Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the minutes

The Committee considered the minutes of the 13^th July 2017. A discussion was held on Matters Arising, and it was noted that this is not a constituted item for inclusion on Council meeting agendas. The Committee requested that a way of recording actions and referrals from Scrutiny Committees be considered and discussed making representations to the Democratic Services Committee for their view.

In relation to the item on Future Direction Options for Personal Social Services the Committee noted that they had requested further detail on how regularly the service will be monitored and requested that this be included in future reports brought the Committee.

The Committee noted the minutes.

The Committee received the Forward Work Programme for 17/18.

Members were made aware that the planned Western Bay Progress Report for consideration at today’s meeting had been withdrawn due to officer illness. The Committee requested that the officer be contacted and the presentation of the reports be re arranged at her earliest convenience.

The Committee requested that the Autism Strategy be added to the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme. 

This report was withdrawn from the agenda and will be reconsidered at a future meeting.

The Committee scrutinised the following matters:

Cabinet Board Proposals

5.1    Western Bay Youth Justice and Early Intervention Annual

          Plan 2017-18

The Committee received the Western Bay Youth Justice and Early Intervention Annual Plan 2017/18 as contained within the circulated report.

Officers explained that the Youth Offending Services are statutory multi agency partnerships that have a legal duty to co-operate in order to secure youth justice services appropriate to their area, funded from a variety of sources and this report presented the background and summary of the Early Intervention Plan 17/18.

Members questioned how the rates of re-offending remain high but the actual number of young people reoffending continues to fall. It was explained that there exists a core of repeat offenders who account for these numbers.

The fact that the Youth Offending Teams have been merged was discussed and the Committee questioned how the new arrangements are working.  Officers assured Members that arrangements are working well and representing good value for money.

The Committee asked for further information on the benefits of regional working arrangements. They observed the continual decline in reoffending rates and asked how this compares to the situation before the inception of Western Bay and requested the statistics in relation to this.

Members discussed those young people who are excluded from school but who are not offending and asked for detail on the support that is offered to them. They agreed that the responsibility is with the leadership and governing bodies of the schools and the Schools Improvement Service.

Young people’s interests were considered by the Committee as they agreed that a variety of skills and abilities could lead to interest in different academic or vocational routes of study.

The Committee raised concern on the elements of work that are heavily reliant on WG grant funding and that the impacts of Bridgend moving out of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board are unknown.

Concern was raised over the assistance required with speech and language and officers assured Members that sufficient support is provided.

Members asked for further information in relation to the consultation that had been carried out on the plan. Young people themselves have been consulted on the content and the responsibility for sign off rests with the Youth Offending Team Management Board.

The Committee requested that further information on consultation be included in future such reports received by the Committee.

Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board.

5.2    Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report

          And Business Plan

The Committee received the Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report and Business Plan as contained within the circulated report.

The Western Bay Safeguarding Children Board was established in April 2012 and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is identified as the lead partner responsible for establishing effective regional safeguarding boards for the Western Bay area. It is a multi-agency group with responsibility for supervision, challenge and oversight of safeguarding issues hence was being presented for information at this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.