Question To The Cabinet Member Education And Regeneration - Cllr A

Hussain

South Wales Police have called for better mental health education in schools after a

rise in young people being detained under the Mental Health Act and this has been

supported by the Mind Cymru and they want that schools should do more to raise

awareness of mental health issues and step in to help those who are having

problems sooner. Can the Cabinet Member for Education let the Council know how

he is addressing this important issue?

Question to the Leader - Cllr T Thomas

What benefits will this authority amass from its investment and involvement in the

Capital City Region Deal?

Question To The Cabinet Member Communities - Cllr M Voisey

Can the Cabinet Member please advise how many Homes in multiple occupation

(HMO's) of all sizes, there are in the county of Bridgend, and their distribution by ward?"

Question to the Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration from Councillor A Hussain

South Wales Police have called for better mental health education in schools after a rise in young people being detained under the Mental Health Act and this has been supported by the Mind Cymru and they want that schools should do more to raise awareness of mental health issues and step in to help those who are having problems sooner.  

Can the Cabinet Member for Education let the Council know how he is addressing this important issue?

Response:

There are a number of services provided by directly BCBC which seek to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children. Most of these resources are concentrated at the Tier 1 level but some are Tier 2 services.   They would include:

Tier 1

•   School-based interventions (eg nurture provision, personal and social education, Achievement For All, Thrive and ELSA)

•   Social work interventions (eg attachment theory, cognitive behavioural theory and direct work with children)

•   School nursing support

•   Pastoral care in schools

•   Anti-bullying work in schools and with the Early Help Team

•   Flying Start - additional health visitor support

•   Language and play, number and play and Welcomm speech and language support sessions

•   Parenting support

•   Young carers support

Tier 2

•   There is one (part-time) specialist CAMHS social worker based in the Early Help Team

•   There is one (part-time) specialist play therapist within the Early Help Team

•   School-based counsellors

•   Community-based counsellors

•   B2P (Building to Progress) educational provision for children with mental health issues

In addition to these centrally-based services, the schools use a wide range of approaches and practices which aim to support the emotional and mental wellbeing of our children.

Services for children at more acute levels are provided by ABMU.

Councillor Hussain asked a supplementary question as to when will Wellbeing Officers be introduced to schools.  The Interim Corporate Director Education and Family Support stated that there are a number of initiatives in place and that some schools already have Wellbeing Officers in place.

Question to the Leader from Councillor Tim Thomas

This question was withdrawn by Councillor Thomas.

Question to the Cabinet Member Communities from Councillor MC Voisey

Can the Cabinet member please advise how many Homes of multiple occupation (HMO's) of all sizes, there are in the county of Bridgend, and their distribution by ward?"

Response:

The main function of SPG is to provide clarity on a particular policy or strategy of the development plan. There is no specific policy in the Bridgend LDP relating to HMOs and the plan makes no commitment to produce HMO SPG unlike for example Open Spaces or Design. The production of SPG is very resource intensive and involves public consultation, the open spaces SPG for example has been in production for some time and a decision to embark a new SPG cannot be taken lightly.

Also, an SPG which will apply across the County Borough may not necessarily restrict development and in some cases may even provide justification for a proposal particularly if we set criteria for assessment. In other words if a proposed HMO complies with the SPG then the presumption could be that planning permission should be allowed. It could even inadvertently ‘direct’ HMO development to town centre areas where there are likely to be larger properties and relaxed car parking policies. At present any such application is determined on its own merit.

We have had 5 applications for HMOs and 7 enforcement complaints across the County Borough over the last 3 years, which would not suggest that there is a particular issue with this type of development in the wider area however, you may be aware that recent changes to the Use Classes Order has now brought smaller HMOs under planning control and this could result in more applications in the future. I appreciate your concerns about a proliferation of HMOs in particular ward and that this could potentially change the character of the area over time. This is something that we could look at as part of the development plan review (whichever form it takes), but this will need to be informed by evidence and the local housing needs assessment will also provide further information on future demands for housing supply in Bridgend.

In the meantime any proposal will be subject to normal planning assessment also taking into account concerns about concentrations of particular uses in a small area. There may also be other controls imposed under other licensing or consenting regimes, which may be relevant.

A list of Licensed HMOs which Shared Regulatory Services is required to maintain, and also figures relating to Non Licensable HMOs per area within the Borough was submitted.  This list has been produced having regard to historical data that was obtained from service requests to the department and also a street survey that was completed in 2015/16 to identify potential HMOs.

Councillor Voisey asked a supplementary question as to what action is taken by the authority to ensure the safety of residents where the properties they are living in are unregistered and unknown HMOs and the work undertaken with partner agencies.  The Team Leader Neighbourhood Services stated that Shared Regulatory Services will act on complaints received from tenants, Council tax, Building Control, Planning Department and the Fire Service in relation to properties which are unlicensed.  Shared Regulatory Services is currently preparing a prosecution against the owner of an unlicensed property, who had failed to submit an application for a licence.  The Team Leader Neighbourhood Services informed Council that the majority of HMOs in the County Borough do not meet the criteria for Mandatory Licensing (that they are of 3 or more storeys and have 5 or more occupants, and therefore do not require licensing. There is however other legislation, such as the Management Regulations which they are required to meet.  She stated that Shared Regulatory Services are planning on doing a targeted mailing exercise to raise awareness and enforcement to ensure owners meet the requirements of both the Housing Act and Rent Smart Wales.