Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

1)        Councillors S Bennett and S J Rice declared a Personal Interest in Item 14.

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 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)       Councillor S Bennett declared a Personal Interest in Minute 59 “Councillor Questions - Question 8”.

2)       Councillor S J Rice declared a Personal Interest in Minute 59 “Councillor Questions - Question 2”.

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

Approved

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

1)       Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 5 September 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

i)              Paul Karabadak - Paris Paralympics 2024

The Presiding Member stated that Paul Karabadak was a Table Tennis playing Paralympian from Waunarlwydd. He is a former attendee of the Swansea Friends of the Young Disabled. He has won over a 100-medals and has been playing competitively for Great Britain since 2001.

He recently won a Bronze in Doubles Table Tennis at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

On behalf of the Council, she congratulated Paul.

For Information

i)              Regeneration of Swansea City Centre

The Leader of the Council that he had visited the newly renovated Albert Hall. This regeneration project along with the works at the Palace Theatre and 70-71 Kingsway were vital for the redevelopment of the City Centre. These three projects will bring over 1,000 new jobs into the City Centre.

ii)             Skyline & Comments Made by the Uplands Group

The Leader of the Council expressed disappointment at comments relating to the Skyline project made to the Press by a member of the Uplands Group.

Noted

The Presiding Member welcomed Emma Pole, Headteacher of Bishop Vaughan Catholic School and the pupils from the school. They were present to give a presentation and sing songs relating to the Festival of Peace.

The Presiding Member & Leader of the Council thanked the pupils and staff of Bishop Vaughan Catholic School’s for their presentation and songs relating to the Festival of Peace. There are 67 different first languages spoken at the School and this presentation was about the unifying message of Peace.

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.

None

There were no public questions.

For Information

The Chair of the Standards Committee submitted for information the Standards Committee Annual Report 2023-2024. The Annual Report set out the work of the Committee over the period.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Chair and the Committee for its work.

Approved

The Director of Social Services submitted a report providing his account of the Council’s improvement journey to 2023-2024, and how well the Council is meeting statutory requirements under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014.  The report reviewed last year’s areas for improvement, the challenges faced and set new priorities for 2024/25.  The report set out the changes that have taken place within Social Services to achieve progress towards national wellbeing outcomes.

Resolved that:

1)             The Director of Social Services Annual Report 2023-2024 be approved.

For Information

The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee submitted an information report that outlined the work of Scrutiny for the municipal year 2023-2024.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Chair and the Committee for its work.

Approved

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report that undertook a mid-year review of the Revenue Reserves position and sought agreement for any suggested reclassification of reserves based on current requirements.

Resolved that:

1)             It be noted that a capital equalisation reserve was created from the underspending on debt charges and the fundamental review by council of the Minimum Revenue Provision calculation. The reserve is topped up wherever possible, by capital financing underspending in year, to help with any timing issues around the need to fund any City Deal projects in advance of receipt of funding from other bodies.

2)             To this extent, and following a review of current earmarked reserves, the classification of earmarked reserves as detailed below be approved and no re-classification be recommended at this juncture:

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report seeking the adoption of the Welsh Language Promotions Strategy 2024-2029.

Resolved that:

1)             The Welsh Language Promotions Strategy 2024-2029 be adopted.

For Information

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

Eleven (11) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted. The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

Those questions requiring a written response are outlined below:

Question 1.

Councillor S J Rice asked for a breakdown of the of the £492M forecasted contribution for 2025-2026 referred to in the written response.

The Leader of the Council stated that a written response would be provided.

Question 8.

Councillor M H Jones asked for the actual costs associated with the installation of solar panels on Council buildings.

The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation stated that a written response would be provided.

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

Eleven (11) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.