Agenda and minutes

Apologies as noted above.

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

Councillor Ann Griffith declared a personal interest in respect of Item 6.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November, 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 November, 2014 were confirmed.

To submit a report in relation to the above.

Submitted – a joint report by the Senior Partnership Manager, Gwynedd and Anglesey, Democratic Services Manager, Gwynedd Council and the Scrutiny Officer in relation to the above.

The Scrutiny Officer reported that a joint report had been published by the WLGA and CfPS in 2010 entitled ‘Scrutiny of Multi-Agency Partnerships’ outlining some of the lessons learned from the development of scrutiny arrangements of Local Services Boards and identified some important points to bear in mind when developing arrangements. These were outlined within the report.

In order to be in a position to advise Members on possible options to scrutinise the Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB, a multi-agency Task and Finish Project Group had been established.  Membership included representatives from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales  Police, Snowdonia National Park and Scrutiny Officers from both Councils. In order to obtain an independent perspective the Centre for Public Scrutiny was also invited to comment and input to the range of options for consideration by the Elected Members of both Local Authorities. The Task and Finish Group had also sought  the views of both Medrwn Môn and Mantell Gwynedd as the umbrella organisations representing the interests of the Third Sector. In light of its deliberations, the multi- agency Task and Finish Group and Centre for Public Scrutiny proposed that there were three options for Elected Member consideration which can summarised as :-

Option A – Maintain existing scrutiny committee arrangements in both Isle of Anglesey County Council and Gwynedd Council.

Option B – Establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB Scrutiny Panel. Option C – Establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB Scrutiny Committee.

Although each option had its own advantages and disadvantages, the multi-agency Task and Finish Group were of the unanimous view that Option B be proposed as the preferred option for consideration by Elected Members of both Gwynedd Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council.

Dependent upon which option was supported by Elected Members of both  Councils, the next step would be for the multi-agency Task and Finish Group to reconvene in order to consider practical arrangements as to membership of the joint scrutiny forum, implementation and training arrangements, meeting schedule and venue etc. The Centre for Public Scrutiny would continue to provide support and mentoring.

The Officers stated that 3 Members of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee would need to be nominated on the LSB Scrutiny Panel.

Issues raised by Members:-

•  Members supported Option B which was to establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB Scrutiny Panel with the membership referred to at Appendix 2. However it was considered that the interests of Community Voices Gwynedd & Anglesey should be represented on the Panel.  The Officers responded that it was considered that 3rd Sector representation on the proposed Panel would address this issue.

•  Questions were raised as regards who would administrate the LSB Scrutiny Panel. The Officers responded that the matter would need to be discussed at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Corporate Director Community.

The Chair welcomed Ms. Vicky Poole, Regional Director (North Wales) CSSIW and Mr. Mark Roberts from CSSIW to the meeting.

Submitted – a report by the Corporate Director (Community) in relation to the above.

The Corporate Director (Community) reported that the Annual Council Reporting Framework is an agreed framework within Wales in order to evaluate, in public and transparent manner, the performance of the Social Services functions within each Local Authority.  The letter acknowledges the progress made by the Authority whilst highlighting the need to maintain commitment and progress with the required changes. CCIW makes reference to the ongoing potential risks identified by the Inspectorate.

Specific reference is made to the issues of capacity and the challenge of a small authority addressing the scale of change required in transforming social care services.  Performance improvements in Children’s Services have been maintained nevertheless risks remain given the comparative inexperience of the workforce and management structure. The letter also notes that there is little reference to the actions required by the Authority in readiness to the implementation of the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (April 2016).  In response it is maintained that this forms part of a national implementation programme where the authority is appropriately engaged.  Additionally the work programme adopted by the Service and Council is in accord with the ambitions and principles of the Act. The letter acknowledges the financial pressures and the challenges faced by the Council in meeting its statutory planning and service delivery responsibilities for Social Services.  This requires a continued focus on delivering safe and effective services whilst progressing the required change agenda arising from the transformation programme. The actions and requirements arising from the letter have been incorporated within the business processes and priority programmes within the Council’s Transformation Programme and the individual service business plans.

The Corporate Director stated that she considered that the training in specific Social Services matters to newly appointed Members and current Members was essential to highlight the service priorities and pressures on Social Services.  She considered that the seminar to Elected Members in respect of Residential Homes was highly beneficial.

Mr. Mark Roberts (CSSIW) stated the Performance Evaluation Report 2013/14 is attached to the Corporate Director’s report. He noted that the County Council is in the early stages of implementing an ambitious transformation programme for both adults and children’s services.  These are significant change and development programmes for a small council and the pace of change is hampered by a lack of capacity. At the same time, a new council has been elected, a third of which are newly appointed members. This has also affected the pace of change as it has been important for officers to invest time in ensuring elected members fully understand the transformation programme. Despite these constraints, there is evidence of steady progress underpinned by political support particularly in relation to service for older adults.  Performance has improved in core areas, predominantly in relation to Children’s Services although the relative inexperience of the workforce in Children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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

Submitted – a report by the Head of Children’s Services in relation to the above.

The Head of Children’s Services reported that the Local Authority is required, on an Annual basis, to undertake a self-evaluation of its safeguarding children

arrangements, and to report its findings to the Regional Safeguarding Board. Appendix 1 contains this report. The report identifies the agreed objectives, progress against these objectives and further areas that require attention. The report includes an analysis of the authority’s contribution to the multi-agency context and to the work of the Regional Safeguarding Children Board, the Local Delivery Group and associated regional sub groups. The Head of Children’s Services wished it to be recorded that the Regional North Wales Safeguarding Board discussed the report at its meeting held earlier today.  The Board welcomed the report and will consider the recommendations contained therein.

The Authority has achieved improvements in both its Children Services and its Education services, and is currently moving to a phase of developing and improving safeguarding arrangements more generally.  The County Council has a Corporate Safeguarding Board in place whose role is to ensure that the Local Authority’s key duties in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults are being adequately discharged. The Local Authority’s policy on safeguarding and the associated safeguarding action plan has been adopted. Whilst progress on the action plan has suffered some delays against original target dates, some key actions have been achieved. The key actions were listed within the report to the Committee.

The Head of Service further reported that there are a number of arrangements in place to ensure that the organisation has services in place to discharge their safeguarding duties – an annual appraisal of each school using a standard safeguarding report card and at a Children’s Services level comprising the reporting of statutory performance indicators. This needs to be rolled out on a corporate basis. Therefor for 2015/16 each Heads of Service will set safeguarding objectives and measures and this will be accompanied by the setting up of a Corporate Safeguarding Scorecard.  Achieving the objectives of the Safeguarding Policy and Action Plan will help introduce a more effective scrutiny of safeguarding issues.

Main issues raised by Members :-

•  The Shadow Portfolio stated that she was pleased to learn that the County Council were at the forefront of the IFSS service.  She stated that a short briefing session to Elected Members would be advantageous.

•  Questions raised in respect of the turnover of staff within the Social Service Department and especially within the Children’s Services.  The Head of Children’s Services responded that the turnover of staff within the service stabilised over the last year (13/14).

RESOLVED :-

•  That the Committee notes the corporate arrangements to implement its Safeguarding Policy.

•  That the Committee notes the conclusion of the self-evaluation presented to the Regional Safeguarding Board and the proposed actions.

•  That the Committee notes the establishment of the Corporate Safeguarding Board.

•  That the Committee scrutinise the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chair stated that a Scrutiny Open Forum with Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs was held on 18th December, 2014. Two of the Community Councils expressed importance of the Council communicating better with Town/Community Councils. The concern raised was that Town and Community Councils were not aware of proposed decisions to be taken by the Executive.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted - the draft Work Programme.

The Scrutiny Officer stated that the following items have been requested to be place on the Committee’s Work Programme for the next meeting :-

Community Safety

Upgrading the highway to Wylfa Newydd – Contract with County Council and Horizon UK

RESOLVED to note the draft Work Programme and to approve the extra two items on the Agenda of the next meeting.