Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

1)        Councillor S J Rice – Item 11 - Annual Review of Performance 2023/24 – personal.

 

2)        Councillors C Anderson, M Baker, P Downing, N Furlong, T J Hennegan & T M White – Item 12 - Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting 2025/2026 – personal.

 

3)        Councillors A M Day, S J Rice & R V Smith – Item 13 - Review of Swansea Council School Admissions Arrangements personal.

 

4)        Councillor S J Rice – Item 15 - Councillor Questions – personal.

 

5)        Councillors J W Jones & M H Jones - Item 16 - Councillor Questions – personal.

 

6)        Councillor C A Holley - Item 16 - Councillor Questions – personal & prejudicial.

 

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 J Rice declared a Personal Interest in Minute 69 “Annual Review of Performance 2023/24”.

 

2)       Councillors C Anderson, M Baker, P Downing, N Furlong, T J Hennegan & T M White declared a Personal Interest in Minute 70 “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Rent Setting 2025/2026”.

 

3)       Councillors A M Day, S J Rice & R V Smith declared a Personal Interest in Minute 71 “Review of Swansea Council School Admissions Arrangements”.

 

4)       Councillor S J Rice declared a Personal Interest in Minute 73 “Councillor Questions”.

 

5)       Councillors J W Jones & M H Jones declared a Personal Interest in Minute 74 “Councillor Questions”.

 

6)       Councillor C A Holley declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 74 “Councillor Questions” and withdrew prior to its discussion.

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 3 October 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)        Condolences - Former Lord Mayor & Former Councillor Ceinwen Thomas.

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Former Lord Mayor & Former Councillor Ceinwen Thomas. Ceinwen served as Lord Mayor 2014-2015 and was Councillor for 27 years representing the Mynydd-bach Ward. Ceinwen served:

 

Swansea City Council	23/05/1990 to 31/03/1996
City & County of Swansea	04/05/1995 to 04/05/2017

 

ii)       Condolences - Former Councillor Hilary Sullivan.

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Former Councillor Hilary Sullivan. Hilary was a former West Glamorgan County Councillor serving the Townhill community.

 

iii)      Youth Service Bronze Quality Mark Award

The Presiding Member congratulated the Youth Service Team for being awarded the Bronze Quality Mark. The Bronze Quality Mark shows the standard of youth provision across the five Clubs in Swansea. It evidences that our Youth Service Team provide a safe space for young people to thrive. The Assessors stated that the Youth Service Team had exceeded the performance indicators.

 

The assessment included the Youth Service Manager, Staff, Partners and Young People from access the service, all of whom praised the service and the impact that key workers were having on their lives. The involvement of the Young People in shaping and designing the provision shone through and was highly commended by the assessors. The Council should be proud of its staff who provide safe spaces and trusted adult relationships for Young People. On behalf of the Council, she congratulated all involved and asked for a round of applause for the Youth Service Team.

 

iv)      Use your Welsh Campaign

The Presiding Member stated that each year, the Welsh Language Commissioner encourages people to use their Welsh in everyday life during a special campaign week. This year it is 25 November to 9 December. The campaign aims to raise confidence, and to increase the use of Welsh language services, realising the vision of a Wales where people can live in Welsh. The Presiding Member encouraged all to use their Welsh.

 

v)       Councillor Fiona Gordon - Joint Welsh Learner of the Year 2024 in Carmarthenshire

The Presiding Member gave “Llongyfarchiadau”, congratulations to Councillor Fiona Gordon for recently being named the Joint Welsh Learner of the Year 2024 in Carmarthenshire.

 

vi)      Swansea Community Review - Final Recommendations

The Democracy & Boundary Commission Cymru (DBCC) published the Swansea Community Review Final Recommendations on 5 November 2024. The Final Recommendations may be viewed at: https://www.dbcc.gov.wales/reviews/11-24/swansea-community-review-final-recommendations

 

Any further comments concerning the matters in the Final Recommendations report should be addressed to the Welsh Government at LGPolicy.Correspondence@gov.wales

They should be made as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 6 weeks from the date the Commission’s recommendations were submitted to the Welsh Government.

 

The Welsh Government will consider the report and if it thinks fit, shall give effect to the recommendations either as submitted, or with modifications. The changes will take effect at the Local Government Elections in May 2027.

 

vii)     Senior Staff Update

The Presiding Member stated that Dave Howes, Director of Social Services recently underwent an operation, and it is likely that he will be off for some time. The Appointments Committee held on 30 October 2024 appointed Amy Hawkins as Interim Director of Social Services. Lucy Friday has been appointed Interim Head of Adult Services to backfill Amy. The Presiding Member sent her best wishes to Dave and congratulations to those appointed.

 

Tracey Meredith, Chief Legal Officer / Monitoring Officer’s will retire on 15 December 2024. The Appointments Committee held on 2 December 2024 considered options for dealing with the retirement and appointed Debbie Smith as Interim Chief Legal Officer / Interim Monitoring Officer for a period up to 12 months while a permanent replacement is recruited. The Presiding Member and Leader of the Council thanked Tracey for her work and input over the years and wished her all the best for her retirement. They also congratulated Debbie who has been invaluable in covering Tracey whilst on long term absence.

 

viii)    Retirement - Caroline Miller, Cabinet Office

The Presiding Member stated that Caroline Miller will be retiring on 12 January 2025 after 43 years. Caroline started in the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in September 1981. Since then, she’s held various roles across the Council including the Maritime Museum, Building Control, Secretary to the Assistant Engineer, Surveyors Team, Secretary to a Head of Service, Lord Mayors Office, prior to settling within the Cabinet Office for the past 20 years. The Presiding Member sent her best wishes to Caroline for a healthy and happy retirement.

 

ix)           Together at Christmas

The Presiding Member stated that Swansea Council in partnership with JR Events & Catering ran the Together at Christmas initiative on 3 December 2024. The event provided a free Christmas carvery lunch for the homeless, isolated and those in need. She thanked everyone that helped.

 

x)       Christmas Attire at Council

The Presiding Member stated that it was pleasing to see so many wearing Christmas attire at Council this evening, although she did question the Scarlets Christmas Jumper. She asked that those wearing Christmas Jumpers, Ties etc., should consider donating £5 and the grinches i.e., those not wearing Christmas attire should consider donating £10. All donations will be made to a Homelessness Charity.

For Information

 

i)               Together at Christmas

The Leader of Council also thanked all for their support with the Together at Christmas initiative on 3 December 2024. The event provided a free Christmas carvery lunch for the homeless, isolated and those in need. She thanked everyone that helped.

 

ii)             Here for you this Winter Programme

The Leader of the Council outlined the Council’s “Here for you this Winter” Programme which aimed to assist those indeed and the wider Swansea community. He stated that the programme included providing over 1,000 food vouchers to those in need and free bus travel would be in place during the Christmas period.

 

iii)           Welsh Football - Success

The Leader of the Council congratulated the Welsh Football Team for making history by qualifying for a major Women’s tournament for the first time. Wales have secured a place at the 2025 Euros.

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 Section 151 Officer submitted an information report that provided an assessment of the likely impact of the UK Budget announcement on 30 October 2024.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance submitted a report that sought consideration of the proposed amendments to the Gambling Policy.

 

Resolved that the proposed amendments to the Gambling Policy be approved and the revised Policy attachment outlined in Appendix C of the report be adopted.

 

Approved

 

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report detailing the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the City and County of Swansea, its Community / Town Councils, and the Swansea Bay Port Health Authority for 2025/2026. The Council is required to determine the Council Tax Bases by 31 December.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)       The calculation of the Council Tax Bases for 2025/2026 be approved.

 

2)       In accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, the calculation by the City and County of Swansea Council for the Year 2025/2026 shall be:

 

	For the whole area	95,063
	For the area of Community / Town Councils:
	Bishopston	2,046
	Clydach	2,684
	Gorseinon	3,377
	Gowerton	2,055
	Grovesend & Waungron	449
	Ilston	365
	Killay	2,189
	Llangennith, Llanmadoc and Cheriton	534
	Llangyfelach	976
	Llanrhidian Higher	1,608
	Llanrhidian Lower	343
	Llwchwr	3,560
	Mawr	760
	Mumbles	10,191
	Penllergaer	1,638
	Pennard	1,560
	Penrice	475
	Pontarddulais	2,392
	Pontlliw and Tircoed	1,072
	Port Eynon	471
	Reynoldston	316
	Rhossili	204
	Three Crosses	725
	Upper Killay	592
	For the area of the Swansea Bay Port Health Authority	66,163

 

Cymeradwywyd

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance submitted a report that presented a draft of the Council’s Annual Review of Performance 2023/2024, which meets the statutory requirements to publish an annual self-assessment report and annual well-being report under Part 6 of the Local Government & Elections Act (Wales) 2021 and Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 respectively.

 

Resolved that the draft Annual Review of Performance 2023/2024 be approved for publication.

The Cabinet Member for Service Transformation submitted a report that proposed an increase in rents and fees within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2025/2026.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)             Rents be increased by 2.7% within the maximum permitted under Welsh Government policy as detailed in section 3.1 of the report.

 

2)             Elevent (11) properties with anomaly rents be corrected in line with the Welsh Government policy as outlined in section 3.2 of the report.

 

3)             Fees, charges and allowances be approved as outlined in section 3.3 of the report.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report outlining the outcome of the review of the School Admissions Arrangements 2026-2027 as agreed by Council on 21 March 2024.

 

Resolved that the findings of the review by the School Admissions Forum of the Admissions Arrangements and its criteria as outlined in the report be accepted.

Approved

The Presiding Member, Monitoring Officer & Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that sought to amend the the Council Procedure Rules relating to Councilors Questions.

 

Resolved that Council Procedure Rule 22 of the Council Constitution be amended to include:

 

“Councillor Questions & the Cancellation of an Ordinary Meeting of Council

In the event of an Ordinary Meeting of Council being cancelled, the Council Procedure Rules relating to Councillors Questions remain unaffected i.e.:

 

1)             The deadline for submission of Councillors Questions to the cancelled Ordinary Meeting of Council remains. Councillors should submit their allocation of Councillors Questions to the Democratic Services (DS) Team accordingly.

 

2)             An additional Period of 30-Minutes shall be added to the next Ordinary Meeting of Council.”

 

For Information

1)       Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

Nine (9) 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 outlined:

 

Question 4. Councillor P M Black asked:

What is the current take up of Pension Credits in Swansea and can you provide an estimate number of those entitled to it but not receiving Pension Credits? What more can the Council do to ensure those that should be receiving it, actually do receive it?

 

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

 

Question 5. Councillor S J Rice asked:

How much has the empty Debenhams building cost since the Council took it on?

 

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

 

Question 8. Councillor P N May asked:

When did the Council last seek to increase public awareness of its successful enforcement action relating to fly tipping?

 

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

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

One (1) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.

For Information

 

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 questions required a written response are outlined:

 

Question 5. Councillor L James asked:

The response does not cover all the points raised in my original question. I would particularly like to know about Tetra Packs, and the destinations of where the recycling materials are being exported.

 

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

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Three (3) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.