Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre. View directions
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Declarations of interest from Members Minutes: The
following member made a declaration at the commencement of the meeting: Councillor S.Reynolds Agenda
Item 12 – Lease agreement with Neath Port Talbot CVS from 1st April
2017 until 31st March 2020 – as she is a Chair of the Member
Organisation of NPTCVS. |
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Minutes of the Social Care, Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 16th March 2017 PDF 88 KB Minutes: Members
noted the minutes with the following queries. Members
asked what the clear focus was in relation to point 9 in the Business Support
Community Care Service Report Card on page 5 of the minutes. Officers clarified
that they now have weekly management team meetings which enables them to have
regular monitoring. Members
queried what we were doing in house for the retention and recruitment. Officers
clarified that there was an issue previously with staff retention but measures
have been put in place to rectify this and there is no longer an issue. It was
confirmed that staff are very positive about working for Neath Port Talbot. Members
queried why there was not more data available in the performance data action
plan. Officers explained that these were new indicators and that more data
would be available in future years. |
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Minutes of Children, Young People and Education Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd March 2017 PDF 93 KB Minutes: Members noted the minutes
with the following queries. Members asked what the
specific programme reports that were highlighted on page 12 of the previous
minutes. Officers explained that they were the Corporate Improvement Objective
- Better Schools Brighter Prospects Quarter Three Highlight Report and that officers
would circulate them to members for information. Members asked what was the
process for monitoring children when removed from the child protection
register. Officers explained that they continue to hold cases open for at least
3 months after being removed and audit cases on a regular basis. Members queried the benefits
that children gain from being resident in hillside secure unit. Officers gave
members a brief background on the history of Hillside. It was agreed that
arrangements would be made for Members to undertake a visit of the Hillside
facility. Members asked what the financial arrangements with Hillside and whether there was any income generated. Officers explained that there was no cost to the Council and that Hillside was self-funded. It was highlighted that the Income Generation Group led by the Deputy Leader is looking at all aspects of Income from the Council and a report would be brought back to a future meeting on the potential of Hillside. |
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Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2017/18. PDF 75 KB Minutes: The Scrutiny Committee noted
the work programme. |
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Pre-Scrutiny Minutes: The
Committee Scrutinised the following matters:- Cabinet
Board Proposals 5.1 Future Direction Options for Personal
Social Services Members were updated on the options for managing
and delivering personal social care services over the next five to six years. Members queried how external organisations could
gain information on Direct Payments and whether an event could be organised.
Officers explained that a re-launch of direct payments scheme was going to take
place in future which should make this information available to all interested
parties. Members queried that the report gave the impression
that there was an underspend and that Officers need to
be more clear in the reports. Members asked whether the Personal Assistants have
the same standard of Qualifications that our in house Homecare staff have.
Officers confirmed yes and have been running training courses for Personal
Assistants which is funded by the Council and Welsh
Government. Members asked whether there is information on the
take up of Direct Payments across the County by ward and whether there were any
issues in more rural wards. Officers confirmed that they would get back to
Members. Members queried how Officers can ensure them that
Personal Assistants are providing a quality service. Officers explained that
they would be monitored regularly to ensure a quality service. Members queried how officers can assure them that
the quality of care, safeguarding and the cost over long term are being
monitored. Officers referred to pages 23-25 in the report highlighting that
Direct Payments are only used where necessary. Officers highlighted that all
services have a Social Worker for support and that all clients who receive
Direct Payments would receive the same service as other clients. Members queried whether there was an evaluation
strategy. Officers confirmed that Social Workers monitor appropriate spend of
Direct Payments on a daily basis. Members asked what would happen if there was a lot
of sickness leave or Annual leave at one time. Officers confirmed that they
would have a bank of Personal Assistants if this happened. Members asked Officers
to re-word the EIA on page 38 paragraph 6 starting with the word however as
members felt that the paragraph gave a wrong impression that the council was
trying to reduce the service it provides. Members queried that the
EIA on Page 51 Section 7 & 8 Monitoring Arrangements and Outcomes, how this
was going to be monitored and that the outcomes needed to be more measurable
and requested a report explaining how this was going to be achieved. Members asked whether
the Council has sufficient capacity to provide services if the client does not want to use
Direct Payments. Officers confirmed that they have no capacity problem. Members were concerned
at the level of take-up and whether there was a pattern of service users taking
up Direct Payments. Officers explained that some services for example learning
disabilities had higher rates of take up than others. Members queried what affect would the uptake of Direct Payments have on the internal Homecare service. Officers explained that ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Pre-Scrutiny Minutes: The
Committee scrutinised the following private matters:- Private
Cabinet Board Proposals 7.1 To Enter Into an Inter Authority
Agreement Within The Western Bay Region for The
Collaborative Procurement of Regional Advocacy Services. Members
received information on entering into an Inter Authority Agreement for a
Regional Advocacy Service and its procurement. Members
requested that in future consideration be given to the timescale for procuring
services to allow for smaller organisations to be able to submit a bid for that
service, as currently the timescales are too short to allow for this. Following
scrutiny the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by the
Cabinet Board. |