Agenda item

No urgent items.

 

At this juncture members were informed that there would be three questions put forward as follows:

 

(i)            Councillor Glenn Swingler raised the following question:

 

“Can the Lead Member responsible, please update the council on work carried out so far on the proposal to provide free sanitary products to young ladies in our schools?”

 

Response by the Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People, Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts:

 

“Work has been carried out and all schools contacted to understand the needs of the issue. It was quite categorically clear from the schools and head teachers that they did not feel there was a need and shortage at this time and it was well managed.  However, what we have done over and above that is, we are investing £23,732 into sanitary equipment in schools which is being distributed using the school element of the capital funding formula and also there is a further £7,388 which is being distributed using the latest standard local government spending assessment formula.  This has been passed through the homelessness team who has arranged for Ty Golau to procure, store and issue feminine hygiene products.  £1,000 will be retained for ad hoc products.  This is in terms of the letter which has been received from the Minister in Cardiff supporting this.  Also what has really been at the forefront of the schools is the campaign to end period poverty.  This has been used by the schools in raising awareness and the pads are only available to UK state schools and at least 1% of girls eligible for free school meals.  We have done as much as we possibly can within the budget constraints we have and we gave that assurance last time at Council.”

 

Councillor Glenn Swingler then asked if the issue would be put before Cabinet at the next meeting.

 

The Head of Legal, HR & Democratic Services confirmed the item was not on the agenda for the next Cabinet meeting as actions taken did not require a formal decision but, if members were discontent with that, they could speak to the Lead Member about any future proposals to put it on any future agenda.

 

 

(ii)          Councillor Rhys Thomas raised the following question:

 

“According to the Local Government Association, there is grave concern that financial restraints are making it increasingly difficult to protect vulnerable children from harm.  In the last 2 years, all Local Authorities in Wales have seen an increase of about 10% in the number of children coming into Local Authority care.

 

This Council has pledged that protecting vulnerable children from harm is a top priority. Can the Lead Member assure this Council that no children or young people in Denbighshire will come to harm because of financial restraints on the departments involved and could he/she explain to this Council how our ability to protect these vulnerable children and young people will be maintained and even expanded according to the need?”

 

Response by the Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People, Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts:

 

“For those who had attended the Children Service briefing earlier in the year, there was a budget which Karen I Evans and Julie Moss took us through the process of looked after children here in Denbighshire.  There is a really strong message which came out of that workshop and that is Denbighshire will always put looked after children at the forefront.  No budget constraint will hold back the care those children deserve.  We have already seen in the budget where we have anoverspend in the area because if somebody is in need here in Denbighshire, and we have to look after them out of county, we have to find the money to do that and will always do that.  Figures of looked after children in Denbighshire:

 

2013/14 – 160

2015 – 160

2016 – 175

2017 – 165

 

I cannot give you the figures today as it is a moving feast.  There are certain legal duties which are placed on the Local Authority to safeguard the welfare which meets the needs of the children who come into our care.  It is not a matter of choice but a duty which must be adhered to.  The service is committed to prioritise the resource to meet the needs of those children who are most vulnerable. Ultimately the capacity to meet the needs of these children is a matter for the whole council as it will be an issue and priority of management of resource as part of the budget setting process.  We are currently in overspend and will always put these children as a priority.”

 

Councillor Rhys Thomas stated he was pleased the Lead Member had referred to the Education and Children Services Challenge on 8 February 2018.  As a member of that Panel he recollected three challenges were given to the Service.  The third challenge that it should look at its performance management structures in order to strengthen its ability to predict future trends.  He stated that predicting future trends actually meant it was code for when the budget was going to stop increasing.  He asked that an explanation be given to Council.  He was re-assured with what the Lead Member had stated but asked for an explanation as to how vulnerable children would always be a top priority when the service was being challenged to bring its costs under control?

 

The Lead Member, Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts responded as follows:

 

“We have really responded positively to that Challenge, as Estyn have reported back in that the major restructure of the service bringing education and children services together had been a fundamental factor in that success of what we do.  We now have a spectrum because both departments are now together we know at any point where that child is in its cycle.  Where before we had the different departments working and not talking.  That had been recognised by Estyn that we are quite unique in the way we do that and it helps identify children far quicker to get the right services to them and to make sure they get the best possible care they deserve.  The budget restraints are still there but what we are saying is so far we will keep maintaining the budget in children services, it is not under the spotlight for a cut in the next round.  We are really committed that we give the best to our children and we have a legal responsibility where we have to take these children in, and we will do that, and I don’t think any Councillor in this room would support that we didn’t.”

 

 

(iii)         Councillor Graham Timms raised the following question:

 

“At the meeting of the full Council on 30^th January this year, all members present unanimously agreed to a motion asking the relevant officers to present a report on the financial and HR implications related to implementation of the Real Living Wage by the end of 2018.

 

In the Forward Work Programme agreed by the full Council meeting on 3^rd July this year it was indicated that the report was to have been presented to the full Council at the September meeting.  However, when the papers were circulated for the meeting, the Real Living Wage report was not on the agenda and the report had been put back to December.

 

I look forward to receiving the report in our December meeting and appreciate that the rescheduled time still meets the deadline of the end of 2018 which was set out in the amended motion.  However, would it be possible for the Cabinet member responsible to explain why it was necessary to postpone the report and would he also be able to update the council on the progress made so far in this important issue?”

 

Response by the Lead Member for Corporate Standards, Councillor Mark Young (on behalf of the Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill):

 

Councillor Mark Young read out a written response by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill who was, unfortunately, unable to attend the meeting.

 

“Unfortunately, I am not going to be present at Council tomorrow and, therefore, in line with the constitution, I am responding to you in writing.

 

As you say, the agreed amended motion on this subject stated that it would be reported back to Council by the end of this calendar year.  You are also correct that the forward work programme last time had this down for September.  This had been picked up after publication as being incorrect when it should have been down for the end of the year but, clearly, it was not a worthwhile exercise to have the document reissued at that stage.  Therefore, the paper has not been postponed.

 

As I am sure you are also aware this is a very complex issue.  A key element in estimating the financial impact of the Real Living Wage is understanding fully the impact of the latest pay award and the range of potential consequential impacts on the council’s grading structure.  This task is currently ongoing with detailed pay modelling work taking place.  It is a complex process.  When the outcome of the pay award implementation is complete and a more definitive position on the future grading structure established, the differential cost between the council’s pay grades and the Real Living Wage can be assessed.  Further estimates based on the potential impact on key external contracts are also being considered.  The report will be presented in December, in line with the motion passed at Full Council.

 

I trust this clarifies the extent of the work and consideration of this proposal which is necessary in order to provide members with the data necessary for them to make a fully informed decision and what work the team in Finance and HR are currently proceeding with.”

 

Councillor Graham Timms responded that he was not satisfied and would ask a further question: 

 

“The item was changed from September meeting and put on the December meeting.  I had extensive discussions with county officers and groups regarding timings and one of the important factors was to separate it from the pay award which was settled on 9 April and so it did not overlap with the budget.  It is dangerous to intermingle the two.  I do not agree it is not worthwhile to let Council know it had been delayed.  Would it be possible to move it forward to our next meeting in order to present before the budget gets underway?”

 

The Head of Legal, HR & Democratic Services confirmed he would contact the team and request them to respond directly to Councillor Timms during the current week regarding the timescale.