Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were accepted from Councillors EM Jones, H Lewis, G Price, R. Powell, P Roberts, A Williams and J Williams.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 13^th September 2017.

The Chairman was authorised to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 13^th September 2017.  During discussion particular reference was made to the attendance by the police at the last meeting.  The police had expressed a wish to attend regular shire meetings in order to discuss local policing matters.  Inspector Andy Pitt had assumed responsibility for the Radnorshire area.

To receive announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman reported on the following since the last meeting:

a.   Powys Information and Archives Centre – having missed the official opening of the site due to ill health

b.   Remembrance Sunday – having attended a local Remembrance Sunday event

c.   Winter Fair – the Chair would attend next week’s Winter Fair

To receive declarations of interests in relation to items to be discussed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest from members in respect of items to be discussed on the agenda.

To discuss arrangements for the storage and upkeep of the Radnorshire Roller (Aveling Roller and Living Van EP3339).

Phil Sherrard, Principal Legal Assistant attended for this item of business.  The matter of storing and maintaining the ‘Radnorshire Roller’ had been an on-going issue for years.  Tarmac store the roller and living van as a goodwill gesture at a local site.  Although there are no immediate issues with regard to storage and maintenance the owners of the quarry feel it time to pass the roller back to the Authority.  The quarry would consider providing funding to contribute to upkeep costs.  A Trust arrangement had been favoured as an option by the shire, however, how it would work had yet to be determined.  It was RESOLVED that Phil would advertise the position and invite expressions of interest with regard to involving organisations in a Trust arrangement and report back to the next meeting.  It was felt that siting the roller and living van at a prominent location in Radnorshire could be an option, however, where to site it would need to be determined by the shire. 

To receive an update in relation to the operation of the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.

Members welcomed Heather Ransom – Ambulance Operations Manager and Dave Watkins – Locality Manager to the meeting to provide an update in relation to the operation of the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.  During discussion particular reference was made to:

a.   Local Engagement – moving forward there would be a strong focus on local/community engagement.  Heather would welcome communities engaging with the service in order to shape services around community needs as opposed to imposing services.  Heather would welcome visiting communities in order to engage better

b.   Service Delivery – the service had been reshaped nationally.  There are five areas of service delivery that would deliver the care model (Help Me Choose,  Answer My Call, Come to See Me, Give Me Treatment and Take Me To)

c.   Right Response – the above service review would deliver the right response to the right situation

d.   Paramedics – there had been an upskill to paramedic positons in order that they are now able to discharge from care without the need to admit if the situation allows for it.  There would be a pilot in the Montgomeryshire area

e.   Call Outs/ Performance - the true position is that there are two ‘red’ calls to the emergency service per day. Red calls are calls where there are immediate life threatening situations i.e. risk of death.  The target response time for red calls is 8 minutes, there are some difficulties in Powys in meeting this target due to rurality.  Amber calls are split into two categories (1 and 2), the majority of calls to the service in Powys are amber 1 calls.  WAST performs well against the 19 minute amber 1 target time for attending (despite rumours to the contrary)

f.    Demand – the change in focus to deliver the right response to the situation had reduced the number of 999 call outs to 60 calls per day (prior to the change there were up to 400 emergency calls made per day)

g.   Resource – Powys is resourced at the right level to meet need (ambulances, cars and rapid response vehicles are located in key sites).  Each ambulance call out would remove a vehicle from operations for around three hours

h.   Locality Teams – there are two Powys locality teams, one covering Brecknockshire and Radnorshire, the other Montgomeryshire

i.    Community Schemes – there would be a strong emphasis on community based schemes, ideas include community based ambassadors.  It could be that communities identify locals to provide initial, emergency, lifesaving support to complement the service

j.    Highway Clearances – during inclement weather the local authority would focus on keeping open routes if they were deemed needed for medical situations.  There are good relationships between the service and local authority

k.   St. John’s Ambulance – there are good links with St. John’s and when appropriate St. John’s help with local medical situations

l.    Cross Border Collaboration – despite rumours to the contrary relationships across country borders are good and there should be no difference in terms of treatments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive reports from, and to put questions to, Cabinet Portfolio Holders:

a.         Councillor Stephen Hayes – Cabinet Portfolio Holder: Adult Social Care

b.         Councillor Martin Weale – Cabinet Portfolio Holder: Regeneration and Planning:

i.          Tourism

ii.         Business Support / Regeneration

iii.        Planning Function

Members welcomed the opportunity to receive reports from, and to put questions to, Cabinet Portfolio Holders.  During update and discussion particular reference was made to:

Councillor Stephen Hayes – Cabinet Portfolio Holder: Adult Social Care

a.   Welsh Ambulance Service Trust – the Portfolio Holder had met with Heather Ransom – Ambulance Operations Manager shortly after she came into post.  Hopefully there would be good links moving forward

b.   Day Centres/Care – there would be a dedicated member briefing on 6^th December which would include, during the afternoon, budget information

c.   BUPA Homes – BUPA operate a number of homes under contract to Powys (Powys owns the sites).  Recently BUPA had been looking to transfer the contract (initially without notifying the Council), to HC1.  It would be a legal requirement for BUPA to honour the contract.  The position is being very closely monitored by the Authority

d.   Fronheulog House, Llandrindod Wells – the home is privately owned and the owner had served notice on the Council for closure.  The Authority had engaged with regard to delaying closure until alternative arrangements could be met for those who are cared for at the site.  There are very few local alternative sites to accommodate those with care needs.  The portfolio holder apologised for not advising and updating the local members for Llandrindod Town in advance of a media release.  The Council would work with those families in order to support those with care needs the best it could

e.   Savings – as at the end of September £1.3 million of savings had been identified against a target for the year end of £2.2 million.  There are pressures, however, the position would be monitored.  There are particular issues in relation to planning for meeting transition costs that need to be better recognised (when young people with care needs transfer to being supported by adult social care)

f.    Delayed Transfers of Care (DTOCs) – as of today there are no delayed transfers of care in Radnorshire and all those in receipt of care have care packages in place. The Local Authority monitors potential delayed transfers of care and works closely with the health board

g.   Recruitment and Retention – there are targeted recruitment campaigns in order to fill vacant positions. Schemes include up-skilling those staff who would have an appetite to progress to social worker positions.   The Radnor and Brecon Social Work teams work together and share resource.  There are also pressures in recruiting and retaining staff to deliver the domiciliary care service.  In the light of difficulties across a number of sectors it was suggested by a member that recruitment should be an issue for discussion at Public Service Board level

h.   Adult Social Care (Improvement Plan) – in the light of a review of practices and an expected inspection the Authority had introduced an improvement plan.  There had been pleasing progress towards addressing the issues raised in order to improve services.  The service would welcome a focused inspection

i.    Annual Review Assessments –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive an update in relation to waste and recycling functions.

Members welcomed Ashley Collins – Waste and Recycling Strategy Officer to the meeting to update on the scheme and activities.  Ashley explained that he had asked to attend this round of shire meetings in order to update new members on the service and how it operates and to take questions.  During discussion and update particular reference was made to:

a.   Visibility – the service is very visible and subject to close scrutiny by the public.  The public would be very likely to raise issues with their local members

b.   Kerbside Collections – the Authority had adopted the Welsh Government’s favoured scheme of kerbside collections (the scheme relies upon residents to separate waste, residents should be recognised for supporting the scheme)

c.   Community Recycling Sites – sites were reviewed in 2016.  In some areas use had lessened because residents were using the kerbside recycling scheme.  Sites are used for green waste and heavy cardboard

d.   Household Waste and Recycling Centres - the Authority has a statutory obligation to provide one site for the storage and collection of recyclable household waste, however, it exceeds this requirement and operates five (three of which are at sites which are owned by the Local Authority).  There had been a proposal to reduce to three sites, however, the Cabinet which was formed after the May election had agreed to retain five sites (subject to appropriate review) and to increase the length of time sites are open during a five day opening week (to include Saturday and Sundays). Sites are operated under contract with the Authority and proposals to create a Council owned site in Newtown would be progressed.  It would be much better for the Authority to own its sites

e.   Permits – a permit arrangement had been introduced for use of Household Waste Recycling Centres in order to reduce any abuse and dumping of trade waste which should be disposed of through individual agreements

f.    Collection Cycles – there would be a weekly dwelling collection of recyclable waste with non-recyclable (black bag waste) being collected every three weeks (3 weekly collections had been agreed in November 2015 and to date were working well).  There may be considerations in relation to a four weekly residual waste collection.  Members and residents would be kept informed of any plans to introduce a four weekly cycle

g.   Targets – the Welsh Government impose waste reduction and recycling targets.  Fines could be issued to those Authority areas that do not meet targets.  The price for sending waste to landfill is increasing.  The Authority exceeded the 2015/16 target to recycle recyclable household waste, the target being 58%. Requirements to be met for 2019/20 are 64% and 70% by 2024/25

h.   Wood – there are considerations with regard to schemes for recycling wood. Members and residents would be informed of any future plans

i.    Cae Post – Cae Post no longer work under contract with the Authority for providing a waste collection function (it had done in previous years).  For a charge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive reports from, and to put questions to, members serving on outside bodies.

Members welcomed the opportunity to receive reports from, and to put questions to, member serving on outside bodies. 

To consider a the following Road Safety and Traffic Management reports:

a.  Presteigne – Safe Routes in Community Network report

b.  Pentrosfa, Llandrindod Wells - Traffic Calming

Members welcomed Tony Caine – Traffic and Travel Manager to the meeting for this item of business. 

a.   Presteigne Safe Routes in Community Network – it was RESOLVED that the objections be over-ruled and the proposals implemented as advertised

b.   Pentrosfa, Llandrindod Wells (Traffic Calming) – it was RESOLVED that the proposal be approved and to initiative the consultation procedure and that if no substantive objections are received the proposal for Pentrosfa be implemented

Update in relation to the operation of the facility and tour afterwards.

Members were invited to tour the Powys Information and Archives facility. 

To receive items of correspondence.

There were no items of correspondence.

To note the date of the next meeting – 17^th January 2018.

The next meeting would be held on 17^th January 2018.