Agenda item

(a)       That the draft Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b)       That the Facilitator, 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 progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.

            The Social Care and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme.  She advised that there would be a Special Meeting on 30^th September at 11.00 am to consider the Budget for the coming year and that a Mid-Year Performance Report may be added to the meeting on 9^th December with a possibility that a couple of the items may be moved to the January meeting.

                        In response to the question the Chair raised about discussing the financial impact of Covid on the budget, the Chief Officer (Social Services) suggested that a short verbal update could be given at the Budget meeting on 30^th September but stated that it would not be a full report.  A programmed discussion would take place later in the year which the Chair agreed to but emphasised the need to be aware of the impact of Covid on the Private Sector.

                        In response to a question raised by Councillor Marion Bateman, the Chief Officer (Social Services) shared with the Committee what he had learned from an earlier meeting that day with the Director of Social Services for the Welsh Government (WG).  He reported that there would be a consequential for WG as a result of the funding agreed in Parliament with the increase in National Insurance for Health and Social Care.  He stated that the situation may not be clear by 30^th September as WG had flexibility and would take time to decide on how it was allocated within Wales.

            The Social Care and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator referred to the action tracking report and advised Members that Betsi Cadwaladr and University Health Board (BCUHB) and responses from WG were ongoing outstanding actions.  The Community and Education Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator reported that both had been chased and a holding response had been received from WG stating that they would respond.  The Committee would be updated once responses had been received.

The Senior Manager - Children and Workforce reported that most of the issues that were discussed with the Link Officer over the summer through the Young Voices Out Loud Group were matters that the Children felt were important and were routinely shared between existing and new Social Workers as part of handovers.  He clarified that feedback would be given at the next Children’s Services Forum.

Councillor Cunningham referred to the walk around town centres that Councillor Marion Bateman suggested at the last meeting and asked if anything had been done.  The Social Care and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator confirmed that she had liaised with the Strategic Policy Advisor and site visits would be arranged when the situation improved.

Councillor Cunningham also asked if it was possible to take into account the cutting of the hedges along the footpath from the A55 roundabout in Broughton to the roundabout by the airfield as people in wheelchairs would struggle to use them.

The Chair updated the Committee about the letter she had written to BCUHB concerning the moving of patients to Connah’s Quay GP Surgery due to the closure of Queensferry GP Surgery.  In response to one of the points about the consideration of using Deeside Hospital as a proposed site, they stated that the hospital was currently fully utilised and that there was no space for additional services.  Other reasons included that the car park was not suitable for additional patients and there was no direct bus route.  The Chair disagreed with all these comments.  They also suggested that patients might try to access services direct from the hospital which the Chair stated was not the case at Holywell Hospital where a GP Surgery was located.  BCUHB were currently consulting the patients regarding the proposals.

The recommendations in the report were moved by Councillor Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Mackie.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the draft Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b)       That the Facilitator, 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 progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.