Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from a Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

No declaration of interest was received.

No urgent matters at the time of dispatch of this agenda.

None to report.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 29^th January, 2018.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 29th January, 2018 were presented for confirmation.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 29th January, 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services incorporating the Executive’s Forward Work Programme for the period from March to October, 2018 was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Head of Democratic Services reported on changes to the Forward Work Programme since the previous reporting period as follows –

•  Items New to the Forward Work Programme

Item 13 – Play Sufficiency Assessment scheduled to be considered by the Executive at its 26 March, 2018 meeting

Item 17 – Schools Modernisation Llangefni Area : Report following the statutory consultation (Corn Hir, Bodffordd and Henblas) scheduled to be considered by the Executive on 30 April, 2018

The Head of Democratic Services informed the Executive that additionally since the publication of the agenda, the two following items have been re-scheduled and both will be considered by the Executive at its April, 2018 meeting and not in March, 2018 as noted in the published Work Programme:

•  Item 3 – Well-being Plan: Public Services Board

•  Item 8 – Housing Maintenance Store

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated Forward Work Programme for the period from March, 2018 to October, 2018, subject to the additional changes outlined at the meeting.

To submit a report by the Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services incorporating the draft North Wales Population Assessment Regional Plan was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Head of Adults’ Services reported that the plan is the joint area plan required by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) 2014 Act and the Care and Support (Area Planning) (Wales) Regulations 2017. Local Authorities and the Health Board in North Wales must produce a joint area plan in response to the population assessment by 1 April, 2018. The plan has to be over a term of 5 years. In North Wales, it has been agreed to call the plan the Population Assessment Regional Plan in order to avoid confusion with the three health board areas. The Officer said that the Council’s Elected Members were briefed on the contents of the plan, the expectations at regional level and how those would then translate into local actions in a briefing session held on 1 February, 2018 ahead of the plan’s submission for approval at this meeting. Implementing the plan over the next 5 years will be joint endeavour between the North Wales local authorities and the Health Board.

It was resolved to approve the draft North Wales Population Assessment Regional Plan.

To submit a report by the Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services which summarised the feedback from the engagement process on the proposed development of an Extra Care Housing facility in the Seiriol area along with a final recommendation as regards the location of the facility was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that in October, 2015, a commitment was made to consider appropriate sites within the South of Anglesey for the development of Extra Care provision, with the Seiriol area being the preferred location. At its meeting held on 30 October, 2017, the Executive (supported by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee) determined that a period of engagement should occur locally within Seiriol regarding the proposed development of an Extra Care Housing facility in the area; regarding

 the preferred site for the development being the site of the current Ysgol Beaumaris and regarding the funding of the development through the Housing Revenue Account. The report describes the engagement process held - which included meetings with the local community councils and with Beaumaris Town Council, a public meeting held in Llangoed, on-line survey, drop-in sessions and consideration of the matter by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee - and it outlines the feedback received from the process.

The Head of Adults’ Services said that from the responses received, there was general support for the concept of Extra Care Housing locally as a model of provision, with over half of respondents in agreement that Extra Care in principle is a good idea to be moving forwards with; however there was a level of disagreement with the site proposed with the majority noting that they disagreed with the preferred site – this was particularly evident in the meetings with Llangoed Community Council and Beaumaris Town Council and also in the public meeting in Llangoed which was the final engagement event. Annex A to the report sets out the questions asked at the public meeting and the responses given by the Council. In other areas visited this was not the case – in the public meeting and survey, members of Cwm Cadnant Community Council voiced support for locating Extra Care provision in Beaumaris; likewise Llanddona Community Council accepts the need for the provision in Beaumaris and Menai Bridge Community Council makes no objection to the proposal. The Business Case for Extra Care Housing also strongly supports a build in Beaumaris – the town setting and access to facilities provides better opportunities for integration and independence; there is a greater need for housing in Beaumaris than in more rural areas such as Llangoed; the Beaumaris location is better placed to meet BREEAM standards. Having regard to the important points raised during the engagement process and public meeting , the recommendation remains consistent with the original proposal i.e. to use the site of Ysgol Beaumaris to develop an Extra Care Housing scheme in the Seiriol area for the reasons given in the report. In developing the scheme due consideration will be given to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit a report by the Head of Children’s Services.

The report of the Head of Service (Children and Families) setting out the progress to date against the Service Improvement Plan was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that the latest update including the response by CSSIW to the Authority’s written review, was considered and scrutinised by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 31 January, 2018.The Scrutiny Committee confirmed at the meeting that it was satisfied with the progress made and with the pace of implementation.

The Head of Service (Children and Families) reported on the main areas of progress as follows –

•  The Service restructure is all but complete with some work remaining to be done on reviewing arrangements for the Child Placement Team, maximising the use of Support Workers and ensuring appropriate administrative support for the Practice groups

•  Recruitment is progressing well with only 5 Social worker posts remaining to be filled. A proactive drive is in place to try to recruit experienced Social Workers to these posts. In addition, the Service is broadening its approach to recruitment e.g. by developing Social Work Traineeship arrangements internally as part of the Grow your Own drive and by offering 6th form work experience placements.

•  Policies and Strategies continue to be reviewed and developed including the Workforce Strategy; Supervision Policy and Practice Guidance.

•  A Practice Improvement Plan is being developed in 2018 which will sit alongside the Service Improvement Plan.

•  The work of strengthening partnership working arrangements continues. A new strategy for Preventative Services is to be developed jointly with partners.

•  CSSIW has responded positively to the Authority’s written review and the Regulator will continue to meet with the service; those meetings will now be held on a bi-monthly rather than monthly basis.

The Executive noted the information and the progress made. The Executive sought corroboration of the improvements made to ensure consistency of practice across all areas as well as to strengthen Quality Assurance arrangements, those being characteristics of a good service.

The Head of Service (Children and Families) said that the Quality Assurance Framework has been approved by the Service and is relatively new. However, the service plans to use a wide range of evidence sources to underpin the quarterly practice evaluation report including monthly case file audits, practice observation, supervision audits, oversight and challenge, learning from partner feedback. It is also the intention to learn from the people who use the service. Although practice remains inconsistent in some areas there is also positive evidence of the workforce working directly with families leading to improved outcomes. Improved quality is also reflected in other ways in fewer complaints and in a reduction in long-term sickness absence. The Independent Support Team has also noted a change in staff response and approach which the service will seek to build on. It is a matter of changing culture and this takes time.

The Chair said that the Children’s Service Improvement Panel meets on a monthly basis and is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) incorporating a revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy was presented for the Executive’s consideration and approval.

The Portfolio Member for Planning and Public Protection reported that the Isle of Anglesey County Council has a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees. The policy presented sets out the organisational arrangements and procedures required to ensure that employee health and safety is given due prominence across the Council. The revisions to the policy reflect the changes within the Authority’s Health and Safety Management system and changes to the Authority’s Senior Leadership Team.

The Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) said that notwithstanding the revised policy formally sets out the lines of responsibility and accountability for health and safety within the Council, it is important to note that it behoves everyone connected with the Council to take health and safety matters seriously. Subject to the policy being approved, it will be communicated to all staff within the Council to ensure that they are aware they have a personal responsibility for health and safety as well as to make clear the expectations on those staff who have specific responsibilities in relation to health and safety within the Council.

The Executive noted the revised policy. The Executive sought clarification of the feasibility of introducing a generic health and safety policy for all schools. The Head of Service (Regulation and Economic Development) said that whilst the health and safety objectives are common to schools the risk assessment process is different in each case and takes account of the individual school’s organisational arrangements, the school building and associated challenges. The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnership, Community & Service Improvement) confirmed that the Senior Support Manager for Schools has reviewed the corporate health policies and provided guidance for schools and has also created a policy portal which encompasses all aspects of health and safety.

It was resolved to adopt the revised Corporate Health and Safety Policy as presented.