Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on the 11 December 2025 be received and approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.
RESOLVED: that – i. the Committee confirms current and future provisions have satisfactory policies and procedures that demonstrated due diligence was undertaken throughout the accommodation assessment process, minimising risk to the Council and / or residents and – ii. a further report be provided to the Communities Scrutiny Committee within 6 months to include: a. more details of dates and timescales for the measures described; b. the approach to be taken to suppliers who were not meeting requirements; c. details of the assurance received in the respect of insurance; and d. a description of the feedback from service uses.
RESOLVED: that the Committee: I. had read, understood and taken account of the report, provided feedback of the service, emerging service demands and future milestones and II. requested a report back to the Committee with a further update in November 2026.
RESOLVED: that subject to the above the Communities Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme be agreed and noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cheryl Williams.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on the 11 December 2025 be received and approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.
The minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on the 11 December 2025 were submitted for consideration. It was – RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on the 11 December 2025 be received and approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: that – i. the Committee confirms current and future provisions have satisfactory policies and procedures that demonstrated due diligence was undertaken throughout the accommodation assessment process, minimising risk to the Council and / or residents and – ii. a further report be provided to the Communities Scrutiny Committee within 6 months to include: a. more details of dates and timescales for the measures described; b. the approach to be taken to suppliers who were not meeting requirements; c. details of the assurance received in the respect of insurance; and d. a description of the feedback from service uses.
The Lead Member for Housing and Communities introduced the Homelessness Temporary Accommodation Assessment Process report (previously circulated) to the Committee. The Lead Member drew attention to the recommendation set out in the report to the Committee. ‘The Committee confirms that current and future provisions have appropriate policies and procedures in place, demonstrating that due diligence is applied throughout the accommodation assessment process, thereby minimising risk to the Council and residents’. The team greatly valued the Committee’s feedback. It was important to recognise that many people who became homeless do so through circumstances beyond their control. Homelessness frequently affected families with children, and it often occured at particularly difficult times, such as late in the evening or during weekends. It was a statutory duty of the Council to secure accommodation, and whilst the options available may not always be ideal or fully meet an individual’s needs, the alternative could leave them in an unsafe situation. A balanced approach was therefore essential. Denbighshire operated both a Rapid Rehousing Scheme and a Keep My Home Scheme, which had significantly reduced levels of homelessness in the County. Whilst many other local authorities in Wales had seen homelessness rise, this had not been the case in Denbighshire. A recent Audit Wales report on ‘Temporary Accommodation – A Long-Term Crisis’ also highlighted a national problem. The report also demonstrated examples of good practice within Denbighshire, in addition Denbighshire’s new model was supporting the Council in reversing the trend that many local authorities were not achieving. Denbighshire County Council (DCC) had submitted a management response to the report. The Community Support Service Manager provided further details on the report. The report provided extensive operational information, including updates on the Service’s progress. A key priority within the Rapid Rehousing Scheme had been reducing the use of hotels and B&Bs as a form of temporary accommodation. Over the past 18 months, reliance on those options had fallen significantly. A range of alternative accommodation models had been explored to support further reductions, and the report outlined the details of those approaches. The Chair thanked officers for the report and opened the Committee to questions. Members asked whether temporary accommodation assessments were reviewed and approved by the Planning Committee to ensure that they were appropriate and safe. The Head of Adult Social Care and Homeless Services explained that during Covid, the service had to secure a large amount of emergency accommodation, which resulted in significantly higher numbers of residents needing temporary housing at that time. As the use of hotels and B&Bs for emergency accommodation had since decreased, planning considerations would be factored in going forward. Members acknowledged the need to use hotels and B&Bs in emergency situations but emphasised that these should ideally only be used for short periods. They questioned at what point a hotel or B&B effectively ceased operating as a business and became solely a form of temporary accommodation. Reference was made to a form in Appendix 3 attached to the report, that businesses were required to complete, which included some mention of planning matters. However, it did not contain specific questions or assurances confirming that the correct planning permissions were in place for them to operate in a different capacity. The Head of Adult Social Care and Homelessness stated that the team were working with planning colleagues and the Rapid Rehousing Group to ensure that properties were licensed in the correct way. Ideally the Council would like all properties to have the correct planning permission however, this needed to be balanced with the number and demand of accommodation the Council needed to provide for homeless people. The Chair raised concerns about the insurance implications of using properties as temporary accommodation, noting that if a property did not have the correct planning permission, it was unclear how owners were able to secure appropriate insurance cover. The Head of Adult Social Services and Homelessness Service explained that properties were required to provide copies of their insurance certificates, which had been passed to the Council’s insurance team. The team had confirmed that the documentation provided was sufficient. Members asked how the Council was assessing the impact on residents, rather than focusing solely on financial savings, when delivering temporary accommodation. The Head of Adult Social Care and Homelessness explained that the service aimed to support every individual or family presenting as homeless, including tackling the underlying causes of their homelessness. The team adopted an outcomes‑focused approach to help ensure residents were able to sustain a tenancy in the future. Members questioned the assessment process in place to ensure that children and families that were homeless were placed in suitable accommodation with a suitable environment. The Head of Adult Social Care and Homelessness explained that regular risk assessments were carried out to manage any issues within accommodations, and the team remained vigilant about ensuring that individuals were placed appropriately. Members commented that it would be valuable to receive feedback from service users about their experiences of the service in the future. Members referred to 6.1 of the report which noted the transformation of the Homelessness Service, including new models of Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA), which had proven to have a significant revenue saving, in the region of £2 million over the past financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25, and questioned the total cost of homelessness in Denbighshire. The Head of Adult Social Care and Homelessness explained that the £2 million referred to in the report related to a reduction in pressures on the service. The Homelessness Service was currently running on budget at £3.8 million. Members were eager to receive a report in the future which contained details of the costings of the service. Members discussed the preventative measures against homelessness in place and requested further information on how the service were delivering work on preventative measures. The Head of Adult Social Care and Homelessness explained the service was bringing a report to Scrutiny in the near future on the Rapid Rehousing Scheme which would provide details on preventative measures. The report being scrutinised focused on the new model for TEA. The Community Support Service Manager added that the Homelessness team collaborated closely with organisations such as Shelter Cymru, which focused on supporting individuals well before they reached the point of homelessness. Members highlighted that there were properties in Denbighshire which were being used to house homeless people from out of County and questioned why Denbighshire were not using those properties. The Community Support Service Manager explained that there were two properties in Denbighshire which were no longer used as TEA due to concerns around safety and the substandard conditions of the properties. Other authorities were able to use properties in Denbighshire to house homelessness residents however they needed to inform the Council in the first instance. Members further expressed concerns about the Council’s assurances that the temporary emergency accommodation in use was covered by appropriate insurance to house homeless residents. The Monitoring Officer conveyed that the insurer for the relevant properties needed to provide evidence of cover under the current operating arrangements, the insurance certificates were reviewed alongside the Council’s own insurance team, who were satisfied that the documentation was sufficient. At the end of a lengthy discussion, it was – RESOLVED: that – i. the Committee confirms current and future provisions have satisfactory policies and procedures that demonstrated due diligence was undertaken throughout the accommodation assessment process, minimising risk to the Council and / or residents and – ii. a further report be provided to the Communities Scrutiny Committee within 6 months to include: a. more details of dates and timescales for the measures described; b. the approach to be taken to suppliers who were not meeting requirements; c. details of the assurance received in the respect of insurance; and d. a description of the feedback from service uses.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: that the Committee: I. had read, understood and taken account of the report, provided feedback of the service, emerging service demands and future milestones and II. requested a report back to the Committee with a further update in November 2026.
The Lead Members for Education, Children and Families introduced the report (previously circulated) on Denbighshire Youth Services to the Committee. Youth work in local communities was more important than ever, with young people growing up in a world that was rapidly changing around them. They were exposed to a wide range of issues and influences, particularly through social media. Maintaining strong preventative services for children and young people during their formative years was essential. Youth work offered a safe environment where young people could meet on their own terms and take part voluntarily. Youth clubs provided targeted support for young people as they developed and navigated their path into adulthood. Youth work created opportunities for them to build social skills, develop confidence, and gain valuable life skills. The Head of Housing and Communities Service provided further details on the report. Youth Work in Wales was a statutory requirement in Wales, under section 123 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000. The requirement was that local authorities ‘provide and secure the provision of or participate in the provision of youth support services’. The statutory requirement would be strengthened by new legislation to be implemented from 1 April 2026. Key elements of the new statutory framework would be mandatory 5-year strategic plans for each local authority, a Youth Work entitlement for all young people which will be fully bilingual, accessible, holistic and responsive, an expectation that services would take a partnership approach and be based on Children’s Legal Rights. Denbighshire Youth Service provided services to young people between the ages of 11 and 25 across Denbighshire. The Youth Service worked with 704 registered young people in 2024-25 (excluding third sector commissioned services) and had contact with an additional 2329 young people. The Service provided open access sessions through its Youth Centres in Prestatyn, Rhyl, Rhuddlan, Corwen, Denbigh, Llangollen and Ruthin. Some venues had more than one session due to higher numbers of attendees. The Service delivered specialist targeted youth work in schools, homelessness prevention and one to one support for young people. In response to local demand, the Service also offered additional project work outreach in parts of the county experiencing Anti-Social behaviour (ASB). The Service was funded mainly through core funding and through the Welsh Government’s Youth Support Grant, supplemented by funding from the Homeless Support Grant and other grants such as from the Police and Crime Commissioner. A key feature of the Youth Service was its’ partnership approach. The Service had developed many opportunities for joint planning and sharing resources with the Third Sector. The Service operated youth club provision out of partner buildings in Corwen, Rhuddlan and Denbigh and a number of third sector organisations were commissioned as partners to deliver specific pieces of work. They included Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Action for Children. The Chair thanked officers for the detailed report and welcomed questions from members. Members welcomed the report and noted the important work that was being undertaken. Members asked whether a Youth Service would be opening in St Asaph. The Head of Housing and Communities Service explained that youth services had been operating in St Asaph for several years, but current engagement levels were low. To address that, a combined youth provision had been established in Rhuddlan. Discussions were ongoing about how the library building in St Asaph could be used more effectively to support future service delivery in the area. Members questioned whether the Youth Service Council could engage with Denbighshire County Council members through a question‑and‑answer session, with the aim of encouraging more young people to take an interest in politics and participate in local democracy. The Head of Housing and Communities Service stated that strengthening young people’s engagement with their local communities was a key area for further development. Going forward, the intention was for young people to take part in the scrutiny committees, enabling them to review and challenge the work of the Youth Service. Members noted that the report indicated generally low levels of engagement with the service, with fewer than 4% of young people in Denbighshire taking part. They felt the report lacked sufficient analysis of these figures. Members strongly emphasised the need for greater contact and integration between the Youth Council and Denbighshire County Council. The Head of Housing and Communities Service acknowledged that further work was needed to increase engagement with young people and noted that the service restructure introduced in September 2025 would support that aim. It was expected that engagement figures would steadily increase over the coming months. Regarding the integration of the Youth Council, at that time there were too few young people involved, and further engagement was needed to ensure proper representation before integration with Denbighshire County Council Councillors could take place. Members asked how the service was engaging with young people living in rural communities. The Principal Manager for Youth and Community Resilience stated that young people in rural areas attended clubs which were delivered in their areas. Looking ahead, there were plans to work with Community Councils to deliver detached youth work and to explore any available funding opportunities. Many rural communities had unfortunately lost their community centres, the intention was to develop youth work in those areas without relying on a dedicated building. The Lead Member for Education, Children and Families concluded by informing the Committee that the Principal Manager for Youth and Community Resilience had been appointed to the Youth Work Delivery Board, one of only two people selected. She offered her congratulations on this achievement. The meeting also marked the final attendance of the Head of Housing and Communities Service at the Communities Scrutiny Committee. Members expressed their gratitude for her contribution during her time with Denbighshire County Council and wished her well for the future. RESOLVED: that the Committee: I. had read, understood and taken account of the report, provided feedback of the service, emerging service demands and future milestones and II. requested a report back to the Committee with a further update in November 2026.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: that subject to the above the Communities Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme be agreed and noted.
The Scrutiny Coordinator guided members through the Communities Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme (previously circulated). The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 19 March 2026. The Scrutiny Coordinator explained that there were two items on the agenda for the 19 March 2026 meeting – • Planning Compliance Function • Effectiveness of Parking Enforcement Activities Members had requested that an update on the Homelessness Temporary Accommodation Assessment Process be brought back to the Committee in 6 months’ time. However, as this may duplicate work on another Scrutiny Committee’s Forward Work Programme, the Scrutiny Coordinator would review the situation and report back to the Committee at its next meeting. An update on Denbighshire’s Youth Services would be added to the Forward Work Programme for November 2026. Members questioned if there was an update on the Draft Tourism Signage Strategy item and when it would be brought to Communities Scrutiny. The Scrutiny Coordinator advised she would enquire about this and update members at the next meeting. Members were asked if they would like to add an item to the Communities Forward Work Programme to complete the proposal form included in Appendix 2 attached to the report. RESOLVED: that subject to the above the Communities Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme be agreed and noted.
None. Meeting concluded at 12.13pm
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