Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

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 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.

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

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.

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.  

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.

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

Discussion on:

a) Committee Work Plan.

b) Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c) Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups

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. 

The Audit Committee Work Plan was noted.

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)

The dates and times of upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings were noted.

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.

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.