South Wales Evening Post - 31 January 2007
People living in the shadow of a landfill site say they are against plans for it to re-open.
Families in Port Tennant had become used to some peace and quiet after the Environment Agency (EA) closed down the Tir John dump in 2005.
But their relief will just be temporary.
The company which runs the site successfully appealed against the EA's decision, and plans are underway to start building a new waste cell in the autumn.
It is likely to be only a matter of time before the city's dustbin lorries return en masse.
Swansea Council chiefs say reopening the site will save £2.5 million a year, as thousands of tonnes of rubbish have been taken to tips in Methyr Tydfil, Pontardawe and Pembrokeshire.
Now locals just want to know how many years the Tir John dump will stay open for.
"That is our biggest concern," said Kathy Thyer, director at the Grenfell Park, St Thomas and Port Tennant community regeneration partnership.
She, like many homeowners, can see the tip from her house on Grafog Street. "Local people are not happy it's being reopened, but it was inevitable," she said.
"Another concern is the volume of traffic in the area.
"It will increase a great deal, especially with 200 houses being built near the site, behind Wern Terrace." Her comments were echoed by Richard Brown, of nearby Hoo Street. "I can safely say people don't want it reopened," he said.
"We want to do what we can to clean up Crymlyn Bog, which is next to the site, and get wildlife back there.
"And it's going to cause traffic chaos."
But landfill site bosses are poised to splash out a lot of money on improvements.
Their work will be monitored by the EA, who will also keep a close eye on Crymlyn Bog, a 280-hectare site protected by Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation status.
Swansea Council has confirmed it plans to reopen the site, but added there was a "substantial amount of work to do".
And bosses are urging homeowners to continue recycling as much rubbish as they can.
A spokesman said: "Residents can help reduce costs and the amount of waste currently sent to landfill by recycling.
"As well as providing every home in Swansea with a kerbside collection service, residents in selected areas can now recycle kitchen waste such as leftover food, tea bags and egg shells."
Councillor's email plan to 'claw back' lost allowances
Western mail - Jan 31 2007
The man in line to be Swansea's next Lord Mayor has come under fire for threatening to disrupt council business because he is facing a pay cut.
Ioan Richard, an independent councillor who represents his home village of Craigcefnparc on Swansea City and County Council, is the current Deputy Lord Mayor and chair of the Licensing Committee.
Since 2004 the council has had a Liberal Democrat-led administration. But following the recent decision of the Conservative group to leave the administration, the Liberal Democrats and their allies - including Mr Richard - are losing their places as committee chairs. For Mr Richard this will mean a pay cut from £21,601 to £11,940.
It has now emerged that in an email sent to some of his council colleagues last week, Mr Richard complained bitterly about his loss of income and proposed a scheme that would involve sabotaging each committee meeting with an election for a new chair and deputy chair every time.
In his email, Mr Richard says, "Trench warfare - are you up for it? I am seriously in favour of it!!!! ... This will mean that at the very next committee - and if we continue the process every committee thereafter into the future - will have on its agenda for the start of every meeting the election of a chairman and vice chairman.
"This has enormous implications of inconvenience to Labour and Tories and Plaid Cymru. It means they will have to muster up a majority at every committee. If not, we take the chair and vice chair back for a three or four-week cycle. If we succeed only once in five goes, we will get 20% of their Special Responsibility Allowance, eg 20% of a chair's £9,000 is £1,800 - an amount not to be scoffed at, and it will really inconvenience the other lot and annoy them enormously. It really would cause them very serious havoc problems and give us back a couple of thousand pounds a year ... I know I am going to seriously miss my chairman's allowance as my pension is very small.
"If I don't do this I'm going to go back part-time casual supply teaching for £140 per day for a five-hour day... if I cannot claw back some of my allowance I will have to get some extra money from somewhere."
David Phillips, the council's Labour opposition leader, said, "This is an extraordinary admission by Ioan Richard. It confirms what I have been saying for a long time - that special responsibility allowances were the glue that held together the disparate group of councillors who form the administration.
"If Ioan Richard's tactic of electing new committee chairs at each meeting is followed, it will create chaos."
Darren Price, leader of the council's Plaid Cymru group, said, "This doesn't reflect well on Ioan Richard or on the council as a whole. Electing a new chair at every meeting would create chaos and damage the scrutiny process."
The man in line to be Swansea's next Lord Mayor has come under fire for threatening to disrupt council business because he is facing a pay cut.
Ioan Richard, an independent councillor who represents his home village of Craigcefnparc on Swansea City and County Council, is the current Deputy Lord Mayor and chair of the Licensing Committee.
Since 2004 the council has had a Liberal Democrat-led administration. But following the recent decision of the Conservative group to leave the administration, the Liberal Democrats and their allies - including Mr Richard - are losing their places as committee chairs. For Mr Richard this will mean a pay cut from £21,601 to £11,940.
It has now emerged that in an email sent to some of his council colleagues last week, Mr Richard complained bitterly about his loss of income and proposed a scheme that would involve sabotaging each committee meeting with an election for a new chair and deputy chair every time.
In his email, Mr Richard says, "Trench warfare - are you up for it? I am seriously in favour of it!!!! ... This will mean that at the very next committee - and if we continue the process every committee thereafter into the future - will have on its agenda for the start of every meeting the election of a chairman and vice chairman.
"This has enormous implications of inconvenience to Labour and Tories and Plaid Cymru. It means they will have to muster up a majority at every committee. If not, we take the chair and vice chair back for a three or four-week cycle. If we succeed only once in five goes, we will get 20% of their Special Responsibility Allowance, eg 20% of a chair's £9,000 is £1,800 - an amount not to be scoffed at, and it will really inconvenience the other lot and annoy them enormously. It really would cause them very serious havoc problems and give us back a couple of thousand pounds a year ... I know I am going to seriously miss my chairman's allowance as my pension is very small.
"If I don't do this I'm going to go back part-time casual supply teaching for £140 per day for a five-hour day... if I cannot claw back some of my allowance I will have to get some extra money from somewhere."
David Phillips, the council's Labour opposition leader, said, "This is an extraordinary admission by Ioan Richard. It confirms what I have been saying for a long time - that special responsibility allowances were the glue that held together the disparate group of councillors who form the administration.
"If Ioan Richard's tactic of electing new committee chairs at each meeting is followed, it will create chaos."
Darren Price, leader of the council's Plaid Cymru group, said, "This doesn't reflect well on Ioan Richard or on the council as a whole. Electing a new chair at every meeting would create chaos and damage the scrutiny process."
COUNCIL IN HARD SELL OVER HOMES
South Wales Evening Post - 30 January 2007
Swansea Council is launching a new publicity blitz to promote plans to transfer its housing stock to a new, not-for-profit organisation.
Posters carrying the message "Don't Miss Out" are appearing on city buses, and banners are being hung on bridges to drive home the message.
A series of adverts is also being broadcast on local radio stations.
The council says transferring its 13,800 houses to Tawe Housing is the only way of raising the £371 million needed to pay for improvements.
However, campaign group Swansea Defend Council Housing is opposing the plan, saying it is a bad deal for tenants.
The final decision on the transfer will be taken by a ballot of all council tenants.Graham Thomas, Swansea Council cabinet member for housing, said the new promotion was important.
He added: "We are keen to equip tenants with the facts about the proposal.
"Tenants with questions on the proposal can contact the council's Freephone information line on 0800 013 1695 or the Independent Tenants Adviser, Heart of Wales, on Freephone 0800 195 4591.
Swansea Council is launching a new publicity blitz to promote plans to transfer its housing stock to a new, not-for-profit organisation.
Posters carrying the message "Don't Miss Out" are appearing on city buses, and banners are being hung on bridges to drive home the message.
A series of adverts is also being broadcast on local radio stations.
The council says transferring its 13,800 houses to Tawe Housing is the only way of raising the £371 million needed to pay for improvements.
However, campaign group Swansea Defend Council Housing is opposing the plan, saying it is a bad deal for tenants.
The final decision on the transfer will be taken by a ballot of all council tenants.Graham Thomas, Swansea Council cabinet member for housing, said the new promotion was important.
He added: "We are keen to equip tenants with the facts about the proposal.
"Tenants with questions on the proposal can contact the council's Freephone information line on 0800 013 1695 or the Independent Tenants Adviser, Heart of Wales, on Freephone 0800 195 4591.
COUNCILLOR BLASTS 'CARVE-UP' OF COMMITTEES
South Wales Evening Post - 30 January 2007
A Swansea councillor has launched a trio of attacks on his colleagues as the city's ongoing political tug-of-war continues.
Mawr councillor Ioan Richard has criticised Labour, Conservative and Plaid rivals over their snatching of control of the lucrative scrutiny chairman posts.
He has challenged claims the move is to ensure proper scrutiny, arguing the three parties are taking control of non-scrutiny groups such as licensing and planning.
Councillor Richard said: "They are going for all the extra allowances.
"When Labour were in control, they held all the scrutiny chairs."
The three parties have unofficially joined forces to seize control of the committees.
The posts bring with them bonuses of up to £9,000.
Councillor Richard is also surprised by the co-operation between three parties usually at loggerheads.
He said: "It has gone very bitter now.
"I don't blame Labour, they are the biggest group," he added. "But it is very strange to think that the Tories have joined with Labour.
"This must be the only coalition where you have Labour and Conservatives against the Lib-Dems.
"They have sat down around the table and carved it all up. I would call that a coalition."
Swansea Council has been in the balance since newly appointed Conservative leader Rene Kinzett withdrew his party from the Lib Dem-led ruling alliance. Councillor Kinzett, Plaid and Labour have engineered the power shift on the city's scrutiny committees.
Councillor Richard said he was surprised by Plaid's move.
He said: "They have been offered this time and again to come in from the cold but they go on sitting on the fence.
"I have spoken to a few Plaid Cymru voters and they all said they were against it."
A Swansea councillor has launched a trio of attacks on his colleagues as the city's ongoing political tug-of-war continues.
Mawr councillor Ioan Richard has criticised Labour, Conservative and Plaid rivals over their snatching of control of the lucrative scrutiny chairman posts.
He has challenged claims the move is to ensure proper scrutiny, arguing the three parties are taking control of non-scrutiny groups such as licensing and planning.
Councillor Richard said: "They are going for all the extra allowances.
"When Labour were in control, they held all the scrutiny chairs."
The three parties have unofficially joined forces to seize control of the committees.
The posts bring with them bonuses of up to £9,000.
Councillor Richard is also surprised by the co-operation between three parties usually at loggerheads.
He said: "It has gone very bitter now.
"I don't blame Labour, they are the biggest group," he added. "But it is very strange to think that the Tories have joined with Labour.
"This must be the only coalition where you have Labour and Conservatives against the Lib-Dems.
"They have sat down around the table and carved it all up. I would call that a coalition."
Swansea Council has been in the balance since newly appointed Conservative leader Rene Kinzett withdrew his party from the Lib Dem-led ruling alliance. Councillor Kinzett, Plaid and Labour have engineered the power shift on the city's scrutiny committees.
Councillor Richard said he was surprised by Plaid's move.
He said: "They have been offered this time and again to come in from the cold but they go on sitting on the fence.
"I have spoken to a few Plaid Cymru voters and they all said they were against it."
COUNCIL HEALTH CHECK THROWS UP RISKS
South Wales Evening Post - 30 January 2007
The latest financial health check on Swansea Council has thrown up more problems for the city's eGovernment scheme.
The annual audit report letter to Swansea Council has highlighted serious concerns over projected savings from the project. When the deal was signed in January 2006 council leaders said the contract would bring savings of £26 million.
So far just over a quarter of those savings have been identified as possible. That failure to hit targets has put the second phase, a dedicated phone line for council customers, in doubt.
The latest report from auditors PricewaterhouseCooper said: "When the council signed phase one of the eGovernment contract with Capgemini it expected to generate £26.2 million of savings over the first 10 years of the contract, off setting the implementation of the new hardware and software.
"To date, £7 million of these savings have been agreed as realisable by the council and Capgemini. Ongoing discussions are taking place between the two parties to agree the next phase of realisable savings. However there is a significant risk that the full amount of anticipated savings will not be realised."
The auditors go on to say that if no more savings could be identified the project would make a loss.
As well as the possible failure to hit targets in the eGovernment scheme, the auditors identified five other "significant financial pressures".
These include the cost of getting rid of waste in the county, paying for pensions and new legislation to provide equal pay deals for women.
The auditors warned Swansea Council that failure to meet the targets would have an impact on future budgets.
An outline financial plan is currently being drawn up by Swansea Council.
The auditor's report says: "A significant level of future resources available to the council is underpinned by the eGovernment programme savings. It is therefore essential to the plan that the council is certain that the predicted savings can be achieved.
"Other significant savings include those arising from falling school rolls and the Assembly efficiency targets.
"It is essential that the council monitors the risks to the plan and provides for contingencies."
The latest financial health check on Swansea Council has thrown up more problems for the city's eGovernment scheme.
The annual audit report letter to Swansea Council has highlighted serious concerns over projected savings from the project. When the deal was signed in January 2006 council leaders said the contract would bring savings of £26 million.
So far just over a quarter of those savings have been identified as possible. That failure to hit targets has put the second phase, a dedicated phone line for council customers, in doubt.
The latest report from auditors PricewaterhouseCooper said: "When the council signed phase one of the eGovernment contract with Capgemini it expected to generate £26.2 million of savings over the first 10 years of the contract, off setting the implementation of the new hardware and software.
"To date, £7 million of these savings have been agreed as realisable by the council and Capgemini. Ongoing discussions are taking place between the two parties to agree the next phase of realisable savings. However there is a significant risk that the full amount of anticipated savings will not be realised."
The auditors go on to say that if no more savings could be identified the project would make a loss.
As well as the possible failure to hit targets in the eGovernment scheme, the auditors identified five other "significant financial pressures".
These include the cost of getting rid of waste in the county, paying for pensions and new legislation to provide equal pay deals for women.
The auditors warned Swansea Council that failure to meet the targets would have an impact on future budgets.
An outline financial plan is currently being drawn up by Swansea Council.
The auditor's report says: "A significant level of future resources available to the council is underpinned by the eGovernment programme savings. It is therefore essential to the plan that the council is certain that the predicted savings can be achieved.
"Other significant savings include those arising from falling school rolls and the Assembly efficiency targets.
"It is essential that the council monitors the risks to the plan and provides for contingencies."
LEADING COUNCIL GROUP UNDER EXTRA SCRUTINY
South Wales Evening Post - 26 January 2007
Opposition groups at Swansea Council have started to pressure the ruling group following the Conservatives' decision to leave the coalition.
The move by the Conservative group means the Liberal Democrat-led coalition is now in a minority of 31 members compared to 41 opposition councillors.
The four opposing groups, made up of Labour, Plaid, Conservatives and Independent member Ray Welsby, have made a deal to take control of all scrutiny committees.
The eight scrutiny committees take a close look at council policy and can influence decisions. Until now all the committees had a member of the coalition as chair and vice-chair.
Plaid group leader Darren Price said that had now changed and opposition parties would have more say in the way the council is run.
"The decision by the Tories to jump ship last week has meant that opposition groups are now in the majority on all of the council's committees and this presents us with an opportunity to take a key role in how the council is scrutinised and a greater role in the decision making process.
"Plaid is fully committed to scrutinising the administration and holding them to account," said Councillor Price.
"The position since 2004 has seen administration members trying to scrutinise the actions and plans of their own group.
"This was not sustainable. Scrutiny should always be led by opposition groups, in my opinion, and the fact that opposition groups now have a majority on these committees means we are in a position to bring about this positive change.
"The hope is that it will bring about a more open and transparent scrutiny process whereby citizens in Swansea will see improvements in council services.
"Council leader Chris Holley said he was not surprised by the switch.
"They have got the numbers now and I am not completely surprised by this.
"I have to say that two-and-a-half years ago I went to Plaid and Labour and asked if they wanted to take the chairs and vice-chairs. But they declined.
"Now they have a majority and they want to do this.
"I have not seen anything officially, but I understand they want to take the chairs of all the committees.
"We still have the cabinet and we will continue to fight tooth and nail for Swansea. We came together for the good of this city and a lot of good things can be seen to be happening."
Opposition groups at Swansea Council have started to pressure the ruling group following the Conservatives' decision to leave the coalition.
The move by the Conservative group means the Liberal Democrat-led coalition is now in a minority of 31 members compared to 41 opposition councillors.
The four opposing groups, made up of Labour, Plaid, Conservatives and Independent member Ray Welsby, have made a deal to take control of all scrutiny committees.
The eight scrutiny committees take a close look at council policy and can influence decisions. Until now all the committees had a member of the coalition as chair and vice-chair.
Plaid group leader Darren Price said that had now changed and opposition parties would have more say in the way the council is run.
"The decision by the Tories to jump ship last week has meant that opposition groups are now in the majority on all of the council's committees and this presents us with an opportunity to take a key role in how the council is scrutinised and a greater role in the decision making process.
"Plaid is fully committed to scrutinising the administration and holding them to account," said Councillor Price.
"The position since 2004 has seen administration members trying to scrutinise the actions and plans of their own group.
"This was not sustainable. Scrutiny should always be led by opposition groups, in my opinion, and the fact that opposition groups now have a majority on these committees means we are in a position to bring about this positive change.
"The hope is that it will bring about a more open and transparent scrutiny process whereby citizens in Swansea will see improvements in council services.
"Council leader Chris Holley said he was not surprised by the switch.
"They have got the numbers now and I am not completely surprised by this.
"I have to say that two-and-a-half years ago I went to Plaid and Labour and asked if they wanted to take the chairs and vice-chairs. But they declined.
"Now they have a majority and they want to do this.
"I have not seen anything officially, but I understand they want to take the chairs of all the committees.
"We still have the cabinet and we will continue to fight tooth and nail for Swansea. We came together for the good of this city and a lot of good things can be seen to be happening."
TALKS OVER STREET CLEANING PLANS
South Wales Evening Post - 24 January 2007
Talks are ongoing between Swansea Council and its army of street cleaners and refuse collectors.
Workers are unhappy over a number of issues and have asked union leaders to speak to council bosses.
Staff are unhappy at proposed changes to their working week and their lunch hour.
They are also unhappy that the tendering process for a company to dispose of the city's waste also included rubbish collection.
Staff are worried it could pave the way for the service to be privatised.
They claim that it would mean they were unable to put forward an in-house option for consideration, because they would not be operating on a level playing field.
Jeff Baker, Unison branch secretary, said talks were ongoing with council staff who were considering a one-off payment of £500 offered to address their concerns about the proposed changes to their working practices.
He said: "There is not another group in the authority that is facing this."
Mr Baker added staff were concerned over proposals for streets to be cleaned on the basis of need.
He said: "That does seem common sense, but what will the public think?
"They may not want their streets left alone."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said the authority was currently negotiating with the unions over terms and conditions for staff.
He said: "It is wrong for the unions to claim certain parts of the city are not receiving the service needed."
Talks are ongoing between Swansea Council and its army of street cleaners and refuse collectors.
Workers are unhappy over a number of issues and have asked union leaders to speak to council bosses.
Staff are unhappy at proposed changes to their working week and their lunch hour.
They are also unhappy that the tendering process for a company to dispose of the city's waste also included rubbish collection.
Staff are worried it could pave the way for the service to be privatised.
They claim that it would mean they were unable to put forward an in-house option for consideration, because they would not be operating on a level playing field.
Jeff Baker, Unison branch secretary, said talks were ongoing with council staff who were considering a one-off payment of £500 offered to address their concerns about the proposed changes to their working practices.
He said: "There is not another group in the authority that is facing this."
Mr Baker added staff were concerned over proposals for streets to be cleaned on the basis of need.
He said: "That does seem common sense, but what will the public think?
"They may not want their streets left alone."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said the authority was currently negotiating with the unions over terms and conditions for staff.
He said: "It is wrong for the unions to claim certain parts of the city are not receiving the service needed."
COUNCIL ROCKED BY NEW DEFECTION SHOCK
South Wales Evening Post - 24 January 2007
Swansea Council's political merry-go-round has spun again - the result being another shock defection.
Councillor Margaret Smith has pulled out of the ruling administration and joined the Conservative group.
It is the latest twist in the tale of the party since Rene Kinzett took control earlier this month, just six months after his unexpected switch from the Liberal Democrats. He pulled his members from the ruling coalition.
But last week two Conservatives jumped ship and joined the Liberal Alliance, with councillors Joan Peters and Huw Rees making the surprise switch.
The latest defection has left the ruling Lib Dem-led coalition with just 31 members.
Labour has 32 members, while Plaid and the Conservative group each has four members.
Councillor Kinzett said he would not be looking to oust Chris Holley as council leader. Rather, he was calling for opposition members to be given control of scrutiny committees, something he said he urged when he was still a Lib Dem councillor.
He said: "It was impossible to hold them to account while the same people that take the decision are in charge of scrutinising the decision."
Councillor Kinzett said he was pleased to welcome Councillor Smith to the party.
She said: "I feel like I have come home to my true political party.
"I look forward to continuing to represent the people of Pennard to the best of my ability," she added.
"I can more easily do that in the Conservative group."
Alun Cairns, Conservative AM for South Wales West, said: "Margaret Smith has been a long-standing servant to the community, and the fact that she has chosen to join the Conservative group shows how the party has developed."
Councillor Kinzett said his party's grassroots support was pleased with the recent increase in political activity by the group and the addition of Councillor Smith.
He said: "She has been a member of the party for many years. This is her natural home.
"The Gower Conservative Group is delighted Margaret Smith is coming back to us.
"They also think it is great that we are at last having a voice on the council."
Swansea Council's political merry-go-round has spun again - the result being another shock defection.
Councillor Margaret Smith has pulled out of the ruling administration and joined the Conservative group.
It is the latest twist in the tale of the party since Rene Kinzett took control earlier this month, just six months after his unexpected switch from the Liberal Democrats. He pulled his members from the ruling coalition.
But last week two Conservatives jumped ship and joined the Liberal Alliance, with councillors Joan Peters and Huw Rees making the surprise switch.
The latest defection has left the ruling Lib Dem-led coalition with just 31 members.
Labour has 32 members, while Plaid and the Conservative group each has four members.
Councillor Kinzett said he would not be looking to oust Chris Holley as council leader. Rather, he was calling for opposition members to be given control of scrutiny committees, something he said he urged when he was still a Lib Dem councillor.
He said: "It was impossible to hold them to account while the same people that take the decision are in charge of scrutinising the decision."
Councillor Kinzett said he was pleased to welcome Councillor Smith to the party.
She said: "I feel like I have come home to my true political party.
"I look forward to continuing to represent the people of Pennard to the best of my ability," she added.
"I can more easily do that in the Conservative group."
Alun Cairns, Conservative AM for South Wales West, said: "Margaret Smith has been a long-standing servant to the community, and the fact that she has chosen to join the Conservative group shows how the party has developed."
Councillor Kinzett said his party's grassroots support was pleased with the recent increase in political activity by the group and the addition of Councillor Smith.
He said: "She has been a member of the party for many years. This is her natural home.
"The Gower Conservative Group is delighted Margaret Smith is coming back to us.
"They also think it is great that we are at last having a voice on the council."
ACTION GROUP PLEADS FOR REDUCED SPEED
South Wales Evening Post - 23 January 2007
A Swansea action group has pleaded with council bosses to reduce speeding on their streets.
Residents say enough still isn't being done to slow down drivers in their area.
One protest group is already up and running in the city's Manselton area. Now another is also forging ahead with its ideas to curb speeds.
The local campaign follows the death of seven-year-old schoolgirl Vicky Clement in May 2005.
A 20mph speed restriction - the first in the city - has already been placed on roads surrounding Manselton Primary School. But it does not extend to nearby Manselton Road. Locals say they plan to mount a growing campaign to force further safety action.
Manselton Road resident Ceri Thomas has organised a petition being forwarded to Swansea Council, along with plans outlining potential traffic-calming measures. He is working alongside Manselton Area Road Safety Group, also pushing for action.
Mr Thomas said the new 20mph speed restriction was a step forward but did not go far enough because it missed out Manselton Road.
He said: "We want to see more signs of calming traffic, but we also want to look at the whole picture.
"This is not just about moving traffic - we need to look at pedestrians and parked cars."
One of the group's proposals is a mini- roundabout at the busy Elgin Street junction.
Locals say they want to see more action from council experts.
"We are feeling increasingly frustrated. It feels like it's them against us. But it is vitally important we keep moving forward to make the street safer for everyone, especially children and the elderly."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "The council believes the traffic-calming scheme implemented has greatly improved the safety of pedestrians in Manselton, especially near local schools, where the 20mph speed limits have been introduced.
"Although the speed limit along Manselton Road remains 30mph, physical measures are being introduced, including built-out bus stops and pedestrian refuges. These will help slow down traffic along this particular road.
"The council is also working with the police and safety camera partnership which is actively deploying mobile speed cameras along the route.
"The council has recently spoken to residents living on Manselton Road who have stated they are happy with the new scheme.
"Local ward members are also satisfied with the changes that have been made."
A Swansea action group has pleaded with council bosses to reduce speeding on their streets.
Residents say enough still isn't being done to slow down drivers in their area.
One protest group is already up and running in the city's Manselton area. Now another is also forging ahead with its ideas to curb speeds.
The local campaign follows the death of seven-year-old schoolgirl Vicky Clement in May 2005.
A 20mph speed restriction - the first in the city - has already been placed on roads surrounding Manselton Primary School. But it does not extend to nearby Manselton Road. Locals say they plan to mount a growing campaign to force further safety action.
Manselton Road resident Ceri Thomas has organised a petition being forwarded to Swansea Council, along with plans outlining potential traffic-calming measures. He is working alongside Manselton Area Road Safety Group, also pushing for action.
Mr Thomas said the new 20mph speed restriction was a step forward but did not go far enough because it missed out Manselton Road.
He said: "We want to see more signs of calming traffic, but we also want to look at the whole picture.
"This is not just about moving traffic - we need to look at pedestrians and parked cars."
One of the group's proposals is a mini- roundabout at the busy Elgin Street junction.
Locals say they want to see more action from council experts.
"We are feeling increasingly frustrated. It feels like it's them against us. But it is vitally important we keep moving forward to make the street safer for everyone, especially children and the elderly."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "The council believes the traffic-calming scheme implemented has greatly improved the safety of pedestrians in Manselton, especially near local schools, where the 20mph speed limits have been introduced.
"Although the speed limit along Manselton Road remains 30mph, physical measures are being introduced, including built-out bus stops and pedestrian refuges. These will help slow down traffic along this particular road.
"The council is also working with the police and safety camera partnership which is actively deploying mobile speed cameras along the route.
"The council has recently spoken to residents living on Manselton Road who have stated they are happy with the new scheme.
"Local ward members are also satisfied with the changes that have been made."
E-government plans queried
Western Mail - Jan 22 2007
LABOUR councillors in Swansea want an inquiry into the authority's multi-million-pound plans to introduce e-government.
Senior Swansea councillors have formally ended the council's relationship with Capgemini, the computer giants brought in to deliver the e-government programme.
Now Labour members on Swansea Council have signed a notice of motion calling for an investigation.
LABOUR councillors in Swansea want an inquiry into the authority's multi-million-pound plans to introduce e-government.
Senior Swansea councillors have formally ended the council's relationship with Capgemini, the computer giants brought in to deliver the e-government programme.
Now Labour members on Swansea Council have signed a notice of motion calling for an investigation.
RESIDENTS DIG IN HEELS OVER PROM
South Wales Evening Post - 20 January 2007
A fight is being launched against controversial proposals to dig up parts of Swansea's stunning prom.
Council chiefs are looking at the possibility of tearing up part of the prom to create express lanes for high-speed buses, to help them avoid the heavy traffic that regularly clogs the busy coast road.
The idea has met fierce opposition from city residents, with many labelling the plans as vandalism.
They are unhappy at the prospect of losing any green space along Swansea Bay, an area hugely popular with residents and tourists.
Elaine Hughes, of Palmyra Court in West Cross, is hoping to put the brakes on the scheme, and has launched a petition against the plans.
They would see a new bus lane created, branching off from Mumbles Road at Blackpill, and running along the foreshore, eating into grassland parallel to the prom.
The buses would then rejoin Mumbles Road near the junction with Alderwood Road.Mrs Hughes, who is also standing as a Conservative candidate in the upcoming Mumbles Community Council by-election, said residents were overwhelmingly against the plans which had to be stopped.
She said: "I live just off the Mumbles Road in West Cross, and I think that we are very lucky to live in a city with such a beautiful bay.
"I cannot believe anyone would want to rip up the grass and trees and replace them with tarmac and bus lanes.
"The Liberal Alliance which runs Swansea Council will be held responsible for the wanton destruction of a unique resource if they go ahead with their ludicrous plans to run bendy buses along our prom."
The promenade plans are part of the controversial Metro scheme, due to be launched next year, which would introduce 60ft bendy buses to the city. They would run from Morriston Hospital to Mumbles, and are billed as a way of cutting congestion.
Major work has been carried out in the city centre creating a new one-way system which will help accommodate the new buses.
Further work is expected on West Way and its junction with The Kingsway, as well as work on the route in Morriston.Byron Davies, Welsh Conservative AM candidate for Gower, joined Mrs Hughes collecting petitions yesterday.
He said: "Building over the promenade, and running huge buses along it, will have a huge impact on the local environment and will erode the quality of life for residents."
A fight is being launched against controversial proposals to dig up parts of Swansea's stunning prom.
Council chiefs are looking at the possibility of tearing up part of the prom to create express lanes for high-speed buses, to help them avoid the heavy traffic that regularly clogs the busy coast road.
The idea has met fierce opposition from city residents, with many labelling the plans as vandalism.
They are unhappy at the prospect of losing any green space along Swansea Bay, an area hugely popular with residents and tourists.
Elaine Hughes, of Palmyra Court in West Cross, is hoping to put the brakes on the scheme, and has launched a petition against the plans.
They would see a new bus lane created, branching off from Mumbles Road at Blackpill, and running along the foreshore, eating into grassland parallel to the prom.
The buses would then rejoin Mumbles Road near the junction with Alderwood Road.Mrs Hughes, who is also standing as a Conservative candidate in the upcoming Mumbles Community Council by-election, said residents were overwhelmingly against the plans which had to be stopped.
She said: "I live just off the Mumbles Road in West Cross, and I think that we are very lucky to live in a city with such a beautiful bay.
"I cannot believe anyone would want to rip up the grass and trees and replace them with tarmac and bus lanes.
"The Liberal Alliance which runs Swansea Council will be held responsible for the wanton destruction of a unique resource if they go ahead with their ludicrous plans to run bendy buses along our prom."
The promenade plans are part of the controversial Metro scheme, due to be launched next year, which would introduce 60ft bendy buses to the city. They would run from Morriston Hospital to Mumbles, and are billed as a way of cutting congestion.
Major work has been carried out in the city centre creating a new one-way system which will help accommodate the new buses.
Further work is expected on West Way and its junction with The Kingsway, as well as work on the route in Morriston.Byron Davies, Welsh Conservative AM candidate for Gower, joined Mrs Hughes collecting petitions yesterday.
He said: "Building over the promenade, and running huge buses along it, will have a huge impact on the local environment and will erode the quality of life for residents."
PARTIES URGED TO PULL TOGETHER
South Wales Evening Post - 20 January 2007
Opposition parties have been told to pull together to make the most of turmoil in Swansea Council's ruling group.
The Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative coalition has fallen apart giving opposition parties a majority.
New Conservative group leader Councillor Rene Kinzett pulled the party out of the coalition, although two of the county's five Conservatives have since rejoined the ruling group as Independents. That still leaves the ruling group in a minority and Plaid group leader Councillor Darren Price is now calling for the opposition parties to capitalise.
He said: "The decision by the Tories to jump ship has left the Lib Dem-led administration particularly vulnerable. It now means that the combined opposition groups have a significant majority within the council chamber, and this will now force the Lib Dems to consult more widely on their proposals before bringing them to council.
"I am hoping this will lead to a far more open and transparent decision making process whereby the opinions of all political persuasions will be incorporated into the decisions that the council takes."
The opposition groups now have a majority of eight but do not appear willing to make a bid for control of the council.
Opposition parties have been told to pull together to make the most of turmoil in Swansea Council's ruling group.
The Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative coalition has fallen apart giving opposition parties a majority.
New Conservative group leader Councillor Rene Kinzett pulled the party out of the coalition, although two of the county's five Conservatives have since rejoined the ruling group as Independents. That still leaves the ruling group in a minority and Plaid group leader Councillor Darren Price is now calling for the opposition parties to capitalise.
He said: "The decision by the Tories to jump ship has left the Lib Dem-led administration particularly vulnerable. It now means that the combined opposition groups have a significant majority within the council chamber, and this will now force the Lib Dems to consult more widely on their proposals before bringing them to council.
"I am hoping this will lead to a far more open and transparent decision making process whereby the opinions of all political persuasions will be incorporated into the decisions that the council takes."
The opposition groups now have a majority of eight but do not appear willing to make a bid for control of the council.
DEFECTORS HIT POWER BALANCE IN CITY COUNCIL
South Wales Evening Post - 19 January 2007
The balance of power has shifted again at Swansea Council.
Newly-installed Conservative chief Rene Kinzett has reportedly clashed with city leader Chris Holley in a power struggle.
Councillor Kinzett had been hoping to strengthen his new group's position on the council but was surprised when told two of his members had jumped ship and opted to remain within the ruling administration.
Long-serving Conservative councillors Joan Peters and Huw Rees have reportedly left the party and joined the Independent group on the ruling coalition.
It comes just over a week after Councillor Peters was replaced as Conservative leader after 12 years at the helm.
Councillor Kinzett pulled the Conservatives from the coalition and formed his own group, but the two veteran councillors have revolted.
The switch means the ruling coalition and Labour now both have 32 members.
The Conservative group now has just three members, one less than Plaid.
Tory councillors Kinzett, Paxton Hood-Williams and Tony Lloyd could now lose their roles as scrutiny board chairmen, and the £9,000 bonus they bring.
The revolt also means Swansea Council is delicately balanced with the two major groups tied, but with the coalition holding the casting vote in presiding officer Susan Waller.
How Plaid, the remaining Conservatives and renegade Councillor Ray Welsby vote is still key to pushing the council's plans through.
Councillor Kinzett said talks were continuing with the two rogue councillors.
He said: "Councillors Peters and Rees have currently been persuaded to rejoin the Liberal Alliance.
"However, at this current time, the Welsh Conservative group are renegotiating with them to see if there is an opportunity to continue to work together.
"The Welsh Conservatives on Swansea Council had been negotiating with the Liberal Alliance to continue the coalition led by Chris Holley.
"We were disappointed that at the same time as these negotiations were continuing Councillor Holley and his colleagues were conducting talks behind my back, with individual members of my group.
"Even as late as Wednesday afternoon of this week representatives of the Liberal Alliance were calling on one of my group members to switch to the alliance.
"We will continue to pursue our distinctive policy agenda of value for money, lower taxation and accountability and transparency in all council projects.
"The Welsh Conservative group has no intention of replacing this failing Liberal Alliance with any alternative administration.
"However, we will remain committed to holding this alliance to account for their decisions."
Councillor Holley said: "Councillor Joan Peters and Huw Rees wish to remain in the Swansea administration.
"They have approached me and told me that they wish to remain in the administration and, as such, that is what they are going to do.
"They signed up two-and-a-half years ago to do a job and that is what they are going to do."
Neither Councillor Peters or Rees was available for comment.
The balance of power has shifted again at Swansea Council.
Newly-installed Conservative chief Rene Kinzett has reportedly clashed with city leader Chris Holley in a power struggle.
Councillor Kinzett had been hoping to strengthen his new group's position on the council but was surprised when told two of his members had jumped ship and opted to remain within the ruling administration.
Long-serving Conservative councillors Joan Peters and Huw Rees have reportedly left the party and joined the Independent group on the ruling coalition.
It comes just over a week after Councillor Peters was replaced as Conservative leader after 12 years at the helm.
Councillor Kinzett pulled the Conservatives from the coalition and formed his own group, but the two veteran councillors have revolted.
The switch means the ruling coalition and Labour now both have 32 members.
The Conservative group now has just three members, one less than Plaid.
Tory councillors Kinzett, Paxton Hood-Williams and Tony Lloyd could now lose their roles as scrutiny board chairmen, and the £9,000 bonus they bring.
The revolt also means Swansea Council is delicately balanced with the two major groups tied, but with the coalition holding the casting vote in presiding officer Susan Waller.
How Plaid, the remaining Conservatives and renegade Councillor Ray Welsby vote is still key to pushing the council's plans through.
Councillor Kinzett said talks were continuing with the two rogue councillors.
He said: "Councillors Peters and Rees have currently been persuaded to rejoin the Liberal Alliance.
"However, at this current time, the Welsh Conservative group are renegotiating with them to see if there is an opportunity to continue to work together.
"The Welsh Conservatives on Swansea Council had been negotiating with the Liberal Alliance to continue the coalition led by Chris Holley.
"We were disappointed that at the same time as these negotiations were continuing Councillor Holley and his colleagues were conducting talks behind my back, with individual members of my group.
"Even as late as Wednesday afternoon of this week representatives of the Liberal Alliance were calling on one of my group members to switch to the alliance.
"We will continue to pursue our distinctive policy agenda of value for money, lower taxation and accountability and transparency in all council projects.
"The Welsh Conservative group has no intention of replacing this failing Liberal Alliance with any alternative administration.
"However, we will remain committed to holding this alliance to account for their decisions."
Councillor Holley said: "Councillor Joan Peters and Huw Rees wish to remain in the Swansea administration.
"They have approached me and told me that they wish to remain in the administration and, as such, that is what they are going to do.
"They signed up two-and-a-half years ago to do a job and that is what they are going to do."
Neither Councillor Peters or Rees was available for comment.
FREE BUS TRAVEL FACING THE AXE
South Wales Evening Post - 18 January 2007
Free bus travel could be scrapped for sixth formers using Gorseinon College and Gowerton schools.
Swansea Council is considering cutting free travel for students across the city.
The proposal was brought forward as part of the council's budget proposals last year but members decided against it. Now it has emerged that the plan is back on the table.
Upper Loughor councillor Darren Price labelled the idea a tax on education.
"This extra cost could be the difference in some households between deciding whether to attend a sixth form course, or instead enter employment and contribute to the family expenses," he said.
Cabinet member for education Mike Day said limited Assembly funding meant the council had to look at how savings could be made.
He added: "It is still under consideration. Consultation came to a close before Christmas."We need to come to a decision within the next month."
Swansea mother Hannah Jones from West Cross, whose 17-year-old son Ben attends Gorseinon College, said the proposal would hit many people hard.
She added: "This will add something in the region of £10 to £15 a week to my outgoings.
"I can just about afford it but I know a lot of people will struggle if this does go ahead.
"I think the worst aspect of it is that it could mean the difference between somebody attending college and further education or not.
"I know savings have to be found but it seems wrong to me that education should be hit like this.
"I think other avenues should be explored.''
Free bus travel could be scrapped for sixth formers using Gorseinon College and Gowerton schools.
Swansea Council is considering cutting free travel for students across the city.
The proposal was brought forward as part of the council's budget proposals last year but members decided against it. Now it has emerged that the plan is back on the table.
Upper Loughor councillor Darren Price labelled the idea a tax on education.
"This extra cost could be the difference in some households between deciding whether to attend a sixth form course, or instead enter employment and contribute to the family expenses," he said.
Cabinet member for education Mike Day said limited Assembly funding meant the council had to look at how savings could be made.
He added: "It is still under consideration. Consultation came to a close before Christmas."We need to come to a decision within the next month."
Swansea mother Hannah Jones from West Cross, whose 17-year-old son Ben attends Gorseinon College, said the proposal would hit many people hard.
She added: "This will add something in the region of £10 to £15 a week to my outgoings.
"I can just about afford it but I know a lot of people will struggle if this does go ahead.
"I think the worst aspect of it is that it could mean the difference between somebody attending college and further education or not.
"I know savings have to be found but it seems wrong to me that education should be hit like this.
"I think other avenues should be explored.''
SAFETY BATTLE HOTTING UP
South Wales Evening Post - 18 January 2007
Road safety campaigners are continuing to turn up the heat on Swansea Council over an ongoing dispute in Manselton.Earlier this week spokesman Roy Adams threatened to take the authority to court if there were any more deaths along Manselton Road.
Now Manselton Area Road Safety Action Group has followed up by lodging an official complaint to the council over its highways department's "failure" to drop that road's speed limit from 30mph to 20mph.
The issue surfaced following the death of seven-year-old Vicky Clement, who was killed after being hit by a car being driven along there by Stephen Lewis in September 2005. The 38-year-old, of Heol Frank, Penlan, was jailed for three years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
The group has now written to the authority's corporate complaints department."This complaint concerns the council's failure to include Manselton Road within the Manselton 20mph zone," said spokesman Rhodri Griffiths.
Road safety campaigners are continuing to turn up the heat on Swansea Council over an ongoing dispute in Manselton.Earlier this week spokesman Roy Adams threatened to take the authority to court if there were any more deaths along Manselton Road.
Now Manselton Area Road Safety Action Group has followed up by lodging an official complaint to the council over its highways department's "failure" to drop that road's speed limit from 30mph to 20mph.
The issue surfaced following the death of seven-year-old Vicky Clement, who was killed after being hit by a car being driven along there by Stephen Lewis in September 2005. The 38-year-old, of Heol Frank, Penlan, was jailed for three years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
The group has now written to the authority's corporate complaints department."This complaint concerns the council's failure to include Manselton Road within the Manselton 20mph zone," said spokesman Rhodri Griffiths.
NO CHANGE TO OUR COSTS
South Wales Evening Post - 17 January 2007
Your story about Service@Swansea (Post, January 6) was predicated on the council's decision not to exercise its option to proceed with phase two of the eGovernment programme.
Phase two, Service@Swansea, was intended to provide the council with call and contact centres which would improve customer service and access.
The council has decided that budget pressures and priorities make the original approach to this unaffordable.
There will be no "pull out" by Capgemini. In January 2006, 66 staff transferred to Capgemini from the council at the start of a 10-year ICT support contract.
There have been no "spiralling costs" associated with phase two. Over the past year, Capgemini has worked with the council to consider a range of options for phase two, all of which would have cost less than the original quotation.
Your statement that "the first phase . . . is worth £86 million to . . . Capgemini" is both inaccurate and misleading.
The figure of £86 million far overstates the total contract value to Capgemini, which includes both the implementation of phase one of the programme and the pre-existing cost of running the council's ICT service for 10 years.
As for the cost of the scheme "ballooning from £100 million to £170 million", Capgemini's costs have not changed since the contract was agreed.
Nigel Kirby-Green
Vice-president Technology Services, Capgemini UK
Your story about Service@Swansea (Post, January 6) was predicated on the council's decision not to exercise its option to proceed with phase two of the eGovernment programme.
Phase two, Service@Swansea, was intended to provide the council with call and contact centres which would improve customer service and access.
The council has decided that budget pressures and priorities make the original approach to this unaffordable.
There will be no "pull out" by Capgemini. In January 2006, 66 staff transferred to Capgemini from the council at the start of a 10-year ICT support contract.
There have been no "spiralling costs" associated with phase two. Over the past year, Capgemini has worked with the council to consider a range of options for phase two, all of which would have cost less than the original quotation.
Your statement that "the first phase . . . is worth £86 million to . . . Capgemini" is both inaccurate and misleading.
The figure of £86 million far overstates the total contract value to Capgemini, which includes both the implementation of phase one of the programme and the pre-existing cost of running the council's ICT service for 10 years.
As for the cost of the scheme "ballooning from £100 million to £170 million", Capgemini's costs have not changed since the contract was agreed.
Nigel Kirby-Green
Vice-president Technology Services, Capgemini UK
NO FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR PHASE TWO PULL-OUT
South Wales Evening Post - 16 January 2007
Swansea Council has ruled out the possibility of any financial backlash from its decision to axe the second phase of its controversial eGovernment programme.
The council has decided against pushing ahead with the Service @ Swansea programme that would have created one-stop shops for council services because of spiralling costs.
There were fears that Capgemini, the company brought in to deliver phase one and two of the eGovernment programme, could be entitled to a penalty charge or that councillors or officers could be surcharged.
A spokesman for Swansea Council said there were no penalty clauses in the contract with Capgemini.
He added: "As the cabinet report clearly states, the council had an option on whether or not to collaborate with Capgemini on phase two of Service @ Swansea.
"As there was no legal liability on the council, there could be no issues regarding the liability of members or officers."
Swansea Council has ruled out the possibility of any financial backlash from its decision to axe the second phase of its controversial eGovernment programme.
The council has decided against pushing ahead with the Service @ Swansea programme that would have created one-stop shops for council services because of spiralling costs.
There were fears that Capgemini, the company brought in to deliver phase one and two of the eGovernment programme, could be entitled to a penalty charge or that councillors or officers could be surcharged.
A spokesman for Swansea Council said there were no penalty clauses in the contract with Capgemini.
He added: "As the cabinet report clearly states, the council had an option on whether or not to collaborate with Capgemini on phase two of Service @ Swansea.
"As there was no legal liability on the council, there could be no issues regarding the liability of members or officers."
NEW CHIEF PULLS OUT OF RULING COALITION
South Wales Evening Post - 16 January 2007
A Power shift at Swansea Council has left the city's future on a knife edge.
New Tory leader Rene Kinzett has pulled his party from the ruling administration, cutting its number to just 30.
The Lib Dem-led group is still in control of the council, with Councillor Kinzett pledging to support leader Chris Holley in any vote of no confidence.
But he also warned that the re-formed Conservative group would go its own way on key issues such as eGovernment, the leisure centre project and the controversial bendy bus.
Councillor Kinzett, who was voted Conservative leader last week just six months after switching camps from the Lib Dems, said: "We are going to meet with the leader of the council to negotiate the matter of our support. We will consider individual issues on their merit."
Councillor Kinzett said he would be meeting Conservative leaders in communities across Swansea to canvass opinion on key issues.
He said: "Before the full council on January 25 we will speak with them. By then we will have had a steer from our grassroots on what they want us to do.
"Because there was no official group on the council, it was hard for the grassroots to know who to discuss things with.
"Now there is a group and a clear leadership structure, there is a clear link between the grassroots and the council.
"The Conservatives will have a group position on all the major issues."
The power shift means the Lib Dem and Independent administration no longer hold the most seats in the council.
Labour currently has 32, compared to the administration's 30, with the five-seat Conservatives' pledge of support in the face of a vote of no confidence effectively giving them a majority.
Plaid Cymru's four votes will continue to be a key factor in pushing through any proposals, but the Conservatives' new stance is likely to make it more difficult for the Lib Dem-led administration.
Councillor Kinzett said the Conservatives would focus on issues such as keeping council tax at a reasonable level. He said: "We want value for money and we want projects to be open and accountable."
A Power shift at Swansea Council has left the city's future on a knife edge.
New Tory leader Rene Kinzett has pulled his party from the ruling administration, cutting its number to just 30.
The Lib Dem-led group is still in control of the council, with Councillor Kinzett pledging to support leader Chris Holley in any vote of no confidence.
But he also warned that the re-formed Conservative group would go its own way on key issues such as eGovernment, the leisure centre project and the controversial bendy bus.
Councillor Kinzett, who was voted Conservative leader last week just six months after switching camps from the Lib Dems, said: "We are going to meet with the leader of the council to negotiate the matter of our support. We will consider individual issues on their merit."
Councillor Kinzett said he would be meeting Conservative leaders in communities across Swansea to canvass opinion on key issues.
He said: "Before the full council on January 25 we will speak with them. By then we will have had a steer from our grassroots on what they want us to do.
"Because there was no official group on the council, it was hard for the grassroots to know who to discuss things with.
"Now there is a group and a clear leadership structure, there is a clear link between the grassroots and the council.
"The Conservatives will have a group position on all the major issues."
The power shift means the Lib Dem and Independent administration no longer hold the most seats in the council.
Labour currently has 32, compared to the administration's 30, with the five-seat Conservatives' pledge of support in the face of a vote of no confidence effectively giving them a majority.
Plaid Cymru's four votes will continue to be a key factor in pushing through any proposals, but the Conservatives' new stance is likely to make it more difficult for the Lib Dem-led administration.
Councillor Kinzett said the Conservatives would focus on issues such as keeping council tax at a reasonable level. He said: "We want value for money and we want projects to be open and accountable."
CAPGEMINI DITCHED FROM COUNCIL SCHEME
South Wales Evening Post - 13 January 2007
Senior Swansea councillors have formally ditched the company lined up to help deliver the second phase of its eGovernment programme.
IT firm Capgemini was involved in the first phase of the project but is not being taken on board for the follow-up Service @ Swansea phase.
It aimed to deliver a hi-tech solution so the council could better communicate with its customers.
The first phase to replace IT equipment was signed 12 months ago and is worth £86 million to the firm.But spiralling costs for the project have put the customer service element in doubt, with an out-of-hours call-centre being put on hold.
The authority's cabinet decision means it will have to explore other avenues of achieving its goals.
Council leader Chris Holley said that a lot of hard work over the last year by the authority and Capgemini had shown the phase two proposals were not affordable.
"Phase one will improve the efficiency of support and back office services and will start to show benefits for the council during 2007," he said.
"Continuing reviews of our option to sign up to a Capgemini-managed phase two have shown that there is not a solution that is acceptable to the council. That is why it's being recommended that we don't proceed with this specific deal.
"There are significant budget pressures this year and we must cut our cloth according to what we can afford. That applies to eGovernment as much as it applies to all the other services we provide."
Mary Jones, cabinet member for top performance and eGovernment, said that the people of Swansea wanted easier access to services at a price that was affordable.
She said: "Phase one will introduce a world class system to run all back-office services which will make the council more efficient in the way it runs finance, procurement, personnel and payroll services. This will replace some 30 old, outdated ICT systems. The council is committed to improving the ways in which people can access our services face-to-face, online and over the phone."
Senior Swansea councillors have formally ditched the company lined up to help deliver the second phase of its eGovernment programme.
IT firm Capgemini was involved in the first phase of the project but is not being taken on board for the follow-up Service @ Swansea phase.
It aimed to deliver a hi-tech solution so the council could better communicate with its customers.
The first phase to replace IT equipment was signed 12 months ago and is worth £86 million to the firm.But spiralling costs for the project have put the customer service element in doubt, with an out-of-hours call-centre being put on hold.
The authority's cabinet decision means it will have to explore other avenues of achieving its goals.
Council leader Chris Holley said that a lot of hard work over the last year by the authority and Capgemini had shown the phase two proposals were not affordable.
"Phase one will improve the efficiency of support and back office services and will start to show benefits for the council during 2007," he said.
"Continuing reviews of our option to sign up to a Capgemini-managed phase two have shown that there is not a solution that is acceptable to the council. That is why it's being recommended that we don't proceed with this specific deal.
"There are significant budget pressures this year and we must cut our cloth according to what we can afford. That applies to eGovernment as much as it applies to all the other services we provide."
Mary Jones, cabinet member for top performance and eGovernment, said that the people of Swansea wanted easier access to services at a price that was affordable.
She said: "Phase one will introduce a world class system to run all back-office services which will make the council more efficient in the way it runs finance, procurement, personnel and payroll services. This will replace some 30 old, outdated ICT systems. The council is committed to improving the ways in which people can access our services face-to-face, online and over the phone."
UNION FURY OVER JOBS 'PROMISE'
South Wales Evening Post - 11 January 2007
Union bosses have clashed with Swansea Council over claims of broken leisure centre job promises.
Unison say the authority pledged that Swansea Leisure Centre staff, who lost their posts when the popular tourist attraction closed, would be re-employed if it reopened.
The union also claims the council has failed to honour a commitment to consult on any move to outsource council services.
Swansea Council has dismissed the claims and hit back, stating that no such promise on jobs was given.
Last week the council vowed the hugely popular centre would be reopened by the end of the year.It closed suddenly in November 2003 and was later revealed to be in a hazardous state because of poor maintenance.
Swansea's Lib Dem-led coalition abandoned plans to flatten the centre.
Instead they unveiled a proposal to refurbish it at a cost of £32 million.
Last week they revealed a not-for-profit trust would be in charge of running the centre once it was up and running.
Jeff Baker, of Unison, said the reopening was great news, but was disappointed with the way Swansea Council had handled the move.
He said: "We wrote to the authority saying we welcomed the fact they were planning to open it.
"However, we did remind them they gave us a commitment, because of the debacle that shut the centre, they would re-employ the staff that lost their jobs."
Twenty-five of the 100 staff were made redundant with the others redeployed.
Mr Baker said: "They also have given us a commitment that they would keep everything in-house.
"We are disappointed, because after the IT dispute we were given a formal commitment they would consult with the trade unions on any potential way of owning and running the services.
"It is effectively being outsourced and they have come to this conclusion without consulting us.
"Mr Baker said unions wanted to discuss the different ways of delivering the service and their impacts and benefits.
He said: "We and the public deserve, I think, to look at that and look at the benefits of the service."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "The council did not give any commitment to the unions that they would re-employ staff who were affected by the closure of Swansea Leisure Centre.
"At the time of the closure in November 2003, there was no expectation the leisure centre would reopen.
"The majority of those staff who worked at the centre at that time, and expressed a wish to continue working with the council, were redeployed.
"This is not an issue of outsourcing, because Swansea Leisure Centre does not currently employ any staff.
"Any members of staff who do wish to apply for jobs at Swansea Leisure Centre will be supported in their applications."
Union bosses have clashed with Swansea Council over claims of broken leisure centre job promises.
Unison say the authority pledged that Swansea Leisure Centre staff, who lost their posts when the popular tourist attraction closed, would be re-employed if it reopened.
The union also claims the council has failed to honour a commitment to consult on any move to outsource council services.
Swansea Council has dismissed the claims and hit back, stating that no such promise on jobs was given.
Last week the council vowed the hugely popular centre would be reopened by the end of the year.It closed suddenly in November 2003 and was later revealed to be in a hazardous state because of poor maintenance.
Swansea's Lib Dem-led coalition abandoned plans to flatten the centre.
Instead they unveiled a proposal to refurbish it at a cost of £32 million.
Last week they revealed a not-for-profit trust would be in charge of running the centre once it was up and running.
Jeff Baker, of Unison, said the reopening was great news, but was disappointed with the way Swansea Council had handled the move.
He said: "We wrote to the authority saying we welcomed the fact they were planning to open it.
"However, we did remind them they gave us a commitment, because of the debacle that shut the centre, they would re-employ the staff that lost their jobs."
Twenty-five of the 100 staff were made redundant with the others redeployed.
Mr Baker said: "They also have given us a commitment that they would keep everything in-house.
"We are disappointed, because after the IT dispute we were given a formal commitment they would consult with the trade unions on any potential way of owning and running the services.
"It is effectively being outsourced and they have come to this conclusion without consulting us.
"Mr Baker said unions wanted to discuss the different ways of delivering the service and their impacts and benefits.
He said: "We and the public deserve, I think, to look at that and look at the benefits of the service."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said: "The council did not give any commitment to the unions that they would re-employ staff who were affected by the closure of Swansea Leisure Centre.
"At the time of the closure in November 2003, there was no expectation the leisure centre would reopen.
"The majority of those staff who worked at the centre at that time, and expressed a wish to continue working with the council, were redeployed.
"This is not an issue of outsourcing, because Swansea Leisure Centre does not currently employ any staff.
"Any members of staff who do wish to apply for jobs at Swansea Leisure Centre will be supported in their applications."
NEW TORY CHIEF IS TURNCOAT FROM LIB DEMS
South Wales Evening Post - 11 January 2007
Turncoat councillor Rene Kinzett has been named the new leader of Swansea's Conservative Party.
The former Lib Dem only joined the party last June, but was voted into the top job at a meeting earlier this week.
He has taken the reins from long-serving leader Joan Peters, who has headed the party since 1995.
The 31-year-old Mayals ward member has pledged to make the Conservatives more vocal on Swansea Council and make local people's voices heard on key issues such as the bendy bus scheme, eGovernment and the leisure centre.
Councillor Kinzett, who lives in Sketty, said: "We can increase the numbers of Welsh Conservative councillors in Swansea in the local elections in 2008, but we have to modernise locally, as well as nationally.
"I hope that by electing me as the leader of the Welsh Conservative party in Swansea, we have shown that we are up to the challenge of providing the people of our city and county with strong, modern and effective Conservative representation at all levels of government."
Councillor Kinzett, and his deputy councillor Paxton Hood-Williams, were elected at the party's annual meeting on Monday.
The Mayals councillor's appointment marks a huge change of fortune in a short space of time.
Last year he narrowly missed out on the Lib Dem nomination for the Swansea West Assembly seat.
Soon after the former coalition spokesman switched parties and joined the Conservatives, pointing to the party's change of direction under David Cameron as a major factor.
He is now hoping to turn round the fortunes of the blue party in Swansea.
"The Welsh Conservatives at their peak had around 18 councillors on the old city council.
"We know where we work and where we can win," he said.
"We are very confident that we can take many more council seats in 2008."
He also praised the efforts of Councillor Peters who will keep her role as cabinet member for local regeneration.
Councillor Kinzett said: "The Welsh Conservative group on Swansea Council has been led by Joan Peters through some very difficult times in the party's history."
Joan deserves our thanks and continued support for all the hard work and dedication she gave to the party throughout her leadership."
Turncoat councillor Rene Kinzett has been named the new leader of Swansea's Conservative Party.
The former Lib Dem only joined the party last June, but was voted into the top job at a meeting earlier this week.
He has taken the reins from long-serving leader Joan Peters, who has headed the party since 1995.
The 31-year-old Mayals ward member has pledged to make the Conservatives more vocal on Swansea Council and make local people's voices heard on key issues such as the bendy bus scheme, eGovernment and the leisure centre.
Councillor Kinzett, who lives in Sketty, said: "We can increase the numbers of Welsh Conservative councillors in Swansea in the local elections in 2008, but we have to modernise locally, as well as nationally.
"I hope that by electing me as the leader of the Welsh Conservative party in Swansea, we have shown that we are up to the challenge of providing the people of our city and county with strong, modern and effective Conservative representation at all levels of government."
Councillor Kinzett, and his deputy councillor Paxton Hood-Williams, were elected at the party's annual meeting on Monday.
The Mayals councillor's appointment marks a huge change of fortune in a short space of time.
Last year he narrowly missed out on the Lib Dem nomination for the Swansea West Assembly seat.
Soon after the former coalition spokesman switched parties and joined the Conservatives, pointing to the party's change of direction under David Cameron as a major factor.
He is now hoping to turn round the fortunes of the blue party in Swansea.
"The Welsh Conservatives at their peak had around 18 councillors on the old city council.
"We know where we work and where we can win," he said.
"We are very confident that we can take many more council seats in 2008."
He also praised the efforts of Councillor Peters who will keep her role as cabinet member for local regeneration.
Councillor Kinzett said: "The Welsh Conservative group on Swansea Council has been led by Joan Peters through some very difficult times in the party's history."
Joan deserves our thanks and continued support for all the hard work and dedication she gave to the party throughout her leadership."
Rent guarantee offer to council tenants
Swansea Leader - January 2007
COUNCIL house tenants in Swansea are being offered a lifetime rent guarantee under plans to transfer homes to a new housing organisation.
The pledge means that if council tenants vote for the transfer of Council housing to Tawe Housing – a non profit making organisation which hasbeen established by the Council – their rent will be no higher than Council rents.
It’s one of the main messages in new information leaflets that are updating the city’s 13,500 council tenants on the future of their homes.
The transfer would unlock an extra £195 million to be spent improving homes and estates up to the Welsh Housing Quality standard in the first 10 years alone, and tenants are being offered the opportunity to vote on whether they want this to happen.
Tenants are being promised that transfer to the proposed community housing mutual, Tawe Housing, will mean key rights are protected, including the continued right to buy their council home if they have that right now.
Tenants are being reassured that under the new tenancy agreement it would not be easier for Tawe Housing to evict them.
The aim of the information campaign is to ensure that tenants do understand the facts about transfer, and how it will affect them and their home.
In the first leaflet tenants are to be urged to make sure that they make their decision on the facts.
They are told that transfer would mean a better home, a better estate, more local jobs and a bigger say in how things are done.
They are warned if tenants vote no to the transfer this extra money will not be available.
The leaflet also explains the protection of key rights if transfer to Tawe Housing takes place.
It states that because of the terms of the new tenancy agreement it would not be easier for Tawe Housing to evict them, tenants would still have the Right to Buy their home and they would not have to move out of their home.
Lee Morgan, Head of Housing said, “We have listened to what tenants have told us and there has been a call for more facts to enable them to make their choice.
“These are very important issues for tenants and we want them to have all the information they require.
“We are keen to equip tenants with the facts about the proposal so that they can make an informed decision about what transfer will mean for them and their communities.
“Transfer would mean an extra £195 million to spend on houses and estates during the next 10 years. If tenants vote no to transfer this extra money will not be available.”
Further information is available from the Independent Tenants Advisor – Heart of Wales on Freephone 0800 195 4591 or the Council’s Freephone helpline on 0800 013 1695.
COUNCIL house tenants in Swansea are being offered a lifetime rent guarantee under plans to transfer homes to a new housing organisation.
The pledge means that if council tenants vote for the transfer of Council housing to Tawe Housing – a non profit making organisation which hasbeen established by the Council – their rent will be no higher than Council rents.
It’s one of the main messages in new information leaflets that are updating the city’s 13,500 council tenants on the future of their homes.
The transfer would unlock an extra £195 million to be spent improving homes and estates up to the Welsh Housing Quality standard in the first 10 years alone, and tenants are being offered the opportunity to vote on whether they want this to happen.
Tenants are being promised that transfer to the proposed community housing mutual, Tawe Housing, will mean key rights are protected, including the continued right to buy their council home if they have that right now.
Tenants are being reassured that under the new tenancy agreement it would not be easier for Tawe Housing to evict them.
The aim of the information campaign is to ensure that tenants do understand the facts about transfer, and how it will affect them and their home.
In the first leaflet tenants are to be urged to make sure that they make their decision on the facts.
They are told that transfer would mean a better home, a better estate, more local jobs and a bigger say in how things are done.
They are warned if tenants vote no to the transfer this extra money will not be available.
The leaflet also explains the protection of key rights if transfer to Tawe Housing takes place.
It states that because of the terms of the new tenancy agreement it would not be easier for Tawe Housing to evict them, tenants would still have the Right to Buy their home and they would not have to move out of their home.
Lee Morgan, Head of Housing said, “We have listened to what tenants have told us and there has been a call for more facts to enable them to make their choice.
“These are very important issues for tenants and we want them to have all the information they require.
“We are keen to equip tenants with the facts about the proposal so that they can make an informed decision about what transfer will mean for them and their communities.
“Transfer would mean an extra £195 million to spend on houses and estates during the next 10 years. If tenants vote no to transfer this extra money will not be available.”
Further information is available from the Independent Tenants Advisor – Heart of Wales on Freephone 0800 195 4591 or the Council’s Freephone helpline on 0800 013 1695.
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
South Wales Evening Post - 9 January 2007
So, Capgemini is to be shelved from phase two of the Service @ Swansea project, having cost council taxpayers up to £170 million for both phases to come to fruition.
One thing Service @ Swansea will certainly manage to achieve is a massive rise in council tax bills.
I think this matter should go to the auditor general for scrutiny, as someone somewhere has a lot of questions to answer.
The questions now are who will succeed Capgemini, and how much more is that going to cost?
Chris Powell, Llansamlet, Swansea
So, Capgemini is to be shelved from phase two of the Service @ Swansea project, having cost council taxpayers up to £170 million for both phases to come to fruition.
One thing Service @ Swansea will certainly manage to achieve is a massive rise in council tax bills.
I think this matter should go to the auditor general for scrutiny, as someone somewhere has a lot of questions to answer.
The questions now are who will succeed Capgemini, and how much more is that going to cost?
Chris Powell, Llansamlet, Swansea
UNION BLAST AT COUNCIL OVER 'INCOMPETENCE'
South Wales Evening Post - 9 January 2007
Union bosses have hit out at Swansea Council chiefs after they ditched an IT firm from delivering an all-singing, all-dancing customer service call centre.
Jeff Baker, Unison branch secretary for Swansea, said the decision to pull the plug on Capgemini vindicated council IT staff who walked out in one of Wales's longest public-sector strikes.
Staff were unhappy at proposals to transfer their jobs from Swansea Council to the private IT firm.
However, the news that Capgemini will not be involved with the second phase of the scheme to supply a customer call centre could mean jobs are at risk.
Mr Baker said: "Our opposition to this project has been completely vindicated by this decision. What we have been saying since 2004 is that such a large and complicated scheme would not work.
"We are concerned that there must have been millions of pounds spent on consultations with Capgemini."
The project was designed to replace outdated IT systems and to give people in Swansea a state-of-the-art call centre and a one-stop contact shop in County Hall.
Council leaders have confirmed the call centre work has been put on hold.
Council leader Chris Holley said: "There are significant budget pressures this year and we must cut our cloth according to what we can afford.
"That applies to eGovernment as much as it applies to all the other services we provide."
The deal was pushed through by former chief executive Tim Thorogood and signed off by Bob Carter, another senior manager who has since left the council.
Labour group leader David Phillips says he wants answers.
He said: "I will be asking for both Bob Carter and Tim Thorogood to come back to the council to explain why this has gone wrong so quickly.
"Phase one was supposed to generate £18 million of savings to pay for phase two but they can't even make it break even.
"It was obvious 12 months ago this over-ambitious programme was in trouble. Why has it taken so long to act?
"Just two weeks ago the council was briefing the press claiming everything was on target.
"If that was so, why has it now been cancelled? It's the council taxpayers who are having to fund this incompetence."
Your Views
Council leader Chris Holley leads a coalition of Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative councillors who all said their opposed the Service@Swansea project before the last elections. Nearly three years, 88 jobs and £90 million later, they have finally lived up to their manifesto promises. Thanks for nothing!
Sam, formerly Swansea Council
The Lib Dems like calling Jeff Baker "Bonkers" on their website but it looks he has been vindicated. Perhaps the politicians in charge will think twice in future about denigrating staff when it comes to how services should be provided.
Geoff Laidlaw, Killay
I do not have very good experiences of call centre but if the Council is spending all this money on County Hall then it should at least deliver the goods. I do hope that this has not all been pie in the sky promises.
Jimbo, Mumbles
Didnt I read that there was supposed to be an official investigation into how much money had been wasted by Swansea Council on this? Will that now be cancelled as well? Another whitewash.
Francis, Swansea
With the new senior people who signed off the Service@Swansea deal no longer working for the Council, the politicians they have left behind look to be seriously out of their depth. I hope that the Evening Post makes sure that all the details of this fiasco are exposed and doesnt just repeat the usual Council spin.
Peter Larssen, Tycoch
Why did councillor Holley not know about the costs before emabarking on the scheme in the first place? He has placed vital council services at risk by cutting budgets to pay for this pet project and now it doesn't seem to b going anywhere. Perhaps he should go instead.
Malcolm, Swansea
Union bosses have hit out at Swansea Council chiefs after they ditched an IT firm from delivering an all-singing, all-dancing customer service call centre.
Jeff Baker, Unison branch secretary for Swansea, said the decision to pull the plug on Capgemini vindicated council IT staff who walked out in one of Wales's longest public-sector strikes.
Staff were unhappy at proposals to transfer their jobs from Swansea Council to the private IT firm.
However, the news that Capgemini will not be involved with the second phase of the scheme to supply a customer call centre could mean jobs are at risk.
Mr Baker said: "Our opposition to this project has been completely vindicated by this decision. What we have been saying since 2004 is that such a large and complicated scheme would not work.
"We are concerned that there must have been millions of pounds spent on consultations with Capgemini."
The project was designed to replace outdated IT systems and to give people in Swansea a state-of-the-art call centre and a one-stop contact shop in County Hall.
Council leaders have confirmed the call centre work has been put on hold.
Council leader Chris Holley said: "There are significant budget pressures this year and we must cut our cloth according to what we can afford.
"That applies to eGovernment as much as it applies to all the other services we provide."
The deal was pushed through by former chief executive Tim Thorogood and signed off by Bob Carter, another senior manager who has since left the council.
Labour group leader David Phillips says he wants answers.
He said: "I will be asking for both Bob Carter and Tim Thorogood to come back to the council to explain why this has gone wrong so quickly.
"Phase one was supposed to generate £18 million of savings to pay for phase two but they can't even make it break even.
"It was obvious 12 months ago this over-ambitious programme was in trouble. Why has it taken so long to act?
"Just two weeks ago the council was briefing the press claiming everything was on target.
"If that was so, why has it now been cancelled? It's the council taxpayers who are having to fund this incompetence."
Your Views
Council leader Chris Holley leads a coalition of Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative councillors who all said their opposed the Service@Swansea project before the last elections. Nearly three years, 88 jobs and £90 million later, they have finally lived up to their manifesto promises. Thanks for nothing!
Sam, formerly Swansea Council
The Lib Dems like calling Jeff Baker "Bonkers" on their website but it looks he has been vindicated. Perhaps the politicians in charge will think twice in future about denigrating staff when it comes to how services should be provided.
Geoff Laidlaw, Killay
I do not have very good experiences of call centre but if the Council is spending all this money on County Hall then it should at least deliver the goods. I do hope that this has not all been pie in the sky promises.
Jimbo, Mumbles
Didnt I read that there was supposed to be an official investigation into how much money had been wasted by Swansea Council on this? Will that now be cancelled as well? Another whitewash.
Francis, Swansea
With the new senior people who signed off the Service@Swansea deal no longer working for the Council, the politicians they have left behind look to be seriously out of their depth. I hope that the Evening Post makes sure that all the details of this fiasco are exposed and doesnt just repeat the usual Council spin.
Peter Larssen, Tycoch
Why did councillor Holley not know about the costs before emabarking on the scheme in the first place? He has placed vital council services at risk by cutting budgets to pay for this pet project and now it doesn't seem to b going anywhere. Perhaps he should go instead.
Malcolm, Swansea
FACILITY WILL BE DRAIN ON COUNCIL RESOURCES
South Wales Evening Post - 6 January 2007
The new leisure centre will cost tax payers £1 million in running costs next year - despite only opening for three months.
Swansea Council has set aside the cash in the budget for "pre-opening and running costs of the refurbished leisure centre".
The money will cover the next financial year from April to the end of March, 2008, just weeks after the proposed opening date.
Swansea Council leaders have also announced the centre will be run by a group which will include members of the public. A not-for-profit company will be created to take advantage of tax laws, and council bosses will appoint ordinary people to the management board.
The team will also include business people from the area, councillors and staff at the centre.
Council leader Chris Holley said the move would ensure people in the city get the best value for money from the £32 million centre.
"This is an exciting initiative. The refurbished leisure centre will be run by the people of Swansea for the people of Swansea. For the first time citizens will have a real say in how a leisure facility is run and they will run it in the best interests of the community."
According to Phil Davies, the man in charge of the project, the leisure centre will continue to have handouts from the council throughout its life.
He said: "I do not know of one leisure centre that makes a profit. The council is providing a service, and like all other services, it needs to be paid for."
The new leisure centre will cost tax payers £1 million in running costs next year - despite only opening for three months.
Swansea Council has set aside the cash in the budget for "pre-opening and running costs of the refurbished leisure centre".
The money will cover the next financial year from April to the end of March, 2008, just weeks after the proposed opening date.
Swansea Council leaders have also announced the centre will be run by a group which will include members of the public. A not-for-profit company will be created to take advantage of tax laws, and council bosses will appoint ordinary people to the management board.
The team will also include business people from the area, councillors and staff at the centre.
Council leader Chris Holley said the move would ensure people in the city get the best value for money from the £32 million centre.
"This is an exciting initiative. The refurbished leisure centre will be run by the people of Swansea for the people of Swansea. For the first time citizens will have a real say in how a leisure facility is run and they will run it in the best interests of the community."
According to Phil Davies, the man in charge of the project, the leisure centre will continue to have handouts from the council throughout its life.
He said: "I do not know of one leisure centre that makes a profit. The council is providing a service, and like all other services, it needs to be paid for."
COUNCIL'S BIG HI-TECH DREAM HITS BUFFERS WITH PULL-OUT
South Wales Evening Post - 6 January 2007
The company brought in to deliver a hi-tech solution for the council to communicate with its customers has been scrapped from the project's second phase.
IT firm Capgemini which helped deliver the first phase of the project has been told its services for phase two are no longer required.
The massive project was designed to replace outdated computer systems and give residents a state-of-the art call centre.
The first phase to replace IT equipment was signed 12 months ago and is worth £86 million to Swansea-based IT firm Capgemini.
However, spiralling costs for the project have put the customer service element in doubt. An out of hours call-centre has been put on hold.
Council Leader Chris Holley said: "Continuing reviews of our option to sign up to a Capgemini-managed phase two have shown there is not a solution that is acceptable to the council.
"That is why it is being recommended we don't proceed with this specific deal."
That is a complete U-turn on comments made two years ago, when the councillor in charge of the project, Mary Jones, described the decision to use the firm as "probably the most significant and exciting decision this council will take for many years".
The scheme has been mired in controversy. Council IT staff walked out in one of the longest-running public sector strikes to hit Wales over plans to transfer jobs to Capgemini.
The cost of the scheme has ballooned, from around £100 million to £170 million for phases one and two.Estimated savings from the project have also been scaled back from between £30 and £50 million to £26 million. So far only £7.4 million of those savings have been identified as achievable.
Former chief executive Tim Thorogood, who helped push through the project, left Swansea Council before any deal could be signed because of a planning row at his Rhossili home.
The second phase, known as Service@Swansea, was designed to bring massive improvements to services.
Residents were told they would get an out-of-hours call centre and a one-stop shop where they could get all their council inquiries answered in one go.
The customer contact centre will open in County Hall later this year, but plans for the call centre are on hold in what Councillor Holley has described as "a sensible and prudent decision".
When the scheme was being sold to residents Councillor Jones said: "It will mean they can call a corporate call centre and speak to a highly trained member of staff. They'll be able to resolve any number of inquiries on the spot - from housing benefit to booking a sports facility, or paying council tax.
"They'll do this by using a new world-class computer system that links all relevant customer information, helping to resolve 80 per cent of all inquiries during the first call."
Labour group leader David Phillips said the scheme had grown out of hand.
"This has been on the cards for ages. From the time the eGovernment was split into phases it has been unworkable.
"This is something that should have been done a lot earlier - how much time and money has been spent on trying to make the unworkable work?
"This also raises a very big question mark about phase two."We have spent millions of pounds of council taxpayers' money, ostensibly to improve the service they get when dealing with the council, but have not improved one thing. It also raises serious questions about the Civic Centre project and whether a one-stop shop will work if we do not have the software in place."
The company brought in to deliver a hi-tech solution for the council to communicate with its customers has been scrapped from the project's second phase.
IT firm Capgemini which helped deliver the first phase of the project has been told its services for phase two are no longer required.
The massive project was designed to replace outdated computer systems and give residents a state-of-the art call centre.
The first phase to replace IT equipment was signed 12 months ago and is worth £86 million to Swansea-based IT firm Capgemini.
However, spiralling costs for the project have put the customer service element in doubt. An out of hours call-centre has been put on hold.
Council Leader Chris Holley said: "Continuing reviews of our option to sign up to a Capgemini-managed phase two have shown there is not a solution that is acceptable to the council.
"That is why it is being recommended we don't proceed with this specific deal."
That is a complete U-turn on comments made two years ago, when the councillor in charge of the project, Mary Jones, described the decision to use the firm as "probably the most significant and exciting decision this council will take for many years".
The scheme has been mired in controversy. Council IT staff walked out in one of the longest-running public sector strikes to hit Wales over plans to transfer jobs to Capgemini.
The cost of the scheme has ballooned, from around £100 million to £170 million for phases one and two.Estimated savings from the project have also been scaled back from between £30 and £50 million to £26 million. So far only £7.4 million of those savings have been identified as achievable.
Former chief executive Tim Thorogood, who helped push through the project, left Swansea Council before any deal could be signed because of a planning row at his Rhossili home.
The second phase, known as Service@Swansea, was designed to bring massive improvements to services.
Residents were told they would get an out-of-hours call centre and a one-stop shop where they could get all their council inquiries answered in one go.
The customer contact centre will open in County Hall later this year, but plans for the call centre are on hold in what Councillor Holley has described as "a sensible and prudent decision".
When the scheme was being sold to residents Councillor Jones said: "It will mean they can call a corporate call centre and speak to a highly trained member of staff. They'll be able to resolve any number of inquiries on the spot - from housing benefit to booking a sports facility, or paying council tax.
"They'll do this by using a new world-class computer system that links all relevant customer information, helping to resolve 80 per cent of all inquiries during the first call."
Labour group leader David Phillips said the scheme had grown out of hand.
"This has been on the cards for ages. From the time the eGovernment was split into phases it has been unworkable.
"This is something that should have been done a lot earlier - how much time and money has been spent on trying to make the unworkable work?
"This also raises a very big question mark about phase two."We have spent millions of pounds of council taxpayers' money, ostensibly to improve the service they get when dealing with the council, but have not improved one thing. It also raises serious questions about the Civic Centre project and whether a one-stop shop will work if we do not have the software in place."
RIGHT TIME TO PULL PLUG
South Wales Evening Post - 6 January 2007
Swansea Council is right to quit while it's still (just) ahead.
Its ambitious attempt to update the authority's computer systems and transfer some jobs into the hands of a private firm has staggered from one controversy to another.
Since the start, the scheme has been dogged by dispute, disbelief and dismay: Firstly, council IT staff walked out in one of the longest running public sector strikes to hit Wales over authority plans to transfer jobs to private IT firm Capgemini.
Secondly, the cost of the two-phase scheme rocketed, from £100 million to £170 million.
Finally, estimated savings from the project were scaled back from around £50 million to £26 million, with only £7.4 million of those savings identified as achievable.
Hopefully lessons have been learned and pushing ahead with phase two - with any partner - should now be reviewed.
Pressing the pause button heralds a common sense approach from County Hall and its new chief executive, and is in marked contrast to his predecessor's head-in-the-clouds attitude to local government.
Swansea Council is right to quit while it's still (just) ahead.
Its ambitious attempt to update the authority's computer systems and transfer some jobs into the hands of a private firm has staggered from one controversy to another.
Since the start, the scheme has been dogged by dispute, disbelief and dismay: Firstly, council IT staff walked out in one of the longest running public sector strikes to hit Wales over authority plans to transfer jobs to private IT firm Capgemini.
Secondly, the cost of the two-phase scheme rocketed, from £100 million to £170 million.
Finally, estimated savings from the project were scaled back from around £50 million to £26 million, with only £7.4 million of those savings identified as achievable.
Hopefully lessons have been learned and pushing ahead with phase two - with any partner - should now be reviewed.
Pressing the pause button heralds a common sense approach from County Hall and its new chief executive, and is in marked contrast to his predecessor's head-in-the-clouds attitude to local government.
SECOND PORN SHOCK ON POLITICAL WEBSITE
South Wales Evening Post - 3 January 2007
Weeks after the official Swansea and Gower Liberal Democrat website was taken over by a search site offering links to hard core porn another site linked to the group has gone awry.
The unofficial Inside Swansea blog dishes the dirt on political rivals at Swansea Council and is thought to be run by senior political figures in the Swansea coalition made up of Lib Dems, Conservatives and Independents.
The site is now dishing up dirt of another kind with links to adult sites.
The first blunder on the official website has now been fixed. That was blamed on a short period when the site was not registered with the party.
A search engine was put in its place, and as with the Inside Swansea Blog, it was replaced with a search engine listing links to a number of adult sites.
Weeks after the official Swansea and Gower Liberal Democrat website was taken over by a search site offering links to hard core porn another site linked to the group has gone awry.
The unofficial Inside Swansea blog dishes the dirt on political rivals at Swansea Council and is thought to be run by senior political figures in the Swansea coalition made up of Lib Dems, Conservatives and Independents.
The site is now dishing up dirt of another kind with links to adult sites.
The first blunder on the official website has now been fixed. That was blamed on a short period when the site was not registered with the party.
A search engine was put in its place, and as with the Inside Swansea Blog, it was replaced with a search engine listing links to a number of adult sites.
