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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 contents of the report and the levels of activity in relation to children looked after under the care of the Local Authority, and it was recommended that Cabinet write to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Hywel Dda University Health Board raising concerns in relation to the shortage of dentistry services in the area.
AGREED to note the report.
AGREED to recommend that Cabinet: 1. Approve the commencement of the public consultation on the draft Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Reducing Restraint (RR) for a 12-week period beginning 8 May 2026 and ending 31 July 2026. 2. Agree that the draft policy and consultation feedback will be brought back to Scrutiny for consideration prior to final adoption. 3. Consider that training or resources be made available to support Elected Members when dealing with challenging behaviour whilst in the community.
AGREED to note the report.
AGREED to note the level of activity within the Local Authority. No recommendations for amendments / improvements were proposed.
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Update on Dementia Services · Presentation on the Fostering Services · Presentation on the Youth Service (November 2026)
Councillor Caryl Roberts apologised for her inability to attend the meeting.
There were no disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests (including whipping declarations) from Committee Members.
The Chair announced that this was her last meeting as the Committee’s Chair. She thanked all for their contribution over the past two years and to the Vice-Chair for her support and wished her well in the role.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the contents of the report and the levels of activity in relation to children looked after under the care of the Local Authority, and it was recommended that Cabinet write to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Hywel Dda University Health Board raising concerns in relation to the shortage of dentistry services in the area.
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 children looked after and care leavers at the time of their review meeting and included Welsh Government Performance Indicators. Based on the information available and the views expressed during the review meeting, the Independent Safeguarding Reviewing Officers (ISRO) 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 ISRO 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 not deemed necessary for any children/young people in this quarter. In addition, the ISRO 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. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Officers and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · In relation to the 21 children looked placed out of county, it was noted that the placements could be in a range of different locations dependent on the needs of the individual and availability of placements. It was noted that whether children had contact with family when in care depended on the circumstances involved. · In response to a query in relation to the education provision of children looked after, it was noted that the service worked closely with the Schools Service and across the Through Age Wellbeing Model to ensure the needs of each child were met. In addition, it was clairifed that looked after children placed in-county would access education locally where suitable. · The work of the Fostering Service was deemed valuable, and Elected Members were encouraged to promote Fostering to residents. It was suggested that the service be invited to a future meeting to provide an overview of their work. · If reviews to monitor the progress of children looked after were not completed within the statutory timescales, a review would be arranged as soon as possible. Postponements were often due to unexpected reasons, such as a change in Social Workers. It was noted that ISROs monitored the situation closely and ensured any positive outcomes, including educational and sporting achievement were shared and included in the quarterly reports where appropriate. · In response to a query on the number of children looked after nationally, it was reported that Ceredigion were on the lower end in comparison to more urban areas and was well placed in terms of the rate per 10,000. The Statutory Director of Social Services had recently signed a disclosure to share data/ key performance data nationally. · Officers clarified that the provision of school dentists had concluded a long time ago. The Health Service were aware of the shortage of dentistry services, and the matter was being monitored and discussed regularly. · It was noted that a Children Looked After Plan changed to a Pathway Plan when a young person reached 16 years of age and was developed collaboratively and considered a range of factors, including the individual’s independence and aspirations. The local authority had a statutory duty for care leaves until they reached 25 years of age. It was AGREED to note the contents of the report and the levels of activity in relation to children looked after under the care of the Local Authority, and it was recommended that Cabinet write to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Hywel Dda University Health Board raising concerns in relation to the shortage of dentistry services in the area.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the report.
Councillor Gareth Davies (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) presented the quarterly report and explained that at the quarter 3 point in the year, a broadly breakeven position was forecasted on the Controllable Budget for the year, with a small projected underspend of £107k showing (0.05% of the 25/26 Budget). Duncan Hall, Executive Corporate Lead Officer: Finance and Procurement explained that the situation in the Middle East was a live matter, and relevant information was being shared with the Cabinet and Political Group Leaders. He provided an overview of the local authority’s position in relation to the current energy contract, adding that both electricity and mains gas prices were fixed and fully purchased until 30/09/26. For the new energy contract year (01/10/26 to 30/09/27), two-thirds of the electricity and mains gas had been purchased in advance. In terms of heating oil and fleet fuel, both were priced on a weekly basis, therefore could be subject to short-term volatility. At present, the impact on fleet fuel was estimated to be a 13k-14k additional monthly cost. He explained that specific details related to the recent £53.0m support package announced by the UK Government to help with heating oil costs were yet to be published. Duncan Hall proceeded to provide an overview of the Controllable Revenue position for quarter 3 and explained that the total expenditure of Out of County Placements and agency staff remained significant. He added that two additional placements had been moved to the new in-county facilities since the writing of the report. From a service perspective, there was a net projected overspend of £515k across the Pyrth Through Age Services, which was a reduction from the Q2 position of £712k, although it acknowledged there would be an underspend if there was no requirement to use agency staff to fulfil key statutory roles. The significant challenges were being offset through a £675k projected underspend in the Finance & Procurement Service. An overview of the latest position in relation to the Budget Performance – Council Tax (including premiums) was provided. It was reported there had been a 21% decrease in the number of Long-Term Empty Properties subject to the Council Tax Premium between 31/10/23 and 31/01/26, with an 8% decrease in the number of Second Homes during the same period. It was noted that although the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) Service Standard stipulated that 95% of applications should be processed within 3 months, over 100 Premium related properties in Ceredigion were outstanding for more than 3 months. Following correspondence with the VOA, the body had formally apologised and agreed to add additional resources to process applications for Ceredigion. The Overall Council Tax Collection rate for 25/26 up to 31/01/26 stood at 88.6%, a decrease of 1% in comparison to the position on 31/01/25. It was reported that the collection rate for February 2026 had been the best on record, in both percentage and value terms. Details on the splitting of Council Tax collection rates from 2019/20 onwards as presented in the report were provided. It was noted that data suggested there were less issues with accounts with no premium. To date, 15 applications worth a total of £731k from the Community Housing Scheme had been paid, with a further 4 pending legal completions. The scheme was in the process of being refreshed and rebranded ahead of the relaunch. In terms of the Capital programme, £122k of Capital Receipts had been achieved to the end of December 2025 and related mainly to the sale of Vehicles and the repayment of housing grants. In addition, £334k of Capital Receipts had been achieved to the end of December 2025 in relation to education following the sale of two schools. More recently, £1.6m had been achieved from the sale of 5 properties in Aberystwyth. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Duncan Hall and Councillor Gareth Davies. The main points raised were as follows: · Members requested that Officers continue to monitor the events in the Middle East and any impact on the local authority, as the conflict could impact on inflation. From a Treasury Management perspective, it was reported that any changes announced by the Bank of England in relation to the base rate on 19/03/26 could have a positive or negative impact, therefore the situation would be actively monitored. · In relation to the recent £53.0m support package announced by the UK Government, it was understood that £3.8m would be allocated to Wales. No further details were yet available, but Ceredigion had one of the highest proportions across the UK dependent on heating oil, with approximately 10,000-11,000 properties reliant on this source of energy. · In response to a query in relation to the cost of High-end Children’s placements, it was clarified that dependent on complexity, placements ranged from £300k to £1.0m. · As a few operational changes had been carried out with the Council Tax collection, it was noted that additional time would be required to analyse whether the changes impacted on collection rates in the long-term. It was AGREED to note the report.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to recommend that Cabinet: 1. Approve the commencement of the public consultation on the draft Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Reducing Restraint (RR) for a 12-week period beginning 8 May 2026 and ending 31 July 2026. 2. Agree that the draft policy and consultation feedback will be brought back to Scrutiny for consideration prior to final adoption. 3. Consider that training or resources be made available to support Elected Members when dealing with challenging behaviour whilst in the community.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) presented the report that sought the Committee’s approval to proceed to public consultation on the draft Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Reducing Restraint (RR) Policy. The policy had been developed as a corporate approach to meet regulatory requirements and strengthen practice across Social Care and Educational settings and outlined the Council’s commitment and approach to reducing the use of restrictive practices through proactive, preventative, and person-centred approaches. Reducing the use of restraint was a key priority for Ceredigion particularly for our vulnerable populations such as children, young people, the elderly, or people living with disabilities. The overuse or inappropriate use of restraint could have severe physical and psychological impacts, erode trust between service users and providers, and expose the authority to legal and reputational risk. The development and implementation of a robust reducing restraint policy was essential for promoting dignity, safeguarding rights, and championing a culture of safety and respect. Following the development of the policy, the next steps involved engagement with stakeholders and the wider community through a formal consultation process. The input gathered during consultation would be invaluable in refining the policy and strengthening its effectiveness in safeguarding dignity, rights, and wellbeing across Ceredigion’s Social Care and Educational Services. In conjunction with the consultation, it was proposed that a PBS Coordinator role be developed to facilitate the implementation of training and oversee adherence to the policy. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Officers and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · It was noted that the practices outlined in the policy were in operation and employees already received training on de-escalation, but the policy would ensure there was a consistent approach in terms of how Council employees and service users were supported in the future, and to ensure the safety of all involved. A draft training plan had been developed that ensured specific roles within the organisation received adequate training. · The service already worked closely with service users, colleagues from various Council services and the Health Board to ensure they were in the best position to deal with various challenging situations, such as trauma, and this work would continue. · It was reported that Relational Practice had been introduced in schools across Ceredigion since September 2025, and this established a consistent approach to dealing with behaviour. A significant number of school staff had already received Team Teach training. · Members were in support of the policy and suggested that training or resources be made available to them to support them when dealing with challenging behaviours in the community. · In relation to the support available for parents of neurodivergent children, it was noted that Neurodivergence Wales and various Council Services offered support to families to ensure there was consistency between the home and school/ specialist centres. · It was noted that the consultation questions would be relatively open-ended and would provide opportunities for the public to share their views. It was AGREED to recommend that Cabinet: 1. Approve the commencement of the public consultation on the draft Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Reducing Restraint (RR) for a 12-week period beginning 8 May 2026 and ending 31 July 2026. 2. Agree that the draft policy and consultation feedback will be brought back to Scrutiny for consideration prior to final adoption. 3. Consider that training or resources be made available to support Elected Members when dealing with challenging behaviour whilst in the community.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the report.
Councillor Alun Williams (Cabinet Member for Through Age and Wellbeing) explained that following Cabinet approval on 05.12.2023, work continued on the redesign of Day and Respite Opportunities within the Through Age Wellbeing (TAW) Programme. The redesign reflected: • Findings from the 2023 public engagement (Practice Solutions). • The need to modernise traditional day services, which have lacked specialist capacity and reach. • Identified gaps in provision for people with learning disabilities, autism, Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), complex behaviours, and significant health or social care needs. Supporting the population of Ceredigion to remain in Ceredigion wherever possible. A new model would provide a more specialist hub-and-spoke model being implemented, that would align with the TAW Strategy, promoting independence, strengths-based practice, and fair access to specialist support. To date, a Team Manager has been recruited, marking a key milestone in the restructuring process. Phase 1 of the workforce consultation commenced in early December 2025, followed by Phase 2 that would progress in Spring 2026. The ongoing restructure was designed to align staffing models and specialist functions with both the current demand and financial requirements, ensuring the service remained responsive and sustainable. A full review of eligibility and pathways was currently underway, ensuring the service prioritised people with the highest and most complex needs, with clear routes for those better supported in universal or community settings. Councillor Alun Williams outlined the next steps as presented in the report. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Officers and Councillor Alun Williams. The main points raised were as follows: · In response to Members’ disappointment that the work had not progressed sooner, it was clarified that the first consultation had ended due to staff dissatisfaction. Following the findings of the 2023 public engagement, job descriptions, structures and funding models had been reviewed, and they were in a position to proceed to Phase 2. · The service worked closely with other Council services, including Education, to ensure there was a stronger plan in place for adults living with learning difficulties. It was noted that the in-county residential provision, the ‘Grow your Own Social Workers’ scheme and the development of the Penmorfa Centre for Independent Living supported the work of the Specialised Disability Service, and the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales acknowledged the work during a recent visit. · Following a query, it was noted that residential provision was already available in the county for people living with dementia. Further support was subject to future discussions and funding; however, Community Connectors worked closely and were able to provide information, advice and assistance to communities. It was AGREED to note the report.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the level of activity within the Local Authority. No recommendations for amendments / improvements were proposed.
Councillor Matthew Vaux (Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection) reported that as part of the 2024/25 Audit Wales programme of work, a national study into Temporary Accommodation across Wales took place. An overview of the report’s findings was provided as presented in the report. The review identified 3 recommendations namely Value for Money, Planning for Prevention and Partnership Working. Following the publication of the report, the Council were required to submit a Management Response Form (MRF) in response to the identified recommendations. From a Ceredigion perspective, the service would consider prevention at the first point of resolution where possible when looking at homelessness and would always consider all options when individuals or families triggered a Temporary Accommodation Duty. In the last 12 months, the local authority has widened their internal provision for Temporary Accommodation to reduce high costs of Bed and Breakfast provision. In addition, they continued to work with the Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and wider partners to prevent homelessness and tried to engage with partners at an early stage where possible. A new Memorandum of Understanding with the lead RSL in respect of Temporary/Emergency Accommodation to help support the process had also been agreed. Further actions to mitigate the identified recommendations included the exploration of alternative provision for temporary accommodation from empty properties and the wider assets portfolio of the Council. It was noted that updates to the Committee and the Strategic Housing Partnership would continue, along with the recommissioning of Housing Support Grant Services. In addition, the intention was to collaborate with RSL partners to implement the Homelessness and Social Housing Bill. Councillor Matthew Vaux shared that Audit Wales’s response to the Ceredigion submission was “Having reviewed it we are satisfied that the response sets out the Council’s intended actions and reflects proper consideration of our audit findings and recommendations.” It was AGREED to note the level of activity within the Local Authority. No recommendations for amendments / improvements were proposed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Update on Dementia Services · Presentation on the Fostering Services · Presentation on the Youth Service (November 2026)
It was AGREED to note the contents of the Forward Work Programme presented subject to the following: · Update on Dementia Services · Presentation on the Fostering Services · Presentation on the Youth Service (November 2026)
It was AGREED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2026. Matters arising: None. Councillor Keith Evans on behalf of the Committee thanked the Chair for her work whilst in the role.
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.
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