Idea Transcript
CORPORATE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2016 PRESENT:
Councillor R Meirion Jones (Chair) Councillor Gwilym O Jones (Vice-Chair) Councillors Jim Evans, Ann Griffith, Victor Hughes, Llinos Medi Huws, R Llewelyn Jones
IN ATTENDANCE:
Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer Head of Adults’ Services Head of Transformation Head of Democratic Services Programme and Business Planning Manager (GM) Service Manager (Learning Disabilities and Mental Health) (BW) Scrutiny Manager (BS) Interim Scrutiny Manager (AD) Committee Support/Officer (SC)
ALSO PRESENT:
Councillor Alwyn Rowlands (Portfolio Holder for Business, Performance Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources) Councillor Aled Morris Jones (Portfolio Holder for Social Services and Housing)
APOLOGIES:
None
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DECLARATION OF INTEREST Councillor R Meirion Jones declared a personal interest in Item 4 as he has worked with Gateways.
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CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Vice-Chair requested that the names of elected Members who sit on the Programme and Project Transformation Boards be included in Item 2 for each Committee. Action: As noted above.
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MINUTES OF THE 14 MARCH, 2016 MEETING The minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 14th March were confirmed as correct subject to the following:Matters arising:Item 3 - Minutes - 1st February, 2016 Meeting Item 9 - Minutes - 1st December, 2015 - CSSIW Annual Performance Evaluation of Social Services 2014/15 The Chair reported that information relating to the above is now in hand, and will be reported back to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting. Action: As noted above.
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LEARNING DISABILITIES SERVICE - TRANSFORMATION Submitted - the report of the Head of Adults’ Services on the transformation of the Learning Disabilities team. The Service Manager reported that the Service is delivered in partnership with the health board by the Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT), who provide a comprehensive service to individuals and families, and enable people to live independently with support in the community. The Learning Disabilities Service promotes the principles of the All Wales Mental Handicap Strategy 1984, which sets out the framework within a social model of care which is underpinned by a rights based approach. Clarity was sought on the following matters:– • Is the threshold for the Learning Disability Register decided locally or nationally, and does it change in line with resources? The Service Manager responded that the threshold is decided nationally, via a three part assessment ie IQ test, skills and social need. She also stated that the threshold has not changed with increased or reduced resources. • Whether service provision has deteriorated in recent years? The Service Manager advised that there had not been a deterioration in service provision, and there is a need to assess if the present model is sustainable, and meets the needs of individuals. • The Learning Disabilities Service’s budget was discussed along with comparative expenditure with other authorities. The Service Manager reported that for 2014/15, expenditure on the gross budget was around 8m, which has been reduced by approximately 1.2m over 5 years. The Head of Adults’ Services advised that achieving outcomes are essential to meet the needs of service users, and confirmed that there are sufficient funds available to commission services. In
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relation to joint funding issues with the health service, the Head of Adults’ Services advised that individuals are assessed under specific criteria. • Temporary and permanent placements outside the county - the Service Manager responded that out of 303 people, 23 are supported outside Anglesey - 3 are in specialist hospitals, 1 under the Mental Health Act; 11 are in residential placements receiving specialist support because their level of need cannot be met locally; 5 are receiving care in specialist homes providing nursing care, due to their acute health needs. • Payments for nursing care - the Service Manager advised the Committee on current arrangements, including the role of the County Council and the Betsy Cadwaladr Health Board. • Funding issues in relation to projects delivering the All Wales Learning Disability Strategy eg Tyddyn Môn. • Training provision for Social Workers dealing with disability harassment and hate crime. The Service Manager confirmed that staff were trained to identify harassment issues. • Work of the Transformation Programme Board and planned improvements for Service and stakeholder involvement - the Service Manager advised that Mencap, being one of the key stakeholders is involved in developing community based services. • Provision of services for young people as part of the Community Learning Disability Programme for young people over 18 years of age. The Service Manager advised that the Service has transitional plans with Childrens’ Services for the transformation to Adults’ Services at 18 years of age. Members requested that a representative from the health service on the CLDT team be invited to attend a future meeting to report on joint funding and the health service’s role in relation to Adults’ Services and Childrens’ Services. Members agreed that the Panel Members on the Transformation Boards report back to each Scrutiny Committee. Action: As noted above. RESOLVED that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee:• Accepts the position statement in respect of the Learning Disability Service; • Receives a 6 monthly up-date on the service; • Notes the developments and welcomes further information on the developmental strategy in 6 months. 5
DRAFT ANNUAL DELIVERY DOCUMENT The Portfolio Member for Business, Performance Transformation, Corporate Plan and Human Resources highlighted the main points from the draft Annual Delivery Document, and invited the Committee and Members to provide additional
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comments on issues for inclusion in the Final Document, prior to its submission to the next Executive. The Programme and Business Planning Manager reported that the draft Document’s 7 area priorities were identified for the forthcoming year against the Corporate Plan. Members raised the following issues in discussion: 1. Transforming Older Adult Social Care Members questioned the cost of dementia care on Anglesey, and requested that a breakdown of funding be made available and reported back to Committee. Action: As noted above. 2. Regenerating Our Communities and Developing the Economy Discussion focused on the Wylfa Newydd project and the impact on jobs and skills. The Council would need to work with schools to develop the economy and ensure young people get the skills to meet future job opportunities. 3. Improving Education, Skills and Modernising Schools • The Committee noted that school standards have been raised, and that progress is being made. • A Wylfa Newydd would not be operational until around 2025, resulting in a gap between training and work opportunities in the interim period. It was noted that out migration of young people remains an issue, and it is important to attract these young people back to Anglesey. • It was noted that Aberffraw school should be referred to as Bro Aberffraw. 4. Increasing Housing Options and Reducing Poverty No comment. 5. Transforming Leisure and Library Provision No comment. 6. Becoming Customer, Citizen and Community Focused Clarity was sought on work based locations outside the Council’s main offices. The Programme and Business Planning Manager responded that individuals working in the field can use a leisure centre or library to access information. The process is similar to hot desking, and elected Members could make use of the service as well as staff.
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7. Information Technology • It was noted that the Council has launched the Microsoft Link service enabling individuals to improve communications. • The Committee also referred to the roll-out of Citrix technology to support remote working and adequacy of resources in IT. The Head of Transformation noted that this technology has already been piloted in Environmental Health and Technical Services. The IT service has recently been reviewed, which included staffing levels. The Programme and Business Planning Manager referred to other points raised by Members - global warming; energy use; procurement, Syrian refugees etc. He stated that discussions will follow with relevant Officers to decide whether there is capacity to move ahead and incorporate these issues in the draft Delivery Document, and identify how these work streams will be resourced. RESOLVED that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee recommends to the Executive on 25th April, 2016, that the following aspects are included in the final draft Annual Delivery Document:• An energy efficiency workstream; • The expected gains from improved procurement practice; • The Council’s response to the emerging refugee crisis. It is also proposed that a briefing session on the delivery of the said document to all Members be conducted in advance of the full Council. 6
SCRUTINY OUTCOME PANEL - DEBT MANAGEMENT Submitted - the final report of the Scrutiny Outcome Panel on debt management. The Scrutiny Outcome Panel was established to examine the Authority’s debt management (including debt write-offs) arrangements in greater detail. A review was structured in accordance with the Authority’s policy framework to ensure robustness, and 7 Panel meetings were held between July, 2015 and February, 2016. Members raised concern about the impact of debt collection on the most vulnerable people in society, and the Council’s obligations regarding debt recovery and its Anti-Poverty Strategy. The Head of Function (Resources) responded that there is a strong link between the Council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy and Debt Collection Policy. He stated that the Council’s draft Debt Collection Policy has been before the Panel, but the Anti-Poverty Strategy needs to be finalised to address these issues. A review of current debt advice services provided by the Council is ongoing and the conclusions and recommendations of the review will also be taken into account in finalising the Anti-Poverty Strategy and Debt Collection Policy. The Head of Function (Resources) stated that the service was working on an action plan to improve income collection processes both in the short and medium term aimed at moving customers to pay the Council by the most efficient means available eg internet payments, direct debits, automated telephone payments.
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The Interim Scrutiny Manager summarised the Panel’s 3 main conclusions as follows. Reference was also made to the 8 individual recommendations made by the Scrutiny Outcome Panel:1. The processes and practice relating to billing and income collection had improved in recent times, but more needed to be done in order to increase the percentage of advance payments received for services; 2. The draft Policy Document on debt management was a good starting point, but more work was required in order to ensure strategic alignment with the Council’s aims and priorities; 3. The benchmarking exercise carried out by the Panel on debt management practice had added value to the Scrutiny review. RESOLVED:• To approve the Final Report of the Scrutiny Outcome Panel with its 3 main conclusions and 8 individual recommendations; • That the Final Report be submitted to the Executive at its meeting on 25th April, 2015. • The Corporate Scrutiny Committee should review progress on debt management developments in 6 months. 7
SCRUTINY OUTCOME PANELS Submitted - the report and recommendations of the Scrutiny Outcome Panels in relation to the following:1. Corporate Safeguarding 2. Adult Informal Carers 3. Letting of Local Authority Housing The Chair reported that the Adult Informal Carers Panel has been discontinued, and there are now only 2 Scrutiny Outcome Panels. The Chair reported that the Corporate Safeguarding Panel’s first meeting would be held on the 25th April, 2016. He stated that the Panel’s correct title is Corporate Safeguarding of Children. Councillor Gwilym O Jones reported that he attended a meeting of the Letting of Local Authority Housing Panel, which the Head of Housing Services and Technical Services Manager attended. (The meeting was held to gain an understanding of the procedure for lettings and social housing, and to see whether targets are achievable, and whether there is a need to improve performance). The Scrutiny Manager reported that the provisional date for the Letting of Local Authority Housing Panel’s meeting on the 26th April, would need to be re-scheduled.
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RESOLVED to accept the Terms of Reference of the 2 Scrutiny Outcome Panels as noted in the report, and nominations to each Panel as agreed at the last meeting.
COUNCILLOR R MEIRION JONES CHAIR
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