SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND
SAFETY)
MINUTES of a meeting held on 14th
January, 2008.
Present: Councillor Mrs. M.E.J. Birch
(Chairman); Councillor K.R. Stockdale (Vice-Chairman); Councillors
Mrs. S.M. Bagstaff, R.J. Bertin, P. Church, J. Clifford, G.C.
Kemp, Mrs. A.J. Preston, B.I. Shaw, J.W. Thomas and
W.C. Vaughan.
Also present: Councillors S.C. Egan and
N. Moore.
678 APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE -
These were received from Councillors Ms. R.M.
Birch, Ms. L. Burnett, H.J.W. James, Mrs. A.J. Moore and A.G.
Powell.
679 MINUTES -
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the minutes of the
meetings held on 14th November, 2007,
26th November, 2007 and 10th December, 2007
be approved as a correct record, subject to the following being
noted:
·
26th November, 2007: Minute No. 564 - Members’ Rights to
Information Held by the Council - the item would be added to Phase
2 of the Corporate Induction Training Programme for 2008/09
·
10th December, 2007: Minute No. 605 - the Change Plan
referred to would be presented to Committee in February 2008
and would incorporate the recent Joint Review response that had
been received which would provide the Committee with up to date
information.
680 DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST -
No declarations were received.
681 HOUSING
SUB-COMMITTEE - 22ND NOVEMBER, 2007 -
The following report was received by the
Scrutiny Committee:
Present: Councillor K.R. Stockdale
(Chairman); Councillor Mrs. S.M. Bagstaff (Vice-Chairman);
Councillor Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, J. Clifford and
Mrs. A.J. Preston.
Also present: Councillor R.F.
Curtis and Mr. L. Lixton.
(a)
Apologies for absence -
These were received from Councillors Ms.
R.M. Birch, R. Bertin, P. Church, J.W. Thomas and Mrs. M.R.
Wilkinson.
(b)
Minutes -
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the minutes of the
meeting held on 20th September, 2007 be approved as
a correct record.
(c) Declarations
of Interest -
No declarations were received.
(d)
Housing Investment Progress Report (DLPPHS) -
The Committee received an update on the
Project Team’s progress in relation to the Council’s Housing
Investment Programme. The implementation plans were developed
in January 2006 after a Tribal Consultancy review of the Housing
and Building Services Departments and the completion of the
Council’s Housing Investment Option appraisal in order to meet the
Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Whilst some actions had been
met, many other priority actions had not yet been considered.
Given the length of time involved and the fact that there would
need to be changes, the Council’s Project Management Unit had been
engaged to review the implementation plans and work with the
Interim Head of Housing on a new and time-tagged implementation
plan. The review would take account of any additional Welsh
Assembly Government requirements introduced since the Tribal
report, along with any new internal priorities.
A draft survey had now been received from
Savills, which was currently being interrogated by the Project Team
and additional information / clarification was sought on a number
of items. It was anticipated that the final survey outcomes
would be known shortly and used to update the Business Plan.
Any detrimental outcome would be reported to the Project Board as a
matter of urgency.
There were a number of variable factors
included in the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan and external
factors could alter the Business Plan significantly. A
reduction in Right to Buy sales could reduce the anticipated
capital support to the investment and increase the overall cost of
improvements, whilst an increase in working balances through HRA
under spending would help the position. The variable factors
would need to be reworked and factored into a rerun of the Business
Plan model.
A positive meeting had been held between
the Welsh Assembly Government Housing Director and officer
colleagues and representatives of the Council including the Deputy
Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and a number of Senior
Managers. All agreed that there was a lot of work to be done
but subject to the Business Plan financial assumptions stacking up
and the proper processes being put in place in order to deliver the
stock improvements, then there was no reason by WAG would not
endorse the retention model. An assurance was given to WAG
that the Business Plan would be reviewed once the Savills’ stock
condition survey was concluded. WAG had now commented on the
draft Local Housing Strategy and overall this had been well
accepted. The Local Housing Strategy and the HRA Business
Plan were in effect two parts of the same document with the final
versions needing to be signed off by the Council.
A commitment had been given to the Welsh
Assembly Government that the full spend of the MRA would be
achieved in this financial year and this would include the
underspend already carried forward. This had produced a
significant programme and some schemes would not be undertaken
simply because of their complexity, level of tenant consultation
required and the fact that the programme had started too late
within the financial year. The decision had therefore been
taken to vire these monies into other WHQS works mainly door and
window replacements, roof replacements, central heating and boiler
renewals. Included within the revised programme was an
upgrade of the entry and communal areas of the Treharne flats to
include new door entry systems and enhancements to the internal
fabric, which would provide a more secure and welcoming
environment. Specific works included:
·
new entrance doors and door entry systems
·
replace of asbestos ceiling
·
open planning waste omitted
·
new floor finishes
·
replacement of existing individual front doors
·
communal lighting and fire detection systems to be
upgraded
·
renewal of all communal windows
·
re-decoration.
In addition, some external works to
improve paths and fencing would also be done.
Consideration was currently being given to
the best approach to achieve the new year’s Welsh Housing Quality
Standard. Current arrangements were complex in that the
client function was effectively undertaken by three departments;
Housing, Property Services and Building Services which was
confusing and not cost effective. An internal review of the
client role was currently being undertaken which would aim to
simplify things and provide more structured and focused client
management. Whilst it was initially anticipated that a major
programme of kitchen and bathroom replacement would commence early
in the next financial year the Interim Head of Housing reported
that current thinking was to continue with a similar programme for
2008/09 to that being followed for 2007/08. The internal
improvements would be undertaken through a Partnering Contract,
which should ensure a more cost effective approach, improved
procurement arrangements and a better packaging of works. A
report would be made to Cabinet seeking authority to tender for a
Partnering Contractor.
The current year’s programme was currently
on course to meet full spend on activities that would count towards
the WHQS. Potential programmes, which had been identified
early and monies vired to other work early enough to provide
assurance. The Project Team would continue to tightly monitor
progress and take whatever action was necessary to satisfy full
spend this year. The following year’s programme was more
complex as it would involve a lot of expenditure on internal works,
namely, bathroom and kitchen replacements and where required,
rewiring.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the Housing
Investment Progress report be noted.
(N.B. Councillor R. Curtis was given
permission to speak during consideration of this item).
(e)
Social Housing Grant Programme (IHH) -
Social Housing Grant (SHG) was a capital
grant made available by the Welsh Assembly Government to Registered
Social Landlords to provide new affordable housing for rent or for
low cost home ownership. The SHG programme for 2009-2010 had
an indicative budget of £98m. Although the grant was paid to
housing association consortiums it was incumbent on the Local
Authority to submit the scheme bids for the Social Housing Grant
based on its strategic priorities. In response to the bids,
the WAG would issue a list of approved schemes by January 2008 that
the consortiums could bring forward for development. The
Assembly would allocate SHG resources (Cash Limited Allocations) to
consortiums and agree development programmes. The developing
consortium would then be responsible for the procurement and
delivery of the schemes in their agreed development
programme.
There were currently four Registered
Social Landlords who were zoned by the Assembly to develop in the
Vale of Glamorgan, one of which (United Welsh Housing Association)
was able to develop supported housing only. For 2009/2010,
nine new bids were received from two of the remaining three
RSL’s:
·
Newydd Housing Association who were part of Integrate
Consortium
·
Hafod Housing Association who were part of the Devco
Consortium.
The bids were prioritised by officers in
the Housing Division based on the Authority’s strategic priorities
contained in the draft Local Housing Strategy, the Housing Market
Needs Assessment which had recently been undertaken, and on the
assessed deliverability of each scheme, taking into account land
purchase and planning considerations. These prioritised bids
with development information, were as detailed below:
| Priority |
Scheme Name
|
Unit Mix
|
RSL
|
Total SHG Cost
£’000
|
|
1
|
Cemetery Road, Barry
{Phase II)
|
14 x 2 bed flats
10 x 2 bed houses
12 x 3 bed houses
|
Newydd Housing Association
|
2792
|
|
2
|
Laura Street, Barry
|
2 x 3 bed houses
12 x 1 bed flats
4 x 2 bed flats
|
Hafod Housing Association
|
1125
|
|
3
|
Elfed Avenue, Penarth
|
4 x 4 bed houses
|
Newydd Housing Association
|
527
|
|
4
|
Gladstone Road, Barry
|
2 x 1 bed flats
26 x 2bed flats
|
Newydd Housing Association
|
3225
|
|
5
|
Merthyr Street, Barry (Phase
II)
|
3 x 1 bed flats
7 x 2 bed flats
|
Newydd Housing Association
|
649
|
|
6
|
Woodlands Road, Barry
|
9 x 3 bed houses
|
Hafod Housing Association
|
998
|
|
7
|
Brookfield Avenue, Barry
|
4 x 2bed bungalows
|
Hafod Housing Association
|
379
|
|
8
|
Daniel Street, Barry
|
14 x 3 bed houses
|
Newydd Housing Association
|
1371
|
|
9
|
DIY Homebuy
|
30 Unit Mix
|
Hafod Housing Association
|
1500
|
|
Total
|
|
153
|
|
12566
|
Members noted that there were only 193 of
affordable units planned and there should be at least 500
annually. It was also suggested that affordable housing
should be mixed throughout developments and not concentrated in one
particular area.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T
H A T the Scrutiny Committee (Community Wellbeing and Safety) be
asked to support a request to Council Planning and Housing Officers
to speed up the process of the review of Supplementary Planning
guidance to ensure a higher percentage of social housing on new
developments.
(2) T
H A T the Scrutiny Committee (Community Wellbeing and Safety) be
asked to support a request to the Council’s Communications Section
to publicise the positive aspects of social housing provision in
Vale Waves and Changing Times and other suitable publications in
order to promote its benefits amongst the wider community.
(3) T
H A T the Social Housing Grant Programme bids as detailed above be
noted.
(f) Local
Housing Strategy (IHH) -
The Welsh Assembly Government required
local authorities to submit a revised Local Housing Strategy by
April 2007, which incorporated the BME Housing Strategy, the
Homelessness Strategy and the Supporting People Operational
Plan. This was to be the last Local Housing Strategy as the
implementation of plan rationalisation would mean that local
housing strategic plans would be part of future Health, Social Care
and Wellbeing Strategies. In order to assist local
authorities the Welsh Assembly Government had published guidance on
the production of Local Housing Strategies and on Housing Market
Assessments.
The WAG acknowledged that the publication
of both guidance documents had been delayed which had significantly
reduced the time available for local authorities to assess the
condition of their housing stock and the needs and demands of their
local housing system. For this reason, the Council (along
with many other Welsh authorities), was granted a new deadline of
30th June, 2007 to submit a draft Local Housing Strategy
pending receipt of the jointly commissioned local housing market
assessment research being undertaken in partnership with Cardiff
Council. In order to comply with WAG requirements, a draft
Local Housing Strategy based on existing housing data and
up-to-date information from relevant service areas, were
subsequently submitted by 30th June, 2007. At that
time, it was planned that the full Local Housing Strategy would be
available for submission to WAG in December 2007. A detailed
response to the draft Local Housing Strategy was received from WAG
in October 2007 and it was therefore proposed that the draft Local
Housing Strategy be updated following these comments and the
receipt of the results of the Local Housing Market Assessment and
stakeholder consultation, which would be completed
shortly.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T
H A T the work that had been completed to date on the draft
Strategy and the feedback received from the Welsh Assembly
Government, be noted.
(2) T
H A T consent be given to officers to write to the Welsh Assembly
Government to make them aware of the delay in the publication of
the Housing Market Needs Assessment and the change timetable for
completion and submission of the full Local Housing Strategy by end
of January 2008.
(g)
Adaptation for Housing Association Tenants - Consultation
Response (IHH) -
A consultation paper had been received
from the Welsh Assembly Government, which proposed changes to
current procedures for adaptations to meet the needs of disabled
tenants of housing associations. These proposals had to be
considered in relation to best practice to ensure that local
authority disabled tenants received a comparable response to their
needs. Housing Association Circular RSL 03/06 advised that
the WAG would consult on proposed changes to procedures for
Physical Adaptations Grants (PAGs) and the payment of Social
Housing Grant (SHG) for adaptations to meet the needs of disabled
tenants of housing associations in Wales. Disabled Facilities
Grants (GFGs) were statutory, means tested grants, available to all
eligible qualifying applicants. However, the way in which
adaptations had been delivered to tenants varied between each local
authority area. Some local authorities provided DFGs to their
tenants whilst others provided “housing adaptations” paid for
through their housing revenue accounts as part of their wider
programmes of improvement for council housing. Some local
authorities did both.
For RSL tenants, DFGs were also a
mandatory entitlement. In practice, the way in which
adaptations were provided for RSL tenants varied. In some
areas, DFG was accessed by tenants whilst in other areas the RSL
organised work themselves and funded this through the Social
Housing Grant (Physical Adaptations Grant). In some areas,
both avenues were used.
The WAG review of the delivery of
adaptations for housing association tenants and the management of
the grant system aimed to:
·
clarify the roles and responsibility of housing
associations
·
improve budget management
·
provide clearer guidance on eligible works and costs
·
streamline the administrative procedures involved in obtaining
approvals
·
streamline the process for claiming and paying grant.
The proposals, whilst welcome, would in
effect lead to a two tier system operating within the Vale of
Glamorgan for adaptations to social rented property. On the
one hand, RSL tenants would, dependent upon the nature of the
adaptation, receive a streamlined fast-track process for both minor
and major adaptations. The associations themselves would be
able to progress all applications from their own resources or by
grant without additional burden to the Council’s Occupation Therapy
or Grants Section and unlike DFGs the application was not means
tested. In comparison, Council tenants would continue to
follow a two stage approach to determine eligible adaptation
works. The Welfare Authority (in practice Social Services
Occupational Therapy teams), would determine what works were
necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled persons needs and
the Housing Authority would determine what works were reasonable
and practicable which would result in a schedule of works being
sent to the applicant which formed the basis of grant aided
work. The involvement of two parts of the functions of the
Local Authority led to a complex process and confused system for
applicants. Some tenants would also be expected to contribute
to the cost of adaptations as this would be means tested.
The proposals, if implemented, would lead
to inequalities in provision, not only for existing Council tenants
but also to the wider private sector. It was proposed
therefore, that the Housing Department undertake a review of the
current system of administration and adaptations to Council
properties in light of the positive practice identified in the
report to improve.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T
H A T the report and officers’ response to the consultation
document be noted.
(2) T
H A T the Interim Head of Housing be authorised to undertake a
review of the existing framework for the provision of minor
adaptations to Council properties.
(3) T
H A T a further report be made to the Housing Sub-Committee to
detail the findings and recommendations of that review.
___________
Having considered the report of the Housing
Sub-Committee, the Scrutiny Committee
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the Council’s Planning and Housing Officers be requested to speed
up the process of the review of the Supplementary Planning Guidance
to ensure a higher percentage of social housing on new
developments.
(2) T H A
T the Council’s Communications Section be requested to publicise
the positive aspects of social housing provision in Vale Waves and
Changing Times and other suitable publications in order to promote
the benefits amongst the wider community.
(3) T H A
T the remainder of the Housing Sub-Committee report for
22nd November 2007 be noted.
Reasons for recommendations
(1) To
encourage a higher percentage of social housing.
(2) To
promote benefits of social housing further.
(3) To
apprise Members.
682 HOUSING
SUB-COMMITTEE CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP -
The Scrutiny Committee noted that Councillor
R.J. Bertin had tendered his resignation from the Housing
Sub-Committee and that the Labour Group had advised that Councillor
A.G. Powell would replace him. Councillor Bertin advised the
Committee that due to the change in meeting times of the Housing
Sub-Committee being amended to early afternoon, it was difficult
for him to attend the meetings.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T Councillor Bertin’s
resignation be noted and that Councillor A.G. Powell replace him on
the Housing Sub-Committee.
Reason for recommendation
To ensure appropriate membership of Committee
is maintained.
683 REVENUE AND
CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2007
TO 30TH NOVEMBER, 2007 (DSS&DLPPHS) -
Committee was advised of the position in
respect of revenue and capital expenditure for the period
1st April, 2007 to 30th November, 2007.
The Committee was also advised that a further report on the Social
Services Revenue Budget for 2007/2008 had been reported to the
Cabinet meeting on 9th January, 2008 as an urgent
item, which detailed proposals to reduce the projected overspend
within Social Services. Further copies of the report were
tabled at the meeting for Committee Members. The Director of
Social Services had been requested to produce an action plan
identifying further savings that could be achieved in the current
financial year, and this report updated the Committee on the
current situation. Proposals were listed under the following
categories:
§
Supplementary Funding
§
Deferring Expenditure
§
Improve Efficiencies
§
Income Generation
§
Reconfiguring Service Expenditure
§
Reconfiguring Service Provision.
Supplementary Funding -
£388,000
The service was in receipt of WAG grants from
a number of funding streams, including:
Cymorth
Flying Start
Children in Need Grant
Older People’s Strategy
Training Support
Health Alliance
Joint Working Grant
Carers Grant.
Detailed work was being undertaken to ensure
funding streams were maximised, to offset current revenue
expenditure in ways that would meet the grant conditions.
Deferring Expenditure -
£150,000
Staffing budgets across the Directorate were
all in line to meet the 3.2% vacancy factor included when the
budget for 2007/8 had been agreed. As at the end of December
2007, the service had in excess of 25 posts vacant at Operational
Manager level or below. The figure excluded front-line
provider services such as residential and day care. It was
proposed that delays in recruiting to the vacant posts continued,
resulting in reduced staffing costs for 2007/2008 which would
realise £150,000 in the current financial year.
Improve Efficiencies -
£60,000
A moratorium was in place with regard to
non-essential spending and out of county travel. It was
anticipated that a further £10,000 would be realised in the current
financial year.
The Directorate budget included funding for a
Director and two full-time Heads of Service. The cost of the
interim Director had offset some of the savings resulting from
keeping these posts vacant for 2007/2008. However, a further
net saving of £50,000 was predicted to be achieved.
The Directorate also currently contracted with
a number of independent sector providers for the provision of
domiciliary care. The use of agencies was being reviewed to
ensure that packages were placed with most cost efficient
agencies.
Income Generation -
£1,500
Community Care service users were charged for
services they received. The charges did not include any
reimbursement for the transport costs incurred in enabling people
to access the services. A review was to be undertaken with
the intention of considering whether clients in receipt of DLA
mobility allowance who used Council transport should be
charged. The income clients received from DLA mobility was
not taken into account when calculating a client’s assessed charge
for services. This was anticipated to realise £10,000 in the
current financial year.
The Directorate was working on individual
cases to ensure that, where appropriate, the Local Health Board
funded individuals who had severe health problems and some
successes had been achieved in recent months.
The Charging Policy for non-residential
services was currently being reviewed by Counsel. There was a
small but growing number of clients who had received compensation
monies who could not be charged under the existing
arrangements. It was anticipated that Counsel’s advice would
provide a basis for levying charges.
Reconfiguring Service Expenditure -
£100,000 in 2007/08
200 clients received care packages of 2 hours
or less a week. The support often comprised shopping and
laundry tasks. A review would consider whether this was an
appropriate use of scarce resources, whether the service should be
withdrawn or whether a voluntary agency could provide it in a more
cost effective way.
The way in which the eligibility criteria was
to be applied was also being reviewed to ensure equity across all
client groups. The work had already commenced in the learning
disability service and it was anticipated it would realise £100,000
in the current financial year.
Reconfiguring Service
Provision
Due to the fact the Directorate had a
significant proportion of care packages between 10 and 20 hours,
they were to be examined to ensure that services were being
provided in the most efficient and appropriate manner.
The eligibility criteria was also being
reviewed. Work was required to determine if the criteria was
at the correct level in terms of matching needs and resources.
In total, it was reported that the new action
plan would identify further possible savings of £699,500 in
2007/2008.
Members were pleased to receive the
supplementary information in relation to the new Action Plan but
raised concerns in relation to the residential home arbitration
case and the long term effect this would have on the Council’s
budget position. Officers advised that should the case “go
against” the Council it would be an additional cost on the service,
however the Department had received expert external advice on the
matter and the work that had been undertaken for the case to date
was more robust than had been for the previous arbitration
case.
With regard to the Revenue and Capital
Monitoring report for 1st April 2007 - 30th
November, 2007 attached at Appendix 2 were also details on the
financial progress on the Capital Programme and Appendix 3 provided
non-financial information on capital schemes with a budget of over
£100,000.
Members requested an update on the Harbour
View lease buyback properties and were advised that four tenants
remained at the site and that Cabinet had recently agreed to
progress the issue via Compulsory Purchase Orders. The two houses
in Penarth that had also been put aside for tenants had been
brought back into the Council’s stock and a further report in
relation to the cost of security at the site was due to be
presented to the Housing Sub-Committee at its meeting on
31st January, 2008.
Having considered the monitoring report
together with the supplementary report on the Social Services
Revenue Budget, the Scrutiny Committee
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the reports be
noted.
Reason for recommendation
To apprise Members.
684 SAFER VALE
PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL REPORT 2006/07 (DLPPHS) -
The report advised on the Vale of Glamorgan
Safer Vale Partnerships achievements for 2006/07 and the Annual
Report was attached at Appendix 1. The report highlighted
that between 2005-2007 there had been a 9.2% reduction in crime
within the Vale of Glamorgan and that the service was on target to
reach the 15% reduction projected by 2008. The Safer Vale
Partnership of which the Council was a Member was responsible for
publishing a three year strategy and action plans to reduce crime
and disorder in the area. The cost of implementing the
2005-2008 Action Plan projects had been met by the Home Office,
Welsh Assembly Government and existing statutory agencies.
The strategy / action plan process had assisted the Council to meet
its corporate / service objectives i.e. CW8 Work in
partnership with the Police and other agencies to meet the targets
set out in the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy and Action
Plans to reduce crime.
Members commented that the reduction in crime
that had been identified was a success for the residents of the
Vale, in particular in view of the fear of crime. In relation
to tackling violent crime and under-age drinking a grant of £37,000
had been received from the Welsh Assembly Government and it was
intended to develop an advertising campaign to highlight the
consequences of under-age drinking. Members questioned
whether there was any evidence that the new licensing laws, which
had allowed licensing hours to be increased had an adverse effect
on crime and disorder and requested that a further report from the
Police on this matter be presented to a future meeting.
Having considered the report the Scrutiny Committee then made the
following recommendations:
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T South Wales Police be requested to provide detailed information
on the issues of violent crime and criminal damage in the Vale of
Glamorgan and the effect of the new Licensing laws and that they be
invited to attend the Scrutiny Committee meeting in March 2008.
(2) T H A
T a detailed report on “ alcohol free drinking zones” be presented
to the Scrutiny Committee meeting in March 2008.
(3) T H A
T the Scrutiny Committee continues to receive the Community Safety
Partnership Annual Reports.
Reasons for recommendations
(1-3) To ensure that the
Scrutiny Committee fulfils its role of monitoring partnership
action to reduce crime and disorder and the fear of crime.
685 SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
- TRACKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS (DLPPHS) -
The purpose of the report was to apprise
Members of the progress in relation to recommendations that they
had made during the period October - December 2007 and to consider
actions against the uncompleted recommendations for the period
April - September 2007. Members’ views were also requested
relating to progress against each recommendation, whether further
action may be required to ensure the required action was
undertaken, and to confirm any action as completed. Members
reconfirmed that they wished to receive the reports in the formats
presented as the information provided them with the up to date
position on their recommendations.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the actions detailed as completed below be agreed:
October 2007 to December 2007
|
Date
|
Title
|
Action
|
|
1st October 2007 - Min. No. 376
|
Corporate Plan Monitoring (CMT)
Recommendation
(2) That the Housing Sub-Committee be
recommended to consider increasing the percentage of affordable
housing on new developments.
- CW9 - Develop Housing Stock Asset Management
and Investment Strategy to work towards the Welsh Housing Quality
Standard. The new housing condition survey was scheduled to
be reported to the Housing Sub-Committee within the next four
weeks. Report presented to the Housing Sub-Committee on 22
November 2007.
|
Completed
|
|
1st October 2007 - Min. No. 379
|
Tracking of Recommendations (DLPPHS)
|
Completed
|
|
22nd October 2007 - Min. No.
476
|
Housing Sub-Committee:
20th September 2007
|
Completed
|
|
|
(2) That the Scrutiny Committee Members be
informed as soon as a date had been arranged for the visit to
Carmarthen Council in respect of the HRA Business Plan. The
visit took place on 20 December 2007.
|
Completed
|
|
|
(3) That the Housing Sub-Committee
recommendation that an “Excellent (zero carbon) Eco Home Standard”
be required for the Penarth Heights Development and any other new
housing developments, be referred to Cabinet. Cabinet agreed
that a further report be presented.
|
Completed
|
|
22nd October 2007 - Min. No.
478
|
Progress Report on Social Services Change
Plan
|
|
|
|
(2) That the reports as requested in respect
of references
SP25 - Ensure carers’ assessments are offered
in a consistent and systematic manner
- Information sent to Members on
6 November 2007
SQ8 - Review all Day Services.
- Members updated on progress.
|
Completed
Completed
|
|
|
(3) That in respect of SQ7 - “Review of all
existing care packages beginning with outstanding reviews” Cabinet
be recommended to ensure as a matter of urgency that extra staff
are considered to ensure that the care packages meet the
eligibility criteria and that the service is appropriate to meet
client needs.
- Cabinet confirmed work was already
being undertaken.
|
Completed
|
|
22nd October 2007 - Min. No.
481
|
Tracking of Recommendations (DLPPHS)
(3) That approval be granted for Councillor
H.J.W. James to present the report to the Accountability Panel of
the South Wales Police on Thursday, 25th October,
2007 and that feedback in respect of the matter be presented to a
future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.
- Feedback presented at
26 November
2007 meeting.
|
Completed
|
|
14th November 2007 - Min. No.
536
|
Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy 2008-2011
(CX)
(2) That the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing
Strategy 2008-2011 be forwarded to all Members of the Council for
information / consultation prior to the closing date of
24th December 2007.
- Circulated with Cabinet agenda
12 December 2007.
|
Completed
|
|
26th November 2007 - Min. No.
564
|
Members’ Rights to Information Held by the
Council (DLPPHS)
(2) That specific Member training in respect
of Members’ rights to information held by the Council be
established.
- Added to Phase 2 of the Corporate
Induction Training Programme 2008/09.
|
Completed
|
|
26th November 2007 - Min. No.
566
|
Initial Revenue Budget Proposals 2008/09
(DFICTP)
(2) That the minutes of the meeting be
forwarded to the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) for
consideration.
- * Referred.
|
Completed
|
|
26th November 2007 - Min. No.
567
|
Initial Capital programme Proposals 2008/09
(DFICTP).
- *Referred.
|
Completed
|
|
26th November 2007 - Min. No.
568
|
Initial Housing Revenue Account Budget
Proposals 2008/09 and Revised Budget 2007/08 (DLPPHS &
DFICTP)
(1) That the report be noted and referred to
Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) for consideration.
- *Referred.
|
Completed
|
*
Referred to Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) in compliance
with the Council’s accepted procedure.
(2) T H A
T the actions detailed below for the uncompleted quarters of April
to June 2007 and July to September 2007 be agreed as completed:
|
Date
|
Time and Action
|
Completed
|
|
16th April 2007 - Min. No. 1009
|
Review of Scrutiny Arrangements (CX)
|
|
|
|
(2) Develop a pre-work programme evaluation
and checklist when scoping reviews to assess the suitability of
potential work programme items paying particular regard to the
Council’s risk register, corporate priorities and Cabinet forward
work programme.
- Report considered and approved by Scrutiny
Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen Group on 17 October 2007.
|
Completed
|
|
|
(4) When managing Committee business, that
Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen consider inviting Executive
Members.
- Agreed by Scrutiny Chairmen and
Vice-Chairmen Group.
|
Completed
|
|
21st May 2007 - Min. No. 21
|
Housing Sub-Committee - 19th April
2007 - Report of a meeting
(1) That officers pursue with Legal Services a
request by Members to view the contracts and agreements that had
been signed with Crest Nicholson in respect of accommodation.
- Report presented to Scrutiny Committee on
26 November 2007.
|
Completed
|
Reasons for recommendations
(1&2) In order to ensure effective
Scrutiny monitoring