Agenda and minutes

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 12th May, 2021 5.00 pm

Venue: Virtual

Contact: Ms J Nicholls - Principal Democratic Services Officer 01443 424098

Media

Items

No.

Item

40.

Apologies

Minutes:

An apology of absence was received from County Borough Councillors E Stephens and L Walker.

41.

Welcome

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee extended a welcome to those members present at the meeting including the Service Director, Democratic Services & Communications and the Service Director, Performance & Improvement.

42.

Scrutiny Research Facility

Minutes:

The Chair advised Members of the Committee that the scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members. Any requests should be directed to the scrutiny inbox.

43.

Declaration of Interest

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1. Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2. Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

44.

Minutes PDF 143 KB

To approve as an accurate record the minutes of the meeting held on the 17^th March 2021.

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on the 17^th March 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

45.

Consultation Links

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

Minutes:

Members acknowledged the information provided through the consultation links in respect of open consultations, Welsh Government consultations and those matters being consulted upon by the local authority.

46.

Wales Audit Office: Annual Audit Summary 2020 PDF 434 KB

To consider the Wales Audit Office ‘Annual Audit Summary 2020’

presented to Council on 10^th March 2021.

Minutes:

In his report, the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications outlined the Audit Wales ‘Annual Audit Summary 2020’ which had previously been presented to Council on the 10th March 2021 and Audit Committee on 26th April 2021.

Members were asked to consider the progress made by Council Services to date in implementing proposals for improvement and recommendations made by Audit Wales and whether there were any matters that required referral to the Council’s Audit Committee. The Service Director also asked Members to consider whether there are any matters for further scrutiny and inclusion in the Overview & Scrutiny forward Work Programme for 2021/22.

Councillor P Jarman referred to the section relating to Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence’ (VAWDASV services) and asked if there is any evidence that men, as victims of domestic abuse, are treated equally. The Chair requested that this is raised at the forthcoming meeting of the Crime & Disorder Committee on the 17^th May, when the relevant Officers and South Wales Police would be in attendance.

It was also highlighted that on page 24, under the agreed section that it should read ‘It is worth noting that the Audit Report….’

The Co-opted Representative referred to the National Fraud Initiative in Wales 2018-20 and queried whether reports relating to emerging fraud risks due to

Covid-19 would be referred to the Audit Committee or the Overview & Scrutiny Committee?

The Service Director, Performance & Improvement confirmed that during the 2020-21 Municipal Year, resources were allocated to the Covid-19 related risks such as Business Support Grants and Free School Meals (FSM’s) fee payments. He added that these reports will be open reports and published to the Council website in advance of reporting to the Council’s Audit Committee. Any request to scrutinise the reports by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, would be undertaken as appropriate.

Councillor J Brencher asked for a progress update relating to the development of the new regional service model in the medium term for the VAWDASV services

which will address concerns regarding the possible overlap and duplication of work that could arise from different approaches within the authority and with partners. The Service Director Performance & Improvement advised that feedback would be provided to committee on the service model and the work ongoing in Merthyr Tydfil CBC.

With regard to a query raised by Councillor M Griffiths relating to the section ‘Rough Sleeping in

Wales – Everyone’s Problem; No One’s Responsibility,’ the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing

Scrutiny Committee advised that his committee had recently scrutinised the progress made

by the Housing Service in relation to the RCTCBC Homelessness Strategy 2018-2022 and

the Action Plan supporting that Strategy.

Councillor A Cox referred to the section ‘Review of the Public Service Boards’ and raised concern regarding the weaknesses identified throughout Wales as to how the Public Service Boards are scrutinised. He asked what the local authority can do to improve the situation and scrutiny of the PSB’s. The Chair agreed that there is a lack of scrutiny and accountability ... view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report 2020/21 PDF 443 KB

To receive the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report 2020/21

Minutes:

The Service Director, Democratic Services & Communication presented the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report for the municipal year 2020/21 which represents an overview of all the Council’s scrutiny functions. The Service Director advised that subject to Committee’s endorsement of the annual report, he would engage with the Chairs of the thematic scrutiny committees to confirm the content of their respective sections (with the Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and Vice Chairs of the Finance & Performance and Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committees in attendance at the meeting and able to contribute their comments).

Before requesting Members’ comments and feedback, the Chair suggested that the information at Appendix 1 is incorporated under each individual section of the annual report for consistency.

Other Members (Including the Co-Opted Member) requested the following amendments be made to the report:

1. Inclusion of the Call-In which adds value

2. Typos to be addressed on page 46

3. Reference to the Employment & Skills Strategy (Finance & Performance Scrutiny) to reflect the remit of ‘Economy’

4. Footnote to acknowledge that the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN’s) scrutiny working group will be finalised in the next municipal year

Other comments:

Ø In response to a query regarding flooding and category of tips - It was confirmed that there would be an opportunity for pre scrutiny of the Section 19 report before reporting to Cabinet in June 2021. The date reflects the time required to gather the volume of evidence, technical information, contributions from key partners, interviews from residents and supporting information;

Ø PSB Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) Annual Report 2020/21- A stand-alone report which will be presented to the AGM of the JOSC in June/July 2021

Ø The Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs discussed the format/themes of the Scrutiny Annual report at its meeting held in February 2021;

Ø The Council’s Residential Care Home Service for Older People, as outlined within the report, represents an exciting and positive development for older people, an excellent report.

Members acknowledged the streamlined format of the scrutiny annual report reflected the influence of Covid-19 yet demonstrated the volume of work maintained by Scrutiny during the 2020/21 Municipal Year. Members agreed there was no complacency and agreed that a good job was undertaken by all the scrutiny committees with effective support from Scrutiny Chairs and Officers.

It was RESOLVED to:

1. Endorse the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report 2020/21 to the Annual General meeting of the Council on the 26^th May 2021, as amended; and

2. Authorise the Service Director of Democratic Services & Communications to consult with the Chairs of the respective thematic scrutiny committees, not in attendance at the meeting, to confirm the content of their individual Annual Report.

48.

Chair's Review and Close

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

Minutes:

The Chair thanked members of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for their attendance and valuable contribution. He also thanked them for their hard work and for supporting each other throughout the municipal year.

The Chair reminded Members of the Crime & Disorder Committee which would be held on the 17^th May 2021 at 5pm.