Agenda and draft minutes

None.

None.

To receive Minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 6 October, 2016 (copy attached).

The minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on 6 October 2016 were submitted.

Matters Arising:-

Page 9 – Item 5 – the Scrutiny Co-ordinator confirmed that the Police and Crime Commissioner had been invited by the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group to attend Communities Scrutiny Committee on 2 February 2017.  The Police and Crime Commissioner had accepted the invitation.

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

To receive a verbal presentation.

9.40 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.

The Chair, Councillor Jeanette Chamberlain Jones, welcomed Gareth Evans, Project Director and Stephanie O’Donnell, Project Manager, from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to the meeting to update the Committee on the progress to date with the development of a community hospital/health facility for the north Denbighshire area, on the site of the former Royal Alexandra Hospital, Rhyl.

Utilising a PowerPoint presentation they briefed members on the history behind the project and the steps which had been taken to date to bring the Health Board to the position they were currently at of finalising the Outline Business Case (OBC) for submission to the Welsh Government (WG) in early 2017.  During the presentation both representatives outlined the proposed service model that would be developed on the site.  The model under consideration would focus on urgent and same day care, outpatient services near to service-users’ homes, integrated physical and mental health services for older people and would include access to prevention services to improve the well-being of local residents.  The Health Service was planning to deliver these prevention services via a partnership approach with the local authority, community and third sector organisations.

Details were given on the proposed service scope at the new facility, which would include:

·       Same day care centre (including minor injuries unit (MIU) and a range of services to support local primary care);

·       Outpatient clinics;

·       Inpatient beds;

·       Therapies and assessment units;

·       Intravenous therapy suite;

·       Diagnostics;

·       Therapy services;

·       Community Dental Services;

·       Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS);

·       Sexual Health Services;

·       Older Persons Mental Health Outpatient Service;

·       Single Point of Access (SPoA)/Integrated Health and Social Care working base; and

·       Community Hub (which would include a café facility, access to the voluntary sector, meeting rooms etc.)

An aerial map of the site (the Campus) was shown to members along with the proposed floor plans for each of the three floors which would make up the new building, which would be located on the site of the current Glantraeth Ward building.  The range of services that would be available at the new facility, as well as the proactive approach to delivering intervention services was expected to:

·       reduce the impact on the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd;

·       reduce the strain on wards at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and community hospitals in the wider area, which currently accommodated Denbighshire coastal area residents prior to discharge;

·       create a sustainable same day service that would reduce demand locally on primary care;

·       enhance and improve self-management of health and well-being needs through education, information and the availability of prevention services in conjunction with the local authority and third sector providers;

·       provide facilities that would enable carers to remain on-site and aid the rehabilitation process for the patient;

·       reduce lengthy hospital in-patient stays through rehabilitation e.g. building up the patients’ confidence in undertaking day to day tasks;

·       provide a range of outpatients services as locally as possible and reduce the need for outpatients to travel further afield to access appointments etc.;

·       optimise the use of valuable resources by better integration of multi-agency teams etc.; and

·       improve the recruitment and retention of staff through the fact that they would be based in a brand new, modern facility delivering innovative health services.

Responding to members’ questions Health Board representatives:

·       advised that the third and final stage of the process, once the WG approved the OBC, would be to proceed to develop the Full Business Case (FBC) and deliver the project;

·       confirmed that all partners were committed to the project’s delivery;

·       advised that the facility would include provision for a 28 in-patient bed unit (comprising of 22  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

At this juncture, it was agreed to vary the order of the Agenda in order to accommodate the Lead Member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith, who had to leave the meeting for a previously arranged meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning & Public Protection / Public Protection Manager (copy attached) to provide Members with an update on the CCTV Partnership, the governance arrangements in place for the Partnership, and its effectiveness in delivering a service since its formation on 1 April 2016.

11.45 a.m. – 12.15 p.m.

The Lead Member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith, introduced the report (previously circulated), updating members’ on the governance arrangements in place for the partnership and outlining its effectiveness in delivering the CCTV service since its formation in April 2016. 

In his introduction he outlined the reasons behind the Council’s decision to withdraw from providing this non-statutory service.  He emphasised the role it had played in facilitating the establishment of the partnership and supporting its work in delivering a service which was widely regarded as a valuable service by residents and businesses alike.  The report detailed the extent of the service provision, including statistics on the use made of recorded footage by the Police to combat crime and anti-social behaviour, with 50% of the footage retrieved being used to secure prosecutions.  Although feedback received to date had been positive there was also an acknowledgement that there was an overreliance on Denbighshire as the Lead Partner, and employer of the CCTV Co-ordinator.  This reliance was unsustainable in the long-term.  Therefore, work had recently been undertaken to explore a number of potential service models, both public and private sector models, details of which were contained in the report.  The CCTV Partnership Board would be considering a range of potential options for future service provision at its next meeting in December 2016.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member and Public Protection Manager advised that:

·       whilst the service currently provided was a reduced service, as it was not monitored on a 24 hour basis, all partners regarded it as a valuable service for the three towns it served;

·       North Wales Police service who contributed £16K towards the CCTV Service (which was its standard contribution to all local authorities for CCTV services) was of the view that there had not been a visible increase in the number of crime and disorder incidents in the area since the introduction of the ‘reduced’ service;

·       collaborative arrangements with private business, or potential revenue arrangements with large developers who were seeking planning applications, could be explored for the purpose of financing and sustaining a service for the future;

·       if sustainable funding streams could be secured, and with new technologies becoming available on a regular basis, the Board could explore the potential of rolling the service out to other areas of the county e.g. Denbigh, Ruthin, Llangollen;

·       in future the potential of having a ‘wireless’ CCTV system could be explored.  This option would probably be more cost effective than a Fibre Optic option, particularly in rural areas; and 

·       North Wales Police had mobile CCTV cameras which could be mobilised to rural areas to try and combat rural crime.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

RESOLVED that:

(i)              subject to the above observations, to support the Council’s role within the Partnership and the Partnership’s retention; and

(ii)             that a progress report be presented to the Committee, at its March 2017 meeting, on the measures taken to secure the Service’s long-term future, including potential options for rolling the CCTV service out to other areas of the county.

To consider a report by the Service Manager – North Locality (copy attached) to provide information regarding Supporting Independence in Denbighshire Strategy and the various initiatives which have been developed.

10.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.

The Lead Member for Social Care (Adults and Children’s Services), Councillor Bobby Feeley, introduced the report (previously circulated) detailing the Council’s corporate approach to enabling the county’s residents to maintain their independence and well-being in their own home. 

Copies of the draft strategy and the Well-being Impact Assessment (WIA) on the Strategy were attached to the report for members’ attention.  The Head of Community Support Services explained the reasons why a corporate approach to delivering the strategy and the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 were required.

Responding to members’ questions the Head of Community Support Services and the Service Manager:  Strategic Development:

·       explained the objective of the ‘Talking Points’ project and its potential benefits to  service-users.  The project was very much in its infancy at present, but as it developed and became better established it was anticipated that the voluntary sector would take ownership of the work;

·       advised that the community-based Welsh language outreach service provided at Y Waen, near St. Asaph, had been established some years ago and was held in high regard by those who attended and their carers.  Community Support Services provided a financial contribution towards the running of this project, although it did not directly commission services from the organisation, or directly refer individuals there.  Nevertheless, individual social workers may signpost individuals to the services available there.  The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales had visited the centre last year and concluded that the services provided there fitted in with the new prevention duties placed on local authorities under the Social Services and Well-being Act;

·       confirmed that the Single Point of Access (SPoA) Service did employ members with Welsh language skills.  All vacancies within Community Support Services were recruited in accordance with the Corporate Recruitment Policy, which made provision for posts which were deemed essential or desirable to have Welsh language skills;

·       explained that part of the work involved with the Community Navigator project was to try and find out via established organisations such as community councils what groups or organisations operated within their communities.  This would enable Community Support Services to signpost individuals to those groups for activities to enhance their health and well-being, and reduce the risk of isolation and loneliness;

·       outlined the role and responsibilities of a ‘Social Care Practitioner’ and how a practitioner could help support an individual’s reablement and enhance their self-confidence in their own abilities to undertake day to day tasks once again;

·       emphasised the need to move away from a welfare reliance state to a state that enabled people, by building their confidence, and addressing the issue of loneliness and isolation;

·       confirmed that the Strategy document was an internal officer focussed document, a more succinct easy-read document would be produced for residents’ information in due course;

·       explained the four conditions that had to be met for an individual to be eligible to access managed care and support to meet personal outcomes, and the process for assessing the conditions.  They explained that there was an Appeal Process if an individual disagreed with their assessment and how that process was undertaken by a different assessor; and

·       advised that a service-user’s ability (including financial ability) to achieve their social care outcomes had to be considered when they applied for services.  However, WG had capped the rate that local authorities could charge for managed care and support at £60 per week.  Benefits such as Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) were included as resources available to the individual to achieve their outcomes as those benefits were paid for the purpose of helping them to enhance their welfare  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider a report by the Commissioning and Tendering Officer (copy attached) which details the Local Commissioning Plan 2017-18 for the Supporting People Programme in Denbighshire.

11.15 a.m. – 11.45 a.m.

The Lead Member for Social Care (Adults and Children’s Services), Councillor Bobby Feeley, introduced the report and the draft Local Commissioning Plan 2017-18 together with the associated WIA (previously circulated). 

The Lead Member advised that the Supporting People (SP) Grant, which was ring-fenced by WG for the delivery of SP services, had been subject to cuts in recent years.  The SP grant money delivered a number of the requirements of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014, the Social Services and Well-being Act (Wales) 2014 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.  She advised that latest indications from WG were that the SP Grant for 2017-18 had been protected from a further cut.  However, when the draft Plan had been drawn up a cut of at least 5% had been anticipated for the forthcoming year, therefore pages 19 to 31 of the draft Plan outlined proposed service development, decommissioning and remodelling proposals based on the anticipated cuts.  If the grant was maintained at its current level these decommissioning/remodelling proposals would not need to be implemented unless they would be in the interests of the service-users.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member, Head of Service and Supporting People Team Manager advised that:

·       the term ‘wet provision’ related to a safe environment for individuals suffering from severe drug or alcohol addiction to ‘take’ their addictive substance up to a managed tolerance level.  At present the local authority’s services were not geared to deal with individuals suffering from severe addiction;

·       the SP Grant was a separate ‘standalone’ grant, ring-fenced for SP services, it was not part of the Council’s Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and consequently the Council did not have any control over cuts to the grant from central government.  All the Council could do was to manage the impact of those cuts on SP services;

·       the proposed service development, decommissioning and remodelling proposals outlined in the SP Local Commissioning Plan were there as a contingency in anticipation of an approximate 5% cut to the grant for 2017-18.  If the grant allocation was unchanged cuts would not have to be implemented, nevertheless cost negative service improvements would as a matter of course be considered;

·       the process for providing and auditing grants to voluntary sector (third sector) providers was extremely thorough and robust; and

·       there was no evidence that Denbighshire suffered adversely from a greater number of individuals that presented themselves in need of SP help who were deemed to be ‘…with no local connection…” than other areas.  It was just that the authority now had a better audit process and the question on local connection was now being asked to all individuals who contacted the Council for help.

Committee members requested that:

·       they be provided with a list of third sector providers who delivered SP services in Denbighshire; and

·       the graphic illustration relating to the ‘Hidden problem of Homelessness’ on pages 8 and 9 of the draft commissioning plan (pages 104 & 105 of the agenda pack) be accompanied by a graph and the relevant numbers in each category;

At the conclusion of an in-depth discussion the Committee:

RESOLVED that

(i)  Cabinet be advised of Scrutiny’s views that, having reviewed the Supporting People Local Commissioning Plan for 2017-18, it wished to register its concerns that the Supporting People grant had been subject to year on year cuts from Welsh Government for a number of years; and

(ii)   whilst acknowledging that contingency plans had been made within the Supporting People Local Commissioning Plan for 2017-18 to accommodate further cuts, if the Supporting People Grant monies was maintained at its current level that the funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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.

12.15 p.m. – 12.30 p.m.

A copy of a report by the Scrutiny Co-ordinator, 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.

A copy of the “Member’s proposal form” template had been included at Appendix 2, Cabinet’s Forward Work Programme had been included as Appendix 3, and a table summarising recent Committee resolutions and advising on progress with their implementation had been attached at Appendix 4.

The Committee considered its draft Forward Work Programme for future meetings.

19 January 2017

The visit to Communities First Offices in Marsh Road, Rhyl no longer to take place. 

Agreed to invite the Lead Members.

2 March 2017

CCTV update to be included on the work programme.

6 April 2017

Enquiries to be made on whether with BCUHB an update could be provided on the progress with the Tawelfan inquiry.

RESOLVED that subject to the above the Forward Work Programme be approved.

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

12.30 p.m. – 12.40 p.m.

No feedback.

The meeting concluded at 12.15 p.m.