Source: https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/Council-Structure/minutes,_agendas_and_reports/minutes/Scrutiny-CRP/2018/18-04-30.aspx
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Home > our_council > Council Structure > minutes,_agendas_and_reports > Scrutiny - CRP > 18-04-30
Minutes of an Extraordinary Meeting held on 30th April, 2018.
Present: Councillor G.D.D. Carroll (Chairman);Councillor V.P. Driscoll (Vice-Chairman); Councillors: R. Crowley, O. Griffiths, S.J. Griffiths, Dr. I.J. Johnson, P.G. King, N. Moore, L.O. Rowlands and E. Williams.
Also present: Councillor V.J. Bailey.
918 STAFF CHARTER - UPDATE FROM EMPLOYEE SURVEY (REF) -
(2) To apprise Cabinet was aware of the concerns of the Scrutiny Committee.
919 VALE OF GLAMORGAN WELLBEING AND IMPROVEMENT OBJECTIVES (IMPROVEMENT PLAN PART 1) 2018-19 (MD) –
The Operational Manager (Performance and Policy) presented the report, which sought Member endorsement of the Improvement Plan Part 1 outlining the Council’s Wellbeing and Improvement Objectives and associated actions for 2018/19.
The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 and the Wellbeing and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 both placed specific duties on the Council in relation to objective setting and reporting duties. The Corporate Plan was the Council’s key means of complying with the Local Government Measure 2009 which required that Improvement Objectives be annually set and continuous improvement demonstrated against them. The Plan set out the Council’s Wellbeing Outcomes and Objectives for 2016-2020 as well as its vision and values with reference to the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Appendix 1 attached to the report contained the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Improvement Objectives (Improvement Plan Part 1) for the period 2018/19 which mirrored the Council’s Wellbeing objectives for consistency. Pages 8 – 35 of the Plan provided further details on each objective including: an Identified Sponsoring Director with responsibility for ensuring progress was made in achieving the Council’s intended outcomes; a brief rationale for selection of the Objective, specific actions the Council would take during 2018/19 in order to progress the identified priorities; and performance indicators and targets to measure the progress made.
In line with the Council's Performance Management Framework, the Council’s Improvement Plan priorities for 2018/19 were reflected in Service Plans for 2018-22 which Members had recently endorsed (March 2018). Progress against these priorities would be monitored via quarterly performance reports to the relevant Scrutiny Committees as aligned with the Corporate Plan Well-being Outcomes, supplemented with an overall summary report to Cabinet. The Operational Manager (Performance and Policy) informed the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee that the other Scrutiny Committees had already considered this report and all had endorsed the Vale of Glamorgan Wellbeing and Improvement Objectives (Improvement Plan Part 1) for 2018/19 for their respective Committees.
In concluding his presentation, the Operational Manager for Performance and Policy requested the Committee to consider whether the report detailed that the Council was achieving its duty under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 by adopting this approach to the setting of Improvement Objectives for the authority. The officer drew specific attention to Improvement Objective 9, “Deliver the Council’s transformational programme, Reshaping Services to meet the future need of citizens of the Vale of Glamorgan within the context of unprecedented financial challenges” located on page 33 of the Improvement Plan Part 1 as the objective requiring the specific consideration by the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee as the content of this objective related specifically to the remit of the Committee. In addition to the indicators in the table on page 35, since the Improvement Plan Part 1 had been published, additional information could be provided to the Committee. The end of year 2017/18 performance for indicator CPM/211 “Percentage of staff appraisals completed” was 97.38; the end of year 2017/18 performance for indicator CPM/019 “The number of working days / shifts per full-time equivalent (FTE) Local Authority employees lost due to sickness absence” was 10.14; and the end of year 2017/18 performance for indicator CPM/210 “Employee turnover (voluntary)” was 6.68%. The officer also noted that the right-hand column heading contained a typographical error and should read “2018/19 target”.
A Member queried whether there was a typographical error on page 28 of Appendix 1 in regard to the targets set for Green Flag Awards at key urban parks throughout the Vale of Glamorgan. Following a discussion, the officer confirmed that the Appendix was correct and the target related to maintaining the Council’s existing seven Green Flags with nine awards as a future target. The officer stated that he would however confirm this for all Members via e-mail.
Another Member advised the Committee that he had received a number of queries from residents regarding their concerns about street lighting, dog fouling, recycling and pot holes, and suggested whether the Council’s work to tackle these issues should be highlighted in greater detail in the document. In response, the Operational Manager for Performance and Policy noted that these Corporate Plan priorities were detailed on page 19 of Appendix 1, however, they were presented in the order set out in Service Plans and were therefore not necessarily presented in order of possible ‘public’ priority. The officer commented that the public summary of the Improvement Objectives 2018/19 attached at Appendix 2 to the report was more resident focused and provided an overview to members of the public of the work undertaken to address the issues identified by the Councillor.
Following a request for more information on the work undertaken to prevent and tackle instances of anti-social behaviour and including implementing restorative justice approaches for young people, as detailed on page 11 of Appendix 1, which the Operational Manager (Performance and Policy) stated he would request the details from the relevant department and forward them via email to all Members of the Committee. In conclusion, another Member sought clarification on the performance figures for the percentage of staff appraisals completed and the timescales for reporting this indicator, with it being noted that the percentage for appraisals undertaken for the year had been 97.4% and the target was 95%.
RECOMMENDED – T H A T the Corporate Plan Well-being and Improvement Objectives and associated priority actions for 2018/19 as outlined in Appendix 1 attached to the report be endorsed and the views of the Scrutiny Committee be included in the summary report sent to Cabinet.
920 4TH QUARTER SCRUTINY DECISION TRACKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS (MD) –
Members were advised of the progress made in relation to the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee recommendations for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Quarter of the municipal year, covering the dates July 2017 to March 2018.
Appendices A to C attached to the report set out the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee with Members being requested to review progress against each recommendation, assess whether further action was required, ensure the required action was undertaken and confirm which recommendations were to be agreed as completed. Where appropriate, progress on actions related to a service area covered by a previous Scrutiny Committee was included in the Appendices for the appropriate Committee's consideration.
The Democratic Services Officer confirmed that all recommendations of the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee for the three quarters had been completed.
RECOMMENDED – T H A T the status of the actions listed in Appendices A to C of the report be noted and the recommendations highlighted as completed below be approved:
Min. No. 644 – Corporate Safeguarding Mid Term Report – April – September (2017/18) (REF) – Recommended
(2) That the Head of Human Resources be requested to send an e-mail to Members clarifying the position relating to any specific concerns in regard to safeguarding as a whole and separately providing further information or MARAC and the role of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Co-ordinator.
The information had been emailed to all Members of the Committee
Min. No. 645 – Reshaping Services Programme – Update on Implementation (REF) (Min. No. 303 Also Refers) – Recommended
(2) That the Head of Finance be requested to send an e-mail to Members of the Committee clarifying the position with regard to explanation for increased transport costs in Waste Management.
Min. No. 646 – Revenue Monitoring for the Period 1st April to 30th November 2017 (MD) – Recommended
(2) That the Head of Finance be requested to provide further clarification in regard to the overspend in relation to Education Transport and in particular to special needs pupils’ transport to schools.
Min. No. 649 – 3rd Quarter Scrutiny Decision Tracking of Recommendations and Updated Work Programme Schedule 2017/18 (MD) – Recommended
Min. No. 716 – Vale of Glamorgan Council Annual Self-Assessment (MD) – Recommended
(4) That future Council Annual Self-Assessment Reports be the subject of Member briefings.
Min. No. 558 – Initial Revenue Budget Proposals 2018/19 (MD) – Recommended
(1) That the comments of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee noted and referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.
(2) That the comments of the Healthy Living and Social Care Scrutiny Committee be noted and referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.
(3) That the recommendations of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee relating to the funding of all the service’s cost pressures be noted and referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.
(4) That the Cabinet be made aware of this Scrutiny Committee’s concerns relating to the proposed national pay award and its implications for the Council’s pay structure, CPI inflation and its implications for cost pressures on the Council’s various services and whether the savings identified within the report were deliverable within the stated timelines.
(5) That taking account of the Committee’s concerns raised regarding the proposed national pay award, the Cabinet be requested to write to the National Employers Pay Body raising concerns relating to the proposed national pay settlement on the Council’s budget and pay structure.
Min. No. 559 – Initial Capital Programme Proposals 2017/18 (MD) – Recommended
(1) That the recommendations of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee be noted and referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.
(Min. No. C188 refers)
(2) That the recommendations of the Healthy Living and Social Care Scrutiny Committee be noted and referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.
(3) That the Cabinet be requested to re-examine the below unsuccessful schemes with a view to their inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2018/19:
EH2 – new household waste recycling centre;
EH8 – footway renewal;
EH6 – replacement playgrounds.
(4) That the Cabinet be requested to emphasise to officers the need to complete the Vehicle Replacement Programme procurement exercise given the budgetary pressures experienced by Waste Management as set out in the Initial Revenue and Capital Proposals under consideration.
Min. No. 560 – Initial Housing Revenue Account Budget Proposals 2018/19 (MD) – Recommended
(1) That the Cabinet be made aware of the Scrutiny Committee’s concern regarding Welsh Government’s proposed rent increase and its potential implications, coupled with the ongoing roll out of Universal Credit to potentially increase bad debt.
(Min. No. C190 refers)
(2) That an appropriate officer from the Directorate of Social Services be invited to a future meeting to advise on how the service proposed to manage its Reshaping Services projects relating to the budget.
The Director of Social Services attended the meeting of the Committee on 16th November, 2017.