Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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

Councillor G J Tanner - personal - Minute Nos.134- Welsh Quality Housing Standard – I am a Council Tenant.

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.  

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 9 January 2017 be approved as a correct record.

Questions for Cabinet Members in attendance or Chair of the Committee in relation to the Scrutiny Work Programme.

There were no public questions.

Councillor Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, provided a verbal address further to the written report circulated and highlighted the following areas:

·                     The More Council Homes Project and Progress – she referred to the           upcoming viability study of housing land; and the need for further affordable housing. She talked about the need to procure a       development partner for capacity to extend house building plans      beyond the pilot projects

·                     Progress and improvements in relation to the Welsh Housing Quality          Standard Programme

·                     Commercial Services and their importance in supporting staff and

            departments in relation to income generation and efficiencies

·                     Corporate Building and Property Services and her involvement in the          Education Capital Programme.

Questions and discussions with the Cabinet Member focussed on the following: -

·                     More Council Homes Project

- progress with first development at Milford Way

- allocation of new homes

- costs

- house building capacity

- learning from others

·                     Welsh Housing Quality Standard – actions following recent Scrutiny            Working Group (including focus on improving engagement with            tenants and Local Ward Members)

·                     Corporate apprenticeships and training – success in achievement of           qualified tradespersons, and focus on building local skills

·                     Housing Voids

·                     Progress on reducing times for Disabled Facility Grants

·                     Progress in respect of Gypsy Traveller Site provision. 

RESOLVED that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

Councillor Sybil Crouch, Convener, presented the final report regarding the work that has been undertaken in relation to the Tackling Poverty Scrutiny Inquiry. The inquiry focussed on how the Council’s Tackling Poverty Strategy could be improved. She summarised the key findings, conclusions and recommendations as noted in the circulated final report.

Amongst the recommendations she highlighted the need to:

·         involve those experiencing poverty in the strategy and set up a Poverty Truth Commission, following the Leeds model

·         develop a new ‘whole Council’ Action Plan

·         include specific Tackling Poverty responsibilities within each Cabinet portfolio

The Chair referred to correspondence she had received from the Cabinet Member for Anti-Poverty & Communities about the final inquiry report. A discussion ensued about the contents of the report and whether it should be submitted to Cabinet for decision. In doing so the committee considered whether sufficient evidence has been gathered in order to address the question that the inquiry aimed to answer.

The committee noted a number of areas for future scrutiny had been identified by the Panel. The Chair stated that these suggestions would be fed into the next Scrutiny Work Planning Conference in the new municipal year.

The Chair thanked the Convener and Panel Members for their work.

RESOLVED that:

1)  the report proceeds to Cabinet for decision; and

2)  a link to the Panel’s published ‘Evidence Pack’ be provided to Committee

     Members.

(a) Schools (Councillor Fiona Gordon, Convener).

The Committee was provided with a progress report on the work of the Schools Performance Panel.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Discussion on:

(a) Committee Work Plan.

(b) Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

(c) Progress with Current Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

The Chair presented the Scrutiny Work Programme 2016/2017 for review.

She indicated that there would be a special meeting of the Committee to be held on 9 March 2017 for the annual session on crime and disorder. She added that in order to manage the Committee’s workload the routine standing items in relation to the Work Programme and Committee Business would also be dealt with on 9 March. This will enable the Committee to focus on the items due to be discussed at the scheduled meeting on 13 March. This was expected to include pre-decision scrutiny of Cabinet reports on Castle Square, and City Centre Regeneration.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted. 

The Chair presented a report outlining proposed revisions to the scrutiny panel / working group memberships.

RESOLVED that the following amendments to the panel / groups, as outlined in the report be endorsed:

Digital Inclusion Working Group

Remove Councillor Tony Colburn

The Chair reported the Scrutiny Letters Log.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Letters Log and update be noted.

There had been no recent Scrutiny Events.

There were no upcoming Scrutiny Events.

The Audit Committee Work Plan for 2016/2017 was noted.

The Chair indicated that she was due to attend an upcoming meeting of the Audit Committee.

The dates and times of future Committee meetings for the 2016/2017 Municipal Year were noted.

The date and time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings were provided for information.