Agenda and minutes

Agreed that Councillor A.R.Lockyer be appointed Chairperson for the meeting.

Noted by Committee

Noted by Committee.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the Equality Impact Assessment the Director of Social Services, Health and Housing be given delegated authority in consultation with the Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive to make any further changes in the direction of travel for Neath Port Talbot Social Services, incorporating the following:

(a)     Maintains the gains in management and financial discipline over the past four years;

(b)     Continues to develop innovative, active Early Intervention and Prevention in order to divert, reduce and minimise demand for more expensive intensive services as contained in Option A of the circulated report;

(c)     Continues actively to develop personalisation of social care, so that service users have much greater control and choice over how, by whom and when they receive services to meet their needs and chosen outcomes;

(d)     Fulfills the Council’s legal duty to offer all service users at the outset a Direct Payment to meet their assessed need for care and support where satisfied that it is an appropriate way of meeting those needs as contained in Option A of the circulated report.

Reason for Decision:

In order to meet the significant delivery and financial challenges which lie ahead for social care, it is essential that there is a clear direction of travel, which is clearly understood by all social care stakeholders.

This will enable officers to plan in a gradual, organic strategy for achieving the required savings, as opposed to precipitate approaches which have undesirable consequences for volumes of service and jobs.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period.

Members were supportive of the request made by the previous scrutiny committee that the report be withdrawn from consideration at today’s meeting due to the number of concerns expressed by the Committee in respect of the contents of the report and the Western Bay Governance arrangements.

Decision:

That the report be withdrawn from consideration at today’s meeting.

Members were supportive of the request made by the Scrutiny Committee held prior to this meeting to amend the wording contained within the circulated report under the Definition of a Carer as detailed below.

Decision:

That having given due regard to the Equalities Impact Assessment, Members approve the Neath Port Talbot Young Carers Strategy 2017-2020 as detailed in the circulated report  subject to the amendment to the Definition of a Young Carer Paragraph 4, Page 153 to clarify the wording around requesting a Carers Assessment.

Reason for Decision:

The strategy builds on the achievements of previous Neath Port Talbot Carers Strategy documents.  The document aims to continue to provide strategic Direction for services for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers from 2017 – 2020.  Endorsement of the Neath Port Talbot Young Carers Strategy 2017 – 2020 will provide strategic direction for services for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers over the next 3 years.

Implementation of Decision:

That the decision be implemented after the three day call in period.

Consultation:

The Young Carers Strategy 2017 – 2020 has been included in the Forward Work Programme and consultation as taken place with relevant stakeholders.

Decision:

That approval be granted for the functions of the Supervisory Body for the purposes of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to Andrew Jarrett, Head of Children & Young People Services.

Reason for Decision:

To enable Andrew Jarrett, Head of Children & Young People Services able to delegate the power of Supervisory Body signatory to named officers for the purpose of fulfilling the local authority duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in relation to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision be implemented after the three day call in period.

Decision:

1.      That approval be granted for the Council (subject to all the City and County of Swansea Council and Bridgend County Borough Council agreeing to execute the Inter Authority Agreement) enters into the Inter Authority Agreement upon the terms set out in the circulated report;

2.      That the Head of Children & Young People Services be designated to be the Representative of this Council for the purposes of the Inter Authority Agreement and to carry out on behalf of the Council all the delegated powers of such a Representative, and further delegates to the Head of Children & Young People Services the power to appoint an alternate or deputy for the purposes of the Agreement;

3.      The Head of Children and Young People Services be delegated authority in consultation with the Head of Legal Services to negotiate and settle the final terms of the Inter Authority Agreement (taking into account any guidance and instructions issued by the Welsh Government) and thereafter authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter into the said Agreement and any associated documentation.

4.      The City and County of Swansea Council be authorised on behalf of this Council (subject to it obtaining its own internal approvals) to enter into and agree to comply with the obligations set out in the long term contract for the National Approach for Advocacy Services having due to regard for the implications set out in the report and subject to all participating authorities having entered into the Inter Authority Agreement.

Reason for Decisions:

The National Approach for Advocacy Services is an expected regional implementation exercise which has oversight by WLGA, this being  the case, The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 – Part 10 code of Practise (Advocacy) sets the requirement for Local Authorities to:-

(a)     Ensure that access to advocacy services and support is available to enable individuals to engage and participate when local authorities are exercising statutory duties to them and

(b)     To arrange an independent professional advocate to facilitate the involvement of individuals in certain circumstances.

In addition, The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 brings strategic relevance to how Local Authorities and public bodies make decisions.  It places an emphasis on Local Authorities and other public bodies to work together in a more sustainable and cohesive approach.  The 2015 Act means that public bodies need to look at preventative solutions when making decisions for people and communities and that it needs to involve the people living in local communities when planning for the future.

Implementation of Decision:

That the decisions be implemented after the three day call in period.

Decision:

That approval be granted to extend the lease agreement between Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service, for a period of thirty-six calendar months from 1^st April 2017 to 31 March 2020 on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Head of Children & Young People Services in consultation with the Head of Property and Regeneration.

Reason for Decision:

To enable Children and Young People Services to enter into a lease agreement with Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Services for 36 Orchard Street, Neath. SA11 1HA so that the building can continue to be used to provide an informal and accessible space to enable direct working with children, young people and their families.

Implementation of Decision:

That the decision be implemented after the three day call in period.

Decision:

That the report be noted.