To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Cllr J Gebbie; Cllr M Jones; Cllr R Shaw; Cllr JC Spanswick;

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

Invitees:

All Cabinet and CMB

The Chief Executive presented the Financial Performance 2018-19 report to committee, the purpose of which was to provide an update on the Council’s financial performance for the year ended 31^st March 2019.  He explained that there are over 600 services provided by the Council, all of which face different challenges along with variances of overspends and underspends. He finished his presentation by thanking fellow colleagues and Members for bringing in a balanced budget in 2018-19.

The Committee thanked Officers for the detailed report and noted that throughout the document there was frequent use of ‘staff vacancies’ and queried whether the Council was working to its full potential and if the Council were struggling to recruit to vacancies.  The Chief Executive explained that some Directorates were having issues with recruiting to posts and provided the Corporate Landlord service as an example.  He further advised Members that although staff vacancies assist with budget savings, it does have an impact on performance with services being provided slower and less efficiently.  He concluded by advising that the Council has a stringent process in place for vacancy management whereby vacancies are not recruited to without a business case to reappoint. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing confirmed that her Directorate had also encountered a delay with recruiting to direct care roles within the Care at Home for Older People service and had several staff vacancies within the Assessment and Care Management service.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing then notified the Committee that both services are currently undertaking a structure review, which will resolve these issues.

The Committee discussed Welsh Government funding and the potential difficulties imposed on the Council’s budget setting process from uncommitted funding, one-off grants and funds that are allocated too late in the year.  To mitigate these factors, Members specified that there should be stringent procedures in place that Welsh Government must adhere too.

Members referenced the budget reduction proposals not achieved due to delays and queried whether the reasons for this was due to staff vacancies and staff sickness throughout the Council.  The Deputy Head of Finance advised the Committee that each delay had its own reasoning, such as postponements with an approval process with Welsh Government.

The Committee questioned what impact staff sickness and staff vacancies had on work demands and morale of existing staff.  In response the Cabinet Member Future Generations and Wellbeing quoted statistics derived from the Staff Wellbeing Survey, where 72% of respondents said they were comfortable with the demands placed on them all or most of the time as well as 71% being able to meet the demands of their job either all or most of the time’.

During discussions regarding the non-achievement of the Learner Transport budget reduction proposal, Members questioned whether the lack of a Learning Resource Centre (LRC) unit in Porthcawl effected the budget of transporting children from Porthcawl to the nearest unit.  The Leader responded by explaining that the Council have looked to provide a LRC in Porthcawl  ...  view the full minutes text for item 129.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the information report, the purpose of which was to provide the Committee with an overview of the Council’s performance in 2018-19, against its 2018-19 commitments to delivering the wellbeing objectives identified through its Corporate Plan 2018-22.  The report covered the following work areas:

• Commitments;
• Corporate Performance Indicators;
• Corporate Plan Indicators;
• Public Accountability Measures;
• Social Services Well-being (SSWB) Performance Measurement; Framework Indicators;
• Sickness absence.

Conclusions

With reference to the Corporate Performance Indicators, Members were concerned by the increase in percentage of indicators ‘Worse than last year’ and similarly with the percentage of ‘Better than last year’ Performance Indicators decreasing year on year.

Additional information:

1    The Committee note that long-term sickness remains high and has increased in the last year, therefore, Members requested to receive detail of what options are available for people who are off work to aid an earlier return.  For example:

·         Working from home;

·         Reduced working hours.

2          With reference to the Local Authority losing experienced people, the Committee request to receive details of Exit Interviews to ascertain why staff are choosing to end employment with the Council.

To consider any item(s) 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