To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision
Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)
Minutes:
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 forward with the plan.
Members queried why there was no common housing register.
This would make the system more streamlined for the applicant and the various
housing associations. Officers confirmed that they considered this option
pre-stock transfer, but at that time there was not an appetite for it. However
recent conversations have resulted in a more positive engagement and this is
something that will continue.
Following scrutiny members were supportive of the
recommendations to be considered by the Cabinet Board.
Future of Trem Y Glyn
Members were presented with a report on the details on the
available options for Trem Y Glyn.
Members queried the saving of £1.375million under Option 1.
Officers advised that that option set out to transfer residents out of Trem Y
Glyn into other Pobl care homes, however currently there are only 7 vacancies.
Therefore, this would now mean that residents would be transferred to out of
county options which would prove more expensive. Due to the current volatile
state of the market, the situation is changing week by week.
Officers advised that Pobl beds are more expensive than
other providers
Officers advised that there is a block contract with Pobl
where prices have been negotiated for a number of years. This includes the fact
that Pobl built homes and are taking on some of the current homes of NPT. As
part of that a contract has been negotiated which takes into account of this.
Rates have been negotiated on a yearly base since then.
Members expressed their concern about the unknown costs that
have been indicated in the report and if these are likely to come out of the
overall budget for the year. Officers advised that they would try to balance
and minimise the risks.
Following scrutiny members were supportive of the
recommendations to be considered by the Cabinet Board.
Quarter 1 Performance Indicators
Members queried what the effect of long waiting times for
disabled facilities grants on domiciliary care. Officers set out the provisions
in place to respond to this.
Following scrutiny members noted the report.