Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys

Contact: Stephen Boyd  01597 826374

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the Leader, County Councillor Rosemarie Harris who was speaking to the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee on the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 229 KB

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

Minutes:

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 18th June 2019 as a correct record.

3.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest reported.

4.

Director of Social Services Annual Report for 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 4 MB

To receive and consider the Director of Social Services Annual Report for 2018/19.

 

Minutes:

The Director of Social Services presented her annual report for 2018/19.  She noted that there had been significant progress in the service’s improvement journey which she expected to continue apace with a stable leadership team in place. Cabinet welcomed the aspiration to excellence in the Director’s report and acknowledged the hard work of staff in Children’s and Adult Services.

5.

Adopting - A Children's Pledge for all Children & Young People in Powys - From Day One to when they're 25 years old pdf icon PDF 918 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Rachel Powell, Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the pledge for all children and young people in Powys which had been developed by a representative group of young people in the county. The pledge would  mean services would have clear parameters of their duties when they plan, review and deliver services, to develop a deeper understanding on how proposals can impact on children and young people.

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

Adopt the Children’s Pledge set out in paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the report

To instil an ideology and make a public whole council commitment to the Children & Young People of Powys and ensure continued compliance with the Children’s & Family Measure 2010.

 

6.

Fostering Service Improvement pdf icon PDF 199 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Rachel Powell, the Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered proposals to aid recruitment of foster carers and supported lodgings hosts in order that a greater number of Powys looked after children could be placed within county where they were closer to their families, friends and schools. The report outlined the support available to foster carers and changes to the structures within the service.  

 

Members asked how the amounts paid to carers by the council compared to those by Independent Fostering Agencies and were advised that the rates tended to be lower but were comparable. A review of the rates paid by Welsh local authorities was taking place which would lead to an eventual harmonisation of rates.  

 

RESOLVED:

Reason for Decision:

 

1.    To note the content of the report.

2.    To support the intention to increase the number and quality of support for Powys Foster Carers.

3.    Support the intention to strengthen the Corporate Parenting responsibility across the council through mechanisms as described within the body of the report.

4.    Approve the allocation of 5 days foster care leave per annum for Powys County Council Staff who are approved foster carers.

 

 

It is vital that the Council recognises the value of foster carers to the local authority, both in terms of the care they provide to some of our most vulnerable citizens and in terms of the financial implications to the authority where there are insufficient Powys foster carers.

 

Provide recognition and tangible support to foster carers employed by the local authority for the important and indispensable role and range of tasks they undertake.

 

 

7.

Efficiency Savings Report for the Year Ended 31st March 2019 pdf icon PDF 249 KB

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

Minutes:

The 2018/19 budget required efficiency savings of £12.296m. The total savings delivered in 2018/19 were £6.536m, or 53% of the total required.   Services would be expected to outline how they proposed to achieve these savings in the Quarter 1 outturn report that would come to Cabinet on 30 July. Regular reporting and challenge around non-delivery would be essential to ensure that appropriate action was taken to deliver within the approved budget. 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision

That the contents of the report are noted.

To outline the financial position regarding savings delivery for 2018/19; and to provide assurance that action is being taken to address the shortfall in the 2019/20 budget.

 

 

8.

Powys County Council Information Governance (IG) Report 2018-2019 pdf icon PDF 550 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor James Evans, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the Information Governance report for 2018/19 and the recommendations of the joint scrutiny working group. Cabinet noted the increase in Freedom of Information requests being received which had led to a reduction in compliance rates for response times. Portfolio Holders asked for the responses to the scrutiny recommendations to be shared with the Cabinet.   

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

That Cabinet notes and approves  the report.

The report reflects the Information Governance activities undertaken within the year.

 

9.

Improvement and Assurance Board Minutes pdf icon PDF 389 KB

To receive for information the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board meeting held on 5th June 2019.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board meeting held on 5th June 2019.

10.

Joint Partnership Board Minutes pdf icon PDF 146 KB

To receive for information the draft minutes of the Joint Partnership Board meeting held on 6th June 2019.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the minutes of the Joint Partnership Board meeting held on 6th June 2019.

11.

Correspondence

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

Minutes:

There were no items of correspondence.

12.

Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 6 KB

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Minutes:

Cabinet received details of delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

13.

Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the forward work programme.

14.

Exempt Items

The Monitoring Officer has determined that category  3 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following items. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 14.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

These factors in his view outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information. Members are asked to consider these factors when determining the public interest test, which they must decide when considering excluding the public from this part of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 3 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).

 

15.

Extra Care & Neuadd Maldwyn, Welshpool

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport, County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Recycling and Assets, County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Services and County Councillor James Evans, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing & Public Protection.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered proposals to transfer Neuadd Maldwyn by way of contribution to Clwyd Alyn Housing Group to enable the development of extra care housing in Welshpool to proceed in 2019-20.  Cabinet also considered the comments of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee. The proposals were warmly welcomed by the Cabinet and by local members County Councillors Graham Breeze and Phil Pritchard. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care gave an assurance to Councillor Pritchard that concerns he raised in relation to one aspect of the project would be taken fully into account.

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

1.    That Cabinet agree in principle to transfer Neuadd Maldwyn at nil cost to Clwyd Alyn, to enable the development of an extra care housing scheme at the site

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.    That the capital receipt foregone in disposing of Neuadd Maldwyn at nil cost, is regarded as the council’s capital contribution to the development of the extra care scheme

 

3.    The transfer to be made following a final decision by the Cabinet for Powys County Council when assurance is received of the development’s viability and practicality, with commitments from Clwyd Alyn on the development commencement via a further report.

 

4.    An effective communication strategy should be developed to provide clarity or all sections of the community and responsibilities of partners within the project.

To enable the development of extra care housing scheme in Welshpool, to proceed.  As set out in the MPS and in the Cabinet report of 21 May 2019, the benefits to the Local Authority of providing appropriate extra care housing are significant.  These are in reducing the demand for residential and domiciliary care and associated costs.

 

To ensure that the Council’s investment into the scheme, according to Vision 2025, is recognised.

 

 

 

 

To ensure that the development is viable and practical, with commitments from Clwyd Alyn as to the development commencement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendation added following consideration of Scrutiny Committee’s report.  It is imperative that the development is communicated effectively with the public to ensure transparency.