To receive for apologies for absence from Members.   

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillor HE Morgan and Mr PA Jolley – Corporate Director – Operational & Partnership Services

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)

None

To receive for approval, the minutes of the meeting of the Partnerships and Governance Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 5 April 2016.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 April 2016 be approved as a true and accurate record subject to the inclusion of Councillors N Clarke and M Thomas as attending the meeting.

Invitees:

Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Economic Development

Andrew Jolley, Corporate Director - Operational and Partnership Services         

Lee Jones, Head of Regulatory and Partnerships

Dave Holland, Head of Shared Regulatory Services

The Head of Regulatory and Partnerships presented a report which provided background on the development of the Shared Regulatory Service which provided an integrated Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Licensing service for Bridgend, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan .  He explained that Mr D Holland, The Head of the Shared Regulatory Service, was in attendance at the committee to provide a detailed briefing for members on the service, its implementation, development and aspirations.

The Head of the Shared Regulatory Service outlined the establishment of the service, described the aims, the functions that were now being undertaken and the benefits that were anticipated to be delivered by the service.  He explained that many of the original Bridgend workforce had secured roles with the shared service including 5 team managers. 

He then explained the governance model including the Joint Committee which had oversight of the service.  He added that Bridgend was represented on this Joint Committee by Councillors CE Smith and R Williams.

The Head of the Shared Regulatory Service emphasised the importance of the service being people focussed and of delivering on the promises which it made. He added that it was hoped that the service would become a recognised leader in safeguarding the health, safety and economy of our communities and for delivering high quality services within budget.

He then outlined some of the key challenges which were being addressed.  These included; mobile working, service access and managing demand, operating processes, performance management and workforce planning. 

The work during the establishment of the Shared Regulatory Service had not stopped and in addition to the normal duties it had been involved with an outbreak in Porthcawl, Operation Fetch and the seizure of illegal tobacco, Legal Highs working with Lucy Owen and the X- ray TV programme to investigate public issues.

The Head of the Shared Regulatory Service stated that the Regulatory Services Business Plan, as appended to the report had been identified as the most important Business Plan the service would have to write.

The Head of Regulatory and Partnerships stated that he was comfortable with the development of the Shared Regulatory Service which had been a significant period of change for many employees but that they had been provided with additional support to manage the transition.  The Food Standards Agency and Public Health Wales had also been supportive during this period.

Members requested clarification of the ongoing workforce development.  They were advised that the appraisal process would be used to identify an individual’s training needs in their current role. 

The Committee queried the Risk Register show on page 63 of the report which identified risk relating to the effective allocation of resources.  It was explained that tasking and the co-ordination of resources happened on a daily basis but the workflow processes had changed and that the allocation of resources was more fluid that previously with officer working across the region.  The Taxi/Licensing service will continue to be managed in Bridgend by Yvonne Witchell 

Members queried the opportunities for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Invitees:

Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member – Cabinet Member Regeneration and Economic Development

Andrew Jolley, Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services

Angie Bowen, Group Manager – Operational and Partnership Services

Martin Thomas, WECTU Representative

The Head of Regulatory and Partnerships presented a report which informed the Committee of how the Authority is responding to the duties under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and to provide an update of the current threat of extremism and terrorism in a local context.

He explained that the Cabinet Committee – Equalities had received a report on the South Wales Police Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU), outlining the current “Severe” threat level in the United Kingdom and which provided a local context for the information.  He described the formation of WECTU and the creation of a Special Branch for the whole of Wales.  Its remit covered international terrorism and domestic extremism and was governed by the UK Governments Counter Terrorism Strategy known as CONTEST.  The Western Bay CONTEST Board was constituted by representatives from a variety of agencies across the area including officers from BCBC.  The board covered the key elements of the strategy including Prepare; and Protect and Prevent responsibilities.  The Board also received updates from the local Channel Panels.  These Channel Panels are established in each local authority and support a multi-agency safeguarding programme to support vulnerable people from being drawn into terrorism.

He continued by explaining that the duties of the Local Authority had recently been changed and added that if a Local Authority failed to comply with its duties it could be the subject of a mandatory order from the Secretary of State.  He then outlined the actions that were being undertaken by the Authority to meet this change in its duties. 

One-off grant of £10,000 has been allocated to BCBC specifically to deliver prevent training and awareness of the new duties across the Authority’s workforce, including wider agencies contracted to the authority.

The Head of Regulatory and Partnerships introduced DS T Nash who was a representative of the South Wales Police and Gwent Police PREVENT team and who would be able to respond to any queries the Committee may have.

Members expressed their disappointment at the low level of ring-fenced grant that had been provided by the Home Office.  DS Nash explained that previously the funding had come directly from the Police.  The funding had been cut and the service had had lost 2 co-ordinators but would continue its efforts until the Local Authorities were operating in accordance with its duties.  It was explained that Bridgend had a lower number of counter terrorism referrals than neighbouring authorities but the planned  increase in awareness would also increase the number of referrals 

Members identified that religious groups were not represented on the CONTEST Board or CHANNEL Panel.  They also queried the impact on the Local Authority.  It was explained that the introduction of new legislation was accompanied by a small grant.  This grant funding would be used to raise awareness focussing on teams within children’s services before widening awareness through partnership working and encouraging partners to engage the programme which would become a priority for the Community Safety Partnership.

Members asked if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

The Committee considered the appointment of a member to become its Corporate Parenting Champion and represent the committee on the Corporate Parenting Cabinet Committee.  After some discussion it was:-

RESOLVED:  That Councillor K Watts be appointed as the Corporate Parenting Champion for the committee

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which provided the committee with the recommendations of the Local Service Board (LSB) Overview and Scrutiny Panel and to seek the Committee’s approval to change the name of the Local Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Panel to the Public Service Board (PSB) Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

The Scrutiny Officer explained that at its meeting on the 18 April 2016, the LSB Scrutiny Panel was advised that the Public Service Board had now been established in Bridgend in accordance with the Well Being of Future Generations Wales 2015 Act.

The LSB Scrutiny Committee had recommended that:

·         Local Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Committee change its name to the Public Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Panel in order to align themselves with the newly established PSB.

·         each project under each Programme Board use the same pro forma template for reporting on their performance to ensure consistency across each Board and effective performance monitoring. 

·         work be undertaken to incorporate key measurable targets in order to evidence outcomes and success. Without consistent performance monitoring approaches using measurable targets there is a risk of objectives and real results not being achieved, gaps in provision and no evidence available for public accountability.

After some discussion it was:-

RESOLVED:  that the Committee

a)    Approves the change of name from the Local Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Panel to the Public Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

b)    Accept the other recommendations of the LSB Panel listed above and for these recommendations to be passed to the Public Service Board for consideration.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Committee with its draft Forward Work Programme (FWP) for 2016-17 for consideration and approval. 

The committee was advised that there would only be 6 scheduled meetings during the year the Committee, which would be able to consider a maximum of 12 service area topics.  Therefore the committee was requested to identify those topics which will; provide the most significant value for the Authority and to the residents of the Borough of Bridgend; prioritise their workloads and focus their investigations to make best use of available resources.

She added that in additional to the topics listed for its own FWP there was an opportunity to identify a cross cutting topic for consideration of collaborative scrutiny committee which was being piloted.

The Committee requested the following items for further scoping and possible inclusion on the FWP:

·         Dementia – Shared Services and Partnership working

·         Housing Strategy – how new building projects are considering and ensuring the provision of local needs such as primary healthcare.

The Committee also requested that the topic of ‘Awen Trust’ be considered as an item for the proposed Collaborative Committee pilot.

RESOLVED:  The Committee agreed its Forward work programme for 2016/17 and identified the Awen Trust as its preferred topic for consideration as part of the pilot of the Collaborative Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which requested the committee consider the items to be presented at its meeting on 10 October 2016; and to consider potential items for prioritisation.  The Committee requested that the item relating to the Social Housing Partnership provide information of the crime and disorder aspect of the Housing Strategy and how the strategy considered the requirements for the provision of primary health care services.

The committee queried whether a full list of partnerships could be provided.

In relation to the item on Critical Incident Management the Committee asked that the report expand to include how the Authority plans for such things as inclement weather and Biomass fire, how local services are working and planning together such as the Fire Service, Police, Natural Resources Wales and Health as well as information on the Gold Command.

RESOLVED:  That the FWP be updated as outlined above

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