Agenda, decisions and minutes

At the Annual Meeting, Council determined that the Independent Group will chair this Committee.  The Committee is advised that Councillor Richard Jones is the Chair of the Committee for the municipal year.

That the appointment of Councillor Richard Jones as Chair of the Committee for the 2024/25 municipal year be noted.

RESOLVED:

That the appointment of Councillor Richard Jones as Chair of the Committee for the 2024/25 municipal year be noted.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the Committee.

That Councillor Bill Crease be appointed Vice-Chair for the 2024/25 municipal year.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Bill Crease be appointed Vice-Chair for the 2024/25 municipal year.

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None.

RESOLVED:

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 7 March 2024.

That subject to the amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2024 be approved as a correct record.

It was noted that Councillor Coggins Cogan should be included in the circulation list for the action on minute number 81 (Social Value Update), as he had attended the meeting.

The minutes were approved, subject to a minor correction in the first paragraph of minute number 81.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2024 be approved as a correct record.

That the Committee notes the progress which has been made.

The Democratic Services Manager presented an update on progress with actions from previous meetings.  The recommendation in the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the progress which has been made.

(a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved;

(b) That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c) That the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee considers a request for alternating agendas of this Committee to include an item to enable the relevant Cabinet Members to answer questions from Members.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the current Forward Work Programme for consideration.

It was noted that concerns about the availability of certain policies on the Council’s website were being investigated by Customer Services.  In addition, the Chief Officer (Governance) agreed to remind Chief Officers that information on their respective portfolios should be kept updated on the website.

The Chair asked that updates on Joint Funded Care and the Council Plan be scheduled quarterly on the Forward Work Programme.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved;

(b) That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c) That the Constitution & Democratic Services Committee considers a request for alternating agendas of this Committee to include an item to enable the relevant Cabinet Members to answer questions from Members.

That the Committee notes the update on the current position regarding outstanding Continuing Health Care invoices raised by the Council for payment by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Senior Manager (Safeguarding and Commissioning) presented a report to update the Committee on current long-term debt with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in respect of the delivery of NHS Continuing Health Care packages in Flintshire.

Following discussion, the Chair reiterated concerns that the appeals process did not allow for representation by the Local Authority and that the Committee may wish to further reflect on this at the next update.

The recommendation was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the update on the current position regarding outstanding Continuing Health Care invoices raised by the Council for payment by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

a) That the draft Welsh Language Standards Annual Monitoring Report for 2023/24 be endorsed;

b) That the Committee is assured that the Council has been making progress to meeting the statutory requirements of the Welsh Language Compliance Notice; and

c) That the Strategic Policy Advisor liaise with the Democratic Services Manager to ensure that information on training and development initiatives are circulated to all elected Members to promote greater use of the Welsh language.

The Strategic Policy Advisor presented a report on the Council’s progress in complying with the Welsh Language Standards and identifying areas for further progress and improvement.

In response to points raised, relevant Cabinet Members would be invited to future meetings where reports were submitted in their names.

The recommendations were supported, together with an additional motion.

RESOLVED:

a) That the draft Welsh Language Standards Annual Monitoring Report for 2023/24 be endorsed;

b) That the Committee is assured that the Council has been making progress to meeting the statutory requirements of the Welsh Language Compliance Notice; and

c) That the Strategic Policy Advisor liaise with the Democratic Services Manager to ensure that information on training and development initiatives are circulated to all elected Members to promote greater use of the Welsh language.

That the Committee notes progress to meet the recommendations of Audit Wales ‘Equality Impact Assessments: more than a tick box exercise?’.

The Corporate Manager - Capital Programme and Assets and Strategic Policy Advisor presented a report on progress with actions arising from the Audit Wales report on the use of Equality Impact Assessments in Wales.

The recommendation in the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes progress to meet the recommendations of Audit Wales ‘Equality Impact Assessments: more than a tick box exercise?’.

That the Committee notes the year-end Workforce Information Report for 2023/24.

The Corporate Manager, People and Organisational Development presented a report comprising organisational workforce data and analysis for the 2023/24 year-end position.

During the debate, the Corporate Manager clarified the employee absence rate and agreed to provide a follow-up response on whether full-time equivalent calculations and rates related to the number of employees or posts available.  She would also provide information on the calculation used to identify days lost and would liaise with the Corporate Finance Manager to collate establishment report data on days lost due to unfilled posts across portfolios to share with the Committee.  In response to comments, she agreed to include commentary in future reports where targets on attendance and agency spend were not achieved, along with reference to the performance appraisal process.

The recommendation in the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the year-end Workforce Information Report for 2023/24.

That having considered the response to the recommendations for improvement, the Committee comments to Cabinet as follows:

(a) In relation to key policy and service decisions including any changes to services, that reports include service user perspectives on the outcomes currently being delivered; and

(b) That Cabinet be asked to consider an annual survey of service users on the Council’s performance, possibly around April to be incorporated with the issuing of Council Tax bills.

The Chief Officer (Governance) and Internal Audit, Performance & Risk Manager presented a report on progress with actions arising from the Audit Wales review.

It was noted that the Consultation and Engagement Strategy would be scheduled for a future meeting.

The recommendation was amended to reflect the debate.

RESOLVED:

That having considered the response to the recommendations for improvement, the Committee comments to Cabinet as follows:

(a) In relation to key policy and service decisions including any changes to services, that reports include service user perspectives on the outcomes currently being delivered; and

(b) That Cabinet be asked to consider an annual survey of service users on the Council’s performance, possibly around April to be incorporated with the issuing of Council Tax bills.

None.