Issue - meetings

(a)       That Members be aware of the legislation coming into force which will significantly change how services are delivered across Wales; and   

(b)       That the Committee request that Cabinet debates the implications of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill on Flintshire County Council and in particular the financial impact. 

The Director of Community Services introduced a report to provide an explanatory report, of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill.  He detailed the background to the report and highlighted the key proposed changes and implications and provided details of what the Bill would not include. 

The Chair referred to the recommendation at paragraph 4.00 and asked that an additional recommendation be included which would read as follows:-

4.02 – That the Committee request that Cabinet debates the implications of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill on Flintshire County Council and in particular the financial impact. 

On being put to the vote, this was agreed.  

            Councillor P. Shotton said that in noting the intention of this bill to integrate and simplify current social care legislation, he felt that more information was required on funding and the cost implications for Flintshire County Council.  Councillor A.I. Dunbar, in praising the tremendous work undertaken by carers and welcoming the key changes for carers, asked when the changes would be implemented.  The Director responded that the changes to carer’s rights and responsibilities were welcomed but added that it was expected that they would not be put in place until 2016.  The Chair said that the implications of the bill had always been to have social services working more closely with health.  The Director referred to the third bullet point on page 39 where it was reported that, as part of the Bill, there would be extended duties on social services and their partners to collaborate in the delivery of integrated services, including the use of pooled budgets, partnership working and working with others to reduce bureaucracy.  

            In response to a query from Councillor H.G. Roberts for more information of what was contained in the Bill, the Director explained that the document, which was over 1,000 pages, was available electronically.  He confirmed that there were no formal proposals to merge health and social services but it was anticipated that the services would be more integrated. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That Members be aware of the legislation coming into force which will significantly change how services are delivered across Wales; and   

(b)   That the Committee request that Cabinet debates the implications of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill on Flintshire County Council and in particular the financial impact.