Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Bill Tasker declared a personal interest as a Community Health Council member.

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.

To receive the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on the 6^th February, 2014 (copy enclosed).

The Minutes of a meeting of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 6^th February, 2014 were submitted.

Matters arising:-

8. BIG PLAN Performance Update – The Scrutiny Coordinator explained that she was awaiting a response from the Partnerships and Communities Team Leader in respect of issues raised by the Chair.  Members were informed that a Business Item relating to the BIG PLAN 2 would be presented to the Scrutiny Committee in July, 2014.

RESOLVED – that, subject to the above, the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Service Manager: South Locality (copy enclosed) which highlighted progress on the actions required in response to the delivery plan in Together for Mental Health and shares some of the challenges and priorities for partners over the coming year.

                                                                                                            9.35 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Service Manager: South Locality had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

The report highlighted progress on the actions required in response to the delivery plan for “Together for Mental Health” (TMH) attached at Appendix 1, and outlined some of the challenges and priorities for partners over the coming year.  It detailed information on the recently established North Wales Partnership Board and its role in supporting and overseeing adherence to and progress against the delivery plan.  The report outlined the submission by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to the WG of the annual report on TMH and highlighted the actions recommended for 2014/15.

In October, 2012 WG published TMH, a whole population strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales.  The vision in the document and Sustainable Social Services provided an ambitious mental health agenda for the next few years with a clear emphasis on shared responsibility between the health service and local government.  Following consultation with stakeholders WG had developed 6 high level outcomes within Together for Mental Health.  These had been detailed in the report, and further developed in the document which identified more detailed outcomes, and included:-

TMH was supported by a Delivery Plan which set out details of the actions which WG and partner agencies would take to deliver the plan.  It identified the contributions required from WG, local government, the health service, third sector and a range of others including for example housing, education, training and lifelong learning, employers, and the criminal justice system.  The final chapter of the document set out how the strategy would work at National and local level and how the new National Partnership Board would ensure its delivery.

          In June, 2013 BCUHB established the North Wales Mental Health Partnership Board (NWMHPB) to oversee the delivery and implementation of TMH and its delivery plan, and in October, 2013 submitted the annual report to WG.  Appendix 2 included the respective Terms of Reference.  The Annual Report included progress to date and reference to some of the challenges and priorities for the coming year, together with, evidence of the ongoing commitment to working jointly with health and other partners to deliver the necessary actions.

During the ensuing discussion the strong working relationship in the field of mental health between BCUHB and Denbighshire's Social Services Department at service-user level was commended.  As were the principles and actions in the strategy and Action Plan which were endorsed.  However, a number of concerns were raised regarding local delivery of mental health services to adults, children and the elderly.  The main concerns related to:-

·  the waiting times experienced by children and young people in accessing the services of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) which had the potential to impact on the individual's education, BCUHB officers agreed to prepare an information report for members on how the money recently awarded by the Welsh Government (WG) to the Service would be used to improve CAMHS waiting lists and other services.  They also agreed to provide information on the progress achieved to date, and anticipated future progress, in rolling out the availability of CAMHS trained staff in all A&E Departments in North Wales.

·  the number of Welsh speaking Mental Health trained staff working in each local authority area, particularly the number of Welsh speaking psychiatrists.  BCUHB officials agreed to provide information on this, including the specialist area of work in which they worked.

·  the delay encountered in re-opening Tawelfan Ward at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd following its closure in late 2013 on quality and safety of patient care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report by the AONB Officer (copy enclosed) for the Committee to provide observations regarding the proposed governance arrangements for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB.

                                                                                                          10.35 a.m.   

A copy of a report by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Officer had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

Councillor H.Ll. Jones introduced the report and explained that the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Designation Order provided new national recognition and landscape protection to a substantial part of Counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.  Geographical details of the AONB were included in Appendix 1.

The Principal Countryside Officer: Warden Services (PCOWS) informed the Committee that in recognition of the expanded area the existing AONB Committee and the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) had reviewed its membership and agreed a balanced membership for LAs with each being invited to send 3 Members to future meetings of the JAC Committee.  The JAC had recommended a stronger LA relationship and agreed that the Joint Committee (JC) Model would be the best mechanism to achieve this aim.  The Chair of the JAC and AONB Officer had met with the Leaders, Chief Executives and Lead Officers who were supportive.  The Committee had provided observations on governance, particularly scrutinising the arrangements for the new JC within Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Councils.  The Legal Agreement, Appendix 2, defined the JC’s membership, delegated powers and roles.

The PCOWS confirmed that the JC’s main role would be to ‘discharge the delegated functions of AONB management, with the key role being ‘the conservation and enhancement of the area’s natural beauty.’ 

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB incorporated a significant central geographical land mass with popular attractions, and the AONB provided a significant health and wellbeing opportunity to the conurbations in Deeside, Wrexham, Cheshire and Merseyside.  Reference was made to the change in the economic function of the respective LA’s with an increasing reliance on rural tourism.  A summary of the following key benefits of the JC had been included in the report:-

·                 Greater Visibility of the AONB.

·                 Improved clarity.

·                 Improved co-ordination of AONB Actions.

·                 Improved efficiency and effectiveness.

·                 Explicit strategy.

·                 Focused Leadership.

·                 Responsible stewardship .

·                 Icons.

The JC was perceived as ‘good practice’ for the governance of the AONB and the AONB Officers would develop many of the aspects of the existing Interim JAC.  The JC would establish the AONB Partnership at its first meeting, and membership details had been provided.  To indicate a comprehensive approach to consultation the AONB would hold an Annual AONB Forum, each having a topical theme.  LA Members and Community Councils who had all or part of their Ward within the AONB would be invited, together with other interested bodies and individuals.

During the consideration of the report Members were advised of the rationale behind having an equitable number of Cabinet Members from each of the three Local Authorities on the Joint Committee and Partnership Group, despite the fact that the majority of the AONB was geographically within Denbighshire's county borders.

It was explained that Denbighshire would be the Lead Authority. Its and the other Councils' contribution towards the administration of the AONB would be paid into and accounted for on a separate budget line for audit and transparency purposes.  The Committee was advised that once all the LA’s had approved the proposal to establish a Joint Committee for the purpose of discharging the delegated functions of AONB Management, a Joint Partnership Group made up of a wider group of stakeholders would be established to develop a management plan for the AONB area. 

Assurances were given that if additional financial resources would be required at any point AONB officers would have to approach all constituent Councils with a bid for the additional finances.  Members stressed the importance of permitting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy enclosed) seeking a review of the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and updating Members on relevant issues.

                                                                                                          11.15 a.m.  

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

The Committee considered its draft Forward Work Programme for future meetings, as detailed in Appendix 1, and Members requested that Lead Members Councillors R.L. Feeley and D.I. Smith be invited to present their reports at the June, 2014 meeting of the Committee.

It was explained that the Committee had been scheduled to consider a report on the Rural Development Plan Partnership at its meeting on the 13^th March, 2014 which had been cancelled.  As the required representatives had been unable to attend the current meeting or the Committee’s next meeting in June, the report’s presentation had been rescheduled for the meeting on the 10^th July, 2014.

          The Scrutiny Coordinator informed Members that an information report, which provided an explanation of Direct Payments and Information about the development of Single Point of Access, had been circulated with the Information Brief for the meeting.  In response to a question from Councillor J.A. Davies, the Head of Adult and Business Services explained that a progress report in respect of this issue would be provided following its implementation.

In response to a question from the Chair, the Scrutiny Coordinator explained that the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs Group would be considering the request for the submission of a report, to the appropriate Scrutiny Committee, in respect of proposed changes to the Sheltered Housing Wardens Service.

          RESOLVED – that, subject to the above, the Work Programme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

To receive any updates from Committee representatives on various Council Boards and Groups

                                                                                                          11.30 a.m. 

Members of the Committee provided the following details in respect of various Council boards and groups:-

Copies of reports on a Service Visit to the Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl and a Service Visit with Revenues and Benefits at Russell House, Rhyl, which had been attended by Councillor D. Owens, had been circulated with the information papers for the meeting.

RESOLVED – that the reports be received.

Meeting ended at 12.25 p.m.