The Leader advised Members of the recent response he had received from the Chair and Chief Executive of Cwm Taf University Health Board regarding the Council’s concerns about the potential impact of proposed boundary changes.  He stated they had offered a number of assurances in the event that the changes go ahead, which highlighted the following:

·They are committed towards maintaining and improving health services for local people, and also to the outcome of the South Wales Programme.

·  The forthcoming consultation is solely about the organisational boundary. Any service changes would require a separate public consultation process in line with regulatory frameworks.

·  Current Cwm Taf hospital waiting times are lower than they are in the ABMU area. In the event the Princess of Wales becomes part of Cwm Taf UHB, the focus will be firmly fixed on bringing PoW waiting times in line with this.

·  No service reductions are planned for the PoW.

·  Cwm Taf intended to work with ABMU to ensure service sustainability across all sites.

·Cross-boundary access to treatment and inter-regional services will continue.

·  While patient pathways may be reviewed at a later date, it will only occur if it improves the accessibility and quality of care, and demonstrates clear benefits for patients.

·As regards Maesteg Community Hospital, the response admitted that Cwm Taf are currently unfamiliar with the site and services, but stressed that the intention is to understand the whole of the community infrastructure over coming weeks.

·  While they could not comment specifically on the hospital, Cwm Taf has a track record of investing in community services and establishing community hospitals as cluster hubs which bring together primary, secondary and social care services together. This is certainly something they would seek to explore locally.

The Leader informed Members that the letter concludes by stating that Cwm Taf view proposed boundary changes as an opportunity to improve services across all three local authority areas, to share expertise and resources, and enhance patient experience and access to services.  He stated that both the Chief Executive and the Chair have also stressed that they will be happy to come and meet Members to answer questions and discuss any concerns directly, and he would bring further details about this as it develops.

The Leader also advised Members of a letter he had received from the Director General of the Universal Credit programme informing the authority that four main changes are to be made to the system once appropriate legislation has been approved.  He stated that the first change will enable short stays in temporary accommodation to be paid through housing benefit, and is intended to ease financial concerns expressed by local authorities.  The other changes all concern the first assessment period.

The letter also advised that the current waiting time of seven days is to be abolished, the transition time for anyone transferring across from Housing Benefit will be two weeks, and the period of repayment for new advances will be extended to 12 months to enable claimants to receive up to 100 per cent of their entitlement.  The changes are intended to support claimants during the first assessment period following lobbying from councils amid complaints that people have been left without payments during processing. 

These changes will affect the roll-out schedule of the system and the DWP will be contacting affected councils with further details, and it was hoped to have more information about this soon.

The Leader informed Council that whilst giving evidence to the Parliamentary Commission into Health and Social Care, the Chair Dr Ruth Hussey and Professor Keith Moultrie were clear that the Council’s integrated model of intermediate community care for older people was a beacon of best practice not just in Wales but across the UK.  He stated that if there is a change, it would be ensured that these vital community services will continue to be developed.

The Leader also announced that as part of the Our Valleys Our Future, he was very pleased that the new Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services Alun Davies has announced a seventh strategic hub northern Bridgend.  The Council had worked hard to ensure the Garw, the Llynfi and Ogmore is a focus for public sector investment, with the aim to ensure that the hubs will in turn attract private sector investment creating jobs and opportunities.  He stated that the process of developing the proposals for the strategic hub based on the initial themes included in the Welsh Government’s delivery plan was now underway.  He also stated that the taskforce and each of the seven local authorities will hold a strategic hub seminar to support the development of an investment blueprint for each area over the next 15 years.  The specific projects to be funded over the term of the Assembly will be identified by April 2018.  In addition to the strategic hubs a Valleys Landscape park is being considered by Welsh Government to maximise the tourist and leisure opportunities of the natural landscape and rich heritage. 

He also announced that Heathrow has unveiled a longlist of sixty-five Logistic Hub locations, off-site centres for construction and manufacturing which will help the airport deliver its expansion plan.  He stated that the Logistics Hubs will participate in offsite construction of the third runway, bringing jobs to every corner of the UK and that a site at Brocastle was among the shortlisted sites.  The airport had also unveiled ten Business Summit locations, including one to be held in Cardiff, ensuring every region across the UK benefits from supply chain opportunities via expansion. 

The Leader informed Council of the progress being made in the construction of Betws Primary School and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Garw which will share the same site to be ready in January 2018.  The new Bynmenyn Primary School will be ready in February and construction on the new Pencoed Primary School was continuing and would be ready in September 2018.  He stated that Band B submission of the School Modernisation Programme would be considered as part of the budget setting process.