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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
Resolved: to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Cllr. H. Clarke (Item 5B) – Personal non-prejudicial interest, A close friend is employed by Adferiad.
The minutes of the meeting held on 11th June 2026 were approved as an accurate record of proceedings.
There were no public items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme for consideration.
Members considered items from the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme.
Members received a report on the independent impact research into the Pro Afan preventative model, which identified the approach as an example of good practice, demonstrating how early intervention, partnership working and relationship-based support can help people access services earlier and prevent escalation of need. The learning will be used to inform similar approaches elsewhere and shared nationally through supporting resources. Members raised questions about housing allocations into the Afan Valley, including whether people were moving into the area through Tai Tarian, housing options or private housing, and officers agreed to obtain further information outside of the meeting. Wider concerns were also raised about transport, employment, deprivation and the long-standing challenges facing the valley. Officers advised that the report focused specifically on improving joined up working among local services rather than regeneration, although the learning could support future investment and the Pride in Place programme. Members also questioned references in the report to businesses and inaccuracies such as the mention of Afan Lodge being closed. Officers accepted the feedback and agreed to pass it back to the report authors. Members queried the limited emphasis on education despite references to low qualification levels. Officers explained that education-related work, including adult learning and community-focused school initiatives, was being progressed separately through wider engagement with communities and partner organisations. The Chair questioned how longstanding consultation and investment could translate into tangible improvements for the valley. Officers emphasised that the model had strengthened collaboration between local services, improved understanding of community needs and enhanced wellbeing outcomes, while lessons learned could help inform future investment opportunities. Members queried where the report would go beyond the committee and how its findings would feed into the Pride in Place process and wider regeneration work. Officers confirmed that the work would be shared with the community, contribute to future initiatives in the valley and be promoted nationally through Social Care Wales as an example of effective preventative partnership working. Members highlighted transport as a critical issue for the valley communities. Officers confirmed that a broader place-based workstream was examining transport across the upper Afan Valley, including access to neighbouring communities, employment opportunities and key services. The Strategic Director for Social Services, Health and Housing, noted that the report was about support for vulnerable people and formed only a small part of a much larger picture, and that officers presenting the report could not reasonably answer all questions about regeneration of the upper Afan Valley. Officers reiterated that its primary purpose was to demonstrate the benefits of coordinated partnership working rather than address all regeneration issues. Members asked about membership of Pro Afan and what businesses had been involved. Officers confirmed that Pro Afan involved housing, health visitors, occupational therapy, police, fire and social services through the local area coordinator. Members challenged wording in the report that appeared to refer to businesses, saying the examples given were community groups rather than businesses and that this did not reflect the local business base accurately. Officers accepted that point and agreed to take the feedback back to the authors of the report. Members welcomed the positive outcomes achieved through collaborative working without additional funding and stressed the importance of ensuring the findings inform future Pride in Place activity. Following scrutiny, the report was noted.
Members considered the report, which had been prepared in response to a request for an interim update ahead of a fuller report due in February 2027. Officers advised that the report provided assurance on progress in transforming drug and alcohol services across Neath Port Talbot and Swansea and implementing the recommendations arising from the Turning the Tide report. Progress would be monitored through the Drug and Alcohol Leadership Board (DALB) strategy and delivery plan, with performance data from 2025/26 serving as the baseline for measuring the impact of the new integrated service, Verve, which commenced in June 2026. Officers reported significant progress against all recommendations, highlighting strengthened governance, service mobilisation, greater integration through the alliance model, expanded harm reduction activity, stronger partnership working and increased involvement of people with lived and living experience. Western Bay remained the only area in Wales with a fully functioning non-fatal overdose review pathway and continued to be recognised for its harm reduction work. The Chair welcomed the clear and accessible presentation of the report, and officers confirmed that the format had been intentionally developed to improve accessibility and would be considered for future reports. Members raised concern over the National Crime Agency’s identification of an online network linked to organised drug-facilitated rape and sexual violence and asked how these issues were reflected within support services. Officers confirmed that safeguarding was central to service delivery and that South Wales Police were represented within the relevant partnership structures. Officers stated that the service remained responsive to emerging trends and acknowledged the importance of recognising that victims may disclose concerns through a range of services, not solely through the police. In response to questions on the new service model, officers advised that Verve would provide a single point of access through an alliance approach. Referrals could be made via self-referral, partner agencies, criminal justice services, health and housing providers, and online and open-access routes, supported by community outreach. Following assessment, individuals would receive needs-led support, including early intervention, psychosocial and prescribing services, harm reduction, housing and health support, family interventions and recovery services. Officers emphasised that the model would deliver a coordinated pathway focused on individual needs. Members welcomed the approach and highlighted the importance of addressing underlying mental health needs to support recovery. Officers advised that work was ongoing to strengthen mental health pathways, integrated psychology provision, prescribing arrangements and GP shared-care models. In discussing workforce capacity, officers noted strong support from relevant health board teams and significant interest in psychology-related roles within Children’s Services. Members noted that funding remained a key challenge. The Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety welcomed the report and the clear link between the new arrangements and the recommendations of the earlier commission. Members emphasised the importance of receiving regular updates given the evolving nature of substance misuse and the emergence of new synthetic substances. Members sought assurance regarding monitoring arrangements for the transformation. Officers advised that progress would be monitored through the strategy and delivery plan, with quarterly reports submitted to DALB. Monitoring would consider both activity and outcomes, including timely access to support, engagement, improved outcomes and access to wider services. Evaluation would be informed by service-user feedback, baseline data, audits, case studies, partner feedback and contract monitoring. Officers confirmed that both positive and negative findings would be reported and addressed through the alliance arrangements. In response to the Chair, officers reflected on the lessons learned from the Turning the Tide review. They advised that the review had reinforced the importance of collaborative working and informed a fundamental redesign of services based on a public health approach. Officers highlighted the value of co-production, noting that partners, commissioners, practitioners and people with lived and living experience had contributed to the service design. While this had extended the development process, it had secured shared ownership of the vision and outcomes. Members welcomed the collaborative approach and opportunities presented by the alliance model. Members asked how people with lived and living experience were influencing service development. Officers outlined the role of the Lived Experience Alliance Forum (LEAF), supported through dedicated funding, which had become an integral part of governance and service development. LEAF representatives had contributed to commissioning, recruitment and decision-making processes, including representation on DALB. Officers emphasised the importance of meaningful involvement and noted positive feedback from participants on their ability to influence future services. Members welcomed the report, highlighting its proactive approach, clear identification of challenges and focus on solutions. It was suggested that learning from the programme be shared through a member seminar or briefing. Regarding future priorities, officers advised that focus would be placed on embedding the new service model and culture, strengthening mental health pathways, improving support for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use needs, enhancing prevention and early intervention, and developing closer working with housing, safeguarding and criminal justice partners. Officers also stressed the importance of measuring meaningful outcomes, including reductions in substance use and improvements in education, employment and housing stability. Following scrutiny, the report was noted.
Officers provided an overview of the Youth Justice Service Inspection Report as circulated within the agenda pack. The Director of Social Services declared an interest as Chair of the Youth Justice Management Board, noting that several recommendations were directed to the Board. Members questioned why some of the issues identified had not been highlighted internally prior to the inspection. Officers explained that several concerns had already been recognised, particularly in relation to victim work and case assessments, but the inspection had highlighted the extent of the issues and the need to accelerate improvements. Members were advised that the Inspectorate had acknowledged that the service knew its business well, that the identified issues were largely manageable and capable of being addressed, with education access presenting the most significant challenge. Officers informed Members that the Deputy Minister had recently visited the service to review progress against the recommendations. Positive feedback had been received regarding the service, its staff and the work undertaken with children and young people. Officers noted that long-term staff sickness had presented challenges, particularly within victim services. Members discussed the links between neurodiversity, education, youth justice, homelessness and substance misuse, expressing concern that unmet or undiagnosed neurodiverse needs could contribute to exclusion from education and increased involvement with other services. Officers confirmed that the education workstream would include a focus on neurodiversity and acknowledged the importance of ensuring children’s needs were appropriately identified and supported. Members suggested that the education-related inspection findings may benefit from joint scrutiny with the Education Scrutiny Committee. The Chair advised that this could be considered through a future meeting involving education representatives, officers were supportive of this approach. Members sought clarification regarding recurring references in the report to proportional and timely responses. Officers advised that the findings related more to confidence, professional curiosity, consistency and quality of practice than staffing levels. Improvements were being progressed through enhanced training, peer learning, shadowing opportunities, closer integration with Children’s Services, increased management oversight and a joint programme of audit and practice development. Members sought further assurance regarding concerns raised on page 141 of the report in relation to missed opportunities to safeguard against exploitation. Officers advised that a unified quality assurance framework was being developed to strengthen oversight of assessments, court reports and safeguarding referrals, and agreed to provide a written response on the specific issues raised for consideration at the next update. Members requested sight of the full post-inspection action plan to support scrutiny of progress against the recommendations. Officers agreed and advised that the live action plan, structured around six priority areas and approved by the Youth Justice Management Board, was driving improvements. Members were informed that governance arrangements, leadership responsibilities, quality assurance processes and key workstreams had been strengthened. It was requested that the action plan be presented to a future meeting to enable ongoing scrutiny of progress and outcomes. Following scrutiny, the report was noted.
There were no performance monitoring items for consideration.
Members considered the Forward Work Programmes as contained within the agenda pack. Officers advised that at the request of the Chair, the following reports had been added to the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme: • Housing Support Grant Review and Proposed Work Plan • Update on the Permission to Tender for Emergency Accommodation for Women The Forward Work Programme was noted.
There were no urgent items.
Decision as recorded
Resolved: to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
Resolved: to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.
Members considered the private items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.
Members considered the private items from the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme.
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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