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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED to note the information.
AGREED to recommend that the Cabinet endorse the Ceredigion County Council Direct Payments Policy.
AGREED to note the contents of the report and the levels of activity with the Local Authority.
AGREED to support the progression of the Corporate Parenting Charter through the governance journey for full adoption by Ceredigion County Council.
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Presentation on Homelessness Services
i. Councillor Ceris Jones, Chair apologised for her inability to attend the meeting. ii. Councillor Ann Bowen Morgan apologised for joining the meeting late. iii. Councillors Elaine Evans and Caryl Roberts apologised for having to leave the meeting early.
Councillor Sian Maehrlein declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 5 and withdrew from the meeting.
None.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the information.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) explained that a presentation was delivered on the approach being taken to promote the Age Friendly agenda to Ceredigion’s Public Service Board on 17/09/24. Following this, Councillor Wyn Evans, who was present at the meeting had requested that Melanie Walters present the information to the Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Since 2019, the Older People’s Commissioner had supported local authorities to develop their counties as ‘age friendly’, with a view to applying to the World Health Organisation to join the Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. Ceredigion Carers and Community Support Team continued to lead from a local authority perspective on the Age Friendly Communities work. The application to join the World Health Organisation Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities had been submitted and engagement with communities and older persons had been at the foundation of their approach. Melanie Walters, Co-ordinator (North) Carers and Community Support Team provided a presentation to the Committee outlining the work undertaken by Ceredigion Carers and Community Support Team since Autumn 2022. She explained that the Age Friendly Ceredigion Forum would be held on 28.11.24 between 2-4pm online and in 3 locations across the county (Canolfan Rheidol, Penmorfa & Glascoed, Llandysul) to discuss transport. At present, the Forum had 160 members, and 21 had shown an interest in becoming a citizen representative. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Melanie Walters present and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · It was noted that wheelchair users saw the world at a different level and there were accessibility issues across the county such as accessible footpaths, however, local authority funding was not readily available. · One of the main focuses was on communities coming together and finding solutions, with the support of the team. The aim was to keep communities informed through Elected Members and community groups of any opportunities available to them such as funding streams. · A reduction in the provision of public convenience could lead to social isolation issues as it could discourage people from going to public places if there were no suitable facilities nearby. · Concern was raised with the accessibility at the bottom of Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth; Councillor Alun Williams shared that he would continue to pursue the case with the relevant service. Melanie Walters encouraged Members to contact if they wish to be involved and to be added to the mailing list. The Vice-Chair thanked Melanie Walters for her attendance, and for an informative presentation. It was AGREED to note the information.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to recommend that the Cabinet endorse the Ceredigion County Council Direct Payments Policy.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) reported that the Policy set out how the Ceredigion Council would discharge its duties to provide Direct Payments to eligible people. This Policy supported the principles of empowerment and reflected the requirements and duties described within the Direct Payments Regulations and Code of Practice set out under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The document would provide the overarching framework to which social care professionals would refer to when enabling people to take greater control of their support solutions via direct payment. The previous policy was a Three Counties Local Authority policy when the Direct Payments Support Service was a regional provision outsourced. Since the regional model had been dissolved, the Direct Payments Support Service had been well established within Ceredigion County Council and the policy had been revised to support the continued delivery of direct payments to citizens within Ceredigion. Donna Pritchard, Corporate Lead Officer: Porth Gofal explained that a technical document would be created to support practitioners with the policy. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Donna Pritchard and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · All three regions had concerns with the previous commissioned regional provision and how it operated. Since the Direct Payments Service had been brought in-house, there had been financial efficiencies and good practice continued to be shared regionally. · There had been a year-on-year increase in the demand for Direct Payments, specifically during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ability to recruit Personal Assistants was challenging, and the service had conducted regular job fairs to promote the role, which had led to a monthly increase in the number of recruits. · Personal Assistants were employed by Service Users, who were supported by the local authority’s Direct Payments Support Service. Information on the service was available on the Council’s website. It was AGREED to recommend that the Cabinet endorse the Ceredigion County Council Direct Payments Policy.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the contents of the report and the levels of activity with the Local Authority.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) explained that the quarterly reports were presented to the Committee as part of an ongoing examination of the topic to ensure the Local Authority fulfilled its duties as the Corporate Parent. The report included national and local standards and targets used to measure outcomes for looked-after children (LAC) and care leavers at the time of their review meeting and included Welsh Government (WG) Performance Indicators. Based on the information available and the views expressed during the review meeting, the IRO made a professional judgement about the effectiveness of a child/young person’s care plan in meeting their needs and could recommend changes to the care plan. During the review meeting, the IRO considered whether the child/young person required assistance to identify relevant other people to obtain legal advice/take proceedings on their behalf. This action was deemed necessary for 4 young people by the IRO in the period. In addition, the IRO had regard as to whether the child/young person’s human rights were being breached in any way and, if so, could make a referral to CAFCASS Cymru. This action was not required at any of the review meetings in the period. Councillor Alun Williams proceeded to present a Summary of the Key Points noted on page 2 of the report. Audrey Somerton-Edwards, Corporate Lead Officer: Porth Cynnal stated that the report was a key document that detailed the service’s performance. Any issues raised during the period such as difficulties with Pathway Plans had been investigated and addressed accordingly. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Audrey Somerton-Edwards and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · The number of Looked After Children (LAC) had increased over the years. At present, there were 142 LAC, which included 22 Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children under the National Transfer Scheme mandatory for all local authorities. · The local authority had a recent uptake of foster carers and worked closely with Foster Wales, a national network of local authority fostering services across Wales facilitated by the Welsh Government. An overview of the process of becoming a foster carer was provided. · The child’s age, amongst other factors had to be considered carefully before adoption was considered and all other options had to be explored and ruled out. It was AGREED to note the contents of the report and the levels of activity with the Local Authority.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to support the progression of the Corporate Parenting Charter through the governance journey for full adoption by Ceredigion County Council.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) explained that the purpose of the report was to obtain the Committee’s agreement to progress the adoption of the Corporate Parenting Charter by Ceredigion County Council through the governance journey. He explained that corporate parenting described the collective responsibility of all local authority officers, commissioners and Elected Members to safeguard and promote the rights and life chances of children and young people looked after. However, supporting children looked after, sometimes referred to as care-experienced children and young people, through their childhoods and as they leave care should be the responsibility of all public sector bodies. The Local Authority was always the lead corporate parent and was expected to wholeheartedly promote and champion the rights of these children and young people. The Ceredigion Corporate Parenting Group agreed to formally adopt the Corporate Parenting Charter at their meeting on 15.10.24. The Charter included eleven key principles as outlined in the report. Audrey Somerton-Edwards, Corporate Lead Officer: Porth Cynnal explained that if the Cabinet agreed to adopt the Corporate Parenting Charter, it would demonstrate the local authority’s commitment to children and young people looked after to other public sector bodies. It was AGREED to support the progression of the Corporate Parenting Charter through the governance journey for full adoption by Ceredigion County Council.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Presentation on Homelessness Services
It was AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Presentation on Homelessness Services
It was AGREED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17.09.24 and 27.09.24. Matters arising: None.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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