Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

There were no disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests.

None.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting(s) and agree as an accurate record.

Minutes of the previous meetings were agreed.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Scrutiny scrutiny@swansea.gov.uk up until noon on the working day prior to the meeting. Written questions take precedence. Public may attend and ask questions in person if time allows. Questions must relate to items on the open part of the agenda and will be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

There were no public questions received.

Cllr David Hopkins – Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance

Rachael Davies – Head of HR and Service Centre

Cllr David Hopkins, Rachael Davies and Non Jenkins from Audit Wales presented the report. It was noted that:

·       Overall, the report was positive with some areas for development centred around future planning, resources and benchmarking.

·       Audit Wales commented on the Council’s consideration of workforce plans prior to the pandemic and that there were appropriate plans in place for monitoring workforce arrangements.

·       Objectives from year one of the workforce strategy are on track and work is now focussing on year two as much as possible while resources are available. Recruitment is the priority for year two.

·       The Council are carrying out a development needs analysis which will identify skills gaps, with interventions then designed to tackle the gaps.

·       An update on the Strategic Equality Plan was given which has objectives regarding the existing workforce and will build staff networks from across different protected characteristics.

·       The overarching workforce plan will be published later this year.

Cllr David Hopkins – Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Performance

Phil Holmes – Head of Planning and City Regeneration

Ian Davies - Development Manager

Tom Evans – Place making and Strategic Planning Manager

     Cllr David Hopkins and Ian Davies attended to give an overview.

·       Swansea Councils benchmarking against other Welsh Authorities was positive.

·       Planning fees are currently being reviewed by Welsh Government as fees have not been increased since 2020.

·       Resources have been under pressure with a backlog from the pandemic still present and enforcement officers being reallocated to process planning applications when required.

·       Enforcement appeals to Welsh Government can be a lengthy process and the complaints backlog has also delayed action and prioritisation.

·       The percentage of member made decisions contrary to officer advice has decreased. This was likely to do with applications being more in line with the local development plan and a reduction in significant larger controversial applications. S106 agreements were discussed including the system in place to issue invoices and monitor delivery. There have been no recent changes in the law regarding community benefits in 106 agreements and they are assessed on a case by case basis.

·       A monitoring fee is included as part of section 106 agreements but there is no monitoring fee for checking compliance with approved plans or conditions though this may be raised as part of the wider Welsh Government planning fee consultation process.

The Panel requested to add the regular development and regeneration monitoring report as an agenda item once or twice a year.

The Panel queried city centre deal funding and further information was requested.

The public were excluded from the meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in Paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies – Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration, Events & Tourism                                                         

Phil Holmes – Head of Planning and City Regeneration

Paul Relf – Strategic Economic Regeneration Manager

Elliott Williams – Senior Economic Regeneration Manager