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

Apologies for absence were received from the following Member / Officer for the reasons so stated:

Councillor M Gregory – Other Council Business

Ness Young – Corporate Director Resources – Leave.

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 M Jones declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 – Corporate Commissioning Project as a Director of the Winston Partnership Limited which has a commercial relationship with the Bridgend Community Safety Partnership.    

To receive for approval, the minutes of the meeting of the Partnerships and Governance Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 29 October 2015.

RESOLVED:                That the minutes of the Partnerships and Governance Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 29 October 2015 were approved as a true and accurate record.    

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which detailed the items to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 14 January 2016 and sought confirmation of the information and invitees required for the subsequent meeting to be held on 5 April 2016. 

The Scrutiny Officer also reported that Corporate Parenting is the term used to describe the responsibility of a local authority towards looked after children and young people and that all Members have a level of responsibility for the children and young people looked after by the authority.  She requested that Members consider how the services within the remit of the Committee affect children in care and care leavers and how it can assist in these areas.  The Scrutiny Officer stated that Scrutiny Champions can greatly support the Committee in this by advising of the ongoing work of the Corporate Parenting Cabinet Committee any decisions or changes which they should be aware of as Corporate Parents.      

 Conclusions:                  

(1)          Noted the topics to be considered at its meeting on 14 January 2016 and the invitees to attend to attend the meeting;

(2)          Determined the invitees to be invited to attend the meeting on 5 April 2016 and that an item on Depot Rationalisation be added to the Forward Work Programme and scheduled for the meeting on 5 April 2015. 

Invitees:

Cllr P White - Cabinet Member Adult Social Care Health and Wellbeing

Cllr H J Townsend - Cabinet Member, Childrens Social Services and Equalities

Cllr M Gregory – Cabinet Member Resources

Ness Young – Corporate Director – Resources and Section 151 Officer

Susan Cooper Corporate Director – Social Services & Wellbeing

The Scrutiny Officer introduced a report which updated the Committee on the implementation of the Welsh Community Care Information System (WCCIS) since Cabinet approved the signing of the Master Services Agreement and Deployment Orders on 31 March 2015. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that BCBC had led the procurement of a national Community Care Information System which supports both health and social care and which will go live on 1 April 2016.  She highlighted the importance of the system being implemented to work alongside the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 to be introduced on 6 April 2016 and which will bring into place an assessment framework.  She stated that CareWorks Limited had been appointed as the successful tenderer to deliver the new information system across local authorities and the NHS in Wales.  The set up cost for the procurement was funded by a capital grant from the Welsh Government.  In addition to the national infrastructure there was a requirement for this Council to purchase the software to replace the existing DRAIG product which would cease to be supported beyond April 2016.  The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing informed the Committee that CareWorks was also the supplier of the DRAIG system and had given an assurance that they would continue to provide support until the new system was fully operational.   

The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing informed the Committee that the procurement of the system had been driven by the integration of health and social care and the need for it to be citizen centred which allowed professionals to access and share information.  She stated that BCBC had signed up first for implementation of the system and would be followed by Ceredigion and Powys Councils.  She informed the Committee there are currently a variety of health and social care systems serving local authorities and health boards and trusts.  The procurement was structured to provide an all Wales system with a national specification. 

The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing informed the Committee that the system had been shaped by its users and she outlined the benefits of the system.  In terms of the governance arrangements a National WCCIS Board had been established to oversee the strategic implementation.  Bridgend was represented by the Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing and the Corporate Director Resources with the Head of Finance and ICT and the Head of Adult Social Care as alternates.  The Project Board is chaired by the Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing, whilst Tracy Bell, CCIS & Schools MIS Support Team Leader of the ICT Department manages the project with representatives from the NHS and CareWorks on the Project Board.      

The Corporate Director Social Services & Wellbeing informed the Committee of the Transfer of Information process from DRAIG to the WCCIS which would be undertaken by CareWorks.  The process of data transfer would be governed by a National Migration Strategy which had been developed with CareWorks with input from local authorities and health boards.  She stated that the full benefit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Invitees:

Councillor C E Smith - Cabinet Member - Regeneration and Economic Development

Andrew Jolley - Assistant Chief Executive Legal & Regulatory Services

Ness Young – Corporate Director – Resources and Section 151 Officer

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services reported on an update on the current status of the Corporate Commissioning Project.  He stated that progress on the project had not been as planned owing to the loss of key personnel such as project managers; the lead procurement officer and ICT development of the contracts register software support.  The authority had also found it necessary to extend a variety of contracts however this course of action leads to inefficiency due to the loss of market testing.  However the delays in the project had allowed time for the development of a corporate projects register, which has enabled a better understanding of spend and future demand and significant savings had been through the use of e-tendering and e-auctioning. 

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services reported on the areas which are intended to be pursued by the project.  In respect of the Corporate Procurement Team, an appointment had been made to the post of Corporate Procurement Manager.  He stated that in order for the Transformation Agenda and corporate projects within the Medium Term Financial Strategy to be implemented it was important for procurement and commissioning to be recognised as a strategic part of the authority as opposed to a service team in one department.  He stated that it was the intention in the next financial year to move to a category lead structure.   

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services also reported on that County Borough Supplies is a long standing joint service between four authorities which historically has been self-funding and has not been a drain of resources on any of the partner authorities.  He stated that it is necessary for the Joint Service to move to new premises due to the development needs of the authority and there was therefore an opportunity to change the business model.  New premises have been located and negotiations ongoing on the lease.  The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services informed the Committee that it had recently been informed by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council that it wished to withdraw from the Joint Service which would significantly affect the viability of the service.  The authority had also been informed that another authority was likely to take a similar decision to withdraw from the Joint Service.  The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services outlined the number of staff working in County Borough Supplies.  The Cabinet Member Economic Development and Regeneration informed the Committee that County Borough Supplies has not been a liability and working in accordance with its business plan. 

The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services informed the Committee that the Corporate Contracts Register was now compete and now required application across the authority.  There is an option to use the Bravo Solutions Contract Register facility which could also be used by schools.       

      The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and Regulatory Services reported that the use of the Welsh Government portal would be a fundamental part of the Corporate Commissioning Project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

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. 

There were no urgent items.