Council Constitution. PDF 122 KB Minutes: The
Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly
submitted a report seeking to amend in order to simplify, improve and / or add
to the Council Constitution in relation to the following areas: 1)
Part 3 “Responsibility for Functions – Scheme of Delegation”; 2)
Part 4 “Rules of Procedure – Scrutiny Procedure Rules”. The
report proposed the deletion of I14 “Power to hear appeals from Officers in
respect of approvals to drive school transport” from the Council Constitution
as the power was covered within J2 of the Local Choice Functions. Additionally,
the report proposed that paragraph 2.3 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules be amended. Resolved that: 1)
Paragraph I14 “Power to hear appeals from Officers in respect of
approvals to drive school transport” of the Miscellaneous Functions within the
Scheme of Delegation be deleted; 2)
Paragraph 2.3 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules be redrafted as follows
and the additional paragraphs added: “2.3 As required by law and guidance from the Welsh Government,
Scrutiny Committee’s dealing with education matters must include in their
membership voting representatives of religious faiths and of parent
governors. Membership of the Scrutiny
Programme Committee will therefore include: 1 x Parent Governor
Representative from a Primary School; 1 x Parent Governor
Representative from a Secondary School; 1 x Catholic Church Representative (LA Maintained
Faith Schools); 1 x Church in Wales
Representative (LA Maintained Faith Schools). 2.4 These Statutory Co-optees shall only
have a vote at the Committee, and relevant Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups, on
items relating to the overview and scrutiny of education functions. However, they may remain and speak on any
other matter. 2.5 In accordance with the Police & Justice Act 2006, the Authority’s designated crime and disorder committee may also
co-opt additional members to serve on the committee to add value and expertise
to the committee’s work. Co-optees can be appointed
with or without voting rights, at the discretion of the Committee.” 3)
Any further consequential changes be adopted. |
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Membership of Committees. PDF 94 KB Minutes: The Service Transformation & Business
Operations Cabinet Member submitted a report outlining nominations / amendments
to the Council Bodies. He stated that the Leader of the Council had not
made changes to the Authority’s Outside Bodies. Resolved that: 1)
The membership of the Council Bodies listed below be amended as follows: i)
Education & Skills
Policy Development and Delivery Committee Remove Councillor M B Lewis. Add Councillor S Pritchard. ii)
Poverty Reduction Policy
Development and Delivery Committee Remove Councillor G J Tanner. Add Councillor B Hopkins. iii)
Transformation & Future
Council Policy Development and Delivery Committee Remove Councillor C Anderson. Add Councillor P Jones. |
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Councillors' Questions. PDF 67 KB Minutes: 1)
Part A ‘Supplementary
Questions’ Five (5) Part A
‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.
The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers
contained in the Council Summons. Those supplementary
question(s) required a written response are shown
below: Question 1. Councillor E W Fitzgerald asked: “The Cabinet Member states in his response that
between 2015 and 2025 a total of 8,700 new jobs are going to be achieved. Meanwhile, the Schedule of Non Substantive
Amendments to the Deposit Plan re-emphasises, in paragraph 1.3.9, that the
overall number of new jobs, is going to be 14,700 during the Plan period. Figures produced by the Centre for Cities for 2004-2013 confirm
that only a dismal 900 jobs were produced during this nine-year
period. Therefore, in order to realise the 14,700 figure, it would seem
that between 2013 and 2015, 5,100 new jobs must have been
delivered. However, I can find no
evidence for this, Can the Cabinet Member clarify
please?” The Leader of the Council stated
that a written response would be provided. Question 3. Councillor A M Day asked: “Can you please provide Councillors with
a list of grit bins by Electoral Ward across Swansea?” The Leader of the Council stated
that a written response would be provided. 2) Part
B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ No (0) Part B ‘Questions
not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. |