Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor Dylan Rees declared an interest in Item 3 of these minutes and was not present at the meeting during discussion upon the Penucheldre Extracare housing facility as he is an employee of Cymdeithas Tai Eryri.

The Chair congratulated everyone involved in the project to develop Agewell Community Centres for older people which had won a Social Care Accolade 2013. The partnership project with Agewell Hwyliog Mon won the ‘Citizens Controlling Services’ award at the biennial awards which were led by the Care Council for Wales. Judges praised staff for working closely with a group of older people to develop the centres, ensuring they met their needs, helped them maintain independence and reduced their social isolation. The centres offer a range of services and activities including physical activity sessions, cooking classes and benefits advice.

The Chair also extended a warm welcome to Members and officers to attend the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd next week. The Council stand would be located at the WLGA Pavilion.

To submit the report by the Director of Community.

The Director reported – That the aim of the annual report was to provide the Council and the people living in Anglesey with an overview of how well the Authority was delivering its social care responsibilities. The report presented a personal view by the Director of Social Services on the Isle of Anglesey and captured her experience of engaging with the transformational journey for Anglesey Council.

The process involves the critical appraisal of all service areas using analysis grids which identified what it is the Authority was trying to do, how well we are doing it and what the outcome had been for the service user. A constructive challenge session was held on 22nd March 2013 with our partners, with services reporting on their business plans and end of year performance. The Director considered that there was a sound platform from which to move forward, but that the task was considerable.  The report highlights areas of achievement and where further action needs to be taken to secure sustainable, good quality service.  The work programme requires the ongoing engagement, learning and commitment to continual improvement which characterised the work programme adopted by the Service and Council during 2012-13.

The Council would receive a formal letter from the Social Services Regulators (CSSIW) in the Autumn which would comment on their view of the Authority’s performance.

Following the presentation, Members were provided with a question and answer session.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor K.P.Hughes thanked the Director and her staff for compiling the report and paid tribute to the notable successes and improvements made alongside significant progress and steps taken to address ever increasing challenges faced over the past twelve months.

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report which, following consultation with the Regulators (CSSIW) will be published in the Autumn of 2013.