Agenda and minutes

Members were reminded of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

The Chair made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 6 (Response to Covid-19 – an update) as his stepfather currently resides in a care home in Swindon.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th February 2020.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th February 2020 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

For this meeting, any questions must be sent in writing to CommitteeServices@swindon.gov.uk by no later than 4.00pm on Friday 24^th April 2020.

The question(s) and any response(s) will be read out by the Chair or relevant Cabinet Member and there will not be an opportunity for a supplementary question at the meeting. The question(s) and response(s) will be posted on the Council’s Committee information page alongside the Minutes.

Please note this is a temporary measure only.

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Mr Colin Finch, a resident of Swindon, asked the following:

The total number testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK from the start is now over 138,000. The total number to die in hospital who tested positive by today (23/04/20) is 18,786. That is roughly 1 in 7 tested die. The number in Swindon testing positive has now gone over 300 (307 in fact) and so far there has now been 71 of those that have died. That is roughly 1 in 4 tested die. Comparing Swindon to national figures, almost twice as many die in Swindon as the national average. Yet less die in the South West, as the charts say we have a relatively low number of cases. Can these figures be explained?

The Chair invited the Clerk, in the absence of Councillor Brian Ford, the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, to read out the response to the question at the meeting. The question and the response would be added to the Council’s website as an Annex to the Minutes.  </AI3>

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The Committee considered a report introducing decisions arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 22^nd April 2020.

Minute 77. Budget Management Update (March)

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills, responded to a question put by Councillor Steve Allsopp regarding the timeline for bringing to Members attention any additional financial costs incurred from responding to Covid-19.

Resolved – That Minute 77 of the Cabinet be noted.

Minute 78. Capital Programme Monitoring 3^rd Quarter 2019/20

Councillors Holland, Maureen Penny, Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, and Gary Sumner, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, were asked questions by the Chair on the following matters:

·         Reviewing capital spend as a result of the Covid-19 disruption, and extensions beyond the 2020 deadline.

·         Increases in the projected overspend for the Wellington Street Improvement Scheme.

·         Proposals regarding local sports pitch provision for Badbury Park residents.

Resolved – (1) That Minute 78 of the Cabinet be noted.

(2) That written responses containing the information requested by the Chair during consideration of this item be circulated by the Committee Clerk subsequent to the meeting.

Minute 79. Affordable Housing Programme

Councillor Cathy Martyn, Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, responded to questions put by Councillor Emma Bushell on the following matters:

·         Revised timescales and costs of the projects set out in the Cabinet report.

·         The number of units proposed for lower social rent across the Windmill Hill and Queens Drive developments addressing the housing need of those in low paid or temporary work, and whom are most likely to be financially adversely affected by Covid-19.  

Resolved – That Minute 79 of the Cabinet be noted.

Minute 80. Town Centre Movement Strategy

Councillor Penny responded to questions put by Councillors Jim Grant,James Robbins and the Chair on the following matters:

·         Expectations as to the result from future spend on Bruce Street Bridges, particularly with regards to behaviour changes.

·         Opportunities that will be provided for multi-Ward member consultation / involvement prior to any intervention work on Bruce Street Bridges commencing, including the possible creation of advisory groups to assist with development.

·         Anticipated timescales for the intervention work on Bruce Street Bridges following the allocation of funds.

·         The improvement works planned to Rodbourne Road feeding in to any future intervention work for Bruce Street Bridges.

·         Revised timescales for the improvement work to Rodbourne Road, incorporating delays caused by Covid-19. 

·         Stronger emphasis being placed on walking, cycling and public transport options within proposals for the area with supplementary measures, such as a park and ride, continuing to be considered alongside the Town Centre Strategy. 

Resolved – That Minute 80 of the Cabinet be noted.

Minute 81. Swindon Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan 2020/21

Councillor Penny responded to questions put by Councillor Timothy Swinyard and the Chair on the following matters:

·         Proposed revisions to the Local Transport Plan, including budget adjustments from central government, as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. 

·         The revised timescale for the conversion of streetlights to LED (for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

The Committee considered a report setting out information relating to the Council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, particularly the context and structure of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Groups set up to respond to the crisis.

Susie Kemp, Chief Executive at Swindon Borough Council, introduced the report and indicated her pride in officer colleagues for their response to Covid-19, and expressed her gratitude to Members for their support and encouragement.

Ms Kemp referred to the written questions submitted by Members prior to the meeting which had been grouped into themed topics. The details of those questions, along with the responses and supplementary questions asked during the course of the meeting, are set out in the Annex to these Minutes.

Resolved – To note the report.