Agenda and minutes

Special Meeting, Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 25th February, 2020 9.30 am

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Venue: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Llangefni. View directions

Contact: Mrs Mairwen Hughes 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

As noted above.

2.

Declaration of Interest

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

Minutes:

None received.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 45 KB

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the following meetings:-

 

·      Minutes of the special meeting held on 24 October, 2019.

·      Minutes of the special meeting held on 21 January, 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the following meetings were confirmed as correct:-

 

·      Minutes of the special meeting held on 24 October, 2019 subject to the name of Councillor Dafydd Roberts being included to the list of apologies;

 

·      Minutes of the special meeting held on 21 January, 2020.

4.

Welsh Ambulance Service Trust pdf icon PDF 442 KB

 

·      To submit a report in relation to the above.

 

·      To receive a presentation by the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.

 

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Mr Jonathan Sweet, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS – Operations Manager and Mr Stephen Sheldon – Locality Manager to the meeting

 

Submitted - a report on the relationship between the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust and the Council.

 

The Operations Manager gave a presentation to the Committee and said that the ambulance service has changed significantly over the years from predominantly a transport service to one which provides clinical care and clinically focused transport service across Wales.  He said that there are 3 ambulance stations on Anglesey with 41 staff.  He further gave statistical information as to the priority of categories of red, amber and green incidents to the Committee.  However, during 2019/20, the pattern of demand for services continues to change, particularly in the ‘red’ demand area which has shown a significant increase; this, together with a range of other factors has led to a deterioration in response times.   He noted that it has been a challenging year across the health system in Wales and since the introduction of the new clinical response model in October 2015, the service’s response to red category calls has fallen below the target of 65% but the ambulance service is working in collaboration with the health boards to address this issue.  However, the service has undertaken action to improve performance and transform the service and in particular to:-

 

·           Taking a system leadership role in respect of unscheduled care, with support from Welsh Government;

·           Advanced Paramedic Practitioners (APPs) are able to treat patients, without the need for hospital care;

·           Investment in services to support patients who have fallen, or patients who have dementia or mental health;

·           Improved ‘hear to treat’ rates;

·           Continue to work with health boards on referral pathways for a number of conditions, which allows the service to refer to community based services with clinical decision made by a SICAT GP;

·           Increasing the number of staff on shifts during the winter period;

·           Demand and capacity review has addressed roster efficiency.

 

However, the service is continuing to look at longer term, sustainable solutions to address complex issues.

 

The Operations Manager further reported that the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust has been working in partnership with the local authority and he referred specifically to the Anglesey Night Owls Services scheme which responded to 115 patients due to ‘falls within the home’ with only 11 patients having to be admitted to hospital.  He noted that there was a scheme, funded by Welsh Government’, with the Fire & Rescue Service assisting the ‘Falls in the Home’ scheme to support the Ambulance Service when the service is under high demand.  However, Welsh Government has ceased the funding towards the ‘Falls in the Home’ scheme but ongoing negotiations are taking place to reinvest in the scheme. 

 

The Operations Manager referred to the work with the third sector and specifically to the St John’s Ambulance Service in respect of ‘Falls’ response service.  However, the St John’s Ambulance Service are limited with only been able to provide additional resources during peak  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Partnership working with Medrwn Môn pdf icon PDF 7 MB

To submit a report by the Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn.

 

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Mrs Sian Purcell, Chief Officer – Medrwn Môn and Mr Andrew Hughes – Chair of the Management Board Medrwn Môn to the meeting.

 

Submitted – a report by the Chief Officer – Medrwn Môn on the work undertaken by Medrwn Môn during 2018/19 and progress on developing the partnership work with the Council.  A copy of the Annual Report for 2018-19 was attached to the report.

 

The Chief Officer - Medrwn Môn reported that the aim of Medrwn Môn is to promote and support voluntary and community organisations by working with individuals, groups and communities on Anglesey to ensure they play a full and prominent role in developing the potential of the Island.  Medrwn Môn is part of Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW), a partnership between the County Voluntary Councils and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and is one of 19 County Voluntary Councils in Wales.  The arrangements for the national partnership, Third Sector Support Wales, were reviewed during 2017-18 and 2018-19.  2018-19 was the second year of the ambitious Third Sector Support Wales change programme, which focused on improving the impact Medrwn Môn has as a partnership in supporting the third sector in Wales to flourish.  

 

She noted that Medrwm Môn has been working in partnerships with the County Council to develop the ‘Place Shaping Programme’ for the Island.  ‘Place Shaping’ looks at how to make communities stronger and more resilient in the future through understanding what those communities have in terms of assets – buildings, green spaces, skills & knowledge, community groups, and public services.  She referred to the support given by Medrwn Môn in the establishment of the Seiriol Alliance and work is now undertaken within the Twrcelyn Ward as part of the ‘Place Shaping Programme’. 

 

The Chief Office - Medrwn Môn referred to the Môn Community Link scheme which Medrwn Môn acts as a single access point for people to gain information on third sector organisations.  Community Link accepts direct contact from individuals, but also accepts referrals from partners at the County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.  Medrwn Môn has also been involved in the ‘Early Action Together’ programme which aims to facilitate the transformation of policing into a multi-agency, Adverse Childhood Experiences informed approach that enables early intervention and root cause prevention. 

 

The Chair of the Management Board said that Medrwn Môn has now establish new ways of working and engaging with residents of the Island to enable public engagement within local communities.

 

The Committee considered the information presented and made the following points:-

 

·      Reference was made within the Annual Report to the requirement to recruit additional trustees to the membership of the Management Board of Medrwn Môn.  Questions were raised as to what extent the organisation ensure that individuals with specific skills are appointed.  The Chief Officer – Medrwn Môn responded that volunteer groups within communities nominate a representatives to be considered on the Management Board but she emphasised that some individuals may not have the required skills levels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

North Wales Regional Emergency Planning Service pdf icon PDF 15 MB

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Mr Neil Culff, Regional Manager, North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning and Service and Mr Gwyn Hughes, Emergency Planning Officer to the meeting.

 

Submitted – a joint update report by the Regional Manager and the Head of Democratic Services on Emergency Planning issues.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reported that the purpose of the report was to provide an update regarding the regional work programme for emergency planning and response, and those within the Council itself.  He noted that it was necessary to test the robustness of emergency planning and business continuity arrangements via exercises.  Emergency exercises are undertaken to gauge the preparedness of the Authority when dealing with for example severe weather.

 

The Regional Manager, North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning and Service gave a presentation and reported that the Council meets its obligations by collaborating with the other North Wales local authorities thorough the North Wales Councils Regional Emergency Planning Service (NWC-REPS), for which Flintshire County Council is the lead authority.  It was noted that the NWC-REPS reports to an Executive Board, comprising an office representative of each of the Local Authorities that are partners to the service.  Regional work programmes are reported to the Board and monitored.  It was noted that the Council has duties for emergency planning and response under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001, and the Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996.  He noted that the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations was revised in 2019.  This Authority had a duty to prepare an off-site plan for Wylfa Power Station but this was no longer a requirement.

 

The Regional Manager reported on work streams undertaken by the Emergency Planning Service:-

 

·         Pandemic Flu – work is undertaken across the region together with the Health Service and local authorities as regards to preparedness arrangements for pandemic flu which is classed as ‘very high’ on the National and Community Risk Registers.

·         Memorandum of Understanding 4x4 Response Wales – work with the third sector provides transport cover during severe weather.

·         Ffordd Glandwr, Llangefni Emergency Plan – work undertaken with NRW to prepare a specific emergency plan;

·         Project EXODUS (sharing information about vulnerable people) – identifying vulnerable people in flood risk areas if there was a need for evacuation due to flooding

 

The Head of Democratic Services referred to recent emergency planning activities within the Authority as follows:-

 

·      Testing of BCM Plans – Exercise Synergedd April 2019

·      BCM Service Plans – updated annually;

·      Internal Audit Report – BCM – which had been reported to the Audit Committee on 18th February, 2020;

·      Wylfa  - a multi-agency desk top exercise in September 2020;

·      Staff Training – training programme for Council staff organised by the North Wales Local Resilience Forum.

 

The Regional Manager referred to the future activities as follows:-

 

·      Plan validation – a new or revised plan will need to be validated;

·      North Wales Councils Coastal Pollution Plan – taking account of lessons learnt from the Holyhead Marina  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 639 KB

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Manager.

Minutes:

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Forward Work Programme to April 2020.

 

The Scrutiny Officer reported that arrangements have been made to reschedule the meeting on the 10th March, 2020 to take place on the 11th March, 2020. She noted that the item – Collaboration with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will now be scheduled to take place at the 16th June, 2020 meeting.

 

It was RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to April, 2020.