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 please update Council on the proposed building of 7 houses and 4 flats for social housing on the Pennants flats, Henllan Street, Upper Denbigh site, and why there appears to be further delay?”

 

Response by the Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, Councillor Tony Thomas:

 

“Site visits had taken place which included the Lead Member, officers and the Programme Manager, Housing Development.  The Programme Manager had updated Members regarding the current situation.  Grwp Cynefin were to submit a planning application but further assessments were to be run to satisfy the planning process”.

 

Councillor Glenn Swingler stated that Grwp Cynefin had been unsuccessful in obtaining innovative funding but were applying for further funding from the Welsh Government.  Councillor Swingler asked if there was anything the Council could do to assist Grwp Cynefin.

 

At this juncture, Councillor Tony Thomas confirmed he would provide Councillor Glenn Swingler with a written response in due course.

 

(ii)             Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor raised the following question:

 

“Following the announcement that Allied Healthcare was transferring its care contracts to other providers, what is the situation in Denbighshire for people who were receiving care from Allied Healthcare and what steps had the council taken to ensure continuation of care to these people?”

 

Response by the Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, Councillor Bobby Feeley:

 

“Allied Healthcare have sold their business assets to a company called The Health Care Resource Group.  This means that the existing management and staff operating in Denbighshire remain in place, providing continuity of care for the thirteen people they support in the county.  Due diligence tests have been undertaken and Care Inspectorate Wales had advised the new owner of their responsibilities to register with them.  We are continuing to monitor the situation and, should registration not be achieved, we will take further action to ensure individuals are able to have their care and support needs met appropriately.”

 

Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor requested that a further response be available as to whether the The Health Care Resource Group would be licenced in Wales.  He also asked if consideration had been given to bring it back in-house rather than outsourcing.

 

The Lead Member confirmed she would provide further information as and when it was received.

 

 

(iii)            Councillor Rhys Thomas raised the following question:

 

“In September this year a letter was sent to a parent at Ysgol Twm o’r Nant, asking for payment of dinner money arrears amounting to £13.20.  There was a threat made in the letter that if the money was not paid or a packed lunch provided for the child, then this would be highlighted as a child protection matter and an instant referral would be made to Denbighshire’s Social Services Children’s Team.  In fact, the letter did not come directly from the school but from Denbighshire County Council.

 

On 27 November this year, another letter was sent out in the name of Denbighshire County Council to some parents at Ysgol Y Parc, stating that if dinner money arrears were not paid, then their children would not be given  school Christmas dinner, even if they brought in money on the day to pay for it.

 

Could the Council please explain why these unpleasant and threatening letters are being sent to parents in the name of our council, and what steps are being taken to reign in those who think that this is an acceptable way to recoup arrears?

 

I understand that an apology has since been made by the Head of Service.”

 

Response by the Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill:

 

“Firstly, a letter had been issued after the summer break, which had been an outdated letter and should not have been issued.  As soon as the issue came to light, the Head of Service immediately had the letter changed and assurances have been given that that particular form of letter would not go out in the future.

 

Regarding the Christmas dinner – that letter should not have been issued and had not been through the proper referral process of the service.  Steps have been taken with the Head of Service and Management to ensure this would not happen again.  Any child who wanted to avail themselves of Christmas dinner could do so. 

 

A debt management process was in place which should have been used.

 

I can assure you, all relevant measures are in place so there should not be a reoccurrence of this.”

 

Councillor Rhys Thomas stated he was still puzzled as the letters were written by the Council yet the schools had to send them out even if they did not agree with them.  He then went on to ask the Lead Member if it was true that if the schools refused to send out the letters, the arrears would be taken out of their budget?

 

The Lead Member assured Councillor Thomas that it would not be legal to do that and to the best of his knowledge it was not true.