Agenda and minutes

As noted above.

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

No declaration of interest was received.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the previous meeting held on 19^th July, 2016.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 19^th July, 2016 were presented and confirmed as correct.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted - a report by the Head of Housing on unauthorised encampments in North Wales.

In 2013, the Welsh Government produced a document called ‘Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping’, which was circulated to all local authorities in 2015. The Guidance provides guidance on the role of Health Boards, Police and Traveller Education Service in assisting local authorities with unauthorised encampments, and recommends that each authority adopts a protocol for their organisation.

The North Wales Joint Protocol for Managing Unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller Encampments was developed by the North Wales Gypsy and Traveller Forum to consistent agreed principles, and provides a framework to maintain standards          and reduce negative impacts of encampments.

The Portfolio Member for Social Services and Housing reported that the Protocol has been considered by the North Wales Chief Executives’ Forum, and welcomed the Committee’s comments prior to its adoption by the Executive.

The Head of Housing Services gave a summary of the report. She stated that the Council is presently implementing the Protocol, which is consistent in its aims, is fair to travellers, businesses and local land owners. The Protocol differentiates between the Council’s responsibilities in relation to unauthorised encampments on both Council and privately owned land.

The Housing Strategy and Development Manager provided an update of the current situation regarding travellers presently residing on unauthorised encampments in the Holyhead area. She reported that notices have been served on travellers in two different locations, but they have since moved to another location.  The Manager further reported that she is liaising with Conwy County Council’s Legal Department for legal advice on traveller issues.

The following matters were discussed by the Committee:-

•  Travellers tend to encamp on Council land rather than privately owned land, as the travellers are aware that the Council faces a more lengthy legal process in order to evict them.

•  In relation to businesses at the Mona site, the Council should ask the North Wales Gypsy and Traveller forum to seek the views of the Federation of Small Businesses, to make them aware of the Protocol, and to provide them with the opportunity to comment.        

•  It was noted that project officers are in the process of mapping out sites for the development of authorised traveller sites, which should be operational within           twelve months.

•  With reference to new encampments, it was noted that Council officers visit and assess traveller sites within a day or two of occupation. The Protocol must be flexible, and consider local needs. Enforcement orders can vary due to Courts being closed on week-ends.

The Housing Strategy and Development Manager attended the North Wales Gypsy and Traveller Forum, who have been involved in drawing up the Protocol.  The Forum’s discussions focused on the varied experiences of local authorities in dealing with traveller encampments, especially how the Council’s powers can be enforced in different areas. The Manager further reported that the Council are working on a procedural document that will provide more details on the process of Court action. The document  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Community Safety Delivery Manager (Anglesey and Gwynedd).

Submitted - a report by the Community Safety Deliver Manager (Anglesey and Gwynedd) providing an overview of activities of the Anglesey and Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership (CSP) during 2015/16 and developments for 2016/17.

The Community Safety Partnership is required to formally report to this Committee annually to present an overview of activities undertaken. This ensures that the Partnership delivers its obligations in accordance with Section 19 and 20 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2006. Local Authorities have a statutory duty in accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and subsequent amendments as a result of the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2002 and 2006, to work in partnership with the Police, the Health Service, the Probation Service and the Fire and Rescue Service to address the local community safety agenda.

The Partnership has a duty to deal with:-

•  Crime and Disorder

•  Substance Misuse

•  Reducing re-offending

•  Deliveing a strategic assessment to identify priorities (work that is now done on a regional basis)

•  Putting plans in place to deal with these priorities (a plan now exists on a regional and local basis)

The Portfolio Holder for Social Services and Housing referred to positive messages received in point 4 of the report as follows:-

•  acquisitive crimes are low in Anglesey compared with other areas;

•  anti-social behaviour has decreased since 2012;

•  the number of people reporting domestic abuse has increasing since 2012, and is to be welcomed;

•  reported sexual crimes have remained the same;

•  re-offending has been reduced.

The Support Officer, Community Safety Partnership (Anglesey and Gwynedd) reported that at the previous meeting 18 months ago, a request was made for more data on performance, which has now been included in the appendices of the report. The Support Officer outlined the report and referred to the main milestones encountered during 2016/17 in point 6 of the report.

The following matters were raised by Members:-

•  It was noted that the Welsh Government have taken a lead role in relation to transferring some services to a regional system, adopting a regional structure  in some fields of work, which they will be accountable for.

•  Re-offending in Anglesey was compared to other areas of North Wales, and statistics show a downward trend, with a slight increase in adult re-offending. 

•  Clarity was sought whether a strategic plan was in place for dealing with offenders in the future at HMP Berwyn, Wrexham. It was suggested that a representative from the new prison attend either the County Council or Scrutiny Committee to give a presentation on preventative work and joint working.  A Regional Prison Supervisory Board already exists, and other bodies will work from the prison within a regional plan, which will include representatives from Anglesey.

•  Clarification was sought on how HMP Berwyn will be marketed and promoted. It was noted that staffing the Community Safety Partnership has been vastly reduced, resulting in limited funding and resources for marketing purposes.

•  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a report by the Head of Learning and the Senior Challenge Advisor GwE.

Submitted - a report by the Senior Challenge Adviser (GwE) outlining an analysis of results on the work undertaken by the School Effectiveness and Improvement Service (GwE) in orange and red category schools in Anglesey during the period 2014/16.

The Head of Learning referred to the self-evaluation process, and asked Members of this Committee to scrutinise the following key aspects:-

•  How the Authority monitors and challenges GwE’s work?

•  How the Authority knows whether it is offered value for money by GwE?

•  How the Authority ensures that GwE’s work is aligned to local plans and aims, and that key aspects that require attention are effectively targeted?

•  What difference has GwE’s support made to outcomes, achievement standards and quality of leadership in Anglesey’s Amber/Red support category schools?

•  In which schools are the most evident differences to be seen?

•  Which aspects need to be prioritised going forward in order to ensure further improvements?

The Senior Challenge Adviser reported that GwE is working alongside a number of schools, some as case studies, which have been anonymised.  It was noted that the report is based mainly on the performance of primary schools, but reference was also made to the two yellow/red category secondary schools in Anglesey last year. GwE were only working with one of the two secondary schools, which resulted in a substantial improvement between 2015/16. The other school, which was part of the Schools Challenge Wales national initiative, led and monitored by the Education Minister had displayed less progress.

The Senior Challenge Adviser summarised performance against indicators in Anglesey’s schools. He stated that GwE’s key responsibilities were to provide guidance and support, working with local authorities and schools to address any challenges, in order to develop an education system with the capacity, skills and confidence to undertake a programme of self-improvement.

Discussion focused on the following:-

•  The Gwynedd and Anglesey hubs are working well, but still need improving. The model presently used as regards schools’ support has been adapted as a result of Estyn’s findings.

•  Reference was made to the Estyn report in April, 2016, that too much focus has been placed on improving schools in the orange/red category compared to other groups. It was noted that schools in this category require more intensive support to develop their capacity for improvement according to specific needs. The Authority’s best schools are excelling regarding performance, and do not need the same level of support.

•  Members sought clarification on school categorisation models. It was noted that Challenge Advisers discuss and monitor the work and performance of schools. Although Step 1 of the categorisation process was data-driven, final decisions on colour categories are agreed between Challenge Advisers and the Education Authority based on each school’s capacity for improvement and quality of leadership.

•  It was noted that GwE use a formula to make best use of resources to

invest in schools that have greater need for support. Following a period of intervention from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit the Work Programme by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted - the report of the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme to May, 2017.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee will be held on 22nd November, 2016, with the following items scheduled for the meeting:-

•  Transformation of Youth Services

•  Joint working between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Isle of Anglesey County Council

A representative from the BCUHB together with Council officers will attend to give a presentation on joint working between the BCUHB and the County Council.  The aim of the session will be to scrutinise the integration of services and suggest ways it can be improved for the benefit of the people of Anglesey.

The Committee agreed that the ‘Transformation of Youth Services’ would be the first item on the agenda, and the BCUHB item would commence at 3.15 pm, with invitations to attend extended to Members of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED to note the submitted Work Programme.