Agenda and minutes

Councillor Paul Hinge and Catherine Hughes apologised for their inability to attend the meeting

Councillor Alun Williams declared a personal interest under item 7. 

Item 3 was withdrawn from the agenda.  The report will be re-presented at a future meeting.   

The Cabinet Member, Councillor Gareth Lloyd and the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager presented the report to the Committee.  The Authority had been approached by an individual who expressed an interest in operating a horse-drawn carriage to convey passengers along Aberystwyth Promenade. 

The current Overarching Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy does not govern the licensing of horse-drawn carriages/omnibuses and Ceredigion County Council currently has no byelaws in place for the regulation of omnibuses. 

The use of a horse and carriage to provide a public transport facility cannot be licensed as a private hire vehicle, as this function is limited to motor vehicles. A horse and carriage can be licensed for use as an ‘omnibus’ under the Town Police Clauses Act 1889, but in order to licence and regulate the use of such omnibuses, the Authority would have to first:

1) Make amendments to its existing Overarching Policy in order to introduce new specific licensing conditions for this type of transportation, and

2) Adopt a new byelaw to regulate horse-drawn carriages / omnibuses.

The Service received a total of 216 responses to the consultation. A summary analysis of the responses were contained in Appendix B of the papers. 

The Committee were asked to consider the content of the report and the consultation responses and to recommend to Cabinet either:

1.            that the proposed policy change is unnecessary and the Authority should consider remaining a “no omnibus” county,

or

2.            that the proposed policy change is necessary to permit omnibuses in Aberystwyth and/or any other area of the county which necessities:

a) adopting the new licensing conditions, and

b) adopting a new byelaw for the proposed to new designated route and/or any future proposed omnibus route to effectively enforce any breaches of those licensing conditions.

Questions were raised by the members including arrangements for the turning area that would be used for the horse and cart to turn at the harbour and where would the transport vehicle for the horse and cart be parked.  It was emphasised that animal welfare should be a priority and that the correct signage should be erected. 

The Committee acknowledged the responses to the consultation.

Following further discussion the Committee AGREED to recommend that the proposed policy change is necessary to permit omnibuses in Aberystwyth and/or any other area of the county which necessities:

a) adopting the new licensing conditions, and

b) adopting a new byelaw for the proposed to new designated route and/or any future proposed omnibus route to effectively enforce any breaches of those licensing conditions.

The Cabinet member, Councillor Alun Williams and the Team Manager for Adult Protection presented the Independent Reviewing Service Report Quarter 1 2021/2022 report to the Committee.  Quarterly reports are taken to the Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee as part of an ongoing examination of the topic to ensure that the Local Authority fulfills its duties as the Corporate Parent.

The report included national and local standards and targets used to measure outcomes for looked after children and care leavers at the time of their review meeting and includes Welsh Government Performance Indicators.

The Committee considered the key points of the report. 

Members questioned the number of safeguarding referrals following the end of lockdown, and how concerns of abuse reported to the service are dealt with and the procedures that are in place. 

It was noted that recommendations will follow the investigations from the two recent incidents that have happened in the UK which all authorities will need to take into account and review their procedures. 

It was proposed that officers discuss with the education service that the numbers of Looked After Children at schools should be a standing item on the agenda of school governor meetings.

Officers explained that each young person has a personal assistant that works closely with them to look at housing, training, education etc to support the transition into adulthood.  This provision is in place up to the age of 25.

A member sought assurance that the service had enough resources.  There are currently vacancies which the service are trying to recruit into, however this is a regional and national problem.  There are active recruitment campaigns ongoing. 

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report and the levels of activity with the Local Authority.

The Cabinet member, Councillor Alun Williams and the Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Gofal presented the Statutory Director Social Services Annual Report 2019-2020.  The Annual Report aims to produce a rounded picture of the Social Services Department in Ceredigion which provides more timely feedback into planning  and budgetary processes.  The report for the year 2019 – 2020 is historical due to the Covid 19 Outbreak in March 2020. Welsh Government extended the time frame for the completion of the report due to the need for officers to focus on the delivery of essential services during the Pandemic. There was also a reduced requirement for Councils to provide performance information which is reflected in the repost.

Having taken up the position of Interim Statutory Director for Social Services in November 2019 the report was completed by D Pritchard Corporate Lead Officer for Porth Gofal and Deputy Director of Social Services.  The report describes how the Social Services Department in Ceredigion has performed during the year (2019 – 2020) in context of major changes in the operating environment. The report also sets out the priorities for 2020 -2021 taking into account that the pandemic was still a major influence on service delivery.

            It was noted that officers will be reviewing the format for future reports. 

            The Committee agreed to note the report.

An update on the Mid Wales Joint Committee for Health and Care was provided to the Committee.  The Mid Wales Joint Committee met virtually via Zoom on 18th October 2021 with members of the public offered the opportunity to join the ‘live’ meeting to observe and ask any questions / raise any concerns during the Listening to You session. The main focus of the Joint Committee’s business was to discuss the on-going work undertaken on the priorities and delivery plan for 2021/22 and the organisational Annual / COVID-19 Recovery plans.

            Members raised concern in relation to the difficulties that the public are having to get doctors appointments.  

            The Committee agreed to note the report. 

Consideration was given to the Draft Forward Work Programme 2021-22 as presented. It was AGREED to note the content subject to the addition of:

·         Update on Hafan Deg

·         Grants and Loans Policy

·         Update on Wellbeing Centres

·         Youth Offending Team

The Committee resolved to confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 6^th October and 20^th October as a correct record.

Matters arising

None.

A member raised a question if a dementia unit was being developed in Hafan Deg. Officers responded that the authority have been successful in gaining funding for a pilot for a dementia wing with garden.  The authority is currently out to tender for the project.  If the pilot is successful the authority will look into how this can be rolled out across the County. 

The Committee were informed that the authority have also been successful in gaining winter pressures funding which will be used in all council care homes within the County. 

Conversations are being undertaken in relation to the possibility of a new care home within the County.  An update will be provided at future meetings if further developments are made.