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 Dylan Rees declared a personal interest in respect of Items 5 and 13.  He took part in the discussions but did not vote.

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

·           Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May, 2015.

·           Minutes of the meeting held on 14 May, 2015.

·           The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May, 2015 were confirmed as correct.

·           The minutes of the meeting held on 14 May, 2015 were confirmed as correct.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer inviting the Committee to  nominate one Committee Member to serve on the Corporate Parenting Panel from May 2015 to May 2016.    The report gave a summary of the remit and purpose of the Corporate Parenting Panel and recommended that Councillor Dylan Rees as the present member be re-nominated.

RESOLVED to re-nominate Councillor Dylan Rees as a member of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation to the Annual review of Anglesey Housing Partnership.

The Housing Strategy & Development Manager stated that this is the first annual report on the work of the Anglesey Housing Partnership which will enable the progress of the Partnership to be scrutinised by this Scrutiny Committee. The report summarised the work undertaken by the Partnership in its first year of operation. The Anglesey Housing Partnership was established as partnership working is essential in delivering the homes and housing services that the island needs. The Partnership also assists the Council in meeting its corporate objectives including :-

• Transforming Older Adult Social Care

• Regenerating our Communities and Developing the Economy

• Increasing our Housing Options and Reducing Poverty

• Becoming Customer, Citizen and Community Focused

Five meetings of the Partnership have taken place to date with meeting scheduled to take place every quarter. Presentations have been made to the Partnership regarding issues of major importance or impact on housing in Anglesey, which are :-

• Wylfa Newydd and workers accommodation

• Extra Care housing on Anglesey

• Empty Homes strategy

• Part II of the Housing (Wales) – prevention of homelessness

The key achievements of the Partnership during the first year were highlighted within the report.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following issues :-

• Questions raised if the issue of potential resettlement of refugees into Wales would be a matter for the Anglesey Housing Partnership. The Head of Housing Services responded that the matter would be a Local Authority consideration;

• Questions raised if the Partnership had discussed the issue of identifying potential Travellers Sites on the Island. The Head of Housing Services responded that a Group of Officers of the County Council meet on a regular basis to discuss the issue of potential Travellers Sites.

• Questions raised as to the status of the Welsh language within the Partnership and how the language is incorporated within their strategy and whether it influences the Housing Policy. The Head of Housing Services responded that the new Welsh Language Commissioner and the Welsh Government has brought out guidelines for Housing Association which required them to provide bilingual services. She stated that 3 Housing Associations works with the County Council and their internal administration is bilingual.

• Questions were raised as to how many people are on the housing waiting list. The Head of Housing Services responded that she would provide details within a report to the next meeting of this Committee.

It was RESOLVED :-

• To note the contents of the report;

• That an analysis of people on the housing waiting list be incorporated within a report to a future meeting of this Committee.

ACTION : As noted above.

To submit a report by the Head of Adult’s Services in relation to the above.

Submitted – an Annual update report by the Head of Adult’s Services in relation to Safeguarding Arrangements for Vulnerable Adults in Anglesey.

The Head of Adult’s Services highlighted the main issues within the report.  He noted that the Wales Policy and Procedure for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults from abuse is intended to guide the safeguarding work of all those concerned with the welfare of vulnerable adults employed in the statutory, third and independent sectors in health, social care, the police and other services.    A summary of the POVA referrals where highlighted within the report.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following issues :-

·           Questions raised with regard to how many cases had been proven against NHS, Independent Sector and Social Care Staff.  The Officers responded that figures can be obtained and noted that they will be afforded to the Committee in due course.

·           Questions raised regarding the time taken to deal with cases of alleged assault.  The Officers responded that when dealing with independent cases with initial enquiries within 1/2 weeks.  Cases that are referred to the Police or cases that need in-depth research can take 3/4 months.  The Head of Adult’s Services stated that he will prepare a report on the procedure for dealing with alleged abuse to the next meeting of this Committee.

RESOLVED to note the report and to agree the developments highlighted within Section 4 of the report.

ACTION :

·           That figures of proven cases of abuse to Vulnerable Adults be afforded to the Committee.

·           That the procedure for dealing with alleged abuse to Vulnerable Adults be submitted to the Committee in due course.

To submit a report by the Head of Adult’s Services in relation to the above.

Submitted – the Annual Report – ‘Listening and Learning from Complaints’ by the Head of Adult’s Services.

The Head of Adult’s Service reported that there is an obligation to produce an Annual Report on the operation of the Representations and Complaints Procedure and present it to the relevant Local Authority Scrutiny Committee to monitor the arrangements for dealing effectively with complaints received from service users and their representatives.  It is considered vital that a record is kept of comments and complaints in order for the Social Services Department to learn lessons from them, as part of improving service delivery.  The Head of Adult’s Service gave an in-depth analysis of the number of complaints received by the Social Service Department to the Committee.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following issues :-

·           Questions raised regarding the procedure for elderly residents of care homes if they wish to complain.  The Head of Adult’s Services responded that the staff of the Social Services Department do visit the care homes on a regular basis.  He also noted that department is at present employing independent persons to assess any complaint residents of care homes may have; this complies with the Commissioner for Older People criteria.

The Corporate Director (Community) wished to congratulate Ms. Sophie Shanahan, Customer Care Development and Complaints Officer (Social Services Department) for her work in respect of dealing with complaints for the Social Services Department in a competent manner at all times.

RESOLVED :-

·           To note the nature of the complaints received during 2014/15 regarding the services provided by the Social Services Department;

·           To note the performance of the Social Services Department in implementing the Representations and Complaints Procedure and dealing with complaints;

·           To note the Action Plan for developing the arrangements for dealing effectively with representations and complaints received from service users and their representatives.

ACTION : None

To submit a report by the Interim Scrutiny Manager in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Interim Scrutiny Manager in relation to the Scrutiny Outcome Panels established by the Local Authority’s Scrutiny Committees.

The Scrutiny Officer gave an overview of the Scrutiny Outcome Panels established by the two Scrutiny Committees of which there are currently 7 Panels. 

RESOLVED :-

·           To note the current position with regards to work of the seven Scrutiny Outcome Panels;

·           That the Support Officer’s endeavours to submit quarterly update reports on the work of the Scrutiny Outcome Panels to both Scrutiny Committees, Scrutiny Chairs & Vice-Chairs Working Group and the Senior Leadership Team;

·           To further strengthen the synergy and alignment between the Scrutiny Function and the Council’s Strategic Priorities as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report.

ACTION : That update reports be submitted to this Committee on a quarterly basis on the work of the Scrutiny Outcome Panels.

To submit a joint report in relation to the above.

Submitted – an updated report with regard to the proposed joint scrutiny arrangements of the Gwynedd and Ynys Môn Local Services Board.

The Scrutiny Officer highlighted the main issues contained within the report and stated that further guidance in respect of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is due in the Autumn of 2015 and should provide greater clarity on how to proceed with scrutinising the Public Services Board when it becomes operational in April 2016.  At this stage, the legislation is clear that the Public Services Board membership for the area will include Gwynedd Council, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. 

The Senior Partnerships Manager Gwynedd and Ynys Môn said that statutory guidance in respect of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 – Implications for Scrutiny is at present out for consultation until 16 November, 2015.  She noted that the scrutiny element of the guidance needs to be enhanced and the Welsh Government has identified this matter already.

The Leader of the Council stated that the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is an important legislation and he hoped that the Senior Partnerships Manager will give an update report following the National Conference to be held on the 26 November in respect of this matter.

RESOLVED to note the update report

ACTION : That an update report be submitted to a future meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee in respect of the above.

The Vice-Chair stated that the School Progress Review Group he has attended has been very informative and was looking forward to participate in the next state of the consultation process.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted – the draft Work Programme.

The Scrutiny Officer highlighted that 3 new items will need to be considered by the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee :-

·    Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – update – To be discussed at the 17 November, 2015 meeting;

·    Weekly Waste Collection Option Appraisal – Special meeting to be arranged;

·    North Wales Fire & Rescue Service – response to the recent fire incident in Llangefni – To be discussed at the 17 November, 2015 meeting

Councillor Carwyn Jones said that he wished to receive an update report on a regular basis from the Task and Finish Group which deals with identifying sites for Travellers.  He noted that the Wales Housing Act stipulates that each local authority must identify traveller’s site within their constituency.

Concillor R.O. Jones said that he wished to see an item on the Committee Work Programme on the Ambulance Service.

RESOLVED to note the draft Work Programme and to incorporate the items raised for discussion at future meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee as noted above.

To consider adoption of the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

RESOLVED to adopt the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during discussion on the following item on the grounds that it may involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation to the modernisation of Wardens Services within Council owned Sheltered Accommodation.

The Principal Development Officer (Housing Services) gave an in-depth report on the two options in respect of modernising the Wardens Services of the County Council.

Following a question and answer session it was RESOLVED :-

·           To note the position and to favour Option 1 within the report.

·           To note that the matter be discussed by the Executive for decision.  

ACTION : That decision in respect of modernisation of Wardens Services within Council owned Sheltered Accommodation be taken by The Executive.

(Councillor Carwyn Jones wished it to be minuted that he voted against the decision). 

(Councillor John Griffith abstained from voting).

(Having declared a personal interest Councillor Dylan Rees abstained from voting in respect of this item).