Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

It was confirmed that the committee would be scrutinising items 7, 8, 9 and 10 from the Cabinet Board Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th June 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th June 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

To select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)

Neath Port Talbot Adult Social Care Strategy 2023 - 2026

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Draft Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan 2023-26

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Neath Port Talbot Children & Young People Social Care Strategic Plan 2023 – 2026

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Children & Young People Services, Adult Services and Housing & Community Safety - 4th Quarter (April 2022- March 2023) Performance Report

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Neath Port Talbot Adult Social Care Strategy 2023 - 2026

The Head of Adult Services delivered a presentation outlining the pressures faced by the directorate and highlighted why and how Neath Port Talbot will need to work differently going forward.

Members welcomed the content of the presentation but commented that transport could present an issue when promoting social networks and self-management; members questioned if community transport was being considered as part of the future plans? Officers responded that the plans are only achievable if they are part of a council wide approach. When discussing the preventative agenda, solutions need to be broader than just through the Social Services directorate.

With reference to the mention of sensory adaptations in the report, members felt that in order to reach more people the sensory adaptation service needed further promotion to GPs; members questioned if there are there are any plans to work more closely with Health Care services to promote this service? Officers responded that the three staff in the Sensory Team are attached to the Community Occupational Therapy Team, working with hearing and visual impairments. The experienced team work closely with health services, but further work can be undertaken to improve on this. Officers advised there is a Welsh Government initiative working alongside Health Board services to improve sensory impairment services.

Members asked how the service will measure results and report back to the committee going forward. Officers responded that costed business cases have been developed for every scheme and these will be presented to committee when appropriate. Results will be measured as the schemes progress and any required information will be provided, as requested.

Members queried the timeline for community hubs and raised concern that any potential suitable empty buildings may fall into disrepair if the timeline was too great. Officers confirmed that this issue has been raised with Cabinet and Corporate Directors; there is presently regional and council capital money available and any plans need to progress quickly to take advantage of this funding. Work will be carried out over the summer with decisions starting to be made in late August/ early September. Some plans need to progress imminently but other potential schemes such as the Older Person Village and Gelligron may need to be discussed over a longer timeframe.

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Draft Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan 2023-26

The Head of Housing and Communities delivered a presentation on the draft Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan 2023-2026, reiterating that there is currently a high degree of pressure on the housing system and the scale of change required cannot be underestimated.

Members thanked the officer for the interesting presentation and queried if consideration had been given to a model where the council purchased houses where adaptations were not possible and re-homing residents in adapted social housing as a means of increasing the council housing stock. The officer advised that this approach had not been considered but could be discussed further outside of the meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This item was noted.

This item was noted.

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

There were none.

There were none.

Access to Meetings to resolve to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Resolved: to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Resolved: to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

To select appropriate private items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

There were no items scrutinised.

There were no items scrutinised.