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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 appoint Cllr Ros Davies to Chair the meeting
RESOLVED: The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 24th March 2025 and 12th May 2025 were approved as true and accurate records of the meetings.
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Scrutinise the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 31st March 2025 (Quarter 4). 2.2 Consider whether they wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Agree on issues for inclusion on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for the 2025-26 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix A with appropriate amendments as necessary. 2.2. Agree that the Work Programmes be reviewed at regular intervals by the Chairs and Vice Chairs to ensure the items identified for inclusion are relevant and that any additional referrals are incorporated; including the identification of information reports. 2.3 Note the further areas for scrutiny consideration suggested by Members at the Work Programme workshop as highlighted in section 5.7 of the report and agree which matters should be referred to the thematic Scrutiny Committees for inclusion in their individual Work Programmes as outlined in the table provided. 2.4 To note the stakeholder engagement taken to date in relation to the formation of the draft work programme development and to authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications, along with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the feedback received following the public consultation on additional items for scrutiny consideration and to establish the best way forward in respect of the responses. 2.5. Consider and approve the following thematic scrutiny Committee Work Programmes as attached to the report (Appendix B, C and D respectively). · Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee · Community Services Scrutiny Committee · Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee 2.6 Subject to approval of 2.5, request that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications notifies the appropriate Cabinet Members and responsible Officers, of the matters identified for pre-scrutiny in each of the Scrutiny Work Programmes in advance of Cabinet consideration. 2.7 Agree to the proposal for the additional meetings identified by officers as detailed in paragraph 5.8 of the report and included within Appendix A. 2.8 Subject to the approval of the work programmes as outlined above, authorise the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications to publish the programmes on the relevant Council webpages and publicise to relevant stakeholders to promote further public engagement
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To appoint Cllr Ros Davies to Chair the meeting
The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications advised that an apology had been received from the Chair and Vice Chair and therefore sought a nomination for Chairperson for the meeting RESOLVED: To appoint Cllr Ros Davies to Chair the meeting
In accordance with the code of conduct, no declarations were made pertaining to the agenda
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 24th March 2025 and 12th May 2025 were approved as true and accurate records of the meetings.
RESOLVED: The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 24th March 2025 and 12th May 2025 were approved as true and accurate records of the meetings.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Scrutinise the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 31st March 2025 (Quarter 4). 2.2 Consider whether they wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications introduced the report to Members on the Quarter 4 Council Performance Report to 31 March 2025. He advised of the importance the information provides to the scrutiny process, particularly in terms of service delivery, but also in terms of informing matters for further consideration based on the performance information provided. He added that it is the responsibility of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to refer any exceptions identified to the relevant subject scrutiny Committee for further consideration. The Service Director – Finance and Improvement Services presented the report to Members that detailed the year-end position statements for revenue and capital budget performance; Treasury Management prudential indicators; Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness and Council strategic risks; and Corporate Plan priority action plans (including performance indicators and investment). He highlighted the following: • A £1.9 million gross overspend in revenue, offset by use of Welsh Government funding. • £152 million in capital programme delivery, including £53 million in infrastructure and £46 million in schools. • Challenges in children’s services linked to complexity of care, market pressures, and the transition to delivering Welsh Government’s Policy to eliminate profit from the care of looked after children. • Workforce information including a 5.47% overall staff sickness rate and staff turnover across services. • The Council’s Strategic Risk Register year-end position and Treasury Management compliance. • The Council’s performance against its four well-being objectives, with supporting evidence (including information from regulators and inspections). A Member queried whether changes to waste collection methods had led to increased sickness absence, particularly musculoskeletal injuries due to bin lifting. The Member also queried whether the sickness patterns had been addressed corporately and whether specific action was being taken in high-pressure areas like Community Services. Officers responded that there were no notable increases in injury-related absences being recorded and reassured Members that training and policy implementation were in place to mitigate risks. Members were further advised that sickness management policies were being followed robustly, with Occupational Health referrals and support mechanisms in place for all staff A Member sought clarity regarding the sustainability of funding for children’s residential services, especially in the context of the “not for profit” agenda and asked what the financial implications would be if current Welsh Government support ceased. Members were advised that transition costs to non-profit models were exceeding initial estimates, and that residential transformation requires long-term investment and is contributing to significant budget pressures. A £6.9 million grant has been received but does not fully fund the costs incurred by the Council to implement this Welsh Government policy. The Chair noted the decline in the number of foster carers across the County Borough. The Chair asked what the underlying causes of the fall in foster carer numbers were and whether the Council had been able to identify barriers preventing new foster carers from coming forward. In response, officers acknowledged the decline and stated that whilst no single cause had been identified, it was likely due to a combination of factors including Long-Standing carers retiring or stepping away due to personal circumstances; a perceived lack of support and the increasing complexity of children’s needs, which may discourage continued fostering and financial and systemic pressures related to the wider transformation of children’s services and the implementation of the not for profit agenda. Officers continued that despite an increase in initial enquiries and interest in fostering over the past year, there was a significant drop-off between expression of interest and full approval. Members were advised that even where recruitment is successful, there is an inevitable time-lag between initial enquiry, training, approval and the carer being able to accept placements. The fostering strategy is fully aligned with the Council’s Sufficiency Strategy and Residential Transformation Programme to ensure placements are available for local children with complex needs. Officers reassured that the Council is actively engaging with Welsh Government to seek clarity and sustainability of funding as current constraints limit the ability to expand fostering capacity at pace. Questions were raised about the effectiveness of service delivery, particularly in children's and adult social services, given the budget pressures. Officers acknowledged the challenges in children's and adult social services, attributing them to the complexity of care needs and demand pressures. They highlighted ongoing initiatives to improve service delivery to ensure efficiency such as investing in staff training and support to maintain high-quality services. Members highlighted high vacancy rates in social services and questioned the measures being taken to address the high vacancy rates in social services. Officers detailed the implementation of flexible working approaches and enhanced support to address vacancy rates. In addition to this, the Council are providing competitive remuneration packages and career development opportunities. Additionally, in adult social care, officers noted improvements in service reliability and hospital discharge processes following the transition to new home care contracts. The new home care contracts are designed to provide better support for clients and support the workforce through, for example, working closer to home. Further clarity was sought in respect of high turnover and sickness absence rates, particularly in social services, and their impact on service delivery and how this was being addressed to ensure continuity of service delivery. Officers highlighted the establishment of a social work academy to provide training and support for growing and retaining the workforce. The initiative aims to enhance their skills and improve job satisfaction, ultimately reducing turnover and sickness absence rates. A member queried the strategic rationale behind varying levels of investment across the County Borough’s town centres. The Officer responded that while current investment had focused on major redevelopment schemes in Pontypridd and Aberdare, towns such as Tonypandy remained a priority and would be considered as funding opportunities became available. Updates on regeneration activity across all town centres would be provided to scrutiny in due course. Members questioned the sustainability of the Council’s successful Empty Homes Programme in respect of whether the current rate of bringing properties back into use was outpacing the rate at which new properties were becoming empty. They also sought reassurance about future funding and the Council’s ability to continue the programme if Welsh Government support were to cease. In response officers confirmed that the Council had been highly successful in delivering the scheme and remains the highest performing authority in Wales for applications and homes brought back into use. The strategy continues to prioritise long term vacant properties with the most community impact. Officers advised that future delivery would depend on Welsh Government funding, and should this end, the Council would need to reassess its approach. The Chair asked about large empty properties in town centres and whether the Council has a strategic approach to deal with these prominent and often problematic buildings. Officers confirmed that while these do not usually qualify for the Empty Homes Grant, they are addressed through strategic regeneration plans, including Place Making Plans and town centre strategies, often in partnership with the private sector and Welsh Government where viable. Members sought clarity on the challenges faced in infrastructure investment, particularly in highways and transport. Officers detailed the ongoing inspection regimes and emergency planning for critical structures. They acknowledged the impact of weather on road conditions and outlined targeted resurfacing and replacement programmes. In addition, it was noted that the impact of weather on road conditions is significant, and officers confirmed that targeted resurfacing and replacement programmes are in place to address this. Officers highlighted that initiatives to promote active travel and reduce vehicle emissions are part of the Council’s broader strategy to improve infrastructure and support sustainable transportation. A member asked how the Council was supporting school leavers not pursuing sixth form or university, and what mechanisms were in place to promote vocational and apprenticeship pathways. The officer responded that schools were supported via dedicated transition funding and careers advisers, with a particular focus on ensuring impartial guidance. A 14-19 Partnership Officer worked closely with secondary schools to ensure curriculum relevance, and initiatives such as the Green Light Project had led to positive results. The Council was also working with colleges to expand vocational pathways. A Member referred to the town centre footfall data presented within the performance report and queried the apparent low footfall levels during quarter 4, despite the hosting of the National Eisteddfod 2024 within the County Borough. Officers acknowledged that despite the Eisteddfod success, the overall footfall for Q4 was down when compared to previous years due to several compounding factors such as a slow national retail with low footfall reported across the UK due to poor weather and economic conditions, wider cost of living pressures and a notable drop in December footfall attributed to adverse weather conditions. The officer advised that they would continue to monitor footfall trends closely and using the insights to shape town centre strategies and event programming going forward. Officers agreed to incorporate historic data into future summaries for comparisons. A member noted the increase in delayed discharges from hospital and sought reassurance that these pressures were being addressed. The Officer responded that delays in the previous year were due to a range of systemic pressures, including COVID-related absences, changes to domiciliary care commissioning, and regional capacity constraints. Since the transition to the new ‘Home Care’ contract model, delays had reduced significantly, with a reported 76% improvement in some metrics. The Committee would receive a more detailed report later in the year. Following conclusion of discussions it was RESOLVED to: 2.1 Scrutinise the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 31st March 2025 (Quarter 4). 2.2 Consider whether they wish to scrutinise in greater depth any matters contained in the report in line with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to: 2.1 Agree on issues for inclusion on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for the 2025-26 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix A with appropriate amendments as necessary. 2.2. Agree that the Work Programmes be reviewed at regular intervals by the Chairs and Vice Chairs to ensure the items identified for inclusion are relevant and that any additional referrals are incorporated; including the identification of information reports. 2.3 Note the further areas for scrutiny consideration suggested by Members at the Work Programme workshop as highlighted in section 5.7 of the report and agree which matters should be referred to the thematic Scrutiny Committees for inclusion in their individual Work Programmes as outlined in the table provided. 2.4 To note the stakeholder engagement taken to date in relation to the formation of the draft work programme development and to authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications, along with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the feedback received following the public consultation on additional items for scrutiny consideration and to establish the best way forward in respect of the responses. 2.5. Consider and approve the following thematic scrutiny Committee Work Programmes as attached to the report (Appendix B, C and D respectively). · Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee · Community Services Scrutiny Committee · Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee 2.6 Subject to approval of 2.5, request that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications notifies the appropriate Cabinet Members and responsible Officers, of the matters identified for pre-scrutiny in each of the Scrutiny Work Programmes in advance of Cabinet consideration. 2.7 Agree to the proposal for the additional meetings identified by officers as detailed in paragraph 5.8 of the report and included within Appendix A. 2.8 Subject to the approval of the work programmes as outlined above, authorise the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications to publish the programmes on the relevant Council webpages and publicise to relevant stakeholders to promote further public engagement
The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to seek Member’s comment and approval on the draft Work Programmes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees. He continued that following a series of Work Programme Workshops, all Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees were provided the opportunity to consider and identify items for consideration to formulate their respective Work Programmes. During these workshops it was also determined that a number of items would be identified to support public participation and engagement in the Scrutiny process. The Draft Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes attached at appendices to the report had been compiled by Officers following the workshops and in consultation with the relevant Officers and Committee Chairs. A Member requested whether the issue of highway structures and associated risks (e.g retaining walls, bridges and culverts) could be considered as part of the coal-tip safety agenda, specifically within the report scheduled for the December meeting. Members agreed with this proposal. Following conclusion of discussion it was RESOLVED to: 2.1 Agree on issues for inclusion on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for the 2025-26 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix A with appropriate amendments as necessary. 2.2. Agree that the Work Programmes be reviewed at regular intervals by the Chairs and Vice Chairs to ensure the items identified for inclusion are relevant and that any additional referrals are incorporated; including the identification of information reports. 2.3 Note the further areas for scrutiny consideration suggested by Members at the Work Programme workshop as highlighted in section 5.7 of the report and agree which matters should be referred to the thematic Scrutiny Committees for inclusion in their individual Work Programmes as outlined in the table provided. 2.4 To note the stakeholder engagement taken to date in relation to the formation of the draft work programme development and to authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications, along with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the feedback received following the public consultation on additional items for scrutiny consideration and to establish the best way forward in respect of the responses. 2.5. Consider and approve the following thematic scrutiny Committee Work Programmes as attached to the report (Appendix B, C and D respectively). · Climate Change, Frontline Services and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee · Community Services Scrutiny Committee · Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee 2.6 Subject to approval of 2.5, request that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications notifies the appropriate Cabinet Members and responsible Officers, of the matters identified for pre-scrutiny in each of the Scrutiny Work Programmes in advance of Cabinet consideration. 2.7 Agree to the proposal for the additional meetings identified by officers as detailed in paragraph 5.8 of the report and included within Appendix A. 2.8 Subject to the approval of the work programmes as outlined above, authorise the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications to publish the programmes on the relevant Council webpages and publicise to relevant stakeholders to promote further public engagement
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