Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Cllr S Knoyle       Options for Trem y Glyn          Personal, Non-Prejudicial

Residential Care Home

The minutes of the meeting held on 27^th June 2022 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)

Members agreed to scrutinise items 7,11,14 and 15 from the Cabinet Board agenda.

NPT Youth Justice and Early Intervention Plan 2022-2023

Members were presented with information relating to the background and summary of the content of the Neath Port Talbot Youth Justice Service Early Intervention and Prevention Service draft Annual Youth Justice Plan 2022-2023.

Members queried why there was a lack of permanency across the intervention staff and what was being done to address this issue. Officers confirmed that the lack of permanency related to specific posts within the team. Some posts are funded by grant funding and are on a rolling year to year contract. There is also going to be a job evaluation carried out on currently advertised posts.

Members asked if future reports could contact some statistics on those that could have a neuro diverse condition

Following scrutiny members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by the Cabinet Board.

Rapid Re-Housing Report

Members were presented with information relating to the draft NPT Rapid Rehousing Plan.

Officers confirmed that this is part of Welsh Government’s plan to end homelessness. The plan has already been endorsed by Welsh Government and has been acknowledged as one of the most detailed plans received from across Wales.

It was confirmed that there are now over 175 people in interim accommodation. The plan developed is to assist with rehousing people as quickly as possible. There is a particular shortage of 1 bedroom flats. Officers also acknowledged that the people presenting as homeless are much more chaotic and have more support needs. The housing first system will also need to be developed alongside the plan.

The authority also needs to look at suitable accommodation. Welsh Government have advised that all interim accommodation needs to be self-contained and not all accommodation meets that standard. Further, officers are trying to slow down the influx into the service by dealing with issues earlier in the system.

Members queried if there was going to be any additional funding from Welsh Government to support these items. If not, how and who can challenge this.

Officers advised that The Rented Homes Act which was due to come into force shortly is compounding the problem of housing, as many landlords are now selling their properties in response to the act. 

Members commended officers on their work to do on this item. Members asked that officers liaise with planning colleagues to ensure that, when housing is developed, hotspots are avoided where possible. Further, that housing is spread across all the wards.

Members expressed their concern about the location of support services in relation to housing and the residents that require support services. Officers confirmed that part of the Rapid Rehousing Plan is to look at support services and the grant provision which is in place, to look at how persons can be better supported within their accommodation.  It is within the authority’s gift to decommission and recommission all support services and that is what the authority will be doing moving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Any urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items.

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.

The committee did not scrutinise any private items.

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

The committee did not scrutinise any private items.