Agenda and draft minutes

The Committee noted the minutes subject to the following amendment:

Page 9 last paragraph should have read “Cymer Afan was ranked 6th of the top 10 schools in Wales” and not as stated in the minutes of the last meeting.

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:

3.1    Internal arrangements for Families First Funded Services

          Members received an overview of the Internal arrangements for Families First Funded Services as detailed in the circulated report.

          It was highlighted that following the Welsh Governments publication of the new Families First guidance in April 2017, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has developed specifications for a number of new services with the intention to continue the arrangement to deliver some of these in-house.  The services to be delivered in-house are the Youth Services, Parenting Support and the Team Around the Family with the addition of services for young carers, which is currently delivered by an external provider, be brought in-house and integrated into the Youth Services which would have a benefit for the young carer through greater support and access to additional services form the wider youth service. 

·        Members were pleased to see services being provided internally and that as a result Young Carers would benefit from an improved service and that any savings would be invested in the delivery of other services.  It was queried what ranking was Neath Port Talbot in regard to the number of Young Carers?

Officers explained that Neath Port Talbot had the highest number of young carers in Wales and in the United Kingdom.

·        Members were also pleased that staff effected by transferring  the service in-house would be transferred under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employees Regulations).

Officers explained that at present only one member of staff has been identified. 

·        Members asked would the monitoring of an internal service be as rigorous as an external service?

Officers explained that all providers whether internal or external have to meet the expectations contained within the Service Level Agreement and monitoring officers exercise the same rigorous inspection whether internal or external.

·        Members asked what is the timescale for the new contracts?

Officers explained that the new contracts will be active from the 1^st April 2018 and an update report would be brought back to a future meeting of Education, Skills and Culture.

·        Members asked was the savings of £50,000 achievable?

Officers explained  that the savings were achievable and would be reinvested back into other services.

·        Members asked in the report it states that a benefit would be greater support and access to additional services from the wider youth service – what would these be?

Officers explained that being part of the Youth Service young carers could access support services that are already available through the Youth Service and the partners they work with.  In addition, due to the links with schools it would mean easier identification of young carers and the ability to have more contact with them and to ensure they receive the support they need.  Also, 3 co-ordinators would be employed to work in the Youth Service to ensure that the links are made for young carers to receive the support they need.

Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:

5.1    Proposed Renewal of the Lease and Service Level        Agreement to the Field Studies Council at Margam Discovery   Centre and to agree variations to the current lease

          Members received an overview of the private item in regard to the Proposed Renewal of the Lease and Service Level Agreement to the Field Studies Council at Margam Discovery Centre and to agree variations to the current lease as detailed in the private circulated report.

Following Scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered by Cabinet Board.