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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Guildhall, Swansea

Items
No. Item

133.

Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests.

Minutes:

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Business Intelligence gave advice regarding the potential personal and prejudicial interests that Councillors and Officers may have on the agenda.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reminded Councillors and Officers that the “Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests” sheet should only be completed if the Councillor / Officer actually had an interest to declare.  Nil returns were not required.  Councillors and Officers were also informed that any declarable interest must be made orally and in writing on the sheet.

 

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

 

1)              Councillors P Downing, R D Lewis, W G Lewis, M Sykes and T M White declared a Personal & Prejudicial Interest in Minute 140 “Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme” and withdrew from the meeting prior to its consideration;

 

2)              Councillor D Phillips declared a Personal Interest in Minute 141 “‘Working Towards Prosperity for All in Swansea’ A Tackling Poverty Strategy for Swansea 2017 - 2020”;

 

3)              Councillors M C Child and R Francis-Davies declared a Personal Interest in Minute 147 “Councillors' Questions”.

134.

Minutes. pdf icon PDF 162 KB

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

 

Minutes:

Resolved that the following Minutes be approved and signed as a correct record:

 

1)       Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 14 December 2017 subject to Councillor P M Matthews being added to the list of apologies for absence.

135.

Written Responses to Questions asked at the Last Ordinary Meeting of Council - None.

Minutes:

The Head of Legal, Democratic Services and Business Intelligence stated that the written responses to questions asked at the last Ordinary Meeting of Council would be included in the next Council Summons.

136.

Announcements of the Presiding Member.

Minutes:

1)              Condolences

 

a)              Former Councillor Nancy Thomas

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of Former Councillor Nancy Thomas.  Former Councillor Thomas served the Glynneath community on the former West Glamorgan County Council.

 

b)       David Morgan, Former Chair of Swansea in Bloom

 

The Presiding Member referred with sadness to the recent death of David Morgan.  Mr Morgan was the former Chair of Swansea in Bloom and former Head Teacher at Dunvant Primary School.

 

All present stood as a mark of sympathy and respect.

 

2)              Armed Forces in Wales - Silver Award in the Employer's Recognition Scheme

 

The Presiding Member announced that the Authority had received a Silver Award in the Employer Recognition Scheme at the Armed Forces in Wales Awards recently.

 

Councillor June Burtonshaw, the Armed Forces Champion was present to receive the award.

 

3)              Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Wales Award Helping Hands

 

The Presiding Member announced that the Authority had recently been awarded the First Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Wales, Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative for the work of the Helping Hands Volunteers.

 

Helping Hands is a unique volunteer service, aimed at providing employees with face to face and telephone support, signposting to other services and access to a range of workshops and groups to improve social inclusion, mental and physical health.

 

The service has continued to go from strength to strength, with the volunteers themselves coming up with new ideas and innovative ways to improve wellbeing and the culture of the organisation.  Helping Hands has become a valued and integral part of not just the Stress Management Team but the Corporate Health & Safety and Wellbeing structure itself and an example of unique best practice, which has brought interest and praise from private and public sector alike.

 

He stated that he had great pleasure in presenting this coveted award which reflects the tireless work of Helping Hands, to Craig Gimblett, Stefan Eckardt, Caroline Ford, Lorraine Hodson, Ray Mitchell, Tina Williamson, Rob Richards and Jo Coates-Williams as representatives of the volunteers on behalf of the Council.

 

4)       New Year’s Honours 2017

 

Citizens of Swansea who received awards in the New Year Honours.

 

a)       Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

 

i)                Professor Hilary Margaret Lappin-Scott.  For services to Microbiology and the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering.  (Swansea);

 

ii)               Jonathan Howell Morgan.  For services to Disability Sport in Wales.  (Bishopston, Swansea);

 

iii)             Dr Cerys Rees.  Fellow, Chemical and Biological Analysis, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.  For services to Defence. (Salisbury, Wiltshire)

 

b)       Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

 

i)                Susan Yvonne Hollister. Headteacher, Cefn Hengoed Community School, Swansea.  For services to Education in Swansea. (Neath, Neath Port Talbot);

 

ii)               Police Constable Richard Hugh Morgan. South Wales Police.  For charitable services to Armed Forces Veterans.

 

c)       British Empire Medal (BEM)

 

i)                Jeanette Lavon Smith. County Youth Officer, West Glamorgan St John Ambulance.  For voluntary service to First Aid and to Young People.  (Swansea, West Glamorgan);

 

ii)               Dr Margaret Ruth Vincent.  For charitable services in the UK and Abroad and the community in Swansea.  (Swansea);

 

iii)             Alyson Elizabeth Williams.  For services to Young People and the community in Swansea.  (Cwmbwrla, Swansea).

 

d)       Queen's Police Medal (QPM)

 

i)                Matthew Jonathan Jukes.  Deputy Chief Constable, South Wales Police.

 

 

5)              Santes Dwynwen's Day

 

The Presiding Member stated that it was Santes Dwynwen's day, the Welsh and Celtic Patron saint of friendship and love.

 

The popularity and celebration of St Dwynwen's day has increased considerably in recent years, with special events, such as concerts and parties, often held, and Welsh cards printed.  Although still not as popular as Valentine's Day in February, St Dwynwen is certainly becoming better-known amongst today's population of Wales.

 

6)              Swansea v Liverpool

 

The Presiding Member stated that towards the end of Swansea’s match against Liverpool on 22 January 2018, where Swansea won, a woman suffered a suspected cardiac arrest but fortunately Welsh Guards Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1, Dean Morgan from Ravenhill came to her assistance and helped to resuscitate her.  Congratulations to Dean Morgan for his quick thinking and action.

 

7)              Happy Birthday Councillor Richard D Lewis

 

The Presiding Member wished Councillor Richard D Lewis a happy birthday.

137.

Announcements of the Leader of the Council.

Minutes:

1)              Date Changes to Cabinet & Council

 

The Leader of the Council stated that the Cabinet Meeting earmarked to consider the budget was planned for 8 February 2018; however this would now be held on 15 February 2018.  The Cabinet Meeting on 8 February 2018 will remain and it will consider the “Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring 3rd Quarter 2017-2018” report amongst other general Cabinet reports.

 

The main budget Cabinet meeting will be held at 14.00 on Thursday, 15 February 2018.

 

As a result of this change, the Presiding Member in consultation with the Political Group Leaders has agreed to cancel Council on 22 February 2018 and to reschedule it to 17.00 on Thursday, 1 March 2018.

 

2)              Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon Update

 

The Leader of the Council stated that the Welsh Government and UK Government would be meeting on 26 January 2018 in order to discuss the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

 

3)              Visit to Wuhan, China by Councillor Robert Francis-Davies

 

The Leader of the Council stated that Councillor R Francis-Davies would be travelling to Wuhan, China next week in order to sign an economic agreement between both cities.

 

4)              Greg Jones – Communications Officer

 

The Presiding Member wished Greg Jones (Communications Officer) all of the best when he takes up his new role with the City Region.

138.

Public Questions.

Questions must relate to matters on the open part of the Agenda of the meeting and will be dealt within a 10 minute period.

 

Minutes:

Questions were asked in Minute 147 “Councillors’ Questions - Question 7”.  The Cabinet Member for Environment Services responded.

139.

Public Presentation - RNIB Swansea & Vision Impaired West Glamorgan.

Minutes:

Anita Davies and Susan Thomas gave a presentation on the work of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and Vision Impaired West Glamorgan.

 

Councillor M C Child gave thanks for the presentation.

140.

Adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. pdf icon PDF 155 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Section 151 Officer submitted a report, which explained the requirement to annually consider whether to revise or replace the Council’s existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the requirement to either adopt a new scheme or re-adopt the existing scheme by 31 January 2018.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013 (“the Prescribed Requirements Regulations”) by the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) on 26 November 2013, as amended be noted;

 

2)              The amendments to “the Prescribed Requirements Regulations” contained in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, considered and approved by NAfW on 9 January 2018 be noted;

 

3)              The outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Council in December 2014 on the discretionary areas of the current scheme be noted;

 

4)              The current scheme (2017/2018) in relation to the discretionary areas (as set out in section 3 of the report) remain unchanged from 2018/2019;

 

5)              The scheme as set out in section 3 of the report be adopted and any amendments to the regulations made by NAfW be reflected in the scheme.

141.

‘Working Towards Prosperity for All in Swansea’ A Tackling Poverty Strategy for Swansea 2017 - 2020. pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Stronger Communities Cabinet Member submitted a report, which set out the revised Tackling Poverty Strategy and associated Delivery Plan for approval following extended public consultation.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The revised Tackling Poverty Strategy ‘Working Towards Prosperity for All in Swansea’ and associated Delivery Plan be approved.

142.

Swansea Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy. pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Stronger Communities Cabinet Member submitted a report, which presented a strategic partnership response for delivering priorities for ending Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) in Swansea.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy be approved.

143.

Estyn Inspection of Local Authority Education Services for Children and Young People - Self-Evaluation Report 2017. pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Children, Education & Lifelong Learning Cabinet Member submitted a report, which presented the final version of the Education Department’s Self Evaluation report.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The findings of the 2017 Self Evaluation report be noted.

144.

Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea to HMS Cambria. pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council submitted a report, which sought consideration of conferring Honorary Freedom of the City and County of Swansea on HMS Cambria.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              Honorary Freedom of the City and County of Swansea be granted on HMS Cambria;

 

2)              A Ceremonial Meeting of Council be held on 17 March 2018 to confer the title of Honorary Freedom.

145.

Membership of Committees. pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Minutes:

The Service Transformation & Business Operations Cabinet Member submitted a report outlining nominations / amendments to the Council Bodies.

 

He stated that the Leader of the Council had not made changes to the Authority’s Outside Bodies.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The membership of the Council Bodies listed below be amended as follows:

 

i)                Scrutiny Programme Committee

Remove Councillor J P Curtice.

Add Councillor W G Lewis.

 

ii)              Transformation & Future Council Policy Development and Delivery Committee

Remove Councillor B J Rowlands.

 

iii)            Trustees Panel

Add Councillor M B Lewis.

146.

Scrutiny Dispatches – Quarterly Impact Report. pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee submitted an information report setting out the Scrutiny Dispatches - Quarterly Impact Report.

147.

Councillors' Questions. pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Minutes:

1)              Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’

 

The Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee submitted an information report setting out the Scrutiny Dispatches - Quarterly Impact Report.

 

Six (6) Part A ‘Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.  The relevant Cabinet Member(s) responded by way of written answers contained in the Council Summons.

 

No supplementary question(s) required a written response.

 

2)       Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’

 

One (1) Part B ‘Questions not requiring Supplementary Questions’ were submitted.