Source: http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/Council-Structure/minutes,_agendas_and_reports/minutes/cabinet/2016/16-01-25.aspx
Timestamp: 2018-11-16 06:13:32
Document Index: 39500445

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 8', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 9']

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Minutes of a meeting held on 25 January, 2016.
C3051 MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January, 2016 be approved as a correct record.
C3052 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
Agenda Item 7 - Capital Monitoring Report for the period 1st April to 30th November 2015
A Local Education Authority (LEA) appointed Governor at Llantwit Major Comprehensive. As an LEA Governor, his personal interest did not equate to a prejudicial interest and therefore he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
C3053 UPDATE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELL-BEING (WALES) ACT 2014 (REF) –
The Scrutiny Committee (Social Care and Health) on 4 January, 2016 considered the above report of the Director of Social Services.
The Scrutiny Committee had requested monthly updates in respect of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 ("the Act") and the approach being taken around implementation.
In summarising some of the latest development, the Director of Social Services explained that the statutory framework now included the Act itself, 23 sets of regulations and 7 codes of practice. He commented that all these, plus 9 technical briefings, represented an intense volume of information that staff would have to get to know. This was a basis for going forward but was a huge volume of detail for people to understand by the April implementation date.
The report further detailed that the lead officers for the Implementation Programme's task and finish groups continued to review the requirements set out in the new Regulations and Codes of Practice, to ensure that they were fully understood and to put in place the necessary actions. Representation on these groups included officers from both Local Authorities, the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the Third Sector. The areas currently regarded as providing the greatest challenge were the development of the Information, Advice and Assistance Service, the assessment and eligibility process and the new financial assessment and charging requirements.
The Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association had agreed to co-ordinate the work of the six regional implementation collaboratives, funded from the Delivering Transformation Grant. The four national working groups, established to share best practice and produce consistent material on an all-Wales basis, had now met. Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan region had sent officers to each of these groups so that they could contribute to the development of national toolkits / checklists and, where possible, avoid duplication and develop procedures to meet the local context. Where appropriate any issues not able to be resolved locally were being escalated to the national level.
Consultation on the final Code of Practice, in relation to Part 8 of the Act (the role of Directors of Social Services) closed on 4th December, 2015. ADSS Cymru and the Welsh Local Government Association responded to this consultation on behalf of local government. This Code of Practice would be laid before the Assembly in February 2016.
Progress had been made on a series of technical briefings for the Trance 1 Codes of Practice. These were described as "gateway" documents that summarised the key points for each Code:
Technical Briefing: Measuring social services performance
Technical Briefing: Part 2 - Information, Advice and Assistance
Technical Briefing: Part 2 - Population Assessment and Prevention
Technical Briefing: Part 2 - Social Enterprises
Technical Briefing: Part 2 - Well-being and overarching duties
Technical Briefing: Part 3 - Assessing needs
Technical Briefing: Part 4 - Care Plans
Technical Briefing; Part 4 - Direct Payments
Technical Briefing: Part 4 - Eligibility.
The national training materials for the four core modules were still being finalised. External trainers, to deliver workforce development on a prioritised basis in February and March, had been assigned through the national call off arrangements. A training plan was being developed to include the period prior to implementation and the months after. Additional resources were also available to help deliver awareness training to Elected Members and to provide support for the new Regional Partnership Board which would be established under Part 9 of the Act. The Minister had written to Health Board Chairs and Chief Executives, Cabinet Members for Social Services, Directors of Social Services and Regional Chairs to emphasise the importance of workforce development in the lead up to the implementation of the Act. A copy of the letter was appended to the report.
In terms of financial support, the report outlined that Welsh Government had doubled the funding available through the Delivering Transformation grant across Wales to £3m in 2015/16. Subject to budgetary decisions, a further £3m in grant funding would be available in 2016/17.
The Chairman queried the amount of time remaining in order to roll out the associated training programme and in response to this, Members were advised that the service would have to prioritise staff training according to need and that not all staff would be fully trained by the implementation date. The Chairman also asked for a date to be agreed for the briefing of councillors on the Act. The Director agreed to find a suitable date and promulgate it after consultation with Cabinet Members
In referring to the introduction of a new provision of up to six weeks free reablement services to enable a person to maintain or regain their ability to live independently, the Committee was advised that the eligibility for this may not only include those individuals being discharged from hospital and may relate to all individuals receiving care.
In considering the report, the Committee
(2) T H A T the Committee continue to receive regular updates about implementation of the Act.
(3) T H A T the report be referred to Cabinet in order to provide an update around the approach being taken to implement the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
(1-3) To ensure that Elected Members are kept informed about fundamental changes to the policy and legislative framework which underpins the work of Social Services.
After this item was presented, the Cabinet Member for Adult Services thanked the Scrutiny Committee (Social Care and Health) for providing monthly update reports that helped inform members of this important matter.
RESOLVED - T H A T the contents of the report be noted and Cabinet continue to receive regular updates from the Scrutiny Committee (Social Care and Health) with regards to the implementation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
To be kept informed about fundamental changes in policy and the legislative framework which underpins the work of Social Services.
C3054 REVENUE AND CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2015 (REF) –
(2) That Members and Cabinet are made aware of the progress made to date on the Social Services Budget Programme.
C3055 LEAVE WITH PAY - ELECTION DUTIES ON 5 MAY 2016 (RO) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Approval was sought for Vale of Glamorgan employees to claim leave with pay on Thursday 5 May 2016 for local election duties if they were appointed as Presiding Officer or Poll Clerk at polling stations in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency, and employed by Cardiff Council.
The Council's current Special Leave Scheme allowed employees wishing to serve as a poll clerk, presiding officer or other electoral roles in respect of elections / counts administered by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, leave with pay. The current Special Leave Scheme did not cover Vale of Glamorgan employees who undertook election roles with neighbouring Local Authorities. For the National Assembly for Wales and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections scheduled on Thursday 5 May 2016, polling stations under the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency would be administered through Cardiff County Council.
Approximately 35-40 Vale of Glamorgan employees would be approached to work on Poll Day by Electoral Services by Cardiff Council.
At the meeting the Leader commented that this report only covered polling stations in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency and that while neither he nor the Returning Officer were aware of any Vale of Glamorgan Council staff working in the Bridgend constituency, they would be addressed in a separate report if necessary.
RESOLVED - T H A T it be agreed for Vale of Glamorgan employees to claim leave with pay on 5 May, 2016 if they are appointed as Presiding Officer or Poll Clerk at polling stations in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency.
To extend existing special leave arrangements for 5 May 2016 in line with arrangements put in place for the Parliamentary Election in May 2015.
C3056 CAPITAL MONITORING REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2015 (L) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet was advised of the progress on the 2015/16 Capital Programme for the period 1 April, 2015 to 30 November, 2015 and changes to the capital programme were requested.
On 16 November, 2015 Cabinet approved the Amended Capital Programme for 2015/16 (minute no C2974 refers).
Appendix 1 as attached to the report detailed financial progress on the Capital Programme as at 30 November, 2015.
For all schemes where it was evident that the full year's budget would not be spent during the year, the relevant officers were required to provide an explanation for the shortfall and this would be taken to the earliest available Cabinet. Appendix 2 as attached to the report provided non-financial information on capital construction schemes with a budget of over £100k.
Cabinet had previously agreed that further information would be provided where schemes had a value of over £500k and showed a variance of 20% or more between actual spend and the profile. The following schemes met this criteria as amendments to programming/sequencing of works had resulted in actual expenditure that was less than the initial spend profile: Penarth Learning Community, Llantwit Learning Community and Modular Building Resiting Ysgol Dewi Sant. The budgets for these schemes were currently being re-profiled for the remainder of the year and changes would be reported as part of the ongoing capital monitoring process. This did not adversely affect the final cost of the project
Each Scrutiny Committee was going to receive a monitoring report on their respective areas, which would consider the relevant information related to the respective Scrutiny Committee. In future, the Cabinet and Scrutiny Work Programmes would reflect this arrangement.
At the meeting, the Leader noted that each scheme was detailed in the main body of the report from paragraphs 6 to 23. He added that some schemes detailed in the report had already been actioned using the Managing Director's Emergency Powers and would therefore not need to be addressed in the resolutions of this item.
RESOLVED - T H A T the following changes to the Capital Programme be approved:
Penarth Library Damp Proofing - The scheme be renamed 'Penarth Library Damp Proofing and Lift Works'.
St Helen's Infant School Works - An increase in the 2015/16 Capital Programme of £28,531 to be funded by a contribution from the school.
Pedestrian Cycle Improvements at Ffordd Y Millenium - A virement of £69k to the Broad Street Crossing scheme.
Marketing & Disposal of Nells Point - The carry forward of £33.5k into the 2016/17 Capital Programme.
C3057 REVENUE MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2015 (L) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet was advised of the progress relating to revenue expenditure for the period 1 April to 30 November, 2015.
On 16 November, 2015 Cabinet approved the Amended Revenue and Housing Revenue Account Budgets for 2015/16 (minute no C2975 and C2976 refers respectively).
The forecast for the 2015/16 revenue budget was for a favourable variance of £292k as shown in the following table. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2015/16 was also forecast to outturn on target.
Learning and Skills - There were significant pressures within the Inclusion Service in relation to inter authority recoupment, however, it was now anticipated that the Learning and Skills Directorate could outturn within budget at year end.
Social Services - It was anticipated that the projected outturn for the Social Services department for 2015/16 would be an adverse variance of £300k.
Environment and Housing - It was currently projected that the outturn for the Environment and Housing department at year end would be within target.
Managing Director and Resources - It was currently projected that overall services for the Managing Director and Resources department would outturn with a favourable variance of £592k at year end.
RESOLVED - T H A T the position with regard to the Authority's 2015/16 Revenue Budget be noted.
To note the projected revenue outturn for 2015/16.
C3058 GRANTS TO COMMUNITY/VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION 2015/16 (L) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Approval was sought for the award of grants from the 2015/16 corporate revenue budget.
Appendix A attached to the report set out the applications for consideration and the recommended grant in respect of each. The Appendix also set out any proposed conditions on the funding awarded.
The report outlined that the provision of this type of small community grant would need to be considered for future financial years having regard to the Council's Reshaping Services programme. Under this initiative the efficiency of the Council's approach to grant funding was being reviewed. A report would be brought to a future Cabinet meeting that would detail the proposals for the provision and delivery of Corporate grants in future financial years.
RESOLVED - T H A T grants to Community/Voluntary Organisations be awarded as set out in Appendix A attached to the report.
To award grants in accordance with the approved scheme.
C3059 UNIVERSAL CREDIT SUPPORT DELIVERED LOCALLY - UCSDL (L) (SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet was updated on the progress being made to engage with Job Centre Plus as a branch of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver Universal Credit to local citizens, and approval was sought to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department for Work and Pensions for the introduction of locally delivered support for the implementation of Universal Credit (UC) by the Council from February 2016.
Universal Credit was going to replace all of the following benefits:
Universal Credit was paid differently from current benefits. It would be paid once a month, usually into a bank or building society account.
To assist those local people who relied on Universal Credit, the DWP had engaged with the Council to work in partnership to deliver a more locally provided service using a MOU - Delivery Partnership Agreement - Universal Credit Support Delivered Locally - UCSDL. The MOU required the Council on funding from the DWP to deliver the following locally:
Provide a local service provision from 22 February, 2016
Provide support to UC Service Centre Staff around housing cost issues
Support for claimants to get online and stay online by identifying public Internet sites and locations where trained staff could provide supported access
Manually processing the Local Council Tax Reduction scheme (only where UC had been awarded)
Support for claimants with complex needs and in particular those who required personal budgeting support
Further discussions would be held with the DWP to refine the MOU thus ensuring that it was acceptable to both parties.
After presenting this item, the Leader highlighted paragraph 8 of the report which noted that "Further discussions will be held with the DWP to refine the MOU thus ensuring that it is acceptable to both parties". To reflect these ongoing discussions, the Leader altered the second recommendation of the report to ensure that the delegation extended to amending and refining the MOU, without the matter having to be reported again to Cabinet.
(1) T H A T the contents of the report be noted and the proposal to implement Universal Credit Support Delivered Locally (UCSDL) be approved.
(2) T H A T delegated authority be granted to the Head of Legal Services, in consultation with Head of Finance and the Leader, to finalise, and if necessary amend or refine, the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Work and Pensions and to execute the same to deliver Universal Credit support to local citizens.
(1-2) To approve the introduction of UCSDL to assist the local population to maintain their living access to Universal Credit with the Council's aid.