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 Special Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 17 October 2017 and the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 13 November 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record.   

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within a 10 minute period

There were no public questions.

Councillor Will Evans, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, provided a verbal address further to the written report circulated.

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

·                     Relationship with the Third Sector (Voluntary Sector) and their contribution to supporting portfolio priorities

·                     Presentations provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau on Universal Credit

·                     Response and publicity of the ‘Together at Christmas’ event being held in the Brangwyn Hall

·                     The end of Communities First and Transition

·                     Communities First Legacy Fund – What performance indicators would be in place to measure the objectives / outcomes

·                     Funding, sustainability and continuation of work delivered by the Faith in Families organisation

·                     Introduction of Communities for Work Plus Programme

·                     Programmes such as Workways Plus and CAMNESA that work towards increasing employability

·                     Identification of positive aspects of Communities First for continuation under the new programme

·                     Presentation on Swansea Working Approach

·                     Allotments and Food Access & Growing projects

·                     Creation of the Food Enterprise (Community Interest Company)

·                     Advice for local councillors on support for drug / alcohol issues

Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme writes to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee, including a request for a response on: -

1)    how the outcomes / effectiveness of the work carried out as a result of the Legacy Fund will be measured;

2)    how much Legacy Funding would be allocated to Faith in Families and the areas where the money would be used;

3)    Whether closure / evaluation reports on Communities First will be available to the public, and;

4)    facilities / support available for drug / alcohol problems within wards.

The Deputy Leader, Interim Director of Resources, Director of Place and the Sustainable Swansea Programme Manager were present for the Committee’s consideration of the Report on ‘Sustainable Swansea Programme – Commissioning Reviews : Service Areas – Post Implementation Reviews’.

The Deputy Leader and Sustainable Swansea Programme Manager provided a verbal address further to the report provided, which highlighted the purpose of commissioning reviews within the overall Programme, governance arrangements in place to monitor implementation and impact made, achievements, lessons learned, and the importance of providing assurance to scrutiny about progress and delivery on transformation activities.

Questions and discussions with the Deputy Leader and Officers focussed on the following:  -

·                     Ensuring that the Commissioning Reviews provide / demonstrate value for money

·                     The need for Commissioning Reviews to show consideration of public views / perception about service delivery and possible changes during the review process

·                     Potential Scrutiny of the future decisions in respect of Culture and Leisure services

·                     Success of the Waste Management Commissioning Review

·                     Parks and Cleansing Commissioning Review – extent to which this involved consideration of ‘friends of’ community groups

·                     Work going on in exploring Partnership Working regarding the Botanical Gardens

·                     Decisions taken on the Archive Service as part of the Culture and Leisure review and future service delivery options

·                     Wales Audit Office Review of Governance

·                     Lessons Learnt from the Process

·                     Savings Achieved to Date and Projected for 2018/19 – it was noted that more detail on financial savings can be provided in future reports

·                     Next Steps – Reviews outstanding

Resolved that the feedback from the committee be noted and further regular updates (six-monthly) be provided to the committee on implementation of actions and achievements in relation to Commissioning Reviews.

a)         Service Improvement & Finance (Councillor Chris Holley,

           Convener).

Councillor Chris Holley presented a report on the progress of the Service Improvement and Finance Performance Panel. He highlighted the work undertaken by the Panel as well as achievements / impact of the Panel. He highlighted the Panel’s budget and performance monitoring activities as well as carrying out pre-decision scrutiny of Commissioning Reviews. He highlighted that the Public Protection Commissioning Review was an excellent example of an effective Commissioning Review.

The Future Work Programme was also noted, which will include looking at the Highways and Transportation Commissioning Review and Charges in relation to Highways and Waste.

A discussion ensued on the Welsh Language Standards, which the Panel looked at in October, surrounding public perception about performance as well as the capacity and most efficient way to meet the Standards e.g. utilising technology to support and develop translation.

Resolved that the update be noted.

The Chair presented a report on Scrutiny Panel / Working Group membership.

Councillor Peter Jones provided an address on the proposed inquiry that will focus on Swansea’s Natural Environment. He specifically highlighted the need to explore how well the Council has managed its natural environment and biodiversity under previous legislation, together with what will be needed to meet its new statutory responsibilities. 

Resolved: -

1)            Councillors Mike Durke, Oliver James, Peter Jones, Sam Pritchard and Brigitte Rowlands be added to the reconvened Tethered Horses Working Group; and

2)            The new inquiry on Swansea’s Natural Environment be convened by Councillor Peter Jones with the remaining proposed membership to be reported at the next Scrutiny Programme Committee.

Discussion on:

a)         Committee Work Plan.

b)         Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c)         Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups

The Chair updated the Committee on the Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/18. It was highlighted that the Leader would be attending the next Scrutiny Programme Committee for the Question and Answer Session, and committee members were asked to think about questions.

A working group was proposed on the Archive Service, which the chair stated will be considered at the next meeting for inclusion in the work programme.

A tentative date had been set for a Special Scrutiny Programme Committee on 26 March 2018 for Crime and Disorder Scrutiny.

The Scrutiny Team Leader advised the Committee that the Wales Audit Office (WAO) would be looking at the Scrutiny arrangements in Swansea. Wales Audit Office would be observing at least one committee meeting as well as a number of panel meetings. They would likely be undertaking field work in February, which would involve interviews with some Officers and Members. A report would be produced by WAO at the end of the review as well as a shared learning Seminar.

Resolved that: -

1)            the update be noted; and

2)            a new Working Group on Archive Service be considered at the next meeting. 

The Chair presented a report on Scrutiny Letters. The Chair outlined the key points from correspondence with cabinet members, highlighted at paragraph 3.3 of the report.

Resolved that the request made by the Community Cohesion & Hate Crime Working Group for a further meeting to focus on community cohesion be agreed.

The Audit Committee Workplan was noted.  

a)       11 December at 11.00am - Development & Regeneration  

          Performance Panel (Committee Room 3A, Guildhall)

b)       12 December at 9.00am - Service Improvement & Finance

          Performance Panel (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

c)       12 December at 4.00pm  – Schools Performance Panel

           (Committee Room 3A)

d)       13 December at 10.00am – Public Services Board Performance

          Panel (Committee Room 5)

e)       18 December at 4.00pm - Child & Family Services Performance

           Panel (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

f)        19 December at 3.30pm – Adult Services Performance Panel

          (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

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