Minutes:
Members
received the comprehensive report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and
Democratic Services on the first part of the Annual report for 2017/18. The report covered the work of the Authority
in achieving the improvement objectives set out in the Corporate Plan developed
by the pre-decessor Council, and covered the period 1
April to 30 September 2017. Following
the presentation of the report Members raised the following:-
·
Whilst the lack of progress in some areas as a result of the current
austerity measures was acknowledged, Members noted that the improvements to
Neath Town Centre had not progressed for some time. This was due to the lack of development
monies available. Members felt that
better communication with the public would convey the issues and noted that a
report in relation to Neath Town Centre would be discussed at the meeting of
the Regeneration and Sustainable Development Cabinet Board on 8 December, 2017,
in private session.
·
The work of the Valley’sTask and Finish Group
needed to evidence what was being proposed for the areas. The Chief Executive advised Members that
investment had been made in certain valley areas,
however discussions were ongoing with Welsh Government to identify further
proposals.
·
In relation to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), Members
asked that it be noted that this had not yet been approved as, at the request
of Welsh Government, it had been strengthened and re issued for a further
period of consultation. The Committee
was advised that this Authority was investing proportionately more (25%) in
Welsh medium education than other local authorities in the sum of £34m.
·
The 21st Century Schools Programme recognised the work being
carried out in relation to the provision of Welsh medium education on the South
Campus, however the poor condition of the buildings
together with the lack of good sporting facilities at the North Campus would
need to be addressed. Members were
advised that this Authority had achieved the second highest spend in Band A of
the 21st Century Schools Programme.
·
In relation to the new School in Briton Ferry, it was noted that this
would be called Ysgol Newydd
Briton Ferry.
·
Members also asked when the new schools would be built at Coed D’Arcy, as part of the 106 Agreement, and whether they
would be Welsh medium and were advised that the number of new houses built had
not yet triggered the implementation of the 106 Agreement and that it had not
yet been decided whether the schools would be English or Welsh medium
schools. Officers advised that in order
for the schools to be designated Welsh medium there would have to be sufficient
unmet need.
·
Members were pleased with the open and transparent way in which the
issues around the Key Stage 4 results and the challenges around behaviour in
schools were presented. It was noted
that the issue around Key Stage 4 results was based on teacher assessment and
was an all Wales issue. As a result teacher
assessments had been stopped across Wales. The number of exclusions at schools
were falling however the number remained high.
Attendance was also an issue.
Officers advised that the new Corporate Plan addressed the 3 Wellbeing
objectives and the way forward regarding such things as the effect of poverty
on educational outcomes.
·
With regard to Digital By Choice, Members asked
for the percentage increase in the accessing of Council services to be added to
the report.
·
Committee noted that the schools’ Foundation Phase was the Authority’s
weakest cohort and that this was possibly due to Socio/Economic reasons. This Authority was now the most deprived in
the UK and, with the introduction of Universal Credit, this would probably get
worse.
·
In relation to Social Services, Members were pleased with the reduction
in the use of agency workers and urged Cabinet to maintain the high standard of
service. Members were advised that there
was a lot of strain on the service.
·
The reduction in the number of Looked After
Children was noted, and Members asked whether this decrease would continue?
Officers advised that the aim was to safely reduce the numbers of Looked After Children, however a continued reduction could not be
assured. Such things as the worsening
Socio/Economic position as a result of the introduction of Universal Credit
could result in an increase in the number of chidren
at risk.
·
The flexibility around Direct Payments was discussed wherein it was
noted that the number of service users using the scheme had risen to 387. Members asked what percentage this was of the
overall number of service users within the County Borough – this would be
provided outside of the meeting and added to the report. Members were advised
that the take up of Direct Payments was now being promoted, where appropriate,
by social workers, care workers and through the Authority’s website. The introduction of the Social Services and
Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 promoted the wellbeing of service users and as such
the focus of service delivery had changed.
The Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had
commissioned a Task and Finish Working Group to look into the use of Direct
Payments.
·
In relation to the Welsh Language Standards – Members noted that the
Welsh version of the Authority’s website had received a substantially lower
number of ‘hits’ than the English version.
Did this justify the additional expense in complying with the Standards?
·
Concern was expressed at the degeneration of the bus services in the
County Borough and particularly in the Valley areas. Officers advised that the current operator
had new management and that there would be a review of the routes. In addition it was noted that Transport for
Wales would also be looking at the provision throughout Wales.
·
Members referred to the literacy and numeracy of children entitled to
free school meals and their correlation with Looked After
Children? Officers advised that the
literacy and numeracy of those children entitled to free school meals was
improving.
·
Members welcomed the development of the Homeless Strategy and noted the
£285k in the budget to address homelessness, and asked for an update on the
position on anti- social behaviour within the County Borough. Members were advised that proposals were
being considered for the provision of a homelesss
hostel within the County Borough and the provision of an outreach worker. The numbers of homeless people within the
area were however quite low. Members asked
what arrangements were in place to assist the homeless over the winter period? This would be sent to all Members outside the
meeting.
·
The Leader of Council advised the meeting that Officers were drawing up
business cases for the future use of some of the Authority’s decommissioned/empty
buildings, with a view to hopefully generating income whilst keeping the property
in a good state of repair.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
Cabinet, subject to the report linking the work carried out to date with the future
progress to be contained in the second report in early 2018, and to the
addition of the points outlined above.