Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

Councillors C M J Evans & S J Rice - Personal Interest – Item 10 - Councillors Questions.

The Deputy 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 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 C M J Evans declared a Personal Interest in Minute 27 ‘Councillors Questions’ - Question 3.

2)             Councillors S J Rice declared a Personal Interest in Minute 27 ‘Councillors Questions’ - Question 8.

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

Resolved that the following Minutes be approved and signed as a correct record:

1)             Annual Meeting of Council held on 16 May 2024.

2)             Ceremonial Meeitng of Council held on 17 May 2024.

For information

The Chief Legal Officer submitted an information report setting out the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council.

For information

a)             Sarah Davies, Former Lady Mayoress & Wife of Former Councillor W John F Davies

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Sarah Davies, former Lady Mayoress & Wife of former Councillor W John F Davies. Sarah was Lady Mayoress 2000-2001. Sarah was also the sister-in-law of Councillor Robert Francis-Davies. Our thoughts are with the family.

All present stood as a mark of sympathy & respect.

b)       King’s Birthday Honours

The Presiding Member congratulated the Citizens of Swansea who received awards in the Birthday Honours.

a)             Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

i)               Andrea Isabel Albutt. Lately President, Prison Governors Association. For services to HM Prison and Probation Service.

ii)              Rachel Ashe -Founder and Managing Director, Mental Health Swims. For services to People with Mental Health Issues.

iii)            Peter Brian Mizen. Chief Coastguard, Maritime and Coastguard Agency. For services to Maritime Safety.

iv)            Mark William Spencer Portsmouth. For services to Sport in Mumbles

v)             Matthew Lee Tyrrell. Postmaster. For services to the community in Penlle’r-gaer.

c)       Social Care Wales - Accolades Awards 2024

The Presiding Member stated that “Born into Care” was a multi-agency project run by Child & Family Services of Swansea Council. The project supports parents who are at risk of having their child taken into care, from the early stages of pregnancy through to the child’s birth and beyond. Parents are offered enhanced antenatal care, parenting support and practical help, intensive home visits and group support. The project uses a strengths-based, solution-focused approach and places families’ voices and experiences at the heart of what they do.

She was delighted to report that the “Born into Care” project recently won the Building Bright Futures for Children & Families” award at the recent Social Care Wales - Accolades Awards 2024.

d)             Amendments / Corrections to the Council Summons

The Presiding Member outlined the following amendments:

i)               Item 4 Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council

Page 34. Top of Page. Amend reference to “Council 6 June 2024” to read “Council 6 March 2024”.

ii)             Item 8 Recruitment of a Community / Town Councillor to the Standards Committee

Page 56. Top of Page. Amend reference to “Council 6 June 2024” to read “Council - 11 July 2024”.

iii)           Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council

Page 34. Top of Page. Amend reference to “Council 6 June 2024” to read “Council 6 March 2024”.

iv)           Membership of Committees

The Political Groups have submitted changes to the Membership of Committees. An amended report has been circulated.

For information

a)             Congratulations to Gower, Swansea West & Neath and Swansea East Constituency MPs on their recent Election Success - Parliamentary General Election - 4 July 2024

The Leader of the Council congratulated Tonia Antoniazzi, Torsten Bell & Caroline Harris on their Parliamentary Election Success within Gower, Swansea West & Neath and Swansea East Constituencies. Each having been elected or re-elected as a Member of Parliament.

b)            Parliamentary General Election - 4 July 2024

The Leader of the Council on behalf of Swansea Council and the citizens of Swansea, thanked the Returning Officer, Martin Nicholls, the Deputy Returning Officers Huw Evans & Alison O’Hara, the Electoral Services Team and DesignPrint for their dedication and professionalism during the recent Parliamentary General Election on 4 July 2024.

He also commended the Electoral Services Team on their most recent innovation aimed at assisting blind and partially sighted voters. A QR code was placed in every Ballot Booth in Swansea’s Polling Stations. The QR linked to an audio version of the Ballot Papers for Gower & Swansea West Constituencies.

c)             Amendments to Cabinet Portfolios - Education & Learning Cabinet Portfolio

The Leader of the Council outlined the following amendment:

d)            Campaign to Promote the Danger of Flying Rings on Beaches

The Leader of the Council stated that Flying Rings are cheap products derived from the solid disc frisbee, they are sold by many retailers at a price as little as £1 each and are often lost or discarded at beaches. Seals (especially younger ones) are extremely curious animals and if they place their heads into the ring, they can quickly become entrapped, and it is almost always impossible for the seal to escape or dislodge themselves. Over time, the ring will start to cut into the animal’s flesh causing unmeasurable pain, suffering, infection, and death.

The north Atlantic grey seal is the predominant seal species sighted on our Gower coast. The UK has around 38 percent of the global population and Gower has a small percentage of that number. Human disturbance is a particular issue for the seals that visit Gower and so the threat that flying rings pose is an additional compounding stressor for seals in Gower and beyond (these rings can travel great distances in the ocean).

We will be raising the profile of the dangers of Flying Rings to try and prevent further suffering to Seals and other animals.

He indicated he would like to bring a Notion of Motion to the next Council Meeting relating to this matter.

The three other political group leaders indicated their support for the motion.

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.

For information

Susie Jewell and Phil Slater asked questions. The questions related to Minute 27 “Councillors’ Questions – Questions 5 & 14”.

The Leader of the Council responded.

Approved

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that outlined the process of recruiting a Community / Town Councillor representative to the Standards Committee. The report asked that the Terms of Reference of the Standards Committee be amended to aid the process.

Resolved that:

1)       The Standards Committee’s Terms of Reference be amended so that it is authorised to shortlist and interview Community / Town Councillors that have applied to be a member of the Standards Committee and to make a recommendation to Council as to an appointment.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Service & Performance submitted a report that sought approval of the nominations / amendments to various Council Bodies.

Resolved that the membership of the Council Bodies listed below be amended:

Chief Officers Disciplinary Committee

Delete Councillors W G Lewis & S J Rice

Add Vacancy

Chief Officers Disciplinary Appeals Committee

Delete Councillors W G Thomas & T M White

Add 2 Vacancies

Community Town Councils Forum

Delete Councillor W G Thomas

Add Vacancy

Democratic Services Committee

Delete Councillor B J Rowlands

Add Councillor F D O’Brien

General & Statutory Licensing Committees

Delete Councillor B J Rowlands

Add Councillor R D Lewis

Trustees Panel

Delete Councillor B J Rowlands

Add Councillor W G Thomas

Outside Bodies

South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) – Scrutiny Committee

Delete Councillor M Jones

Add Labour Vacancy

For information

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

Thirteen (13) 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 6

Councillor W G Thomas asked the following questions relating to Lloyds Bank and School Accounts:

1. What percentage of Schools or even better which Schools opted out?

2. Explain the meaning of 'this is not the normal for Wales'?

3. Comprehensive schools are using 'interest access accounts' why are Primary Schools not? Have they been trained / advised? If not, can they be?

4. Can Schools choose to move their Bank Accounts from Lloyds Bank?

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning stated that a written response would be provided.

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

Two (2) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.

For information

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

Four (4) 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 1

Councillor J D McGettrick asked when would the 20 new operatives be employed?

Councillor P N May asked whether the recent Traineeship Programme had been a success and how many were retained to become permanent Waste operatives?

The Cabinet Member for Community (Services) stated that a written response would be provided.

Question 6

Councillor J W Jones asked whether the Council had any financial liability to the Copr Bay project and if so, to what extent?

The Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration, Events & Tourism stated that a written response would be provided.

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

Two (2) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.

Approved

Council were requested to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the item(s) of business identified in the recommendations to the report(s) on the grounds that it / they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 relevant to the items of business set out in the report(s).

Council considered the Public Interest Test in deciding whether to exclude the public from the meeting for the item of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant as set out in the report.

Resolved that the public be excluded for the following item(s) of business.

(Closed Session)

Approved

The Chief Executive submitted a report that set out proposed interim changes to the senior management structure in the Place Directorate that maintain service delivery and enable completion of a saving approved as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2024/2025.

Resolved that the recommendations outlined in the report be approved.