Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted for the City & County of Swansea, the following interests were declared: -

Councillor L V Walton declared a personal interest in Minute No. 14 – Discussion on Community Food Growing.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Poverty Reduction Policy Development Committee held on 26 October 2020 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Joanne Portwood, Policy & Strategy Officer and the Chair presented a report which provided the Committee with information regarding a Community Food Growing Scheme Policy run by Monmouthshire County Council.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·         Models / examples of projects and the different approaches used;

·         Examples of issues encountered by previous projects, e.g. site security;

·         The success of the Monmouthshire scheme and how it had brought the community together;

·         The success of the Todmorden Food Growing Project;

·         Land / sites that can / cannot be utilised, examples of open sites and the approach adopted at these sites;

·         Ensuring that people in most need benefit from the food;

·         Different models being used throughout Wales, examples of support received and lack of a community growing team within Swansea Council;

·         Recognising the scale of works required in Swansea compared to more rural communities, the real issues of poverty being faced by people in Swansea and the need for an audit of all suitable land;

·         Recognising the importance of educating people, the resources required and planning ahead;

·         Use of current food bank facilities by projects e.g. Clydach, the lack of individual skills of people to utilise fresh food and linking with foodbanks to distribute to those in most need;

·         Introducing pecuniary incentives for tools etc., the lack of funding available to allow the Council to provide financial support;

·         Ensuring that land available is of sufficient quality to grow on, the need for a food resilience strategy for Swansea, the large amount of land owned by the Council and overcoming bureaucracy to progress matter;

·         The benefits of growing / eating fresh food to wellbeing and mental health;

·         Linking any community food growing projects with the Food Poverty Network / local landlords;

·         Awareness of pollution and other environmental factors.

Resolved that the contents of the discussions be noted.       

The Chair presented an updated Work Plan 2020-2021.

She provided the Committee with updates in respect of the Green Fairness Policy, Corporate Debt Policy, benefits take up, Affordable Credit Policy and co-production network.

Resolved that the contents of the report and update be noted.