To receive for apologies for absence (to include reasons, where appropriate) from Members / Officers.

None

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including Whipping Declarations)

Councillor E M Hughes declared a personal interest in item 5

To receive for approval, the minutes of a meeting of the Partnerships and Governance Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 16 September 2015

RESOLVED:               That the minutes of a meeting held on the 16 September 2015 were approved as a true and accurate record of the meeting

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report to the Committee on the items due to be considered at the Committees meeting due to be held on 2 December 2015  and sought confirmation of the information required for the subsequent scheduled meeting of 14 January 2016

Further Information requested

·         The Committee requested clarification regarding the reference to a recommendation made by CYP OVSC in relation to the Community Care Information Solution (CCIS) item scheduled for P&G OVSC on 2 December.

Corporate Parenting

·         Changes to the way that the Corporate Parenting Champion reports to Overview and Scrutiny Committees have been approved in the recognition that they can greatly support the Committee by advising them of the ongoing work of the Cabinet Committee and particularly any decisions or changes which they should be aware of as Corporate Parents as part of the day to day business of the Committee rather than via a biannual report.

RESOLVED:   That Committee:

·         Noted the topics due to be considered at the meeting of the Committee for 2 December 2015

·         Determined the invitees to be invited to attend, any specific information it would like the invitees to provide and any research that it would like the Overview and Scrutiny Unit to undertake in relation to its meeting for 14 January 2016

·         Revisited and considered the list of future potential items for the Committees Forward Work Programme and reprioritised as the Committees felt appropriate

·         Nominated Councillor A D Owen to join the Chair on the Joint Research and Evaluation Panel for Sickness Absence

Invitees:

Councillor H Townsend – Cabinet Member – Children’s Social Services and Equalities

Councillor P J White – Cabinet Member Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing

Sue Cooper – Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing

Deborah McMillan – Corporate Director Education and Transformation

Sara Harvey – Regional Programme Director – Western Bay Programme

The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing provided an update to the Scrutiny Committee concerning the Western Bay Health and Social Care Programme.  During 2014-15, Western Bay established a Partnership Forum which provided a strategic overview of the programme.  The membership consisted of the three Leaders of the three local authorities, portfolio holders, the Chairman of the ABMU Health board and non-executive members and the Chief Executives of the Health Board and the Local Authority. 

A member asked how Western Bay was scrutinised and what panels scrutinised them.  The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the project was scrutinised individually at a local level by the three local authorities involved in the collaboration and that no regional arrangements were currently in place, although this was a preferred model for Bridgend.  She added that Neath Port Talbot Council were not in favour of this model at this time.  Members were concerned that no arrangements were in place for regional scrutiny as they commented there may be a duplication of scrutiny or an oversight of projects within the programme. They felt that collaborative arrangements should be put in place for the effective scrutiny of the whole programme and were disappointed that this wasn’t already in place. 

Members asked if information on the Partnership Forum that was established during 2014-15 by the Western Bay programme was available for the Committee.  The Committee were particularly interested in having sight of the terms of reference and minutes of meetings.   The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing stated that these were not available at the time of the meeting however they could be sent onto the Committee for information, as well as the Western Bay newsletter which was produced on a regular basis which the Committee may find of interest.

Members asked how effective Western Bay was to members of the public. The Corporate Director- Wellbeing explained that there were strict Governance arrangements in place for Western Bay.  She added that each of the projects has performance measures that are submitted to Welsh Assembly as proof of the benefits of the project to qualify for funding.  She added that the indicators were also submitted to Cabinet.

A Member asked how resources were being shared effectively given the reduction in the budget.  The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing stated that if vacancies arose they were first recruited for internally.  She added the teams worked effectively together to ensure the services were not duplicated.  She further added that there was a dip in figures for reoffending but this was a national dip and that all other projects were achieving well against their measures.

Members asked if the project was sustainable in light of budget reductions.  The Regional Director for Western Bay stated that the project was sustainable but the task ahead was to ensure work was completed regionally to avoid the duplication of work whilst keeping services local

A Member asked what differences could be seen to people receiving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider any items of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency. 

None