Agenda item

·       RCTCBC - Strategic Asset Management

·       RCTCBC - Workforce

·       National Report – Direct Payments for Adult Social Care

The Audit Wales Officer presented three Audit Wales reports to Members, namely, Springing Forward - Strategic Asset Management – Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council; Springing Forward – Workforce - Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council; and Direct Payments for Adult Social Care.

The Audit Wales Officer directed Members to paragraph 4 of the Springing Forward Asset Management report and the Officer provided a breakdown of the three main aims of the project. These included: -

-  To gain assurance that Councils are putting in place arrangements to transform, adapt and maintain the delivery of services;

-  To explain the actions that Councils are taking both individually and collectively to strengthen their arrangements as well as further embed the sustainable development principle; and

-  To inspire Councils and other organisations to further strengthen their arrangements through capturing and sharing notable practice examples and learning and making appropriate recommendations.

The Audit Wales Officer advised Members of the reviews which were undertaken to measure the Council’s strategic approach to managing its assets, strategically plan the use of the assets as well as how it monitors, evaluates and reviews the effectiveness of those arrangements.

Overall, it was noted that the Council has good arrangements to deliver its current corporate asset management strategy, however the Audit Wales Officer advised that the Council needs to ensure the asset management strategy is fully shaped by the sustainable development principle.

Following the overview of the report, the Chair referred to Members for questions.

A Member queried the Committee’s role to ensure the recommendations reported by Audit Wales are implemented and whether Audit Wales will provide follow up reports to update the Committee on progress.

The Audit Wales Officer advised that the Council has been developing its response to the Springing Forward Asset Management report and Springing Forward Workforce report and updates are scheduled to be presented to the Governance and Audit Committee on the 8^th November 2022.

Mr M Jehu requested reassurance on the Council’s adoption of new ways of working with partner organisations and support of the Senior Leadership Team.

The Audit Wales Officer advised that there is a clear commitment to new ways of working with partner organisations, with this being supported by the Senior Leadership Team.

Following discussion of the Springing Forward – Strategic Asset Management RCT, the Governance and Audit Committee RESOLVED to:

-       To note the content of the report

The Audit Wales Officer continued by presenting the Springing Forward – Workforce - Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council report. It was advised that Audit Wales have reviewed how the Council strategically plans for its workforce requirements both now and in the future, how it monitors its workforce and how it reviews and evaluates the effectiveness of its arrangements.

Following the review, it was concluded that the Council has a clear vision and effective planning arrangements for its workforce but as it renews its workforce strategy, the Council will need to ensure that this is shaped by the sustainable development principle. It was also noted that the Council has made good progress delivering its current workforce strategy, has a good understanding of the current challenges and is dealing with the impact that the pandemic has on its workforce; and that the Council has arrangements to monitor and review its workforce and, whilst it does engage with other organisations to share knowledge and experience, examples of active and meaningful benchmarking are few. 

Following discussion of the Springing Forward – Workforce - Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council report, the Governance and Audit Committee RESOLVED to:

-       To note the content of the report.

The Service Director- Finance and Improvement Services fed back that the Council has considered the recommendations set out in the Direct Payments for Adult Social Care national report and, where appropriate, will incorporate into existing service planning arrangements. The Service Director added that with regard to the Strategic Asset Management and Workforce reports, the Council is currently formulating responses to the recommendations and updates will be reported to Members in the autumn, including to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

With regard to the Direct Payments for Adult Social Care national report, the Governance and Audit Committee RESOLVED to:

-       Note the content of the report