Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

·       12 July 2024

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2024 were approved as an accurate record of proceedings.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2024 were approved as an accurate record of proceedings.

Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme

Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme

Following scrutiny, members supported the recommendation outlined in the draft Cabinet report

The Chair thanked officers for the detailed and interesting report.

The Head of Housing and Communities provided an overview of the report contained within the agenda pack.

Officers provided members with additional information that was not included in the report. The change to the discretionary element of the grant has driven a change in behaviours with an increase in applications for vertical lifts due to the reduced cost in comparison to extensions. However, this approach does not provide an appropriate long-term solution.

The Chair raised a concern about potential safety risks for some residents using vertical lifts.

Members questioned how lifetime property charges were applied for social housing.

Officers confirmed that discretionary funding would only be available for private and privately rented properties. It was likely that any discretionary funding would be re-paid at some point from private or privately rented properties, but this did not apply to social housing.

Members enquired whether private landlords were required to co-sign any funding agreement.

Officers confirmed that landlord permission must be granted before any work can be carried out on a privately rented property and landlords are made aware of the funding conditions.

Members asked if hospital patients who were awaiting property adaptations were prioritised and whether the Health Board contributed financially.

Officers confirmed that the previously available Hospital Discharge Grant is no longer offered and Occupational Therapists must prioritise need. When a priority need is identified, the application would be moved as far as possible on the waiting list, depending on the current state of spend. It was noted that there are already commitments for next year’s budget.

Members questioned whether more funding is required from the health board and queried why the Hospital Discharge Funding Grant is no longer available.

Officers confirmed that efforts have been made to obtain extra funding from the health board, but this has not been forthcoming. There was a change to the Western Bay Grants, and approval was stopped. It was noted that many people on the waiting list are of equal priority and there are difficulties in prioritising with the limited resources available. In some cases, Occupational Therapists put forward priority pieces of work with the remainder of the works being carried out at a later date.

The Head of Adult Services gave assurances that hospital patients awaiting adaptations would not remain in hospital for extended periods but would be moved into an extended care placement in a residential bed, at a cost to the council.

Members enquired, should the proposal be implemented, how quickly would the current backlog clear.

Officers confirmed that if Cabinet approval were granted, changes would be required to the policy tools and legal document, with the aim for the change to be implemented by the start of the next financial year. There are currently 274 on the waiting list but it is anticipated that some people may leave the list if means testing was reintroduced. People on the waiting list will be notified if means testing was re-introduced.

Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

·       No scrutiny committee Forward Work Programme items to be considered.

There were no items selected from the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme.

There were no items selected from the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme.

·       No items for consideration

There were no performance monitoring reports for consideration

The Chair advised committee that Quarter 1 & Quarter 2 performance reports were added to the forward work programme for 12th December, with quarterly performance reports being received for future meetings.

There were no performance monitoring reports for consideration

·       Cabinet Forward Work Programme

·       Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme

Members noted the Forward Work Programmes.

Officers advised members of new items that had been added to the Cabinet Forward Work Programme and changes to the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme; members were given the opportunity to request further items for consideration.

The Chair reminded officers of the need for a description of the purpose of the report on the Cabinet Forward Work Programme to aid scrutiny members when selecting items for scrutiny.

Members noted the Forward Work Programmes.

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 no urgent items.

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.

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.

Members considered the private item.

Members considered the private item.

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet