Venue: Multi-Location Meeting - Council Chamber, Guildhall / MS Teams. View directions
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Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Decision: Councillors P Downing & R A Fogarty declared a
Personal & Prejudicial Interest in “Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction
Scheme.” and left prior to discussion. Councillors D H Jenkins & P M Matthews declared
a Personal Interest in “Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.” Councillors C Anderson, M Baker & T J Hennegan
declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in “Housing Revenue Account
(HRA) Rent Setting 2024/25.” And left prior to discussion. Councillors A Davies, P Downing, N Furlong & T
M White declared a Personal Interest in “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent
Setting 2024/25.” Minutes: The Chief Legal Officer
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 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 P Downing & R A Fogarty declared a Personal &
Prejudicial Interest in Minute 87 “Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction
Scheme.” and left prior to discussion. 2)
Councillors D H Jenkins & P M Matthews declared a Personal Interest
in Minute 87 “Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.” 3)
Councillors C Anderson, M Baker & T J Hennegan declared a Personal
& Prejudicial Interest in Minute 88 “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent
Setting 2024/25.” And left prior to discussion. 4)
Councillors A Davies, P Downing, N Furlong & T M White declared a
Personal Interest in Minute 88 “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting
2024/25.” |
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To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Decision: Approved Minutes: Resolved that the following Minutes be approved and
signed as a correct record: 1) Ordinary Meeting of
Council held on 7 December 2023. |
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Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council. PDF 204 KB Additional documents: Decision: For Information Minutes: The Chief Legal Officer
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. Decision: For Information Minutes: i) Condolences a)
Former Councillor Nortridge Perrot Ø
Swansea
City Council 1994-1996. Ø
City
& County of Swansea 1995-1999. All stood as a
mark of sympathy & respect. ii) New Year’s Honours The Presiding Member congratulated those Citizens
of Swansea who received awards in the New Year Honours. a)
Member of the Order of
the British Empire (MBE) i)
Robert
Terence Grey. Lately Boxing Gym Owner and Trainer, Gwent Amateur Boxing Club.
For services to Amateur Boxing in Swansea. ii)
Alfred
Oluwafemi Oyekoya. Director, Black Asian Minority Ethnic
Mental Health Support. For services to Minority Ethnic Communities in Wales. b)
British Empire Medal (BEM) i)
Leslie John Want. For services to the
community in Sketty and Swansea. iii) Santes Dwynwen The Presiding Member stated that It was Santes
Dwynwen day today (25-01-2024), the Welsh and Celtic Patron saint of friendship
and love. The popularity and celebration
of St Dwynwen's day has increased considerably in recent years. Remember to
tell your partner that you love them. iv)
Britain’s Best Large Indoor
Market 2024 The Presiding
Member stated that the National Association of British Market Authorities had awarded
Swansea Market the Britain’s Best Large Indoor Market award. Swansea Market had
previously won this award in 2015 & 2020. v)
Amendments / Corrections
to the Council Summons a)
Urgent Item - Notice of
Motion - Tata Steel The
Presiding Member stated that pursuant to paragraph 100B (4)(b) of the Local
Government Act 1972, she considered that the “Notice of Motion – Tata Steel”
should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. Reason for Urgency: Given that
Tata Steel recently announced their intention to cut thousands of jobs this
year which will
have huge local and regional impacts, this is the
only opportunity for this Council to consider and debate this Motion to put
pressure on Tata Steel and Government. |
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Announcements of the Leader of the Council. Decision: For Information Minutes: i)
Tata Steel The
Leader of the Council referred to the recent Tata Steel announcement which will
lead to approximately 2,800 job losses. He stated that all 22 Council Leader’s in
Wales were working with the Welsh Local Government Association to lobby Tata
Steel to reconsider the decision. The
impact of the proposal was devasting with a projected loss of £150m to the
economy and potentially three times that for the associated supply chain elements. |
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Public Questions. Questions
can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@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
within a 10 minute period. Decision: None Minutes: There
were no Public Questions asked. |
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Corporate Parenting Pledges. PDF 238 KB Additional documents:
Decision: Approved Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Care Services submitted a report that outlined work completed with care
experienced children and young people based in Swansea, regarding the Council’s
duty to be Corporate Parents. The report outlined the seven pledge areas
related to children’s rights that have been co-produced between Councillors and
young people. The Cabinet
Member for Care Services welcomed several recipients of care to the meeting and
Rose & Aaron were invited to address Council. Resolved that: 1) The report and attached pledges be
approved. |
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Progress Report on Swansea Councils Children & Young People's Rights Scheme 2021 – 2023. PDF 371 KB Additional documents:
Decision: Approved Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Community submitted a report that outlined the progress made regarding
implementation of a whole Council approach to the refreshed Children &
Young People’s Rights Scheme. Resolved that: 1) The 2021/2023 progress report on the
implementation of a whole Council approach to the refreshed Children’s Rights
Scheme be approved. 2) Permission
be granted to amend the reporting cycle to five years in line with Welsh
Government. Work will be on-going
throughout this period with progress reports produced mid-term and at the end
of the cycle. 3) The Children’s Rights Scheme 2021 be amended to reflect the
revised reporting cycle. |
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Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. PDF 360 KB Additional documents: Decision: Approved Minutes: The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that outlined the requirement to annually
consider whether to revise or replace the Council’s existing Council Tax
Reduction Scheme and the requirement
to either adopt a new scheme or re-adopt the existing scheme by 31 January
2024. It also recommended the re-adoption of the current scheme as set
out in Section 3 of the report for the period 2024/2025. Resolved that: 1) The Council Tax Reduction Schemes
and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013 (the “Prescribed
Requirements Regulations”) by the National Assembly for Wales (Now Senedd
Cymru) on 26 November 2013, as amended, be noted. 2) The amendments to the “Prescribed
Requirements Regulations” contained in The Council Tax Reduction Schemes
(Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations
2024, considered by Senedd Cymru on 16 January 2024 be noted. 3) The outcome of the consultation exercise
undertaken by the Council in November 2023 on the discretionary areas of the
current scheme be noted. 4) The discretionary areas of the current
scheme (2023/2024) (as set out in Section 3 of the report) remain unchanged for
the period 2024/2025. 5) The Council adopts the
scheme as set out in Section 3 of the report, to include any mandatory
amendments which may be necessary as a result of The Council Tax Reduction
Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Wales) (Amendment)
Regulations 2024. |
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Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting 2024/25. PDF 463 KB Additional documents: Decision: Approved Minutes: Resolved that: 1) Rents be increased in line with the Welsh Government policy as detailed in Section 3.1 of the report. 2) Fees, charges, and allowances be approved as outlined in Section 3.2 of the report. Note: 1) Councillor C A Holley stated that he agreed that Swansea Council should not be charging for a Service Charge; however he would like an explanation of what Registered Social Landlords (RSL’s) do in relation to Service Charges. The
Cabinet Member for Service Transformation stated that a written response would
be provided. 2) Councillor P M Black asked if there was a service charge in lace for the Warden Service? The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation stated that a written response would be provided. |
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Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations. PDF 779 KB Decision: Approved Minutes: The Returning Officer submitted a report that seek approval for
the proposed changes to Polling Districts, Polling Places & Polling
Stations and to agree further investigation into the possible movement of
several polling station venues. Resolved that: 1) The consultation responses
received in relation to the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places
which are summarised at Appendix 2 of the report be noted. 2) The final proposals to the Polling
Districts and Polling Places as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report be
approved. 3) The Returning Officer continue to monitor Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations where no suitable alternative venue is available at the present time. |
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Amendments to the Council Constitution - Constitution Working Group - Terms of Reference. PDF 306 KB Decision: Approved Minutes: The
Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer and Head of Democratic Services jointly
submitted a report that informed Council of amendments to simplify, improve and
/ or add to the Council Constitution. The amendments related to a recommendation of the
Constitution Working Group to amend its Terms of Reference. Resolved that: 1)
The
Terms of Reference of the Constitution Working Group be amended to include: “e) To
consider any issue that requires cross Political Group discussion”. |
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Adoption of the Naming Policy. PDF 234 KB Additional documents:
Decision: Approved Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Corporate Servies & Performance submitted a
report that recommended the adoption of a Naming Policy. Resolved that: 1) The Naming Policy be adopted. |
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Councillors' Questions. PDF 543 KB Additional documents: Decision: For Information Minutes: 1) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ Eight (8) Part A
‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. The relevant Cabinet Member(s)
responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons. Those supplementary questions
required a written response are listed below. Question 3 The Leader of the Council stated that this information had been
previously published as part of the Swansea Bay City Region; however, he would
provide a written response. Question 8 Councillor S Bennett asked “What
action was being taken to remove plastics from River Tawe prior to high tides
taking them into the sea? The Leader of the Council
stated that a written response would be provided. 2) Part B ‘Questions not requiring
Supplementary Questions’ Twelve (12) Part B
‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. |
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Urgent Item - Notice of Motion - Tata Steel Decision: Approved Minutes: The
Presiding Member stated that pursuant to paragraph 100B (4)(b) of the Local
Government Act 1972, she considered that the “Notice of Motion from Councillors
R C Stewart, D H Hopkins, A S Lewis, C
Anderson, A Anthony, R Francis-Davies, L S Gibbard, H J Gwilliam, E J King, R V
Smith, A H Stevens, C A Holley, W G Lewis, M B Lewis, L V Walton & N L
Matthews in relation to Tata Steel should be
considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency. Reason for Urgency: Given that Tata Steel recently
announced their intention to cut thousands of jobs this year which will have huge local
and regional impacts, this is the only opportunity
for this Council to consider and debate this Motion to put pressure on Tata
Steel and Government. |
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Notice of Motion - Tata Steel Minutes: Proposed by Councillor R C Stewart and Seconded by
Councillor C A Holley. “This Council is deeply concerned following the announcement by Tata
and the UK Government to cease virgin steel production at Port Talbot with the
closure of both blast furnaces and the loss of some 2,500 jobs. The loss of 2,500 jobs will mean an annual direct loss of over
£100m to the local economy and the loss of over £300m annually, when associated
jobs and the supply chain impacts are included. Leaders across Wales have already expressed their anger at this
announcement. Steel making in the UK is viewed as a strategic industry and
part of the UK’s critical national capability. Closure of virgin steel-making capacity in the UK in this way,
with a gap of several years and considerable uncertainty over investment in
alternative electric arc technology, will leave the UK exposed and increasingly
reliant on imported steel. This will repeat the mistakes made in the energy market by
leaving the UK the subject of market forces and reliant on foreign powers for
its steel supply. Whilst we fully support the need to decarbonise the economy and
steel making, we are strongly of the view that there must be a managed
transition towards low and zero carbon. Tata’s proposal will result in large scale direct job losses and
far greater numbers of indirect job losses in associated service and supply
companies. For the communities involved this will be disastrous. We have seen
the impact of major industrial closures in Wales before and many of our
communities have never fully recovered from the impact such events have on
people’s lives. There is huge potential for new, green industry in Wales,
especially associated with developments in the renewable and low carbon energy
industry, currently being funded and delivered by the City Deal, that can help
us transition to more sustainable ways of living and working. Retaining one of the blast furnaces would avoid a situation from
which there is no return. It would sustain more jobs whilst allowing more time
for adjustments in the labour market and exploration of other technologies that
may enable virgin steel production to be retained in Wales and the UK. This council asks that the Leader as Chair of the City Region
write to the UK Government and Tata to demand that the UK Government work with
the Welsh Government, Tata, and the Unions to explore all opportunities to
protect the UK steel making capability and protect jobs in the steel industry. We ask that a fully representative regional task force be
established to examine all the options to protect jobs and steel making
opportunities.” Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted. |