Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

Councillors

 

1. Councillors K M Griffiths & A H Stevens - Personal – Item 8 - Swansea Local Development Plan 2023-2038 (LDP2) Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy) and Revised Delivery Agreement.

 

2. Councillors A Davies, S M Jones, P Lloyd & R V Smith - Personal - Item 9 - Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

 

3. Councillors A Anthony, R A Fogarty, L S Gibbard, B Hopkins, L James, S M Jones, N L Matthews, A J O’Connor, C L Philpott & S J Rice - Personal – Item 10 - Schools Admission Arrangements 2026-2026.

 

4. Councillors C Anderson, J P Curtice, L S Gibbard, C A Holley, D H Jenkins, E J King, A S Lewis, F D O’Brien, C L Philpott & T M White - Personal - Item 11 - Pay Policy Statement 2024/25.

 

5. Councillors P M Matthews & C L Philpott - Personal & Prejudicial – Item 13 - Nomination of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor Elect 2025/2026 and withdrew prior to discussion.

 

6. Councillor S J Rice – Personal – Item 16 – Councillor Questions (Q2)

 

7. Councillors P N Bentu, A M Day, P Downing, R Francis-Davies, L S Gibbard, K M Griffiths, V A Holland,  B Hopkins, L James, D H Jenkins,  M H Jones, E J King, E T Kirchner, A S Lewis, W G Lewis, P Lloyd, N L Matthews, F D O’Brien, A J O’Connor, C L Philpott, R V Smith, L V Walton & T M White – Personal - Item 17 - Notice of Motion - Women's Increase in the Pension Age - Compensation.

 

8. Councillors L James, S M Jones, E T Kirchner, P Lloyd & M W Locke – Personal – Item 18 - Notice of Motion - Financial Hardship for Many Vulnerable Residents.

 

9. Councillors B J Rowlands & A H Stevens – Personal & Prejudicial – Item 18 - Notice of Motion - Financial Hardship for Many Vulnerable Residents and withdrew prior to discussion.

 

 

Officers

 

1 H Evans and M Nicholls – Personal & Prejudicial – Item 8 - Swansea Local Development Plan 2023-2038 (LDP2) Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy) and Revised Delivery Agreement and withdrew prior to discussion.

 

2. G Borsden, H Evans, A Hawkins, H Morgan-Rees, M Nicholls & B Smith - Personal & Prejudicial – Item 11 - Pay Policy Statement 2024/2 and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration.

 

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:

 

Councillors

 

1)             Councillors K M Griffiths & A H Stevens - Personal – Minute No 81 - Swansea Local Development Plan 2023-2038 (LDP2) Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy) and Revised Delivery Agreement.

 

2)             Councillors A Davies, S M Jones, P Lloyd & R V Smith - Personal – Minute No 82 - Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

 

3)             Councillors A Anthony, R A Fogarty, L S Gibbard, B Hopkins, L James, S M Jones, N L Matthews, A J O’Connor, C L Philpott & S J Rice - Personal – Minute No 83 - Schools Admission Arrangements 2026-2026.

 

4)             Councillors C Anderson, J P Curtice, L S Gibbard, C A Holley, D H Jenkins, E J King, A S Lewis, F D O’Brien, C L Philpott & T M White - Personal – Minute No 84 - Pay Policy Statement 2024/25.

 

5)             Councillors P M Matthews & C L Philpott - Personal & Prejudicial – Minute No 86 - Nomination of Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor Elect 2025/2026 and withdrew prior to discussion.

 

6)             Councillor S J Rice – Personal – Minute No 89 – Councillor Questions (Q2).

 

7)             Councillors P N Bentu, A M Day, P Downing, R Francis-Davies, R A Fogarty, L S Gibbard, K M Griffiths, V A Holland,  B Hopkins, L James, D H Jenkins,  M H Jones, E J King, E T Kirchner, A S Lewis, W G Lewis, P Lloyd, N L Matthews, F D O’Brien, A J O’Connor, C L Philpott, R V Smith, L V Walton & T M White – Personal – Minute No 90 - Notice of Motion - Women's Increase in the Pension Age - Compensation.

 

8)             Councillors L James, S M Jones, E T Kirchner, P Lloyd & M W Locke – Personal – Minute No 91 - Notice of Motion - Financial Hardship for Many Vulnerable Residents.

 

9)             Councillors B J Rowlands & A H Stevens – Personal & Prejudicial – Minute No 91 - Notice of Motion - Financial Hardship for Many Vulnerable Residents and withdrew prior to discussion.

 

Officers

 

1)             H Evans and M Nicholls – Personal & Prejudicial – Minute No 81 - Swansea Local Development Plan 2023-2038 (LDP2) Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy) and Revised Delivery Agreement and withdrew prior to discussion.

 

2)             G Borsden, H Evans, A Hawkins, H Morgan-Rees, M Nicholls & B Smith - Personal & Prejudicial – Minute No 84 - Pay Policy Statement 2024/2 and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration.

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 December 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 - Deputy Lord Mayor & Councillor Wendy Fitzgerald

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of the Deputy Lord Mayor & Councillor Wendy Fitzgerald. Wendy served as Deputy Lord Mayor 2024-2025 and was Councillor for nearly 21 years representing the Penlle’r-gaer Ward. Wendy was also a former Cabinet Member. Wendy served:

 

City & County of Swansea

10/06/2004 to 01/01/2025

 

The Political Group Leaders and Councillors paid tribute to Councillor Wendy Fitzgerald.

 

ii)       Condolences - Gerard Holley, Brother of Councillor Chris Holley

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Gerard Holley, brother of Councillor Chris Holley.

 

All present stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of sympathy and respect.

 

iii)      New Year’s Honours

Citizens of Swansea who received awards in the New Year Honours.

 

a)             Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

i)               Janice Victoria Williams OBE. Chair, Swansea Bay University Health Board. For Public Service. (Swansea, West Glamorgan).

 

b)            Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

i)               Wendy Ansell. Specialist Midwife, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. For services to Survivors of Harmful Practices and to Women Seeking Sanctuary. (Swansea, West Glamorgan).

 

c)             Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

i)               Karen Pitt. Senior Telecoms Engineer, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. For services to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Skills. (Swansea, West Glamorgan).

 

d)            King’s Police Medal KPM)

i)               Jeremy Mark Vaughan. Chief Constable, South Wales Police. (South Wales).

 

iv)      Safer Communities Awards Ceremony 2024

The Presiding Member outlined Swansea Council’s success at the Safer Communities Awards Ceremony 2024. The Council achieved 27 awards across 13 categories. Awards included:

 

Ø    Winner. Best Crime Prevention Project. Swansea Council City Chill Events.

Ø    Winner. Best Early Intervention Project. The Collaboration Station.

Ø    Highly Commended. Equality, Inclusion & Cohesion. Clase & Cadle Primary Schools.

Ø    Winner. Equality, Inclusion & Cohesion. Afternoon Teens.

Ø    Overall Community Safety Award Wales Winner. Swansea Council City Chill Events.

 

Members of the Council’s Partnership & Involvement Team, Youth Service, Community Safety Team, Partners and People involved in these initiatives were congratulated for their dedication and achievements.

 

v)       Swansea's St Mary's to become Wales' First Minster

The Presiding Member stated that St Mary’s Church in Swansea’s city centre would soon become the first minster church in Wales, as part of a multi-million-pound transformation. St Mary’s will receive a £2.8m investment over the next five years, helping to create jobs and safeguard the future of the Swansea landmark. Minster is a title given to a large or important church, especially a collegiate or cathedral church, and reflects the importance of St Mary’s to the city.

 

The investment will enable the employment of new members of staff, both clergy and lay workers, increasing its ability to serve the Swansea city centre community, be they residents, workers, visitors, refugees or the homeless.

 

vi)      Oliver Treviso

The Presiding Member stated that Oliver Treviso from Swansea was walking the length of the Andes mountains, alone and carrying everything he needs in his rucksack. He has been walking for more than one year, after starting his journey in Tierra del Fuego at the very southerly tip of Argentina. He has walked through four countries already and covered over 5,000 miles. Whilst on the journey he is raising awareness and funds for the mental health charity MIND. Oliver believes he may be the first person to do this journey. He hopes to be back in Swansea in March 2025.

 

She congratulated Oliver, for his incredible achievement and adventure.

 

vii)     Swansea to shine a spotlight on Blood Cancer in Walk of Light Event

The Presiding Member stated that Swansea would play host to a charity walking event to raise awareness and funds for vital research into blood cancer, the fifth most common cancer in the UK. Taking place on the evening of 29 March 2025 along the picturesque Swansea Bay promenade, the Walk of Light in aid of Blood Cancer UK will bring together the community in support of those affected by blood cancer.

 

The Council’s Chief Executive, Martin Nicholls, who had blood cancer himself, is organising the event and is keen to raise the profile of Blood Cancer and raise some much-needed funds for ongoing research.

 

Details of the event can be provided by Martin to anyone who is interested in joining or supporting the event.

 

viii)    Corrections & Amendments to the Council Summons

Item 14 “Dispensation for Councillor Leave of Absence - Councillor D Phillips”.

The Head of Democratic Services stated that this item had been withdrawn.

For Information

 

i)               Holocaust Memorial Day – 27 January 2025

The Leader of the Council thanked those that participated in the recent Holocaust Memorial Day. He thanked Norma Glass, MBE for her strong and moving words during the ceremony.

 

ii)             71-72 The Kingsway

The Leader of the Council stated that the first tenants of 71-72 The Kingsway had been confirmed.

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.

Approved

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance and Place Making & Strategic Planning Manager submitted a report that outlined the progress on LDP2 and sought endorsement of the commencement of a statutory public consultation process on the Pre-Deposit Plan (known as the ‘Preferred Strategy’) and associated Integrated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment Reports. It also sought approval for the Revised LDP2 Delivery Agreement in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (as amended).

 

Resolved that:

 

1)             The contents of the report and corresponding documentation, including the account of the initial non-statutory stakeholder consultation and engagement undertaken for the LDP2 Pre-Deposit stage as outlined in Appendix A of the report be noted.

 

2)       The LDP2 Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy) as outlined in Appendix B of the report which enables a comprehensive public consultation and stakeholder engagement process to be undertaken in accordance with statutory requirements be approved.

 

3)             The Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA), Habitats Regulations Assessment and Candidate Site Register including Stage 1 Assessment documents as outlined in Appendix C of the report be made available for comment alongside the LDP2 Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy) as part of the public consultation process, in accordance with statutory requirements.

 

4)             The Revised LDP2 Delivery Agreement as outlined in Appendix D of the report be approved and submitted to the Welsh Government for approval.

 

5)             The Head of Planning and City Regeneration, or appropriate delegated Officer, be authorised to make any outstanding factual, presentational, typographical, grammatical, or other minor amendments to the LDP2 Pre-Deposit Plan (Preferred Strategy), the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA), the Habitats Regulations Assessment, the Revised LDP2 Delivery Agreement and Candidate Site Register, prior to their publication for consultation.

Approved

 

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 2025. The report recommended the re-adoption of the current scheme as set out in Section 3 of the report for the period 2025/2026.

 

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 the 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) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 considered by the Senedd Cymru on 21 January 2025 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 for the period 2024/25 (as set out in section 3 of this report) to remain unchanged for the period 2025/26.

 

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) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025.

Approved

 

The Cabinet Member for Education & Learning submitted a report that sought determination of the Co-ordinated Admission Arrangements Scheme for Swansea schools.  The scheme is a requirement under The Education (Co-ordination of School Admission Arrangements and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2024 which came into force on 28 June 2024.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)             The proposed Co-ordinated School Admission Arrangements Scheme set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

Approved

 

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance submitted a report that sought to comply with the Localism Act 2011 by adopting a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year.

 

Resolved that the Pay Policy Statement 2025-2026 attached at Appendix A of the report be approved with effect from 1 April 2025.

Approved

 

The Leader of the Council submitted a report that made arrangements for a statutory Panel Performance Assessment.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)             The requirements for the Panel Performance Assessment (PPA) be noted.

 

2)             The proposed timescale of June 2025 for undertaking for the PPA be noted.

 

3)             Authority be delegated to the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive to confirm the appointment of the Panel and the Terms of Reference for the assessment.

Approved

 

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that sought to elect a Deputy Lord Mayor for the remainder of 2024-2025. It also nominated a Lord Mayor elect and Deputy Lord Mayor elect 2025-2026 to enable the arrangements for the Inauguration of the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor event to proceed.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)             Councillor Cheryl Philpott be elected Deputy Lord Mayor for the remainder of 2024-2025.

 

2)             Councillor Cheryl Philpott be nominated Lord Mayor 2025-2026.

 

3)             Councillor Penny Matthews be nominated Deputy Lord Mayor 2025-2026.

 

4)             The Lord Mayor & Deputy Lord Mayor Protocol be amended as outlined in Paragraphs 15-18 of the report.

Withdrawn

 

This report was withdrawn.

Approved

 

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance submitted a report which sought to approve the nominations / amendments to various Council Bodies.

 

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

 

Climate Change & Nature Recovery Strategic Transformation Committee

Delete Vacancy.

Add Councillor C M J Evans.

 

Social Care & Tackling Poverty Strategic Transformation Committee

Delete Vacancy.

Add Councillor B J Rowlands.

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 supplementary questions required a written response are outlined below:

 

Question 5. Councillor M H Jones asked “When was the new guidance referred to, in Paragraph 2 of the response introduced? Are there plans to review and introduce new guidance in Wales as planned in England?

 

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

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

Seven (7) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.

Approved

Proposed by Councillor C A Holley and Seconded by Councillor S M Jones.

 

“Council notes

 

1)             The decision by the UK Labour Government not to offer compensation to women who were not properly notified of the increase in the pension age as recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman despite leading Cabinet Members and local Labour MPs campaigning for justice on this issue.

 

2)             That many women are out of pocket as a result of this change and deserve to be compensated for it.

 

Council resolves to mandate the Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister asking him to reconsider this decision and to provide the compensation that he and other members of his Government campaigned for when in opposition.”

 

Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.

Approved

Proposed by Councillor L R Jones and Seconded by Councillor F D O’Brien.

 

“January 2025 marks 6 months of the new UK Labour Government, and what a disastrous six months it has been for the people of Wales.

 

Despite Labour promising Governments at both ends of the M4 working together for the people of Wales, we have seen the complete opposite.

 

We call upon the Leader of the Council to write to the First Minister calling on her to support and challenge the UK Governments decision making which has and will cause financial hardship for many vulnerable residents due to the winter fuel cut, farming tax and NI increase for our hard working businesses.”

 

The Labour Group submitted an amended Motion. Amendment Proposed by Councillor R C Stewart and Seconded by Councillor A S Lewis.

 

Labour Amendment

“January 2025 marks 6 months of the new UK Labour Government, and what a six months it has been for the people of Wales.

 

With two Labour Governments now working together in collaboration for the benefit of the people of Wales and the UK the relationship between Wales and Westminster has changed for the better.

 

Gone are the days where Treasury rules and processes were misused by the Tory UK government to disenfranchise the people of Wales and deny them the appropriate funding they were entitled too.

 

There are many examples of this type of decision making, including on education, on health, on social services. Decisions were made in a way that did not give the full Barnet consequential for Wales.

 

The most dramatic examples of these decisions was to class HS2 as an England and Wales project, despite no element of that scheme being within the Welsh border. Estimates put the loss to Wales of anything up to £6 billion. However Tory UK Government didn’t stop there. It wilfully removed ‘need’ as a determining factor when allocating post Brexit funds. This meant Swansea and cities like it lost out on millions and millions of pounds, while leafy Tory held suburbs benefited. They didn’t even hide that this was what they were doing. Indeed, the previous Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak boasted about this in a video widely shared on social media.

 

However, the UK Labour Government has moved quickly to stop this injustice and address the funding crisis facing public services across the UK.

 

The autumn budget provided massive investment in our public services in Wales. This settlement meant an extra £1.7 billion for Wales. The picture for Wales could not be more different in six months. A future under the Tories of continued cuts and the dismantling of government institutions or investment in public services and fairer pay and conditions for nurses, doctors and other public workers.

 

However, given the significant mismanagement of the economy over a number of years and the total chaos forced upon the UK by a number of Tory prime ministers most notably, Boris Johnson and then Liz truss who between them, significantly damaged the UK’s trading position, entering into badly thought though trade deals, which placed British businesses at a significant disadvantage. Put our farming and food production industries at risk and harmed our ability to trade with the rest of the World. They then of course subsequently crashed the UK economy, drove up inflation and interest rates, making life extremely hard for ordinary people.

 

These 14 years of catastrophic decision-making by successive Tory governments, meant the incoming UK Labour Government had enormously difficult decisions to make on taxation and spending. The Government have already taken key decisions to stop unfair tax breaks for private schools, to resolve long running pay disputes and to reset the tax system to be fairer and deliver the investment our public services desperately need.

 

Given the scale of the challenge the UK Labour Government have been forced to make other very difficult decisions to.

 

Therefore, we call upon the Leader of the Council to write to the First Minister calling on her to continue to support and where necessary challenge the UK Government decision making as First ministers have done over many years including on decisions which has and will cause financial hardship for many vulnerable residents, due to the winter fuel cut, farming tax and NI increase for our hard working businesses.”

 

Following a vote, the Labour amendment became the substantive motion.

 

Resolved that the Notice of Motion outlined above be adopted.