Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Marin Weale and from County Councillor Joy Jones, the Anti-Poverty Champion.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 December 2017 as a correct record.

The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 December 2017 as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest reported.

To consider a report by County Councillor Liam Fitzpatrick, Portfolio Holder for Highways.

The Portfolio Holder for Highways explained that the policy was intended to ensure a consistent approach to parking across the county.

County Councillor Peter Lewis spoke as the local member for Llanfyllin to ask that rather than standardise parking policy, the Cabinet recognise that different communities have different needs and allow for variation. He called on the Cabinet to delegate authority for car parking. Both Llanfyllin Town Council and the Chamber of Trade supported for a 2 hour limit rather than 1 hour.

County Councillor Phil Pritchard spoke as one of the local members for Welshpool noting that although there were various parking restrictions and yellow lines in the town they weren’t being effectively policed because parking enforcement officers were spending their time policing car parks. He proposed the introduction of barriers on council parks which would free up parking enforcement officers.

In answer to Councillor Lewis’ comments, it was explained that half hour and one hour limits had been accepted in most towns as it allowed for a turnover of vehicles. In the case of Llanfyllin, there was a free council car park close to the town centre. The Portfolio Holder agreed to look at the points raised by Councillor Pritchard and to respond to him.

To consider a report by County Councillor Rachel Powell, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services reported on work done in Quarter 2 (2017/18) to safeguard children in Powys and in response to the CSSIW inspection report in October.  She reported continuing staffing pressures with 47 agency workers currently in place which, whilst bringing greater stability to teams, was not a sustainable long term solution. Some teams, notably Welshpool and Radnor, faced pressure where a number of staff had tendered their resignation and there were high levels of absences through illness. These teams would be strengthened with additional agency social work staff. Over the past three months, there had been a concerted effort to improve practice and performance, focusing on making sure that children and families are seen and that assessments are completed in a timely manner.

The service continued to be closely monitored by CSSIW who had carried out a 3 day monitoring visit in December. They reported they have seen positive signs of improvement but noted that the service needed to focus on front line practice. The Leader acknowledged the work undertaken in Children’s Services since the inspection and advised that opposition group leaders and Scrutiny chairs had been asked to join the Corporate Parenting Group.

The Head of Service advised that the Corporate Parenting Group would be focussing on missing children and children at risk of child sexual exploitation and that the service would be working closely with colleagues in Education.

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance reported that since the last report there had been an improvement in the central services budget as the recovery plan started to take effect but that the overspend in Children’s Services had increased by £450k as extra resources were put into the service. He noted that there were £4.7m savings yet to be delivered in the current financial year.

The Portfolio Holder for Education reported that the number of schools reporting deficits had greatly reduced, helped by the input of challenge officers and HR advisers. The home to school transport overspend of £500k needed to be urgently addressed. Proposals to integrate public and school bus services due to be considered by Cabinet would deliver savings.

The Acting Chief Executive drew Cabinet’s attention to the winter pressures facing social care as well as the health service and the need to draw down £500k from the ASC reserve to cover these pressures and inspection readiness costs that are likely to be incurred in the last quarter of the financial year. He confirmed that the service was working closely with colleagues in Health.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance acknowledged the contribution made by the Place Directorate who had taken a whole Council approach and was on target to come under budget by year end. The Portfolio Holder for Highways asked that the Cabinet look at the county’s infrastructure and the state of roads noting that it would take £33m to bring them back to their 2008 standards.  

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Working Group.

Cabinet received the report of the Scrutiny Working Group on General Data Protection Regulations. The Portfolio Holder for HR ICT and Communications would arrange for a response.

To receive an update from the Anti-Poverty Champion, County Councillor Joy Jones.

It was agreed to defer this item as the Anti-Poverty Champion was unwell and unable to attend.

To receive such correspondence as in the opinion of the Leader is of such urgency as to warrant consideration.

There were no items of correspondence reported.

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Cabinet noted the delegated decisions taken by portfolio holders since the last meeting.

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

The Cabinet forward work programme was noted.