Agenda and minutes
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Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest. Minutes: In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared: Councillor A S Lewis declared a personal interest in Minute 33 – Director of Swansea Community Energy & Enterprise Scheme (SCEES). |
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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. |
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To approve and sign the
Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Additional documents:
Minutes: Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on the following dates be approved and signed as a correct record: · 19 June 2018; · 9 July 2018; · 20 July 2018. |
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Public Question Time. Questions must
relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be
dealt with in a 10 minute period. Minutes: There were no public questions. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Homes & Energy accompanied by the Director of Place and the Landlord Services Manager presented a report on the key headlines for the Homes & Energy Portfolio. She provided a verbal address further to the written report circulated which highlighted activities around the following: - ·
More Homes Delivery – Parc
Yr Helyg and Colliers Way; ·
Homes as Power Stations (City Deal); ·
Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS); ·
Homelessness Strategy; ·
Developing a Green Fleet policy; ·
Energy; ·
Housing Commissioning Review. Questions and discussions with the Cabinet Member focussed
on the following: - ·
Housing - whether the introduction of universal
credit had affected those renting via registered social landlords (RSL’s) or
private rented sector; ·
Homelessness Strategy - there would be an
opportunity for Scrutiny Programme Committee to discuss the draft the
Homelessness Strategy prior to agreement by Cabinet on 15 November. It was
noted that the Poverty Policy Development Committee would be discussing prior
to decision and it would also go to Council on 20 December for information with
a view to implementation on 21 December 2018; ·
Affordable Housing - the definition of the term
‘Affordable Housing’ – discussion around how there were many forms of
affordable housing, e.g. council houses, purchase via shared ownership, lower
rent or purchase price under market value, viability, etc.; ·
Fire
Safety - the sprinkler system retrofit had been finalised in Penlan with Clyne Court imminent. ‘In-house’ staff had been
trained resulting in the Authority being able to offer this service to private
/ external developers; Full external cladding safety testing had been carried
out together with external fire door safety testing – all had passed with
flying colours; ·
Empty
Properties – noted that under a national scheme 49 empty properties had been brought back into use, creating an additional 85
units of accommodation. Many empty properties had been brought up to WHQS
standard; ·
Tudno Place and Heol Emrys - full consultation
would take place in relation to the Land Valuation and Viability Study (as part
of the Swansea’s More Homes Strategy); all options for improvement, including
new build, would be considered, however it was still very early in the process;
the independent consultants had commenced door knocking of some of the tenants
and ward members would be engaged in the consultation; ·
Green
Transport / Vehicles - work was ongoing with Swansea University to consider the
possibility of retro-fitting hydrogen cells in some of our fleet vehicles, such
as our refuse vehicles which will help improve air quality; ·
Housing
Commissioning Review - the timeline for Commissioning Review of all Housing
Services and scoping document of the review would be shared
with the Committee. The anticipated
completion date would be 2019/20, and the scope of the Review would include
District Housing Offices; ·
More
Homes Strategy - the need for more affordable homes in other areas of Swansea
such as the North and West of Swansea, including Gower, not just the Eastside –
all sites would be considered and all options, e.g. working with partners; ·
Energy
Services Company (ESCO) – unclear whether this would be fully
renewable energy. Might have to
commence with fossil fuel with a view to moving to renewable, e.g. solar or a
mixture of fossil and renewable energy, and must be based on a robust business
case; combatting fuel poverty was still one of the Authorities key objectives; ·
Homes a Power Stations (City Deal project) – discussion about energy sourcing;
partnership discussions ongoing with Swansea University in relation to
photovoltaic systems and other systems e.g. ground source heating; private
homes would be eligible to benefit; it is also anticipated that the Homes as
Power Stations project will also make a difference to local businesses by kick
starting a construction programme worth £517,050,000 for a City Deal investment
of £15 million (3% of the total programme value); all grants and opportunities
would be considered in order to fund future schemes. ·
Swansea
Community Energy & Enterprise Scheme (SCEES) – purpose of scheme and share
purchase by the Council; Resolved that 1) The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee; 2) A written response be supplied on the following: - ·
The impact of universal credit on housing in
relation to the private rented sector; ·
Timetable for the sprinkler system retrofit; ·
The actual number of empty properties in the
private sector across Swansea; ·
Further information on the timeline of the
Commissioning Review of all Housing services; ·
Clarification about the figures quoted regarding
the impact of the Homes as Power Stations City Deal Project The Vice Chair
thanked Councillor Lewis and the officers for their attendance. |
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Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report. PDF 118 KB Service Improvement & Finance (Councillor Chris Holley, Convener) Additional documents: Minutes: Chris Holley, Convener of the Service Improvement & Finance Performance Panel provided an update on the work of the Panel to date. In particular he highlighted the following: · The additional budget meeting held in February 2018 and expressed concern at the very compressed timescale for scrutiny; · Charges – large piece of work with over 260 charges and 350 fees; · Highways & Transportation Commissioning Review – another large piece of work, which he felt, could have been split into 2 separate reviews; · Cultural Services Final Bidder Options Commissioning Review – contained very delicate / sensitive information – some concern over whether there was adequate communication to staff and Councillors. He added that the Panel would be keen to revisit the
Commissioning Reviews considered by the Panel to look at the achievements,
impact and difference made. Resolved that the update be noted. |
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Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. PDF 122 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair presented a report outlining the membership of
Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. It was noted that Cllr Peter Jones had been
co-opted to the Public Services Board Scrutiny Performance Panel, for the
duration of the Natural Environment Scrutiny Inquiry which
he is convening. Having invited expressions of interest from all non-executive councillors the Chair provided a proposed membership list for the new Inquiry and Working Group topics. Resolved that: 1) The membership of the new Inquiry Panel and Working Groups as shown in Appendix 1 of the report be agreed; and 2) Councillor Louise Gibbard be appointed as Convener of the Welfare Reform Working Group. |
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Scrutiny Work Programme 2018/19. PDF 143 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 Scrutiny Team Leader presented the agreed Scrutiny Work Programme for 2018/19. He highlighted the following: · The next meeting scheduled for 10 September 2018 would include the Cabinet Member Question Session: Cabinet Member for Business Transformation & Performance (Deputy Leader) – Councillor Clive Lloyd; · Call-in Procedure – Council on 26 July adopted new call-in arrangements which places scrutiny at the centre of the process; ·
A Joint Scrutiny Committee has been established as a result of the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Working
Agreement. Swansea’s
representatives had been confirmed by Council as Councillors Jan Curtice, Phil
Downing and Mary Jones. The first meeting of the Joint Scrutiny
Committee, supported by Neath Port Talbot Council, was anticipated to take
place around October; · Policy Development Committee work plans were provided to ensure awareness; ·
The
report from the Wales Audit Office arising from their review of scrutiny -
‘Overview and Scrutiny - Fit for the Future?’ had been received and circulated
to Councillors via email. It would be considered at the next Scrutiny Programme Committee
meeting on 10 September 2018. Resolved that: 1) The Work Programme 2018/19 be noted; 2) Arrangements be made for the Committee to discuss the draft Homelessness Strategy at an early stage prior to decision, e.g. during public consultation. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The letter to / from the Cabinet Member for
Homes & Energy relating to the work of the Homelessness Scrutiny Working
Group was reported. Convener of the Working Group, Councillor
Peter Black, spoke briefly about this scrutiny activity and highlighted its
contribution to the developing Homelessness Strategy. The Scrutiny Letters and Cabinet Members responses were noted. |
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Audit Committee Work Plan (For Information). PDF 75 KB Minutes: The Audit Committee Work Plan for 2018-2019 was noted. |
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Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings. PDF 43 KB Minutes: The dates and times of the upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings were noted. |
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