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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Swansea. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services - Tel (01792) 636923 

Items
No. Item

84.

Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest.

Minutes:

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

 

Councillor M C Child - personal - Minute Nos. 88 – Mother receives services from Social Services - Councillor M C Child has been granted dispensation from Standards Committee to exercise executive powers, stay, speak, vote and make oral and written representations in respect of issues involving Adult Social Services.

 

Councillor C A Holley - personal - Minute Nos. 88 – Daughter works for Social Services.

85.

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.

86.

Minutes. pdf icon PDF 126 KB

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 12 November 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

87.

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.

88.

Cabinet Member Question Session: Cabinet Member for Care, Health & Ageing Well (Councillor Mark Child). pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Care, Health & Ageing Well presented a report on the key headlines of his Portfolio. A verbal address was provided further to the written report circulated. He highlighted the key priorities within the portfolio; prevention and early intervention, modernisation and integrated working as well as the pressures arising from austerity and increasing demand for the service. 

 

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

 

·                The work of the Public Service Board and whether it is adding value to areas of the portfolio

·                Welsh Governments funding of Social Services and the National Health Service – whether there is a fair balance / split of funding

·                Continued promotion of independent living and resources available

·                Local Area Coordination – ambition to expand Local Area Coordination to all in Swansea, funding had been secured for two new posts in the Llansamlet and Blaenymaes areas and a new recruitment process had been used for their appointment. However it was also noted that funding had been withdrawn for the Local Area Co-ordinator covering the Gowerton, Loughor and Penllergaer areas

·                Provision of evidence to show the impact / outcomes of Local Area Coordination specifically for Swansea, and impact in terms of reducing demand / costs for Social Services

 

The Chair reported that questions had been received from a member of the public in relation to the Western Bay regional Health & Social Care Programme. The questions focussed on the availability of the Minutes and Agendas for the Western Bay Regional Partnership Board as well as knowledge, accessibility and transparency of the work being undertaken and allowing for greater public engagement. The Cabinet Member undertook to provide a written response to the questions received.

 

Resolved that:-

 

1)        The Cabinet Member provides written responses to the public questions received;

2)        The Cabinet Member provides evidence / links to studies regarding the effectiveness of Local Area Coordination; and

3)        The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee write to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

89.

Sustainable Swansea Programme - Commissioning Reviews: Service Areas - Annual Progress Update. pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Deputy Leader, the 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 – Annual Progress Update’.

 

The Deputy Leader provided a verbal address further to the report provided, which explained the purpose of the Commissioning Reviews and highlighted the progress and outcomes over the last 12 months.

 

The Sustainable Swansea Programme Manager provided a presentation on ‘Sustainable Swansea Commissioning Reviews – Annual Update’ which included:-

 

·                    Key Purpose

·                    Future Generation Impacts

·                    Core Principles – Example Outcomes

·                    Challenges

·                    Next steps

 

The Director of Place outlined that the reviews undertaken would continue to be monitored until all necessary changes had been implemented. The agreed programme of Commissioning Reviews set out in 2014 was nearing completion and a new programme would be developed. The design of the new programme would involve a greater focus on Co-production and involve input from Scrutiny.

 

Discussions with the Deputy Leader and Officers focussed on the following:-

 

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

·                     Benefits and savings from the overall Programme

·                     The need for Commissioning Reviews to show consideration of public views / perception and have a clear knowledge of what the public want at the outset of the review

·                     Parks & Cleansing Review – Some variation to plans but work to explore partnership regarding the Botanical Gardens still ongoing (The Director of Place undertook to clarify whether there were still plans to create a charged car park)

·                     The identification of a number of areas for zero-based budgeting reviews as part of future work

·                     The value of early engagement with Scrutiny.

 

Resolved that the update and views of the Committee be noted.

90.

Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report. pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Development & Regeneration (Councillor Jeff Jones, Convener)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeff Jones, Convener of the Development & Regeneration Performance Panel, provided an update on the work of the panel to date. He referred to the work plan of the Panel which now features a ‘dashboard’ style report at each meeting to support ongoing monitoring and regular ‘health check’ of development & regeneration projects. He highlighted the recent Pre-Decision Scrutiny on Swansea Central Phase 1 Update and FPR7 noting the concerns of the cost of the project. 

91.

Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Minutes:

The Chair presented a report which outlined that there were no alterations to the Membership of the current Scrutiny Panels or Working Groups. 

92.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2018/19. pdf icon 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 Chair presented the agreed Scrutiny Work Programme for 2018/19.

 

The Cabinet Member Question Session for the next Scrutiny Programme Committee was with the Leader. Committee Members were asked to submit questions or question topics prior to the meeting.

 

It was also noted that Dr. Gideon Calder had been co-opted to the Equalities Inquiry Panel.

93.

Scrutiny Letters. pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair presented a report on “Scrutiny Letters” for information.

 

She highlighted the response letter received from the Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills dated 26 November 2018. On the issue of possible action to tackle concern about vehicle exhaust emissions around schools, and advice from the Cabinet Member, it was stated that it would be more appropriate to ask governing bodies to consider whether or not their wellbeing policies take into account health risks associated with exhaust emissions and request that they agree a strategy for communicating a message to parents. It was also felt that schools participating in the Eco-Schools Programme could be encouraged to look at this issue.

 

Also in relation to the letter from the Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning & Skills, it was also noted that the local authority has recommended to governing bodies that all school governors should undertake a DBS check, however as it is not mandatory this is a matter for Governing Bodies to agree.

 

She also highlighted a request received from the Air & Noise Pollution Scrutiny Working Group to meet annually. This would be looked at as part of the Work Planning Conference for the next Municipal Year.

 

The Chair also informed the Committee that Pre-Decision Scrutiny was being carried out by the Schools Performance Panel on 17 December 2018 on the proposed closure of Craigcefnparc (report on Small School Review) and YGG Felindre (report on School Organisation Linked to the Welsh Education Strategic Plan) Primary Schools, which were subject of Cabinet decision on 20 December.

94.

Audit Committee Work Plan (For Information). pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Minutes:

The Audit Committee Work Plan was provided for information. The Chair stated that arrangements would be made for the Chair of the Audit Committee to attend a future Committee meeting.

95.

Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings. pdf icon PDF 46 KB

Minutes:

The dates and times of upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings were provided for information.  

Letter to Cabinet Member - Q & A Session pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Cabinet Member Response - Q & A Session pdf icon PDF 416 KB