Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea no interests were declared.

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

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Poverty Reduction Poverty Development and Delivery Committee held on 26 July be signed and approved as a correct record.

Chris Sivers – Director of People

The revised tackling poverty strategy for Swansea Consultation Draft 2017-2020 had been circulated by email and Chris Sivers, Director of People supplemented the report with a presentation on the Poverty Strategy and action plan.

 

She outlined Swansea’s definition of poverty:

 

Income poverty - not a barrier to school achievement, healthy /vibrant life, skills/qualifications, fulfilling occupation.

 

Service poverty - targeting resources where they have greatest impacts, and decisions made with service users.

 

Participation enjoyed by all residents, who access a wide variety of cultural, social and leisure experiences.  Residents involved in decisions. 

 

The Tackling Poverty Scrutiny Inquiry Panel had made a number of recommendations, which had nearly all been incorporated into the draft strategy.

 

·                 Make a new commitment to tackling poverty;

·                 Focus on ‘what works’;

·                 People experiencing poverty centre to the strategy;

·                 Collaborate through Swansea Public Services Board;

·                 Strengthen the links to economic policy;

·                 Rethink the target area approach;

·                 Tackling poverty is everyone’s business;

·                 Keep the strategy current.

 

She emphasised that Poverty is everyone’s business and that all Departments had a responsibility not just the Poverty & Prevention Department.  There were now closer links with our Economic Development Policy and ‘every contact counts’ and work with partners is progressing to expand our approach.

 

As a result the outcomes had been aligned with the One Swansea Plan’s, as follows:

 

·                 Children have a good start in life;

·                 People learn successfully;

·                 Young people and adults have good jobs;

·                 People have a decent standard of living;

·                 People are healthy, safe and independent;

·                 People have good places to live and work.

 

The consultation process had been extended to 6 October 2017 with full and easy read bilingual versions available.

 

She then suggested that 3 items from the Tackling Poverty Strategy Delivery Plan Performance Framework 2017-2020 be discussed:

 

1.               Increasing digital literacy, increasing access to a wide range of Council Services including financial inclusion

·             Access in rural areas

·             Training the IT shy

·             Reducing Isolation

 

2.               Consider the Commissioning of an involvement and participation study for Swansea;

·             Leeds truth commission

·             Similar with Swansea flavour

·             Take into the account the things we do (co-commissioning, etc)

 

3.               Commission Policy in Practice to work alongside the Council’s Revenue and Benefits Team to identify the cumulative effect of benefit reforms households in Swansea:

·             Impact of welfare reforms at household level

·             Majority of households will be worse off

·             Targeting service at those at risk

o    Employability to increase income

o    Housing to protect tenancies

 

The Committee discussed the above 3 items and suggested that in relation to Item 1 that we investigate the expertise developed within Schools and other community involvement.

 

In relation to Item 3, holding a “roadshow” type event in communities that were likely to be effected was suggested.  Councillors also stated it would be beneficial to receive further information on the plans for the introduction of Universal Credit at the next meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee receive further information on the plans for the introduction of Universal Credit at the meeting scheduled for 27 September 2017.

The Director of People presented the Work Plan for 2017-2018.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1)              The Work Plan be noted;

2)              The plans for the introduction of Universal Credit be added to the agenda for the meeting scheduled for 27 September 2017;

3)              The meeting scheduled for 27 September 2017 commence at 3 pm and be scheduled for 2 hours.