Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor C R Doyle be elected Chair Pro Tem.

(COUNCILLOR C R DOYLE PRESIDED)

http://www.swansea.gov.uk/DisclosuresofInterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2016 be agreed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment: -

Minute No.23 – Updates on Four Commissioning Reviews

Amend paragraph 2 as follows: -

‘She added that the Residential Care and Day Centres Commissioning Reviews required further work.  The Domiciliary Care Commissioning Review was proceeding to Cabinet.  Once agreed by Cabinet, the review would be circulated for public consultation.’

Councillor M C Child, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City presented the Terms of Reference for the Investigation into Health and Diet in Swansea.

He requested that the Committee investigate why there were health and diet problems in Swansea and highlighted some of the potential causes for discussion and how the Authority was dealing with the issue. 

The Committee discussed the best options available to progress the investigation.  Discussions centred around the following: -

·         Food on offer in school meals and food education undertaken in schools;

·         The number of fast food outlets within communities and the unhealthy food they offer;

·         Food initiatives available through SCVS;

·         The lack of availability of healthy food in communities;

·         How poor transport provision affected access to healthy food in deprived communities;

·         How Public Health Wales / ABMU could assist the investigation;

·         How deprived communities struggled to follow any initiatives and the lack of money within such communities;

·         The need to have a general overview of the situation in Swansea.

RESOLVED that Public Health Wales be invited to attend a future meeting in order to provide a general presentation regarding the health and diet in Swansea

·         Commissioning Review of Day Centres - Feedback.

·         Commissioning Review of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Physical Disabilities - Feedback.

·         Commissioning Review of Domiciliary Care - Feedback.

·         Commissioning Review of Residential Care - Feedback.

(COUNCILLOR V M EVANS (CHAIR) PRESIDED)

Councillor J E C Harris, Cabinet Member for Adults and Vulnerable People, updated the Committee regarding the ongoing Commissioning Reviews.  The following information was provided: -

She added that regular updated would be provided at future meetings.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Adults and Vulnerable People sought clarification at the next meeting regarding this item.

The Committee highlighted the need to recognise Social Services staff for their commitment in difficult times and any ideas regarding rewarding staff were welcomed.

RESOLVED that: -

1)    Clarification regarding this item be provided at the next scheduled meeting;

2)    Details of awards won by Social Services staff be provided at the next scheduled meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Vulnerable People provided the Committee with a verbal update report regarding Direct Payments.

She provided an explanation of how the system operated, highlighting problem areas, particularly the lack of personal assistants available for employment.  She compared practices used within other local authorities to those followed at the Authority.

It was added that Welsh Government wanted individuals to stay within their communities.  However, there were many barriers to the system.

The Committee discussed the following: -

·         Process of employing personal assistants;

·         Responsibilities being placed upon those who employ personal assistants;

·         Safeguarding vulnerable people;

·         Reviewing practices used for direct payments;

·         Welsh Government procedures;

·         Bureaucracy driven by cost;

·         The need for consistency by surveyors;

·         Re-introducing the Rota System for Councillors.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

The Chair provided the Work Programme 2016 – 2017 report.

She added that the visit to Monmouthshire County Council had taken place on 13 October 2016 and had been very informative.  She would provide a report to the next scheduled meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Vulnerable People requested that the Cabinet Reports in respect of Adult Services Service Model and the Commissioning Review of Domiciliary Care be reported to the next scheduled meeting.

RESOLVED that: -

1)    The contents of the report be noted;

2)    The Chair provides a report regarding the visit to Monmouthshire County Council to the next scheduled meeting;

3)    Reports in respect of Adult Services Service Model and the Commissioning Review of Domiciliary Care be reported to the next scheduled meeting;

4)    Public Health Wales be invited to a future meeting in order to provide a general presentation regarding the health and diet in Swansea.