Venue: Committee Room 3A, Guildhall, Swansea
Contact: Democratic Services - Tel (01792) 636923
No. | Item |
---|---|
Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest. Minutes: In accordance with the Code
of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared. |
|
Prohibition of Whipped Votes and Declaration of Party Whips. Minutes: 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. Minutes: Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 14 August 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record, subject to 2 amendments: - 1) Minutes 23 & 24 - reference to 17 March 2017 to read 17 August 2017 2) Additional Item – The Chair thanked Members and Staff for their patience and effort during such a long meeting. |
|
Public Question Time. 10 Minute Period for Questions to Cabinet Members in attendance or Chair of the Committee in relation to the Scrutiny Work Programme. Minutes: The Committee heard from Mr East who raised a number of issues. Mr East noted that the MP for Swansea West had been campaigning for the final terms of Brexit to be put to a referendum. He was concerned that Brexit is likely to have serious consequences for Wales and Swansea. Mr East asked about the Leader’s positon on this matter and urged the Leader to support the MP for Swansea West. He commented on the news about major city centre
redevelopment and wanted assurance that problems or difficulties in the past
have been learnt from. For example he cited the following: Oceana
Demolition – cost went up from circa £1m to £4m; Lengthy construction delays to
renovation of Glynn Vivian Art Gallery; Travellers Site Search – extensive
process to identify / shortlist sites – at what cost?; the Elba Ground Rent
Dispute – at what cost to the taxpayer? Mr East felt that there was
insufficient information released to the public on certain projects, where
problems were encountered. Mr East requested an update on the Liberty Stadium as
advancements were expected over a year ago regarding the lease and no further
information had been provided since this time. He also noted that Swansea City
Football Club would be occupying a city centre unit to sell merchandise, and
queried the rent situation for the unit as well as the Stadium. The Deputy Leader provided an update on the Liberty Stadium
and explained that they were bound by the contract entered into by the previous
administration. Progress was being made in respect of a new agreement and
negotiations have been productive. Further information could not be provided at
present as it was an ongoing negotiation but was hopeful that things would be
concluded in the next few months and announced. In respect of the city centre store the Deputy Leader
confirmed that Swansea City Football Club would be paying rental at market
rates for the retail unit. Resolved that the questions raised be referred to the Leader / relevant Cabinet Member for response. |
|
Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Clive Lloyd, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation and Business Operations, provided a verbal address further to the written report circulated. He spoke about his new portfolio and title and highlighted the following areas: - · Budget Performance & Finances – The Deputy Leader was not expecting a positive settlement from UK/Welsh Government. If the same settlement was given as last year then there would a funding gap of approx. £16 Million. · Delivery & Performance – The revised Corporate Plan had been agreed and there would be quarterly performance monitoring reports on the key priorities.
· The Sustainable Swansea / Fit for the Future – The programme was now delivering across three broad areas of Transformation, Future Council and Digital. It was noted that the Business Support Programme had been progressing. The investment and progression of the digital agenda was also highlighted along with the recent APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) awards won by Waste Management and Highways Pothole repairs. Questions and discussions with the Cabinet Member focussed on the following: - · Pension Fund – progress on the divestment of Fossil Fuels and balance with any ethical investment policy · Budget pressures and savings · The effect of changes agreed by Cabinet to the Sustainable Development Team (following the Planning & City Regeneration Commissioning Review) · Role of the Strategic Delivery Unit · Problems with the Community Asset Transfer Policy and steps being made to address those problems · Consultation on small sites identified in the Universal Review of all Council land · Future of Communities First · Policy Development and Delivery Committees – their role, governance and effectiveness · Preparations ahead of new legislation on data protection Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee. |
|
Corporate Safeguarding Annual Report 2016/17. PDF 78 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Health and Well Being and the Chief Social Services Officer presented an Annual Report on Corporate Safeguarding 2016/2017. The Chief Social Services Officer highlighted that a key part of their Agenda was for all Members as well as staff to undergo Safeguarding Training and urged members to complete this if they had not already done so. The Chief Social Services Officer provided a background to the Corporate Safeguarding Steering Group and its Annual Report. Some of the work areas highlighted were: - · Safeguarding Policy · Procurement Arrangements · Enhancing Safeguarding Arrangements Questions and Discussions with the Cabinet Member and Chief Social Services Officer focussed on the following: - ·
Issues with linking information systems which
may be affecting the accuracy of safeguarding training records for staff - the
importance of an appropriate level of training to be received, not the minimum,
when dealing with vulnerable people was discussed ·
Steps being taken to improve the quality of
performance information about the quality of our safeguarding arrangements ·
Issues of not all staff being able to access to
e-learning ·
The appointment of lead safeguarding officers
within all service units ·
The effectiveness of regional Safeguarding and
Public Protection Board arrangements
and their relationship with local working ·
Assurance of partners’ commitment to
safeguarding and progress with ensuring
contractor compliance ·
Specialist training provided to taxi drivers ·
Arrangements for Councillor Training and
barriers to participation ·
Corporate Parenting Training and Case
Conferences ·
Position of safeguarding training in respect of
agency staff particularly short-term agency / temporary / seasonal staff. ·
Benchmarking – lack of national data to enable
comparison with others ·
The role of the committee in providing assurance
on the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements – the Chief Officer stated
that he felt that there were robust scrutiny arrangements for both Adult and
Children’s Services and safeguarding featured strongly. It was up to the
Committee to provide challenge on the overall picture and ensure continued
focus on safeguarding. Resolved that the views of the
committee on the report be noted by the Cabinet Member and Chief Officer. |
|
Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. PDF 66 KB Minutes: The Chair presented a report outlining proposed revisions to
the scrutiny panel memberships. Resolved that the
following membership changes, as outlined in the report, be
endorsed: Development & Regeneration Performance Panel Add Councillor David Helliwell Child & Family Services Performance Panel Remove Councillor Mary Jones Schools Performance Panel Add Councillor Myles Langstone Remove Councillor Sam Pritchard |
|
Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/18. PDF 96 KB Discussion on: a) Committee Work
Plan. b) Opportunities for
Pre-Decision Scrutiny. c) Progress with
Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair highlighted the Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/2018
for review. The Scrutiny Team Leader highlighted that the Cabinet Member
for Children, Education & Lifelong Learning was attending the next
Committee, and encouraged Committee Members to think of questions for that
session. The Committee also noted that an extra meeting would take
place on Tuesday 17 October at 4.30pm for pre-decision scrutiny of a report on
the regeneration of Castle Square, which is currently
scheduled for 19 October Cabinet meeting. Resolved that the
contents of the report be noted. |
|
Audit Committee Work Plan (For Information). PDF 37 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Audit Committee Work Plan was noted. |
|
Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings. a) Adult
Services Performance Panel – 20 September at 3.00pm (Committee Room 3A,
Guildhall) b) Schools
Performance Panel – 21 September at 4.00pm (Committee Room 3A, Guildhall). c) School
Governance Inquiry Panel (follow up) – 25 September at 5.00pm (Committee Room
4, Guildhall) d) Education
Through Regional Working (ERW) Regional Scrutiny
Councillor Group – 29 September at 10.30 am (Committee Room 2, Neuadd Brycheiniog, Brecon) e) Regional
Working Inquiry Panel – 2 October at 4.00pm (Committee Room 4, Guildhall) f) Service Improvement & Finance Performance Panel – 4 October at 10.30am (Committee Room 5, Guildhall) Minutes: The dates and times of upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings were noted. |
|
Exclusion of the Public. PDF 79 KB Minutes: The Committee was requested to exclude the public from the meeting during the consideration of the items of business identified in the recommendations to the report on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the exclusion paragraph 14 of 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation)(Wales) Order 2007, relevant to the item of business as set out in the report.
The Committee considered the Public Interest Test in deciding to exclude the public from the meeting for the items of business where the Public Interest Test was relevant, as set out in the report.
It was Resolved that the public be excluded for the following item of business. |
|
Oceana Building Demolition - Questions for Cabinet Member for Economy & Strategy (Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader) Minutes: The Committee discussed issues relating to the asbestos survey / contract award and financial implications regarding the Oceana Building demolition. A number of questions were asked of the Leader and Officers present who responded accordingly. Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Leader, reflecting on the discussion and views of the Committee on this matter. |
|