Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

It was confirmed that the committee would be scrutinising items 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 18 from the Cabinet Board Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

25^th January 2024

The minutes of the meeting held on 25th January 2024 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25th January 2024 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Officers provided an overview of the report contained within the agenda pack.

Members asked officers if there were any gaps in provision to help young people with complex needs transition to adult services.

The Head of Children Services stated the importance of having an experienced workforce across Children’s and Adults Services to support vulnerable young people and manage risk. The panel will help to support the whole directorate in identifying and supporting young people through the transition period and recognising where support can be decreased. Officers advised members that several different work streams have been established, staff meet to establish if plans are appropriate and to identify available resources and gaps. It was noted that young people may be in residential care for a variety of complex reasons, some with a need for high packages of care.

Members questioned whether any support packages were available for families who have cared for young people in supported living.

Officers advised members that is was important that early conversations were undertaken with families to help plan for transition at a younger age. The Transition Panel is open to all transition information and will be used strategically and operationally. Officers will report back to Scrutiny in six months’ time on how the panel has embedded in practice.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Dewis eitemau priodol o Agenda Bwrdd y Cabinet ar gyfer craffu cyn penderfynu (cynhwysir Adroddiadau Bwrdd y Cabinet ar gyfer yr Aelodau Craffu)

Quarterly Performance Report Quarter 3

Following scrutiny, members noted the report.

Neath Port Talbot Social Services Strategic Action Plan for

Neurodivergence (Austism and other conditions) 2024-2027

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

The Corporate Parenting Charter

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Policy on Financial Contributions for Temporary Accommodation

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Quarterly Performance Report Quarter 3

Members commented that the new Performance Report layout was difficult to navigate.

The Director of Social Services, Health and Housing thanked members for the feedback which could be used to review the way the data is presented. The current report contains corporate presentations and trend analysis. The Director confirmed it would be helpful to work with committee members to identify what information would be relevant to the committee going forward.

The Chair acknowledged that Performance Data Training sessions had been undertaken for all members but suggested a further session be arranged to re-visit data pertinent to the committee to aid members understanding.

Members asked for further clarification regarding why some data was not suitable for comparison.

The Head of Housing and Communities referred to the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) on pages 39-47 of the report and advised members that items not suitable for comparison had not been reported on in previous years. The data related to a number of new KPI’s used to monitor new activity and intended impacts. 

The Director commented that work had been undertaken previously with members to identify how meaningful performance information could be presented. This work can be re-visited and it would be useful to have member involvement to steer what information would be helpful to the committee.

Members referred to page 42 of the report contained within the agenda pack and asked for further information on the Channel Panel.

The Head of Housing and Communities confirmed the Channel Panel was a multi-agency group set up to looks at risks associated with people who may be drawn into terrorist activity. The KPI doesn’t provide a clear indication of the current situation. In the previous year, the vulnerability of seven people was reduced following referral to the panel, however, during this year, there was only one referral. There is a need to review the KPI going forward to provide a more accurate depiction.

Officers confirmed the Channel Panel sits within the Community Safety Team; the Community Cohesion Officer provides coordination to the panel which is chaired by the Principal Officer for Safeguarding. Referrals can be made to the Channel Panel if low level concerns are raised about an individual’s behaviour and interests. The county borough is considered a low risk area and referral numbers are low but it is important to identify and address concerns. Ongoing work is needed on a corporate level to remind staff and panel partners, about the referral pathway and the type of help and support that is available.

Members referred to page 45 of the report contained within the agenda pack and requested that an item was added to the Forward Work Programme to outline how households are prevented from presenting as homeless, to enable members to support residents.

The addition to the Forward Work Programme was welcomed by the Head of Housing and Communities who noted that Neath Port Talbot comes just under the national figure of 59%. The KPI reports on people who are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The committee action log was noted.

The committee action log was noted.

The forward work programme was noted.

The Chair requested a meeting with officers to discuss the Forward Work Programme in more detail to consider areas which to date may have been overlooked.

The forward work programme was noted.

Unrhyw eitemau brys yn ôl disgresiwn y Cadeirydd yn unol ag Adran 100BA(6)(b) o Ddeddf Llywodraeth Leol 1972 (fel y’i diwygiwyd)

There were no urgent items.

There were no urgent items.

Mynediad i gyfarfodydd i benderfynu a ddylid gwahardd y cyhoedd o'r eitemau canlynol yn unol ag Adran 100A (4) a (5) o Ddeddf Llywodraeth Leol 1972 a'r paragraffau eithriedig perthnasol o Ran 4 Atodlen 12A y Ddeddf uchod.

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.

Dewis eitemau preifat priodol o Agenda Bwrdd y Cabinet ar gyfer craffu cyn penderfynu (amgaeir Adroddiadau Bwrdd y Cabinet ar gyfer yr Aelodau Craffu).

Spot purchase contract for a sole occupancy care and support provision.

Following scrutiny, members noted the report.

Commissioning arrangements for developing NPT Mobile

Response Service

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.

Spot purchase contract for a sole occupancy care and support provision.

Following scrutiny, members noted the report.

Commissioning arrangements for developing NPT Mobile

Response Service

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board.