Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mr D Anderson-Thomas and Mrs S Joiner. 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interests was declared:

 

Councillor M Thomas - personal - Minute Nos. – Cabinet Member Question Session – Wellbeing Portfolio and Scrutiny Panel Progress Report – Wellbeing Portfolio.  My wife works for the Authority in Adult Social Services.  My Mother uses Adult Social Services.  Councillor M Thomas stated that he had dispensation from the Standards Committee.

 

In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were declared.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 7 July, 2014.

 

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 7 July, 2014, be agreed as a correct record.

 

The Committee were updated on the following:

 

Minute no. 22 – WAO Report – Good Scrutiny?  Good Question!

 

A Wales Audit Office representative is available to attend the next meeting on 2 September, 2014. 

 

Minute no. 23 – Cabinet Member Question Session – Cabinet Member for Opportunities for Children and Young People

 

The Chair will write to the Cabinet Member following the presentation by the Director of People on the Children and Young People’s Rights Scheme.

 

Minute no. 28 – Forward Look (Cabinet Business) – Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny

 

The Cabinet Member for Citizen, Community Engagement and Democracy would be attending the next meeting for the Cabinet Member Question Session and therefore issues surrounding forward look and opportunities for pre decision scrutiny would be discussed during that session.

 

 

( Councillor Mark Child attending )

The Committee took the opportunity to question Councillor M C Child on his work having responsibility and accountability as Cabinet Member for Wellbeing.

 

The Cabinet Member provided an update to the portfolio work he had undertaken, providing details on supported housing; affordable housing; children and family services; adult services, western bay and healthy cities.  He also highlighted a number of areas of work undertaken.

 

The Committee asked questions in relation to the portfolio objectives and developments, focussing on key activities, achievements and impact.

 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Wellbeing confirmed that:

 

·       Political accountability.  Expressed concerns about the way we set up political input and answerability.  Protocol needs to be established.  Met with Cabinet Member in Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend standard invitation to top level meeting when Leaders meet who don’t know as much as Cabinet Members.  Important that you make it happen, set up Group or contact equivalent committees, set up standing committee or one off.  Important that you do Western Bay rushing ahead of transfer.  A lot of responsibility and money, does need involvement.

·       Reference was made to a presentation on 13 August regarding Western Bay.  Hoping there will be information on governance arrangements.

·       Report back on presentation we have one governance structure and arrangements in place, Chairs of other scrutiny boards in Neath Port Talbot.

·       Working closer with other organisations.

·       Figures for flying start, safeguarding and LAC.  Produce figures for whole population, figures for target areas.  Unsure of positive outcomes.  Within portfolio have figures hopefully see drop in LAC figures across the County nice to see that flying start outside my portfolio.  No reason why we cannot combine.  This requires some analysis, wont be available today.  LAC told that high numbers in certain areas presume that they are targeted areas.  Valuable.

·       Western Bay giving every child the best start in life, important to respond to the answer.

·       Results based accountability, there should be reporting mechanism should be simple reporting mechanism.  Not sure that this has had any impact within Social Services.  Have we used it?

·       New bill says we have to standardise measurements on outcomes bet does not include what outcomes are.  We are waiting for new set of parameters that we are all going to use in Wales.  Waiting for proper guidance from Welsh Government before doing it.

·       Do you have representation on that working group?

·       Don’t know, ex director is a member.

·       Elderly, community connections don’t break down figures to particular areas, can you have figures broken down to different health and social care areas.  Can you make a move towards having figures broken down?  Difficult to see community connectors.

·       Require analysis to get figures ot you.  Individual performance of community connectors need base line figures.  I know that they are making a difference, my encounters say getting across well help clients and patients. Other places have undertaken this approach and had success.  Aim to reduce need for social services, resilience, sustainability, mapping provision.

·       Aids available in time for some of equipment reduction in time does that include people waiting for initial assessment.  Break down so that we have understanding.  Start and finish dates.

·       Reduction trying to things that can be done quickly.  Extension with lift £20k work that can take substantially long time, does not mean other things cannot be done. 

·       Case conferences been involved as advocate, 16-18 people forensic assessment sometimes delay by 2-3 months, Council blamed not necessarily our staff.  Very dedicated and hard working staff.

·       Waiting for reports from other medical establishments, frustrating and damaging.  Not under our control a lot of these people operate independently have asked officers to check with them they have obligation to respond within timescale, don’t understand why it takes so long to get report.

·       Affordable housing, falling short, issues with developers and planning.  How can we be more effective in bringing developers to book.

·       Sympathetic there has not been enough build in Swansea, developers say requirement of 30% as some kind of reduction in the market.  Support by strengthening our own policies, decision making in planning itself about.  In process of looking at whole planning area and giving clearer messages to developers.

·       Affordable housing, explore new models, what alternatives are there?

·       Not an option for Council to do this.  Build to rent, buy the capital of a property, co-operative, self build models.

·       Update on TASS, next key milestones.  Pressure, demographics looking at different models.  Part is community connect, telecare, day care and residential provision, report early September.

 

 

( Convener: Councillor Paxton Hood – Williams )

The Convenor of the Wellbeing Scrutiny Performance Panel presented the Panel Update and sought agreement to the recommendations contained in the letter dated 17 July, 2014 to the Scrutiny Programme Committee.

 

He referred to the concerns raised by Members of the Wellbeing Panel regarding workload and the capacity of the panel to ensure that scrutiny of performance of both adult and child and family services was focussed and robust.

 

A discussion ensued regarding the lack of performance data in respect of adult social services; the implications of the transformation of adult social services and the need for clear terms of reference. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Wellbeing stated that he welcomed a Panel that solely examined Child and Family Services as it is important that the focus remains.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

·       To performance panels be established, one to scrutinise the performance of Child and Family Services and one to scrutinise the performance of Adult Social Services (including the transformation of adult social services);

·       The performance panels are given consent by the Scrutiny Programme to undertake pre-decision scrutiny; and

·       Effective scrutiny takes place on the operation and governance arrangements of the regional Western Bay as it relates to Child and Family Services and Adult Social Services.

( Chris Sivers, Director of People, attending)

The Director of People presented the Children and Young People’s Rights Scheme for Swansea and sets out arrangements to ensure compliance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) (UNCRC). 

 

The report was considered by Cabinet on 29 July, 2014 and approval was given to commence the public consultation exercise. 

 

Members noted the background of the Scheme and the work undertaken by Officers and external organisations.    An operational decision had been made in relation to impact assessments within the existing equality impact assessments. 

 

The Scheme is supported across the Council and a training programme is being devised

 

Youth participation officers began the consultation process with a group of young people 2 weeks ago to get voice of young people and notification letters to have been sent to all key partners (third sector organisations and statutory organisations). 

 

The role of scrutiny was detailed to ensure compliance in addition to the work of Swansea University who would be acting as a critical friend. 

 

Members’ questions focussed on the robustness of the Scheme; the impact on existing budgets; training; monitoring outcomes; engaging children and any possible conflicts between future decisions.

 

In response to Member questions the Director of People confirmed that the

implementation of the Scheme would be done within existing budgets, with individual champions from each department within the Council reprioritising workloads to ensure the development of the Scheme is achieved.    

 

Training had been provided by the Welsh Government free of charge. 

 

Feedback from Estyn had been positive, despite there being no statistics.  Children were deemed to be inexplicably happy possibly as a result of having more confidence and a greater understanding of welfare and child protection issues.  Processes for measuring outcomes were being developed. 

 

In relation to engagement with children, Schools were working closely with the  voluntary sector partners and this created a better variety of networks.

 

A letter had been received from the Welsh Government praising work model for across Wales.

 

RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.

 

 

 

Inward Investment ( Convener: Councillor Jeff Jones)

The Convenor of the Inward Investment Scrutiny Inquiry presented the final report and sought approval to agree the report for submission to Cabinet, identify any issues that might be emphasised as the report is presented to Cabinet and consider whether any issues arising merit inclusion in the future scrutiny work programme.

 

Councillor J Jones detailed the aims of the inquiry, the evidence considered, and the conclusions and recommendations.

 

The Committee debated the report and asked questions of Councillor J Jones who responded accordingly.

 

The Committee thanked the Panel for its work.

 

RESOLVED that the report proceed to Cabinet.

The Chair presented the Scrutiny Annual Report 2013-2014 which provided background to the annual report and the reason for the format.

 

The Chair referred to the Scrutiny Despatches profile and his intention to raise the profile at Council meetings.

 

RESOLVED that the report be AGREED.

a)       Committee Work Plan

b)       Progress of Panels/Working Groups

c)       Draft Inquiry Panel Brief – Corporate Culture

d)       Public Request for Scrutiny

e)       Forward Look ( Cabinet Business)

The Chair presented the Scrutiny Work Programme 2014/15.  The report explained the background and purpose of the Scrutiny Work Programme and the current position of all scrutiny activities.  The Work Programme referred to the work currently active, showing progress with the established Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.  The Work Plan Timetable for future Committee meetings was also provided. 

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Manager referred to the manner in which indepth pieces of work are dealt.  A discussion ensued regarding the impact and benefits of working groups as opposed to inquiry panels.   Members felt that a clear focus for the meeting was important along with better research and information.

 

 

RESOLVED to try new approach.

 

Public requests for scrutiny – Welsh Medium Education.  Are you happy with this request.

 

Two other requests come in today.

 

Chris Holley immediate investigation into policy for school transport budget of schools.

 

RESOLVED to ask for more information.

 

Councillor Paul Lloyd complaints procedure asked myself and Christine Richards to look into this.

 

RESOLVED that more information be provided.         

 

At the previous Scrutiny Programme Committee it was requested that further information be provided on the proposed topics for Inquiry Panels and possible focus. This was discussed.

 

The committee also discussed the current position in relation to the Education Inclusion Scrutiny Inquiry and implications of the departmental review on the same matter.

 

The Chair also reported that a public request for scrutiny had been received after the agenda was published (in relation to Welsh Medium primary school provision in Swansea West) and stated that this will be considered and a proposal brought to the next meeting for the committee’s agreement.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1       the Scrutiny Committee Work Plan Timetable and Plan for Meetings ahead be accepted;

 

2       the progress of established Panels and Working Groups attached at Appendix 2 of the report be noted;

 

3       Revised working arrangements be put into place in relation to working groups;

 

4       The inquiry panel brief ‘creating a can do corporate culture’ be agreed:

 

5       The public request for scrutiny in relation to Welsh medium education be referred to the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills;

 

6       The following Councillor requests for action be agreed:

 

Councillor C A Holley – School Transport – more information be requested prior to consideration; and

Councillor P Lloyd – Complaints Procedure – more information be requested prior to consideration.

 

 

The Chair presented a report which advised of changes required to the membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. 

 

RESOLVED that the following membership changes be agreed:

 

1.     Car Parking Scrutiny Working Group

REMOVE Councillor Cheryl Philpott

ADD Councillor David Cole

a)       Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Anti Poverty ( Committee Meeting –     14 April 2014)

b)       Letter to/ from Cabinet Member for Wellbeing ( Wellbeing Performance     Panel Meeting – 2 June 2014)

c)       Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Place ( Committee Meeting – 9           June 2014)

d)       Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources ( Service Improvement & Finance Performance Panel – 11 June)

e)       Letter to Cabinet Member for Learning & Skills ( Schools Performance      Panel Meeting – 3 July 2014)

The Chair reported the updated Scrutiny Letters Log and referred to the recent correspondence between Scrutiny and Cabinet Members:

 

	Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Anti Poverty (Committee Meeting – 14 April 2014)
b	Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Wellbeing (Wellbeing Performance Panel Meeting – 2 June 2014)
c	Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Place (Committee Meeting – 9 June 2014)
d	Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources (Service Improvement & Finance Performance Panel – 11 June)
e	Letter to Cabinet Member for Learning & Skills (Schools Performance Panel Meeting – 3 July 2014)

 

A discussion ensued regarding the Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Place (Committee Meeting – 9 June 2014) in respect of partnerships with the Bus Company.

 

RESOLVED that the:

 

1.     above letters and action log be noted;

2.     The Chair write a further letter to the Cabinet Member for Place regarding the timescales in respect of partnerships with Bus Company.

The Chair reported the draft Scrutiny Dispatches for agreement for submission to Council on 9 September, 2014.

 

                 

1 September 2014	24 November 2014	16 February 2015
29 September 2014	22 December 2014	16 March 2015
27 October 2014	19 January 2015	13 April 2015

 

The dates and times of future meetings for 2014/15 Municipal Year were submitted for information.