Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

No members of the public were present.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 24^th January 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

Context:

The purpose of the policy is to clarify Monmouthshire County Council’s responsibilities for providing transport to people requiring social care support.

Key Issues:

The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 sets out the council’s duty to assess an individual’s need for support services. The Local Authority will have a duty to meet that need if the need cannot be met by the person’s own resources or community resources.

The need for transport is not an eligible need in its own right, but simply a means of accessing services and support. Assisted Transport usually helps people to access day opportunities, respite care, leisure services, and employment and training opportunities.

Monmouthshire County Council is able to provide transport through a variety of options to its residents with learning disabilities, people with physical disabilities, older persons and people with mental ill health.

The Council funds several community transport schemes across the county, mainly covering areas with less reliable transport links but not restricted to these areas. These options can be either dial-a-ride, Grass Routes, Bridges Community Car Scheme or befriender schemes.

The Council also operates the disabled bus pass and the concessionary (age-based) bus pass schemes, allowing anyone with a disability over the age of 5 and anyone above the retirement age who is a resident of Monmouthshire to apply for free bus travel out of peak times.

Member Scrutiny:

Following presentation of the report and ensuing discussion, the following points were raised:

A Member pointed out that, in a rural ward, residents have commented that vehicles provided for people with a disability are often large vehicles/4x4s.  It was added that residents may not understand how the costs are calculated and paid for. Clarification was provided that the authority does not provide vehicles; these are supplied under the Motability scheme via Department of Work and Pensions.  It was queried why basic, low insurance, low emission cars are not provided instead of larger vehicles and responded that there is no involvement from the authority concerning the vehicle type supplied but explained that there are some reasons why a larger vehicle would be required.  If a person was in possession of a Motability vehicle, they would be expected to use this vehicle and not to be provided with transport where possible.

It was commented that this was a comprehensive document that management will use.  It was queried what information will be available for members of the public.  It was confirmed that a public version (website and leaflet, information for Hubs) will be made available and Members were reassured that the information will be clear, accessible and easy to understand.

A Member asked if eligibility information would be made available to potential users and it was explained that transport on its own is not part of an assessed need but could be an element of a very thorough assessment of an individual’s needs (jointly addressed by the individual and Social Services). 

It was questioned what happens when the assessment is disputed and responded that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Context

The purpose of the report is to introduce members to the proposal for the introduction of a Council operated social lettings scheme within Monmouthshire. .

Key issues

1. This proposal seeks to build upon the existing practice of the Housing Options Team of engaging with private landlords and using private sector accommodation to meet the Council’s statutory homeless and prevention related duties. The proposal effectively brands and packages the existing service to private landlords whilst introducing new services to further to benefit landlords.

2. The purpose of MLS is to provide a lettings service that seeks to put the community at the centre of its core business of providing long term affordable properties to rent, but with a ‘commercial’ approach. A core emphasis of MLS is to support landlords. The context (See Appendix 1) to developing MLS is:

      i.        Many households are unable to access accommodation through traditional high street letting agents because they are in receipt of benefits, they cannot afford to meet upfront payments and fees nor high market rents, which are in excess of housing benefit levels.

     ii.        There is a shortage of social housing stock and vacancies

    iii.        Accommodating low income households can be perceived as a risk

   iv.        There is a need to manage the on-going demand from households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

    v.        There is a need to reduce expenditure or increase income generation.

3. Key elements of the proposed service are to:

      i.        Provide a basis for increasing homeless prevention by hopefully increasing access to private rented accommodation and limiting the use of B & B.

     ii.        Offering landlords a worry free letting service

    iii.        Providing sufficient affordable rented accommodation to households who are unable to access the private rented housing sector.

   iv.        Undertake regular marketing and landlord engagement

    v.        Providing the opportunity for future income generation

4.  MLS will broadly consist of two service strands. A lettings service and a leasing service:

      i.        The lettings service will be similar in design to a high street lettings agency. This will initially include legal advice, ‘find a tenant’ and tenant verification, inventories, sign ups, inspections, rent collection, tenancy agreement drafting and housing support. Initially services will be offered free to landlords to encourage take up. Additional services, such as rent monitoring, have been identified with a view to possibly working up and introducing at a later date.

     ii.        The leasing service will seek to offer landlords a leased option (where needed by the Council), such as the current Shared Housing scheme. (Also, Melin Homes management of the private leasing scheme is due to end in 2018). Leasing availability will be subject to financial viability. Leasing for temporary accommodation currently attracts a subsidy through housing benefit. This is due to end on 1st April 2017 and be replaced by a grant allocation. At the time of writing the level of subsidy level will be reduced. If it is not possible to continue with leasing, the lettings aspect of MLS becomes even more  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Context

The purpose of the report is to provide Members with information on the forecast revenue outturn position of the Authority at the end of period 3 which represents month 9 financial information for the 2016/17 financial year.

Select Committees have a responsibility to:

• assess whether effective budget monitoring is taking place,

• monitor the extent to which budgets are spent in accordance with agreed budget and policy framework,

• challenge the reasonableness of projected over or underspends, and

• monitor the achievement of predicted efficiency gains or progress in relation to savings proposals.

Recommendations proposed to Cabinet

      i.        That Cabinet notes the extent of forecast revenue underspend using period 3 data of £79,000, an improvement of £919,000 on previous reported position at period 2.

     ii.        That Cabinet expects Chief Officers to continue to review the levels of over and underspends and reallocate budgets to reduce the extent of compensatory positions needing to be reported from at quarterly cycles.

    iii.        That Cabinet appreciates the extent of predicted schools reserve usage, its effect of forecast outturn reserve levels and the related anticipation that a further 6 schools will be in a deficit position by end of 2016-17.

   iv.        That Cabinet considers the capital monitoring, specific over and underspends, and importantly that Cabinet recognises the risk associated with having to rely on a use of capital receipts in the year of sale and the potential for this to have significant revenue pressures should receipts be delayed and temporary borrowing be required.

    v.        That Cabinet approves an additional investment of £30,000 into the Disabled Facilities Grant capital budget in order to respond to demands being placed on the current programme, funded by a virement from existing Highways Maintenance and Access for All budgets.

   vi.        That Cabinet approves a £30k increase to Woodstock Way linkage scheme afforded by an equivalent underspend to another area improvement scheme (Abergavenny).

Member Scrutiny

Following presentation of the report by the Finance Manager, Members commented as follows:

A Member sought clarification regarding mental health care and it was confirmed that the authority is responsible for payments for care arising from e.g. persons sectioned under the Mental Health Act and that the person is not means tested. It was highlighted that this year there has been an increase in numbers causing budget pressure.  It was suggested this was possibly due to demographics e.g. increasing numbers of older people with dementia, adding that when admitted under s.3 as inpatients the Health Board are fully responsible for costs.  When discharged under s.117 costs are divided equally between the authority and Health for care and support needs.

In response to a question, it was suggested that the difference in expenditure between north and south of the county could be due to demographics.

Context

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to create a Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service Manager to provide leadership to whole authority safeguarding and manage the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Unit.

KEY ISSUES:

      i.        Safeguarding children and adults at risk has the very highest priority in Monmouthshire County Council. Safeguarding is recognised as everybody’s business and considerable progress has been made over the last 5 years to systematically embed safeguarding culture, knowledge and practice in every area of the Council’s responsibility. There are, however, areas where the understanding and operation of safeguarding are not yet of the standard they need to be. We need to be constantly vigilant in understanding the effectiveness of our governance and assurance systems.

     ii.        The Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Unit has a very important role in supporting safeguarding in Monmouthshire. The Unit works with directorates to support them to understand their safeguarding responsibilities and improve their practice. The Council has developed a SAFE self-assessment tool which has recently been reviewed and strengthened to incorporate adult as well as children’s safeguarding. An analysis of the Unit, and its ability to deliver its’ purpose, has highlighted the need to strengthen leadership and capacity to ensure it is fit for purpose; i.e. to enable it to support to all parts of the Council in their self –evaluation and analysis and improvement actions arising from their evaluation.

    iii.        The Service Manager post recommended in this report will ensure manage a Joint Children and Adult safeguarding unit comprising the following functions: independent review of Looked After Children (LAC), co-ordination of child protection and Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA), safeguarding in education and corporate safeguarding. The postholder will works with a variety of partners both internal and external to the Council. and be the main operational link to the Gwentwide Children and Adult Safeguarding Boards which are now on a statutory footing. The postholder will also be responsible for driving up standards and good safeguarding practice within the borders of Monmouthshire and across Council services. The post-holder will be part of the Children’s Social Services division within Social Care and Health and as such the changes proposed in this report would amend the structure approved by Cabinet in January 2017

Member Scrutiny

The report was presented and the following comments were made:

The Cabinet Member, Social Care, Safeguarding and Health endorsed the contents of the report and reminded Select Committee that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and , as such, there will always be a need for training and more education as staff and circumstances change in our large organisation. 

Members supported the importance of the proposal and clarification was sought on the recruitment timeline.  It was confirmed that, if approved, the post could be filled within two months.  It was explained that the post does not have to be advertised externally.

A Member challenged why the Welsh Government made no additional funding available to cover such a post in view of the Social Services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Action List from the last meeting was noted.

Some changes to the Forward Work Programme were announced as follows:

23^rd March 2017 at 2.00pm: Joint Children and Young People’s Select and Adults Select Committees (Young Carer’s Strategy and Safeguarding Report)

4^th April 2017 at 10.00am: Special Meeting - Stroke Services

11^th April 2017 at 2.00pm: Ordinary Meeting (brought forward from 25^th April 2017)

In relation to Gwent Frailty was provided it is recommended in the WAO report that there should be a task and finish group to undertake joint scrutiny.  It was agreed that the Chair and Vice Chair should represent the Committee on the task and finish group.

The Cabinet and Council Work Planner was noted.

23^rd March 2017 at 2.00pm:  Joint Children and Young People’s Select and Adults Select Committees

4th April 2017 at 10.00am: Special Adults Select Committee

11th April 2017 at 2.00pm: Next Ordinary Meeting (brought forward from 25th April 2017)