Agenda and draft minutes

No Members declared any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at the meeting.

No items were raised which in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

 (i) The minutes of a meeting of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 8^th November, 2012 were submitted.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

(ii)  The minutes of a special meeting of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 5^th December, 2012 were submitted.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

A copy of a report by the Performance and Planning Officer, which provided an update on the performance of the Local Service Board (LSB) and Partnerships in delivering The BIG Plan: Part I, 2011-14, and a ‘Summary Exceptions Report’, supported by more detailed chapters for each of The BIG Plan’s eight outcomes, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

It was explained that Denbighshire The BIG Plan: 2011-14 (TBP), which was being delivered collaboratively with partner agencies, was the plan driving Partnership working in Denbighshire.  The LSB was accountable for TBP and held partner agencies which included Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), the third sector, NW Police, NW Fire and Rescue Service, Public Health Wales and Denbighshire County Council, responsible for implementing action plans to deliver The BIG Plan and its eight outcomes.  The value of partnership working in delivering The BIG Plan would be examined in more detail in annual and closure reports.

The report provided exceptions information for each outcome which allowed Members to focus on areas of weakness.  Partners were halfway through the timescale for delivery and some elements required focus and prioritisation in order to recognise improved outcomes for people in Denbighshire.  Areas highlighted included extending support for older people across the County; addressing the challenges facing Rhyl Town Centre; improving support for young carers; suicide and self-harm prevention; protecting vulnerable people from fire and reviewing partners’ contribution to the Economic and Community Ambition Strategy.  It was explained that a very small number of actions had been planned to start in 2013 with respect to Outcome 8.   The Head of Business, Planning and Performance (HBPP) explained that there were extensive, intractable problematic issues which could take a considerable length of time to address.  However, they were currently assessing if progress was being made in addressing the problems.

In response to questions from Members, the Corporate Director: Moderising and Wellbeing (CD:MW) confirmed that the indicators of success for rural areas and mental health and wellbeing had not been robust enough.  This had resulted in a weaker understanding of the impact of TBP and it was confirmed that the indicators would be reviewed.  Some outcomes had not been adequately measured within existing delivery mechanisms and although this had not impacted upon delivery, performance reporting had suffered in some instances, particularly in respect of Outcome 1.  This matter would be resolved as local strategic partnership structures, including Health, Social Care and Wellbeing and Children and Young People’s Partnership, were confirmed.

The Committee noted the importance of accurate and timely data collection and good quality reporting to enable effective performance management and partnership decision making.  Mechanisms were in place for gathering evidence of the impact of the interventions on people’s lives, and work was underway to map Partnership resources.  Details relating to this information would be included in the annual report and end of plan report.  It was confirmed that there had been no major obstacles in delivering TBP to date and the Committee were assured that officers were confident that TBP would be delivered.

Officers explained that the Corporate Plan had been aligned with TBP and that there was synergy between the seven Corporate Plan Priorities and The BIG Plan’s eight outcomes.  The BCUHB was currently managing an intensive consultation on NHS changes and these would impact on TBP, particularly in respect of joint working models, service configuration and locality-based healthcare.  TBP was an important strategic document which underpinned service delivery quality in a number of areas and any problems with performance may have future implications for the Council's finances

The Partnerships  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

A copy of a report by the North Wales Commissioning Hub Manager, which provided information regarding the operation of North Wales Commissioning Hub, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

The Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing introduced the report which provided a progress update on the development and operation of the North Wales Commissioning Hub (NWCH) for social care, health and education care home placements.  An overview had been included as Appendix 1 to the report.

The North Wales Commissioning Hub Manager (NWCHM) explained that the NWCH was a collaborative project between the 6 North Wales Councils and BCU Health Board, which had been established based on a Full Business Case.  The NWCH encompassed children and adults’ services, in partnership with the NHS, and was hosted by Denbighshire.  It was accountable to a Management Board which was chaired by the Corporate Director: Modernising and Welbeing.

The following four main functions of the NWCH were summarised by the NWCHM:-

·      Ensuring value for money in current high cost placements.

· Sourcing new placements through a transparent process and ensuring value for money.

·      Monitoring the quality of services.

·      Working with partners to develop the market in a bid to ensure that services were able to meet current and future demand.

The NWCH had developed underpinning systems and processes to enable it to operate effectively.  Capacity had been invested in meeting with operational teams of all partners to ensure that the role of NWCH was understood and that internal changes were introduced accordingly.  A copy of the work programme had been included as Appendix 2 to the report.

Annual cashable savings of £298,000 had been made which included a saving of £20,000 for Denbighshire, plus cost avoidance of £27,000 across the region.  In addition there had been annual savings of £209,000 arising from negotiation on Learning Disability care home placements.  It was confirmed that the Council’s contribution to the annual running cost of NWCH had been £12,615. 

Members were informed that the NWCH had sourced 51 placements between August and November 2012.  Other work underway included the development of a regional Approved Provider Framework for children’s residential placements and a quality monitoring framework for adult services.  Following the development of the Framework the Quality Monitoring Officer now had a schedule of visits to carry out on behalf of Denbighshire.

The NWCHM confirmed that the NWCH contributed to the delivery of Denbighshire’s Corporate Priorities and would help ensure that the Council secured good quality and value for money services. The Council's Medium Term Financial Plan assumed cashable savings of £25k could be made this year and £100k for next year.  In reply to questions relating to the risk matrix prepared for the Management Board not having been signed off, it was explained that the risk matrix was linked to the full business case and it was confirmed that there were no significant major risks and that it was a matter of refinement.

All partners had been consulted on the Full Business Case and the NWCH was currently commencing engagement with Providers on proposed developments.  Members agreed that the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee should periodically monitor and evaluate the HUB’s effectiveness in commissioning quality services and realising value for money.  

In reply to questions from Councillor P.M. Jones, the NWCHM confirmed that there were currently 30 providers, 9 of which were in North Wales, which were used for children’s placements.  She explained that children had been placed in neighbouring North Wales county areas, the North West of England and other areas of the UK.  However, the number of placements had reduced significantly during the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A copy of a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator seeking the Committee to review its draft Forward Work Programme (FWP) and which provided an update on relevant issues had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.  The Cabinet’s FWP had been included as Appendix 2 to the report.  A table summarising recent Committee resolutions and advising members on progress with their implementation had been attached at Appendix 3 to the report.

Members were informed that, within in their remit, the Communities Scrutiny Committee would be considering a report on the Rhyl Going Forward Project on the 17^th January, 2013 and non-Committee Members would be welcome to attend.

Under the Council’s scrutiny arrangements the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group (SCVCG) performed the role of a coordinating Committee.  The Group had met on the 13^th December, 2012 when it had considered a request to arrange visits in respect of the Community Living Scheme.  The Group agreed that the visits should be undertaken adopting a similar format to the current rota visits to Social Care Establishments.  Invitations would be extended to the Lead Member, the relevant Social Care Champion and the Local Member(s) for the respective Ward. 

Following consideration of an item relating to the Community Safety Partnership by Partnerships Scrutiny, in September 2012, the Committee had asked the SCVCG to determine which Committee should investigate in detail the issue of alcohol related anti social behaviour problems in town centres.  The Group had concluded that this item would be within the remit of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee as it was the Council’s designated Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee.  In reply to a question from Councillor E.A. Jones, it was explained that this issue was a County wide matter and not specifically related to Rhyl.  Members agreed that prior to consideration of the issue that the Scrutiny Coordinator should liaise with the relevant officers regarding the scale of the problem and report back to the Committee in January.

It was explained by the Scrutiny Coordinator that the issue pertaining to CCTV had been considered by the SCVCG, and they had reallocated this item to the Performance Scrutiny Committee for consideration in March or April 2013.

Following receipt of a request from Councillor D. Owens, the Scrutiny Coordinator had liaised with the Senior Engineer: Flood Risk Management regarding the report on the Flood Risk Areas within Denbighshire, scheduled in the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for April, 2013.  The Corporate Director: Moderising and Wellbeing                 explained that a number of reports were currently being compiled into the November 2012 flooding incidents in St. Asaph and Ruthin, and that an independent investigation was being commissioned.  Members agreed that in addition to the report on the Flood Risk Areas within Denbighshire, which outlined the general statutory responsibility with respect to flood risk management, a report relating to the recent flooding incidents be included in the Forward Work Programme for consideration at the April 2013 meeting.  The Committee also agreed that Meic Davies, Regional Flood Risk Manager and a Planning expert from the Environment Agency be invited to attend the meeting.

Members considered the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for April, 2013 and agreed that the business items pertaining to “Capacity of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Unit” and “Potential for Collaborative Domiciliary Care provision with respect to rural areas of the County” be rescheduled to an alternative date.

RESOLVED – that, subject to the above, the Partnership Scrutiny Committee approves the Future Work Programme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

No updates from committee representatives on the various Council boards and groups were given.

Meeting ended at 12.35 p.m.