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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 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. |
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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. Minutes: Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 12 November 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record. |
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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 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. |
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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. |
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Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report. 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. |
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Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. 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. |
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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 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. |
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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. |
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Audit Committee Work Plan (For Information). 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. |
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Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings. PDF 46 KB Minutes: The dates and times of upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings were provided for information. |
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