Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Councillors Endaf Edwards and Ceris Jones apologised for their inability to   attend the meeting.

There were no disclosures of personal or prejudicial interests.

     3   CYSUR/CWMPAS Combined Local Operational Group Safeguarding Report

          Qtr 4 2021/22

          Sian Howys and Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member) attended the meeting

          to present the CYSUR/CWMPAS Combined Local Operational Group

          Safeguarding report to Committee Members to ensure Members monitor progress

          of the CYSUR/CWMPAS Combined Local Operational Group quarterly

          management meetings. These are multi-agency management reports in relation

          to safeguarding children and adults in Ceredigion during the period 1st January to   

          31st March 2022. They provide management information on action taken under

          the Wales Safeguarding Procedures.

Sian outlined the main points as listed in the covering report.  A Member raised a

concern that Child Protection referrals in the Aberystwyth area had doubled during the  quarter.  In response to the concern, it was explained that on occasions group safeguarding referrals can be made in terms of concerns, i.e. more than one individual in one family or in a peer group.  There could also be seasonal factors.  Another Member noted that 12 individuals had been removed from the child protection register and asked if there is an age limit that they are automatically removed from the register.  The Officer confirmed this would happen when an individual turns 18 years old.  Concern was also raised that the data shows that not all review child protection conferences are being taken within the required  timescale. It was explained by the Officer that the workforce due to vacancies are under considerable pressure and are prioritising tasks A Member asked whether face to face reviews are now undertaken at Penmorfa and Canolfan Rheidol as were pre-covid.  It was confirmed that those offices have not resumed access to the public, however, other appropriate locations will be used for this purpose when required.  It was confirmed that use of offices is being reviewed on a corporate basis.  A reference was made to self-harming in children and the Officer confirmed that the data in the report is provided from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team, Hywel Dda University Health Board. The Chairman noted that as a Scrutiny Committee, Members have the right to invite any outside organisations in for questioning. The Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Chair, Councillor Caryl Roberts, requested that a representative from CAMHS team attend a future meeting.

Following discussion, Members were asked to note the contents of the report and

the levels of activity with the Local Authority. Members agreed to note its contents

so that the governance of the Local Authority and its partner agencies are   

monitored.

The Chairman thanked Sian Howys for attending and presenting the report and also thanked the Officer concerned for providing an Executive Summary.

The Chairman welcomed Naomi McDonagh, Diana Davies and Alun Williams and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Bryan Davies (Cabinet Member) to the meeting to present the minutes of the 12^th July 2022 PSB meeting and to present the Ceredigion Local Well-being Annual Report 2021-2022.

Under Section 35 of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015,  

Local Authorities are required to ensure their Overview and Scrutiny Committees have the power to scrutinise decisions made, or other action taken, by the Public Services Board for the Local Authority area in the exercise of its functions. The Public Services Board (PSB) is required to produce and publish annual reports relating to the delivery of their Wellbeing Plans. It is a statutory requirement of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 that annual reports are scrutinised by local PSB Overview and Scrutiny Committees. Unlike with the assessments of well-being and the well-being plans, the PSB does not have to wait on the scrutiny panel recommendations to approve annual reports but, the Board is encouraged to use Scrutiny recommendations in developing work programmes and future reporting.

During discussion, it was reiterated that it is important to include Local Members in any discussions/consultations relating to their ward as their input is valuable.

Following discussion, Members were asked to receive the draft minutes of the

Ceredigion PSB meetings held on the 12^th July 2022, and to receive and note the Ceredigion PSB Local Well-being Plan Annual Report 2021-2022.

The Chairman thanked Naomi, Diana, Alun and the Leader of the Council for attending and presenting the report.

Elin Prysor attended to present the report on the Council’s use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) as the Coordinating Committee Members are responsible for reviewing the Council’s use of RIPA. Reports are presented to the Committee on a 6 monthly basis; however; this report is presented 12 months following the previous report due to a lack of RIPA activity. 

It was reported that there has been no RIPA activity by any service of the Council during the period between the 13^th August 2021 and the 4^th July 2022. Authorising Officers have confirmed that they have not considered any RIPA applications during this time.

On the 28^th February 2022, a half day training workshop was delivered by an external provider to relevant Officers on RIPA. It was reported that the IPCO report will be presented at the next Committee meeting.

Following discussion, Members agreed to note the report contents.

The Chair thanked Elin Prysor for attending and presenting the report.

Lisa Evans reported that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report highlights the key issues that have been considered by the five overview and scrutiny Committees during 2021/2022.

There is a statutory duty on Local Authorities to publish an annual report relating to the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees. The Annual Report will be published in the Overview and Scrutiny webpage on the Council Website.

Following discussion, Members agreed to note the information contained within the report prior to it being presented to Council on the 20^th October 2022.

Each Chair in turn provided an update on their respective Overview and Scrutiny Committees. Following discussion, it was agreed to include the following on each Forward Work Programme:

Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Pay and Display Car Park Machines.

Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee – to request a Council Tax Second Homes update report at the 19^th December 2022 Committee meeting;

Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee – to invite a representative from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team (CAMHS) to a future meeting to provide an update on their service; and; to request an update relating to recruitment issues for the Porth Cynnal, Porth Gofal y Gymuned and Porth Ceredigion Cynnar teams.

The minutes of the Coordinating meeting held on the 15^th June 2022 were confirmed as a true record of proceedings and there were no matters arising from those minutes.

The Chairman thanked Committee Members for attending and closed proceedings at 11:47am.