Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

Noted.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests were declared:

Councillors V A Holland, L R Jones & S Pritchard declared a personal interest in minute 43 “Scrutiny of Swansea Public Services Board”

Councillor M H Jones declared a personal interest in minutes 43 “Scrutiny of Swansea Public Services Board” & 44 “Annual Report – Corporate Safeguarding 2023-24”.

None.

In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.

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

Approved.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 15 October 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.

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.

Noted.

Councillor Chris Holley provided the Committee with a progress report on the work / activities of the Service Improvement, Regeneration & Finance Performance Panel.

Resolved that the Progress Report be noted.

Noted.

The Chair and Vice Chair of Swansea Public Services Board (PSB), accompanied by Lead Officers, were present for the Scrutiny of the Swansea PSB.

Provided to the Committee in support of the session, for questions, were:

·       Letter correspondence between the PSB Scrutiny Performance Panel and Chair of the PSB;

·       Report of the Chair of Swansea PSB – Update on PSB including

o   PSB Annual Report 2023/24

o   Report of the Chair of Swansea PSB – PSB 2024-25 Action Plan & Progress Updates

o   Report of the Chair of Swansea PSB – PSB Partnership Forum Event 18 September 2024

Committee questioning and discussion regarding the performance of the PSB focussed on:

• Public Engagement – steps taken to improve public awareness and encourage involvement in the PSB. Noted a new ‘sign up’ page on the website has generated a good response, enabling them to receive information about the PSB;

• PSB Partner Engagement - attendance of Statutory Partners at PSB meetings was discussed and noted a healthy level of engagement. The quorum was outlined as all 4 Statutory Partners;

• PSB Partnership Forum – the Committee asked about feedback regarding the PSB Partnership Forum Event held on 18 September at Swansea.Com Stadium, which the Committee heard was very well attended, more interactive and less formal than a Board meeting.  An invitation would be extended to members of the Scrutiny Programme Committee for the next event.  In addition, the Committee suggested that future meetings could focus on the engagement of younger people to help in understanding the role of PSB’s and encourage participation;

• PSB Wellbeing Step 1 – the Committee asked about action taken & progress in relation to the “Transforming Early Years Services across Swansea” workstream. A further written response was requested for more detail on the actions and effectiveness to show the difference that is being made;

• PSB Meeting 10 October - an explanation of the Shaping Places for Well-being in Wales Programme, which the PSB is participating in, was given.

Resolved that:

1)       The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Chair of Swansea Public Services reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

Noted.

The Cabinet Member for Care Services assisted by the Director of Social Services, Head of Adult Services & Tackling Poverty and Social Services Strategy & Performance Officer presented the report on the Council’s corporate safeguarding arrangements.  The report summarised the work programme of the Corporate Safeguarding Group during 2023-24, and highlighted improvements carried out in support of the Council’s corporate safeguarding policy.

Committee questioning and discussion focussed on the following:

·          Mandatory Safeguarding Training - discussed Staff / Elected Member take up of training – it was disappointing that only 12 elected members had completed the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Mandatory Training session; The figure for completion of safeguarding training by staff equated to approximately 59% of employees but it was noted that was not a full year’s figures.  In addition, there were possible additional numbers that would be included in relation to face-to-face training that had been undertaken but not yet inputted onto the Oracle system; It was clarification that there was a separate system for recording training in place for Schools; Bespoke training was available for Schools & Governors via the Education Safeguarding Team. Noted that School DBS checks were the responsibility of Schools;

·          Working with Supplier & Contractors – Members asked about further work to ensure compliance / monitoring of compliance. Committee was updated on the new contract variation on Suppliers and Contractors in order to strengthen the provisions regarding safeguarding practice and new contract requirements;

·          Regional Safeguarding arrangements - confirmation that links were made with other strategic bodies such as Further & Higher Education, Justice via the Regional Safeguarding Board.

The Chair thanked all concerned for the informative report.

Resolved that:

1)             The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member for Care Services reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

Agreed.

The Convener of the Community Assets Scrutiny Inquiry Panel presented the final report for the Scrutiny Inquiry into Community Assets.  The report presented the conclusions and recommendations arising from the Inquiry that sought to answer the following question: How can the Council ensure that its community assets are working to provide the best outcomes for the people of Swansea?

The Convener thanked all participants and the Scrutiny Support Officers for their assistance in preparing the report.

The Chair thanked the Convener and Members of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel for their informative report.

Resolved that the report proceed to Cabinet on 12 December 2024.

None.

There were no changes to report.

Discussion on:

a) Committee Work Plan.

b) Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c) Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

Noted.

The Chair introduced the agreed Work Programme to facilitate the Committee’s monitoring of all Scrutiny activity. Various information was provided to ensure progress could be reviewed with the agreed Programme.

The Chair indicated that the next meeting scheduled for 10 December 2024 had a large number of items on the agenda and members should allow additional time as the meeting would likely last approximately 2 hours.

The items scheduled for the next meeting were:

• Delivery of Corporate Priority – Tackling Poverty & Enabling Communities
• Welsh Housing Quality Standard Annual Progress Report
• Scrutiny of Cabinet Member Portfolio Responsibilities – More Homes Delivery
• Annual Complaints & Compliments Reports 2023-24.

Noted.

Scrutiny Letters were reported reflecting on recent Scrutiny activity:

• Homelessness – 17 September (Committee Letter to Cabinet Member for Service Transformation)
• Follow Up – Public Rights of Way – 15 October (Committee Letter to Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure)</AI11>

<AI12>

The date and time of upcoming Panel/Working Group/Regional Scrutiny Meetings was provided “For information”.