Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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

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

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

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 14 November 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Questions for Cabinet Members in attendance or Chair of the Committee in relation to the Scrutiny Work Programme.

There were no public questions.

Councillor J Harris, Cabinet Member for Adults and Vulnerable People, provided a short opening address on her Cabinet Portfolio prior to taking questions from the Committee, which focused on the following:

·         Supporting People to live at Home, and Assessments of Needs

·         Direct Payments System

·         Employer status of Direct Payments and Requirement to Provide Work Place Pensions 

·         Stability of Private Sectors Providers and;

·         Ability to respond to Market Failure

·         Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and Re-assessments

·         Partnerships with Health Service, and Integration of Health and Social Care

·         Monmouthshire County Council Working Practices

·         The 4-tier-Model including;           

o   Provision of Adequate Transport Services

o   The Role of Community Organisations in Detecting Risk Factors

o   Daytime Activities to Help People Connect

o   Increase in Domiciliary Care and Pressure on Budget

·         Potential Income Generation

·         Telecare and the Development of Assistive Technology

·         Key Decisions over the coming months – Commissioning Reviews, Development of a ‘Hub’ approach to day Services.  

Councillor J Harris indicated that she would provide further information to the Committee on:

·         the requirements of Work Place Pensions in relation to Direct Payments e.g. employment of a carer; and

·         Charges for Telecare / Community Alarms.

The Chair thanked Councillor J Harris for attending.

RESOLVED that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

(a) Service Improvement & Finance (Councillor Chris Holley, Convener).

Councillor C Holley, Convener, provided an update regarding the work that has been undertaken in relation to the Service Improvement & Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel. He summarised the key activities over the past six months, highlighting the Panel’s involvement in the scrutiny of commissioning reviews, issues arising, and impact made by the Panel.

He spoke in particular about:

•           Capital spending

•           Clarity of corporate performance reports to the public

•           The commissioning review process and evidence base for preferred options e.g. external perspectives, value for money

•           Budget statements

•           Reserves

•           Corporate complaints reporting

•           Digital strategy

•           Libraries

•           Transformation Fund

RESOLVED that the update be noted.

Discussion on:

(a) Committee Work Plan.

(b) Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

(c) Progress with Current Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

The Chair presented the Scrutiny Work Programme 2016/17.

The report provided the Committee with:

·         The Current Scrutiny Work Programme;

·         Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny;

·         Progress with Current Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups.

It was noted that the Tackling Poverty Inquiry Panel would now be aiming to report to the 13 February committee meeting.

The committee was informed that a tentative date of 17 January had been set for a special meeting to undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the next Cabinet report on the development of Castle Square.  This was subject to the cabinet report being published within the 19 January Cabinet agenda.

The Chair confirmed that ‘Digital Inclusion’ would be the next Working Group to be established.

The Chair also noted that the Scrutiny Team have received positive feedback for the support they have provided to the ERW Regional Scrutiny Councillor Group. The next Regional Scrutiny Meeting will take place on the 27 February 2017.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator highlighted that there has been greater media coverage via the local press this year, referencing this as one of the improvement outcomes for scrutiny. He gave examples of stories that have been picked up from Scrutiny Dispatches.  

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

The Chair presented a report outlining proposed revisions to the scrutiny panel / working group membership.

RESOLVED that the following amendments to the panels / groups, as outlined in the report be endorsed:

•           Schools Performance Panel – Remove Cllr Tony Colburn

•           Houses in Multiple Occupation Working Group – Remove Cllr Wendy Fitzgerald

•           Partnerships and Collaboration Inquiry – Remove Cllr David Cole.

The Chair reported the Scrutiny Letters Log. Correspondence from the Public Services Board Performance Panel was reported.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Letters Log be NOTED.

There had been no recent Scrutiny events.

There were no upcoming Scrutiny events.

The Audit Committee work plan for 2016/2017 was NOTED.

The dates and times of future Committee meetings for the 2016/2017 Municipal Year were NOTED.

The date and time of upcoming Panel / Work Group meetings were provided for information.