Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Emrys Wynne declared a personal interest in item 5 due to his role as a Magistrate.

No urgent matters were raised.

To receive the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20 December 2018 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee held on 20 December 2018 were submitted.

The Chair thanked officers and praised the high standard of minutes from the previous meeting

RESOLVED that, the minutes of the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20 December 2018 be received and approved as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Built Environment and Public Protection Manager (copy attached) the purpose of which is to consult with members on the draft specification for the contract for providing environmental crime enforcement contract.  The report also outlines how the Council intends to deliver and manage the new environmental enforcement contract.

10.05am – 10.50am

The Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment introduced the Built Environment and Public Protection Manager’s report (previously circulated) the purpose of which was to consult on the draft specification of the contract for the provision of environmental crime enforcement services for the county.  Members were briefed by the Lead Member on the background and the reasons why the Council was seeking a new provider to deliver environmental crime services, following Kingdom Security Limited’s decision to withdraw from their contract for providing the service to the Council in August 2018.  Prior to Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from its contract with the Council it had become apparent that some residents were not happy with the company’s approach to environmental crime enforcement.  Following Kingdom’s departure elected members had made it clear that the focus of any future contract should be on enforcement activities relating to dog fouling, with a particular emphasis on educating offenders and residents on the dangers posed by dogs fouling and on the importance of abiding with Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) relating to the control of dogs.  Whilst the draft contract specification presented to the Committee for consideration focussed on dog-related crime it did also make provision for the appointed contractor to enforce against other environmental crimes, such as littering, begging etc.  The Lead Member stressed that environmental crime enforcement services had never been delivered by the Council in-house, therefore the cost of establishing and in-house service, estimated to be between £200K and £250K, would be prohibitive.  He also advised that enquiries had been made with respect of the potential of collaborating regionally to deliver environmental crime enforcement services, however this would not be viable in the near future, although collaboration with Conwy County Borough Council in relation to procuring environmental crime enforcement services may be an option in the not too distant future.  Denbighshire’s draft contract specification had been shared with Conwy CBC with a view to exploring the viability of tendering for services jointly in the future.

Members were advised by the Head of Planning and Public Protection that proposed new approach for dealing with environmental crime was made up of three separate elements:

·         communication with the public to raise awareness and instil a sense of personal responsibility, with a view to get community buy-in to the aims and objectives of the anti-fouling strategy and this type of anti-social behaviour (ASB)

·         clean and tidy streets, the work of the Streetscene team and their proactive approach in notifying the Public Protection Service of problem areas with a view to the Service targeting the area with posters and leaflets

·         enforcement action (including delivering educational sessions in schools and to community groups etc.)

The Built Environment and Public Protection Manager advised that Kingdom had delivered environmental crime enforcement services for Denbighshire for approximately 5 years.  During that time the company’s contract with the Council had been effectively managed and monitored by the Public Protection Officer:  Community Safety.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member, Head of Planning and Public Protection, and Built Environment and Public Protection Manager advised that:

·         the decision to outsource the service and procure services from an external provider had already been taken by Cabinet at its meeting in September 2018, the purpose of the report to the Committee was to consult with members on the contract specification;

·         the Council’s Education Service was of the view that there was a gap in this type of education within the county’s schools and that pupils would benefit from learning about environmental crime and understating there, and their family’s responsibilities in this area;

·         whilst Kingdom Security Limited were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy attached) which provides an update on the Partnership, its governance arrangements and effectiveness in delivering a service.  The report also outlines the work underway to develop a more sustainable future for the service and seeks members’ support for its continued development.

10.50am – 11.30am

The Lead Member for Corporate Standards introduced the Head of Planning and Public Protection’s report (previously circulated) which provided members with an update on the CCTV Partnership, its governance arrangements, along with an assessment of its effectiveness in delivering the service, information on the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Cheshire West and Chester Council to deliver the service and work underway to develop a more sustainable future for the service.  Attached to the report was a recent Internal Audit (IA) review of the service (Appendix 2) and a confidential operational update report on the service provided by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaCC).

The Committee was briefed on the Partnership’s establishment by the Head of Planning and Public Protection.  Due to financial constraints the Council was unable to continue to provide a CCTV service, which was a non-statutory service.  However, the service was valued by the communities it served and North Wales Police (NWP) and as a result alternative arrangements were devised for its delivery, hence the establishment of the Partnership consisting of Prestatyn, Rhuddlan and Rhyl Town Councils, North Wales Police and Denbighshire County Council.  The Partnership delivered a CCTV service which was not monitored on a 24/7 basis, however the partners were keen to explore potential options for developing a more sustainable and resilient future for the service.  Following consideration of a number of options a decision was taken to enter into a 3 year Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Cheshire West and Chester Council which resulted in pictures being beamed from all cameras owned by the Partnership being beamed over to CWACC for 24/7 reactive monitoring.  CWACC have immediate communication routes with NWP which enables them to alert them immediately they become aware of a developing situation.  To facilitate broadcasting the pictures direct to CWACC investment was made in a new server.  Going forward there are plans to contact other city and town councils to explore whether they would be interested in joining the Partnership in order to benefit from a reactive monitoring service.  Each city and town council would need to make a judgement on the benefits to them of being able to access the service for an initial outlay costs and an annual contribution based on the number of cameras operated in their area.  Members were advised that as the SLA with CWACC was a new arrangement officers had requested the Council’s Internal Audit department to undertake a review of the arrangement with a view to providing assurances that the Council had robust governance and contract management procedures in place to manage risks, monitor performance etc.  That review had given a medium assurance rating, it had identified minor weaknesses in the management of risks and/or controls but no risk to the achievement of objectives.  All three risks identified under the review had since been addressed.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member and Head of Planning and Public Protection:

·         advised that the service provided under the SLA was very cost effective and well-governed;

·         confirmed that each town council within the Partnership made a financial contribution towards the service based on the number of cameras operating in their area.  Similarly Council services who had CCTV cameras also provided a financial contribution as did NWP who used footage as evidence for prosecution;

·         advised that the Partnership operated approximately 80 cameras across the three towns.  Following a rationalisation/prioritisation programme 32 cameras within the towns had been designated as priority cameras based on their crime and disorder and community importance.  The remaining 48 cameras had been categorised as lower priority in the event of a breakdown  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

At this juncture (11.30 a.m.), there was a 10 minute break.

The meeting reconvened at 11.40 a.m.

To consider a report by the Early Help Programme Manager (copy attached) which examines the work being undertaken corporately to support Young Carers across the County with a view to ensuring that the Council’s aspirations and vision for Young Carers, as laid out in the Corporate Plan and the Carers Strategy, are on track to be delivered.

11.45am – 12.15pm

The Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People introduced the Early Help Programme Manager’s report (previously circulated) which outlined work being undertaken corporately to support young carers across the county.  The report focussed specifically on the offer of Leisure cards to young carers and work being undertaken by Education and Children’s Services in support of the Council’s aspirations and vision for young carers as laid out in the Corporate Plan and its Carers Strategy.  During his introduction the Lead Member emphasised that the information contained in the current report was additional information to that presented to the Committee in an ‘Information Report’ circulated to members in December 2018.

The Lead Member advised that every young carer in Denbighshire referred to Wrexham, Conwy and Denbighshire (WCD) Young Carers were offered a complimentary Leisure Card.  Whilst there were in the region of 350 known young carers in Denbighshire, all of whom had been offered the Leisure Card, none of them had accepted the offer.  They had declined the offer as it was not what they wanted.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member, Corporate Director:  Communities, Head of Education and Children’s Services and the Early Help Programme Manager:

·         advised that having spoken to Young Carer Groups it had become apparent that, whilst the concept of providing complimentary Leisure Cards was well intended, individuals did not feel that it was suitable for them.  Some already attended Leisure facilities as part of their school activities, others did not want to attend Leisure facilities by themselves, whilst some viewed having a  discounted card would make them stand out amongst their friends and branded as being ‘different’ – they felt that it had a ‘stigma’ attached to it ;

·         advised that the card on offer to young carers offered a discount rather than free admission to Leisure Service facilities, the decision on whether it should offer free admission rather than discounted admission was a commercial one for Leisure Services;

·         advised that Wrexham County Borough Council, Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) provided financial contributions to support the work of WCD Young Carers.  If young carers wanted to take up the offer of the discounted Leisure card the WCD organisation would fund their provision.  However, parents would need to apply for them on the young carer’s behalf.  A number of these families, including the carers, faced challenges and complexities on a daily basis, therefore applying for a card and then making provision for another carer to stand-in for an hour or two for them to use leisure facilities may not be practical;

·         advised that young carers were young people and similar to their peers they were interested in technology etc., it was therefore important for the Council to listen to them and to provide them with respite activities that met their needs, not what adults presumed would be of interest to them; and

·         emphasised that the young carers did actively engage in activities that interested them i.e. trips, breaks etc.  Leisure based activities was only one of a suite of activities on offer to young carers.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

RESOLVED: - subject to the above observations to receive the report and support the work undertaken to support Young Carers.

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy attached) seeking a review of the committee’s forward work programme and updating members on relevant issues.

12.15pm – 12.30pm

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator introduced the report (previously circulated) seeking Members’ review of the Committee’s work programme and providing an update on relevant issues.

A copy of the “Member’s proposal form” had been included in Appendix 2. The Scrutiny Co-ordinator requested that any proposals be submitted to herself. The Cabinet Forward Work Programme had been included as Appendix 3, the table summarising recent Committee resolutions, advising on progress with their implementation, had been attached as Appendix 4.

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator confirmed following the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs meeting three reports had been proposed for Partnerships Scrutiny Community to consider. The three reports had been included on the Forward Work Programme. The report titles were:

·         Children and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) (April 2019)

·         Cold Calling Zones (May 2019)

·         Single access route to housing (July 2019, following Council briefing)

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator informed members she had been attendance at the Public Service Board Joint Scrutiny Committee introduction meeting, the Chair and Councillor Melvyn Mile had also been in attendance. A joint scrutiny committee had been established and a meeting was to be scheduled in the future.

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

12.30pm – 12.40pm

The Scrutiny Co-ordinator, reported upon the training provided for the Public Service Board Joint Scrutiny Committee. It was confirmed the Chair and Councillor Melvyn Mile had been in attendance. Councillor Melvyn Mile confirmed the training had been very informative and provided members with the expectations and ambitions for the joint scrutiny committee.

A copy of the notes from recent Service Challenge meetings had been circulated to members as part of the ‘Information Brief’ document.

RESOLVED, that the verbal reports be received and noted.

The meeting concluded at 12:20 p.m.