Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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

1)             Councillors A Anthony & R V Smith declared a Personal Interest in Minute 91 “Budget Proposals 2025/26 - 2028/29”.

2)             Councillor R V Smith declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 92 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee to stay, speak but not vote on matters relating to the Appointment of Local Authority Governors.

3)             Councillor A S Lewis declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 92 “Local Authority Governor Appointments” and withdrew from the Meeting prior to its consideration.

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

Resolved that the Minutes of the meeting(s) listed below be approved and signed as a correct record:

1)             Cabinet held on 12 December 2024.

The Leader of Council made no announcements.

Questions can be submitted in writing to Democratic Services democracy@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 within a 10 minute period.

Dereck Roberts representing Unite retired members asked a question relating to Minute 91 Budget Proposals 2025/26 - 2028/29”. The question was specifically about the Winter Fuel Payment.

The Leader of the Cabinet & several Cabinet Members responded.

No questions were asked.

Call In Procedure - Urgency: This decision is exempt from the Authority’s Call In Procedure as “either the Head of Paid Service, the Section 151 Officer or the Monitoring Officer certifies that any delay likely to be caused by the Call In Procedure could seriously prejudice the Council or the Public Interest including failure to comply with Statutory requirements”.

The Cabinet Member for Economy, Finance & Strategy submitted a report that sought consideration of budget proposals for 2025/2026 to 2028/2029 as part of the Council’s existing Budget Strategy.

Resolved that:

1)             The Budget proposals summarised in the report and detailed in Appendix B of the report be approved as the basis of consultation.

2)             The updated budget future forecast be adopted as the starting planning premise for the new medium term financial plan, which will be considered by Council on 6 March 2025.

3)             The approach to consultation and engagement with staff, trade unions, residents, partners, and other interested parties set out in Section 7 of the report be agreed.

4)             A report on the outcome of the consultation and final budget proposals be received by Cabinet on 20 February 2025.

The Local Authority Governors Appointment Group submitted a report, which sought approval of the nominations submitted to fill Local Authority (LA) Governor vacancies on School Governing Bodies.

Resolved that:

1)             The following nominations recommended by the Director of Education in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Education & Learning be approved:

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights & Equalities submitted a report that sought to publish the Council’s Annual Equality Review 2023/24 in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty and reporting regulations for Wales.

Resolved that:

1)             The report content be approved for publication.

The Cabinet Member for Care Services submitted a report that outlined the latest annual review of social services charges. The report sought permission to initiate public consultation on the proposed list of charges to apply in 2025/2026 and the revised Social Services Charging Policy for Social Care, Support Services and other services provided by Swansea Council Social Services.

The Cabinet Member for Care Services proposed the following additional changes being added to the report:

i)               A one-off charge for the installation of Community Alarms equipment of £46.00. This would not impact existing clients or clients how have as assessed need of a community alarm within their care and support plan, it would only be for clients who chose to have one.

ii)             The introduction of an interest and administrative charge to cover council costs incurred by deferred payments.

Resolved that:

1)             The findings of the annual review of charges report be accepted.

2)             The draft Charging Policy for Social Care, Support Services and other services provided by Swansea Council Social Services be subject to public consultation, in particular any above inflationary increases within the List of charges 2025/2026.

3)             The additional charges proposed at Cabinet today be included in Appendix A and B of the report as relevant.

4)             A further report is considered by Cabinet following the conclusion of the consultation.