Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Stacy Curran 01639 763194 Email: s.curran@npt.gov.uk
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Declarations of interest Minutes: The
following Member made a declaration of interest at the commencement of the
meeting: Cllr Charlotte Galsworthy: Proposal to Externally Commission Payroll,
Managed Account and Suitable Person Services Report, re: Direct Payments as she
is a Personal Assistant for her mother under the Direct Payments scheme. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 100 KB Minutes: Members
thanked Officers for the information they received in relation to Rapid
Adaptation Grants. Members
queried whether a response had been received from Officers in relation to the question
raised regarding the Third Sector Figures. Officers stated they would look into
the matter further and circulate a response to the Committee. |
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Welfare Rights Overview Minutes: 3.1 Welfare Rights Overview The Committee received information in relation to
the Welfare Rights Overview as contained within the circulated report. Members asked how the unit is advertised. Officers
explained that they attended Council meetings and spoke to different people
about the unit. In relation to grant funding, Members asked if the
Department of Works and Pensions contributed to anything. Officers explained
financially that they didn’t, but they always got involved with the team;
however this would stop after April 2019. Officers explained that the team
currently had five Members of staff who were funded by the Council and seven
who were grant funded. In relation to Case study A, Members asked were the
figures being looked at with regards to Direct Payments and what effect was
this having. Officers explained they were gathering
this information and would be looked at next year. Members queried what the pathway was for young
people wanting to make a claim. Officers explained there was always a way that
young people could make a claim, parents were able to gage with them which
would enable them to further the process.
Members congratulated the Welfare Rights Unit and
highlighted the fantastic job they were doing. Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted. |
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Forward Work Programme 2018/19. PDF 155 KB Minutes: Members
highlighted to Officers if an item was removed from the Forward Work Programme
that Members would like to know in advance. Members
asked why the Adult Safeguarding and Quality Assurance hadn’t been brought to
the meeting in October. Officers explained this would be brought back in
November. The
Committee noted the Forward Work Programme. |
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Pre-Scrutiny Minutes: 5.1 Western Bay Safeguarding Boards Annual
Report 2017-2018 The Committee received information in relation to
the Western Bay Safeguarding Boards Annual Report 2017-2018 as contained within
the circulated report. Members reminded Officers about the concerns they
had with the grammar in reports. On the table 1.2, Officers highlighted The
Performance Framework remained under review to identify a more sophisticated
set of performance data requests. Members asked what did this mean and in which
way would this be modified. Officers explained they would come back with
specific details. Officers highlighted that 1.3 and 2.2 in relation
to Welsh Government contradict each other and would like clarity on this.
Officers explained they would e-mail this information to Members. Members highlighted the delays in Welsh Government
and asked Officers what was the outcome and what impact had this had. Officers
explained Child Sexual Exploitation and Welsh Government Group
were being looked at, all the information would be collated and the results
would come back soon. In relation to 3.2a – Timescales, Members queried
if they could have feedback on what the timescale was. Members asked who was responsible for Disclosure and Barring
Service on all
staff, and was there consistency across all departments. Officers explained
that HR oversaw this. Members asked what the abbreviation PRAMS stood for.
Officer’s explained this is was Health Visitor Service. Members asked what training was given to all
agencies and staff. Officers explained they were prioritising training and
would bring the information back to Members. Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted. |
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Access to Meetings Minutes: RESOLVED: That pursuant to Section 100A
(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the
following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt
information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above
Act. |
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Pre-Scrutiny Minutes: 7.1 Proposal
to Externally Commission Payroll, Managed Account and Suitable Person Services The Committee received information in relation to the
Proposal to Externally Commission Payroll, Managed Account and Suitable Person
Services as contained within the circulated report. Members asked if this option could be done in house.
Officers explained that this option had been looked at, but it looked as if
they were the employer and it would be an issue with Payroll. Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the
proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board. 7.2 The Manager’s Report on Hillside Secure Children’s Home The Committee received information in relation to the
Manager’s Report on Hillside Secure Children’s Home as contained within the
circulated report. Members gave their congratulations to the staff at Hillside
for doing a brilliant job. Members highlighted they were pleased to see a young
person sitting his GCSE in English. Members were also pleased with the reduced
sickness levels and that Hillside had no agency staff. In relation to the holidays, Members asked what the
children did for the six weeks. Officers explained they only had two weeks off,
therefore there were activities arranged for four weeks and there was a rota
set out which the children followed. Members asked if supervision was for the children or the
staff. Officers explained this was for the staff. Members asked what the abbreviation SALT stood for.
Officers explained this stood for Speech and Language Therapy. Members asked what the digital buzzer system was
used for. Officers explained this was for the children to call the staff if
they are needed. Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted. 7.3 The Children’s Home (Wales) Regulations 2002. The Committee received information in relation to the
Children’s Home (Wales) Regulations 2002 as contained within the circulated
report. Members highlighted that young people felt as though they
were punished by having boxing cancelled because of the lack of staff to
supervise. Officers explained they had to stop the activity because of the
risks; and Hillside had also lost a lot of experienced staff very quickly. Members asked how the young people managed with nicotine
withdrawal. Officers explained that the children were monitored. Officers added
that there was a GP practice there and that a nurse came to visit. Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. CHAIRPERSON |