Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting. The following declarations were made:

·         Councillor Barbara Parry made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 6 (Leader of the Council: Annual Report) as she is employed by The Ridgeway School (part of the White Horse Federation).

·         Councillor Kevin Parry made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 6 (Leader of the Council: Annual Report) as he is employed by Honda.

To receive the minutes of the meetings held on 27^th April and 12^th May 2020.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings held on 27^th April and 12^th May 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 3^rd July 2020.

There were no questions submitted under this item.

The Committee considered a report introducing decisions arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 1^st July 2020.

Minute 5. Swindon Borough Council Covid-19 Response

Councillors David Renard (Leader of the Council), Russell Holland (Cabinet Member for Commercialisation, Education and Skills) and Brian Ford (Cabinet Member for Adults and Health), with the assistance of the Corporate Director of Children’s Services, responded to questions put by Councillors Jim Grant, Jim Robbins, Carol Shelley and the Chair on the following matters:

·        How increasing cross-party input to the recovery plan might help improve the support and buy-in from members for the proposals.

·        The time period the recovery plan covers and the need for cross-party collaboration on the direction of travel towards recovery.

·        The plans for providing a short-term summer recovery programme for children to help close the educational gap caused by the pandemic, as well as additional support to be provided during school periods. The Committee noted that these will include comprehensive individualised programmes being put in place with engagement and support from families, and that Government is providing additional funding to schools for this. 

·        The possibility of reintroducing or replacing the Challenge Board to ensure that schools within Swindon are achieving outcomes. 

·        The reasons behind the delay in the use of the Emergency Active Travel Fund for improving social distancing for cyclists and pedestrians across Swindon. 

·        A report which claims that Swindon will be amongst the ten worst affected areas for business, work and unemployment as a result of the pandemic and how this could affect the amount of funding to be received from Government.

·        Specific reference being made within the recovery plan to address the rise in domestic abuse that has been recorded since the lockdown began.

·        The inclusion within Swindon’s local recovery plan of the analysis work being done by Government regarding the adverse impact of the pandemic on the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

·        The help and support offered to care homes across Swindon, which included a nominated officer having been in regular contact with each of them throughout lockdown. The Committee noted that the two Council-owned care homes had remained Covid-free and expressed its congratulations to the members of staff involved.

·        The potential use of the regional covid-testing facilities at the park and ride, as well as the utilisation of some of the 25,000 people recruited across the country for tracking and tracing, to obtain more accurate figures on those who have Covid amongst asymptomatic residents in addition to the recorded, confirmed cases. 

Resolved – That Minute 5 of the Cabinet be noted.

Minute 6. Budget Management Update (July)

Councillors Renard, Holland, Dale Heenan (Cabinet Member for the Town Centre,Culture and Heritage) and Keith Williams (Cabinet Member for Climate Change)responded to questions put by Councillor Jim Grantand the Chair on the following matters:

·        Funding from Government to reimburse 75% of the Council’s lost income and how the impact from the 25% shortfall will be mitigated.

·        Changes proposed to the Collection Fund by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Councillor David Renard, Leader of the Council, was in attendance and presented to the Committee a report summarising the Administration’s record in the 2019/20 Municipal Year, as well as the strategic priorities for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

Councillor Renard, with the assistance of Councillor Gary Sumner (Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport and Planning) responded to questions put by CouncillorsSteve Allsopp, Jim Grant, Jane Milner-Barry,Brian Mattock, Kevin Parry,Jim Robbins and the Chair on the following matters:

·       The challenges facing theatres and cultural activities nationally and progress on the plans for a cultural quarter in Swindon to house the Council’s art collection and improve theatre provision in the town. 

·       The opportunities for partnership working with other local authorities (above and beyond current arrangements) to help address the financial challenges being faced by the sector.  

·       The variety of possible funding streams being investigated to fund the development of the cultural quarter. 

·       The financial impact from Covid and what the Council can do to help improve the economic situation in Swindon going forward. 

·       How the Honda Task Force has been working to address the issues faced by those losing their jobs both at Honda and via its supply chain, and whether its plans for supporting workers after the plant closure (using the £100k available to it) should be made publically available.

·       Contingencies in place should a second wave of coronavirus affect Swindon, which includes the Local Outbreak Management Plan recently approved by the Swindon Health and Wellbeing Board. 

·       How a review of the Local Plan (potentially to set aside further employment land) may assist the town economically, along with other options also being considered to aid the recovery from Covid in Swindon.   

·       The support being offered by the Council to the charitable sector to help improve its resilience to the adverse impact of Covid. 

·       How the Council will ensure that housing affordability is matched to salary levels across the Borough. 

·       Incremental growth in the higher education offer in Swindon, which has included the colleges offering degree-level courses, and the Royal Agricultural University offering post-grad courses at the Carriage Works.

·       Plans to help improve upon the existing 98% broadband coverage across Swindon, in particular to help businesses in Rushy Platt and Old Town which do not currently have Superfast Broadband and also to address the expected increase in the levels of homeworking as a result of Covid. 

·       The projections of what monies are expected in when for the Wichelstowe Joint Venture Project, the details of which will be circulated subsequent to the meeting.  

Resolved – (1) That Councillor Renard be thanked for attending the meeting to present his report and for his full and open responses to members’ questions and observations on the issues raised.

(2) That information requested by members during the course of the Committee’s consideration of this item be forwarded to them via the Committee Clerk.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Legal Officer setting out potential topics for inclusion in the 2020/2021 Scrutiny Work Programme.

Resolved – That the draft Work Programme for 2020/2021 be agreed and adopted by the Committee.

The Committee received an updated report advising on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information.

Resolved – That the report on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information be noted.

The Committee moved in to exempt session to allow discussion of the written response provided to the Chair regarding questions he submitted to the Cabinet meeting on 1^st July 2020 relating to the Capital Monitoring Outturn report.