Yesterday CMT and Cabinet had an awayday at Sketty Hall which is run by Gower College as their business school. The key issue on the agenda was our budget planning for 2024/25 where Finance Director Ben Smith gave us the first impressions of the UK Government’s budget delivered by the Chancellor on Wednesday. In December we will be expecting the Welsh Government to announce its budget plans for the coming financial year and, from that, we’ll be able to see more clearly the implications for us. In the meantime, we’ve been holding a number of star chamber events with directors and heads of service to assess spending pressures and savings options. We’re still on course to go out to consultation with you, trade unions and the public in January with final decisions made by Council in March. I will continue to keep you posted.
Today, I will be hosting a visit by our new MP for Swansea West, Torsten Bell. It’s really important to continue to build positive working relationships with our Westminster representatives. Part of our role is to support them to be Swansea’s advocates in London, promoting our reputation, highlighting our ambition, opportunities and plans to colleagues and ministers in London. This week I also met with Emma Wools, the new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Wales. It’s an important relationship because it helps focus on shared priorities for further developing Swansea’s reputation among residents, visitors businesses and investors as a safe, welcoming place with a great quality of life.
On Wednesday the leader and I caught up with Associated British Ports to discuss their ambition for the Swansea Port Masterplan and how this can support offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea as part of the drive towards renewable technology. Alongside the freeport proposals for Port Talbot, ABP’s plans will have far-reaching impact across the region on jobs, investment, our universities, industrial development and our reputation further afield. So I am really looking forward to working with them on this exciting opportunity for Swansea and the region.
A big thank-you to Darren Morgan in our waste management team and Sian Davies and Mali James in our pollution control team for going above and beyond for our residents. Sian and Mali were praised for bringing peace and quiet to a neighbourhood where alarms at a nearby business kept residents awake at night. Darren attracted a commendation from a blind West Cross resident for supporting her over the last few years, making sure recycling and waste is collected on time and responding to concerns, even when he’s been on leave. As you know I am always pleased to share these kinds of positive stories, so please keep them coming.
It’s further great news that we and our partners have been shortlisted as finalists in the following categories for the All Wales Safer Communities awards, which look for opportunities to share best practices in community safety:
- Clase Primary School Community Engagement Project (Community Cohesion & Clase Primary)
- Afternoon Teens Intergenerational Community Project (Partnership & Involvement Team/Evolve Youth Team)
- The Collaboration Station Partnership Project (Partnership & Involvement Team)
- Swansea City Chill Summer Events (reducing youth ASB) – SW Police/Youth Justice/CMET/Evolve/Partnership & Involvement
The awards ceremony takes place on 28 November 2024 at Wrexham AFC, so good luck to all involved
Finally, thank you to the special events and cultural services teams for organising and promoting major events recently, including Spooks in the City and the upcoming Fireworks Show at St Helen’s on November 5. Next on the list is the Christmas Parade, a vital part of what we do to support the city centre in the festive period. Thanks to all involved in the preparations.
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