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Weekly updates
Key Updates: Child Services & Gower Funding Decisions
In the last 7 days (since Saturday 22 June 2024), the council has held the following meetings:
- Unknown committee - Monday 24 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Monday 24 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Monday 24 June 2024
Child and Family Services Directorate Update
The meeting on 24 June 2024 was focused on the Child and Family Services (CFS) directorate and its alignment with the council's corporate priorities. Although no decisions were taken, several key topics were discussed.
Role of the Scrutiny Panel
Councillor Chris Evans provided an overview of the Scrutiny Panel's role. The presentation covered the purpose of scrutiny, achievements in Swansea, the operational mechanics of scrutiny panels, and questions for members to consider. You can read the full presentation here.
Policy Commitments
Alison Lewis presented an update on the directorate's progress in delivering policy commitments. The directorate is responsible for many of the council's 166 commitments, with 44% on track, 44% progressing well, 9% not yet started, and 3% having slipped. The detailed presentation is available here.
Residential Care in Wales
The panel reviewed a report from Care Inspectorate Wales on residential care. The report highlighted challenges such as a 20% staff vacancy rate and a national shortage of appropriate placements, which often results in children being placed far from their home areas. This impacts their well-being, family contact, and sense of belonging.
Work Plan 2024-25
The panel discussed a draft work plan for the upcoming year, which includes visits and deep dives into various services such as Edge of Care, Child Protection, the Early Help Hub, and the Youth Justice Service. Councillor Andrew Stevens expressed concerns about the extensive workload, questioning the feasibility of thoroughly addressing all the proposed areas. The draft work plan can be accessed here.
Swansea City and County Partneriaeth Strategic Change Group
The meeting on 24 June 2024 reviewed the work of the Swansea City and County of Swansea Partneriaeth Strategic Change Group, focusing on the Curriculum for Wales and the group's risk register.
Curriculum for Wales
The committee discussed the significant education reform programme in Wales, highlighting challenges such as workforce development. The full report is available here.
Risk Register
The committee reviewed the Partneriaeth Strategic Change Group Risk Register, noting risks related to funding, timescales, and capacity. They acknowledged the group's awareness and mitigation efforts.
Work Programme
The work programme for the coming year includes priorities such as developing a new curriculum, improving educational attainment, and reducing poverty. The detailed work programme can be found here.
Gower National Landscape Advisory Group
The Gower National Landscape Advisory Group met to discuss future funding priorities for the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). They agreed to recommend that the Shared Rural Development Fund focus on projects that improve the resilience of farming and land management businesses and enable sustainable tourism growth.
Future Priorities for Shared Rural Development Funding
The group emphasized the importance of supporting resilient farming and sustainable tourism, noting that substantial funding is already available for nature restoration. The UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund is providing £585m for investment across Wales, with £135m allocated to rural development schemes. The discussion highlighted the rural nature of the AONB and the significant role of farming in the landscape, as well as the potential benefits of sustainable tourism for local income and job creation.
Understanding Local Government Committees
Local government committees like the ones discussed this week play a crucial role in shaping policies and overseeing their implementation. These committees are typically composed of elected councillors who specialize in specific areas, such as education, social care, or environmental issues. They review proposals, consult with stakeholders, and make recommendations to the full council. For more information on how local government works and the responsibilities of different committees, you can visit the Local Government Association website.
Swansea Council Sets 2024/25 Work Plan for Social Care and Tackling Poverty
In the last 7 days (since Saturday 08 June 2024), the council has held the following meetings:
- Social Care and Tackling Poverty Service Transformation Committee - Monday 10 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Wednesday 12 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Thursday 13 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Thursday 13 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Friday 14 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Tuesday 11 June 2024
The most impactful meeting this week was the Social Care and Tackling Poverty Service Transformation Committee held on Monday, 10 June 2024. This meeting focused on setting the work plan for the 2024/25 year, addressing key areas such as day opportunities, assisted technology, and tackling poverty.
Key Decisions and Discussions
Day Opportunities and Use of Assets
The committee discussed the review of day opportunities, also known as day services, which are crucial for adult services. This review aims to be co-productive, involving service users and ward members. The committee plans to bring a state of the nation
report in the next few months to assess the current situation and set future goals.
Assisted Technology and Promoting Independence
Another significant topic was the integration of assisted technology to promote independence among service users. This initiative is part of the broader transformation programme aimed at helping individuals step up and down levels of care. The committee decided to rename the focus from Independent Living
to Promoting Independence
to avoid confusion with other services.
Tackling Poverty Strategy
The committee also discussed the Tackling Poverty Strategy, which is currently under consultation. The strategy aims to address poverty through various initiatives and will be brought back to the committee between September and December for further review.
Volunteering Policy
The Volunteering Policy, which includes a management toolkit and supplementary guidance, was another key item. The committee plans to bring this forward within the first three months of the work plan.
Broader Context and Future Steps
The discussions in this meeting align with the council's ongoing efforts to transform social care and tackle poverty in Swansea. The focus on co-production and community involvement reflects a commitment to inclusive and participatory governance. The emphasis on assisted technology and promoting independence is in line with the council's manifesto pledges to enhance support for vulnerable populations.
The committee also touched on other important areas such as digital inclusion, enabling communities, and support for kinship carers. These discussions are part of a broader strategy to improve social care services and address poverty in a holistic manner.
For those interested in the details of the work plan and the specific timelines for each initiative, the full transcript of the meeting is available here.
Other Meetings
The council also held several other meetings this week, but no transcripts or videos were provided for these sessions. These meetings include:
- Unknown committee - Wednesday 12 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Thursday 13 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Thursday 13 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Friday 14 June 2024
- Unknown committee - Tuesday 11 June 2024
These meetings are part of the council's regular activities, and we will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.
Understanding Local Government Committees
Local government committees like the Social Care and Tackling Poverty Service Transformation Committee play a crucial role in shaping policies and overseeing their implementation. These committees are typically composed of elected councillors who specialize in specific areas such as social care, housing, or environmental issues. They review proposals, consult with stakeholders, and make recommendations to the full council.
In Swansea, the focus on social care and tackling poverty is particularly important given the city's demographic and economic challenges. By involving community members and service users in the decision-making process, the council aims to create more effective and responsive services.
For more information on how local government works and the responsibilities of different committees, you can visit the Local Government Association website.
Swansea Council Tackles Community Asset Transfers: Key Insights and Future Steps
In the last 7 days (since Saturday 18 May 2024), the council has held the following meetings:
- Community Asset Transfer Process - Monday 20 May 2024
The council meeting on Monday, 20 May 2024, focused on the community asset transfer process in Swansea. This meeting discussed various aspects and challenges related to transferring public assets to community organizations. Here are the key points:
Public Consultation and Community Involvement
Councillor Joe Hill and Councillor Matthew Bailey emphasized the importance of involving the community in decisions about asset transfers. Councillor Hill raised concerns about public utilities being sold off without adequate consultation, stressing the need to consider public opinion. He stated:
We must ensure that the public is adequately consulted before any decision is made regarding the sale of public utilities.— Councillor Joe Hill
Support and Guidance for Asset Transfers
Adrian Lester from Swansea Co-Housing highlighted the need for a positive attitude towards community asset transfers and their long-term benefits. He suggested that the council should be more proactive and open-minded. Councillor Bailey proposed having a single point of contact within the council for asset transfers and legal queries to streamline the process. He also recommended providing clear guidance and support to help community groups develop feasible business plans. The idea of mentoring from external organizations that have successfully undergone asset transfers was also discussed.
Challenges and Risks
Councillor Bailey mentioned the difficulty in obtaining detailed costings from the council, which is essential for community groups to plan effectively. Wendy Fitzgerald highlighted the potential negative impact of subsequent council decisions on transferred assets, using the example of Pennard Pond, which faced pollution issues due to council-approved housing developments.
Examples from Other Authorities
The meeting reviewed examples from other councils, including Southampton, Bristol, Gateshead, and Cardiff, to identify best practices and potential improvements for Swansea's policy. These examples highlighted the importance of clear eligibility criteria, risk assessment, and ongoing support for transferred assets.
Future Steps
The next meeting will involve a stakeholder discussion with representatives from various community organizations that have undergone asset transfers. This will provide further insights into the practical challenges and successes of the process.
Overall, the meeting underscored the need for a more structured and supportive approach to community asset transfers in Swansea, with a focus on public consultation, clear guidelines, and ongoing support for community groups.
Recent meetings
We do not yet have a summary for this meeting. Since it is very recent, this may be because we have not yet processed it. Please check back later.
We do not yet have a summary for this meeting. Since it is very recent, this may be because we have not yet processed it. Please check back later.