1.    Question from Councillor T Thomas to the Cabinet Member – Communities

 

Does the Cabinet Member agree that this authorities highways should be accessible for all regardless of age, disability or any other protected characteristic?

 

1.    Question from Councillor A Hussain to the Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help

 

Could the Cabinet Member let the Council know what action has been taken to reduce the level of Loneliness & Isolation and their negative impact on Health & Wellbeing of our elderly population in our County Borough?

 

2.    Question from Councillor MC Voisey to the Leader

 

Can the Leader of the council please justify why he thinks elected members of this council should not have the right to ask questions in council meetings and scrutinise in the chamber the decisions taken by this administration?

 

Question from Councillor T Thomas to the Cabinet Member Communities

 

Does the Cabinet Member agree that this authorities highways should be accessible for all regardless of age, disability or any other protected characteristic?

 

Response of the Cabinet Member Communities

 

Bridgend Council is committed to improving access to the highways network. This is a commitment that has been backed up with action. Between the 2017/18 and 19/20 financial years, an ongoing pedestrian aids programme has resulted in a total of 113 dropped kerbs being installed throughout the borough. The installations prioritised according to usage levels in the respective areas.

 

We now have 61 safe walked routes to schools, assessed and in use. We have an annual bid programme, promoting our proposed network improvements to Welsh Government which in this financial year alone secured £950,000 of investment for Safe Routes in Communities and £432,000 for the development of multi-use Active Travel routes.

 

Councillor Thomas confirmed that he was happy with the response, but added that he would appreciate meeting with the Cabinet Member – Communities on a related ward issue, to which he agreed.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor JP Blundell

 

Could the Cabinet Member – Communities outline how the Council is rolling out planned drop-kerbs throughout the County Borough?

 

Response

 

This is being rolled-out within areas where there is most footfall and/or upon requests from the public where drop-kerbs are required. Works were also considered in conjunction with the Council’s Active Travel Scheme. An example of works in respect of the latter, was at Coychurch roundabout, where drop-kerbs had been put in place, to assist and encourage active travel to specific locations, ie offices and hubs situate within close proximity to this vicinity.

 

Second supplementary question from Councillor B Sedgebeer  

 

Does the Cabinet Member – Communities agree that investment in creating footpaths/footways in Velindre Road, Pencoed, has resulted in increased access to the different highway networks situate in that area.

 

Response

 

Yes, and this would form part of a wider programme that will be extended to other areas of the County Borough, in order for easier forms of access points to be created to enable members of the public to get from one location to another, particularly the disabled, etc.

 

Question from Councillor A Hussain to the Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help

 

Could the Cabinet Member let the Council know what action has been taken to reduce the level of Loneliness & Isolation and their negative impact on Health & Wellbeing of our elderly population in our County Borough?

 

Response of the Cabinet Member Social Services and Wellbeing

 

The context of the Prevention and Wellbeing agenda was initially reported to the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April 2015 with a review of progress presented to the Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee in April 2016.  Subsequent reports on prevention and wellbeing were presented to Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 in March 2018 and 10th October 2019.

 

The Prevention and Wellbeing service is working with partners to develop an increase in sustainable community based opportunities.

 

There is an array of activities and community based initiatives that are in place in Bridgend to tackle loneliness and isolation.  Examples include the ‘Olympage’ programmes, which supports older adults to engage in modified games and activities to increase physical activity, reduce loneliness, improve confidence, and live more active and healthier lives have continued to grow.  Originally commenced within day care and residential care settings, there are now programmes linked to the community hubs, programmes for people with learning disabilities, activities in community centres and leisure / cultural venues and independent care settings also.

 

“We have been able to adapt activities and to plan for a series of annual activities and events to make sure that everyone can be included”.

Community Hub Coordinator.

 

“Yesterday, I visited the Cultural Olympage sessions. There was a fab turnout.  15 of the group attended and had an absolute ball.  Lots of conversations turned to reminiscing about music and memories and even some impromptu singing and dancing”.

LCC Ogmore Valley.

                          

Building on the work developed via ‘Olympage’, the Council has been successful in securing funding to develop a ‘Super-Agers’ project via the Healthy and Active Fund.  This project will operate across the new Health Board footprint of Cwm Taf Morgannwg including Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Councils and includes collaboration with the broader Third Sector, Health Board and Public Health.  The work will include building resilience in our communities with ownership of opportunities by older adults. The programme will support older adults to deliver and lead activities and also older volunteers to run vibrant community facilities.

 

“When we launched the Healthy and Active Fund, it was with the message that the benefits to our mental and physical health are clear.  These projects show a new innovative approach to supporting people of all ages and backgrounds”.

Deputy Minister, Culture, Sport and Tourism.

 

There is growing engagement with primary and secondary schools, recognising their potential to contribute to Ageing Well in Bridgend, intergenerational working and the development of age friendly communities, including:

 

a. Dementia friends and champions training in secondary schools (Archbishop McGrath School, Pencoed Comprehensive School). This has involved strong partnership working with BAVO. The benefits of this work will be further reviewed to identify any learning prior to increasing the scale of the programme.

b. Inter-generational activities between primary schools and older adults (LCC programme – Ogmore Valley, nursery school visits to Bryn Y Cae etc.);

c. Facility projects that help to bring people together (Bryn Y Cae dementia garden).

 

“It was fun being all together playing games”.

Primary School child.

“Fantastic event….and we’ve all really enjoyed it”.

Older Adult.

 

The Park Lives regional programme has been working with older adults to access doorstep opportunities in the natural environment. This programme provides locally convenient opportunities in parks and community settings. A focus on community Tai Chi and Yoga has been developed with activities led by adults who have been supported to develop skills and qualifications.

 

“G has achieved great success in engaging, delivering and retaining interest from our older communities and is nothing short of amazing.  He has supported regular activities in care settings and is massively passionate about improving older people’s wellbeing.”

Operations Manager, Prevention and Wellbeing.

            

The Love to Walk programme supports volunteer led community walking opportunities that are inclusive and contribute to mental wellbeing.  There are 13 weekly opportunities and an annual Love to Walk festival to promote opportunities to new participants.

 

The Community Chest Scheme is managed by the Council on behalf of Sport Wales and has supported local projects with £71,892 of funding (with £5,556 put into tackling inequalities).  Examples would include integrating stroke survivors into Bridgend indoor bowls centre, activity programmes with SHOUT etc.

 

“We actively work in partnership with the community.  The Stroke Club are regular users of our facilities.  We are very grateful to our volunteer members for making this happen every week”.

Ogwr Indoor Bowls

 

Another example of supporting Loneliness and Isolation would be The Memory Lane Café which was set up by a member of the public, who was supported by BCBC, ABMU and AWEN through a coproduction approach to do this. The individual had identified the need for developing positive peer support for carers, who support a person living with dementia. It was also seen as a positive and safe environment for carers and people they support to socialise and participate in activities. It supports the idea of making natural connections with others and helps to assist in carer resilience. The group has between 20 and 25 people in attendance. The Group has recently branched out from the Centre and is organising trips and facilitating activities in other venues in the community.

            

There is a commitment within the Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate Business Plan to work with Health partners and this approach will include the co-location of services that can contribute to wellbeing outcomes.

 

The Wellbeing Hub at Bridgend Life Centre has been supported by the Council’s Integrated Care Funding and Halo Leisure. The facilities will support employability, community and workforce development, Third Sector engagement space and group activity rooms.  The outcomes will focus on dementia support, falls prevention, combatting loneliness and isolation and physical and mental wellbeing.

 

This focus on co-location and accessibility of facilities and services will be expanded to other locations where supported by the business case.  Considerations would include Maesteg Town Hall, Maesteg Sports Centre, Grand Pavilion (Porthcawl) and community centres.

 

The Social Services and Wellbeing Directorate also supports the voluntary management committees of community centres and venues.  There is partnership working on developing prevention and wellbeing support opportunities particularly in relation to Local Community Coordination programmes

 

Adult Social Care has supported day time opportunities for a number of years which have been underpinned by a series of principles that focus on a philosophy whereby:-

 

“There should be more localised services supporting a positive community presence with relationships being developed with local people.”

 

Historically, investment has been made by the Service in developing plans to establish Bridgend Resource Centre, Work Related Services (WOOD B/BLEAF), which are both work based projects for adults with disabilities at Bryngarw Park and Tondu Industrial Estate, and four strategically positioned Localised Services based on a model of “Active Citizenship” which are are based at:

 

•            Cwm Calon – Maesteg Localised Service;

•            Sarn Adult Support Centre – Valleys Gateway & Pencoed Localised  Service;

•            Ty Penybont – Bridgend Localised Service;

•            Pyle Life Centre – Pyle & Porthcawl Localised Service.

 

The Council, via  regional transformation funding and related development plans is aspiring to develop ‘Resilient and Coordinated Communities’ that support people to meet needs in community settings and reduce the need for managed care. This approach is being taken forward in partnership with BAVO and will see five ‘Community Navigator’ roles connected to community hubs and an investment scheme to support small, medium and large projects in the Third Sector that enhance support in community settings.  The transformation fund is provided by Welsh Government and connected to Local Health Boards.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor A Hussain

 

Older men in Wales are the loneliest group of people in the UK, experiencing a high level of isolation.

 

Could the Cabinet Member tell us what he has achieved so far in promoting digital inclusion training for older people? (Bearing in mind ‘The five Ageing Well Themes in Bridgend’ and I am referring to Theme B3)

 

Response

 

Whilst the Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help confirmed he would either follow this up with a written answer, or alternatively Councillor Hussain could come and discuss the above with him further, the Leader advised that an initiative called Men’s Shed was being introduced across the County Borough. As part of the Ageing Well in Bridgend programme, this had been introduced to tackle loneliness and isolation experienced by older men. A Men’s Shed is a place for men to think, invent and make things and be part of a unique group who have a sense of belonging. The Leader added, that activities that take place in the sheds, include woodwork, music lessons, cookery lessons, gardening, model making and art, depending upon the skills of the group. There were presently Sheds in Maesteg and Tondu, with further facilities proposed to follow at other locations. In terms of  digital inclusion, this was offered in Council libraries and Life Centres for the benefit of society including the elderly, he added. 

 

The Corporate Director – Social Services and Wellbeing further added that something had been introduced in Social Services called See Me. The theme of this was about an older person making a story about their lives via a video for the benefit of their family and close associates. She added that, Extra Care Schemes had also introduced virtual reality headsets for service users to use. Through these, they could experience real life adventures such as snorkelling under the sea and travelling in space, amongst others. Ipads were also available at some Extra Care facilities also she added.

 

The Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help, confirmed that isolation and loneliness was a very big problem for the elderly and up to 29% of deaths related in some way to this. He reminded that the Council was a Dementia Friendly Authority which was another form of support for people suffering from this illness. He concluded by stating that the Council also had Community Co-ordinators in post, that co-ordinated group sessions in our communities for the elderly who had some or another level of incapacity.

 

A Member made the comment that Digital Inclusion should be added to the Council’s Scrutiny Forward Work Programme and the Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help agreed with this recommendation.

 

Question from Councillor MC Voisey to the Leader

 

Can the Leader of the Council please justify why he thinks elected Members of this Council should not have the right to ask questions in Council meetings and scrutinise in the chamber the decisions taken by this administration?

 

Response of the Leader

 

Council procedure is governed by the Constitution which is agreed at full Council.

 

Supplementary question from Councillor MC Voisey

 

Clearly we need to change the Constitution to make this Council more open to scrutiny by Members, and improve democracy. Will the Leader bring forward changes to the Constitution, to show that we are listening to the people, by working with and for them.

 

Response

 

A cross-party political Working Group had previously been set-up for the purpose of looking at changes to the Constitution, including in relation to questions by Members to the Executive at Council meetings and the outcomes of this were reported to and agreed by Council at its meeting dated 20 November 2019. Therefore, any changes put in place to the Constitution had been supported by Members. The remit of all formal Council Committees, allowed for questions to be asked of Officers (and Cabinet Members) and these were always responded to either in the meeting, or if a question had to be researched before an accurate answer could be given, then this would be followed-up outside of the meeting. There is a clear directive in the Constitution that Members have the democratic right to ask questions at meetings and have a response to these from Officers/Cabinet Members accordingly.

 

Second supplementary question from Councillor T Thomas

 

Does the Leader agree that for the best use of Councillors time at Council meetings, that Cabinet Members announcements should be provided as information papers only, or if there could be better or more improved opportunities by which Members may ask questions (on their announcements).

 

Response

 

This was also considered previously by the Constitution Working Group and also, as Cabinet Members announcements are not reports, it is not custom and practice for Members to ask questions on these in any event.