Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: • To provide comment as appropriate on the draft Work Programme; and Subject to any amendments, approve the draft work programme as a basis, which can be amended to reflect any changing priorities throughout the year.
RESOLVED: To provide comment as appropriate on the draft Annual Report before its presentation to Cabinet.
RESOLVED: to note the contents of the report.
RESOLVED: To acknowledge the work undertaken by TGP Cymru.
RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the Schedule 12A of the Act.
Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillor R Lewis, the Service Director, Children's Services, A Lloyd, the Head of Inclusion Services, C Jones, and the Virtual School Headteacher, L Hawkins.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.
To approve as an accurate record, the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Board held on the 13th May 2025.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: • To provide comment as appropriate on the draft Work Programme; and Subject to any amendments, approve the draft work programme as a basis, which can be amended to reflect any changing priorities throughout the year.
The Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer provided the Corporate Parenting Board with a summary of the draft work programme for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year. Alongside the regular annual updates, many of the topics for consideration within the Programme had been identified by Members at previous meetings. The Chair acknowledged that this was a comprehensive Work Programme and explained that this was a fluid document that could be amended to reflect any changes to business needs throughout the year with Corporate Parenting Board Members able to contact himself or the Officer. The Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED: • To provide comment as appropriate on the draft Work Programme; and Subject to any amendments, approve the draft work programme as a basis, which can be amended to reflect any changing priorities throughout the year.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To provide comment as appropriate on the draft Annual Report before its presentation to Cabinet.
The Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer provided the Corporate Parenting Board with the Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report for the 2024-2025 Municipal Year. The report covered the breadth of work considered by the Board during the year; and put forward the items identified for future consideration. The officer reminded Members that if approved, the report would be presented to Cabinet. The Chair acknowledged this was a comprehensive report, with extensive work undertaken by the Corporate Parenting Board. The Chair put on record his thanks to the Vice-Chair and thanked to all members for their efforts in contributing to the work of the board. The Chair also acknowledged the work that went on behind the scenes, and thanked Officers for their work, under difficult circumstances recognising the Post-covid legacy and changes in society. It was important that Children’s Services and the work of the CPB was recognised, and the work continues. A Member sought clarification in relation to the increase in those attending independent residential care, whilst recognising this was often specialist services. The Director of Social Services explained that further information could be provided, to gain an understanding of the reasons why, whilst acknowledging that this increase corresponds with a reduction in foster carer placements over the same period. The Director added that despite continuing to be a priority, the current number of foster carers, didn’t meet the need and demand – a position that is being experienced more widely across the UK. The need to increase the supply of foster carers and develop more in-house children’s home capacity is an ongoing investment priority as part of our children’s residential care transformation strategy to improve sufficiency to meet need in line with the Welsh Government’s eliminating profit commitment. The Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED: To provide comment as appropriate on the draft Annual Report before its presentation to Cabinet.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: to note the contents of the report.
The Chair provided the Corporate Parenting Board with an overview of the visits made to Frontline Teams, by Members of the Corporate Parenting Board during the 2024-25 Municipal Year. The Chair advised that this was the fourth time that himself and the Vice-Chair had visited frontline teams, alongside other Board Members, during a difficult period of transition, but with full and frank meetings. Whilst morale was high, pressure was increasing with more complex workloads, particularly as a result of the legacy of covid, recognising the changes in society. In addition this was a period of transformation, where services were being reconfigured in order to meet different challenges and needs. It was recognised that social care was underfunded nationally and the benefits of a good social care system in early intervention, benefitted society and kept families together. The Director of Social Services acknowledged the themes identified, were themes that staff had identified themselves within the annual self-evaluation process within Children’s Services, which informed the work programme for the year, linked to the strategies, whilst acknowledging the funding issue. Discussion took place with regards to Members attendance at visits, with the Chair acknowledging that himself and the Vice-Chair attended all visits, but that other CPB Members were welcome and encouraged to attend those visits they could. Further details would be provided to CPB Members towards the end of the year, well in advance of visits. The Director of Social Services acknowledged the importance of the visits for CPB Members whilst recognising the need to acknowledge the pressures and demands on the Teams being visited. The Director explained there may be other opportunities to speak to staff and get feedback from service areas, including staff forums and reports to Board. A Member acknowledged the importance of AI in assisting teams with reporting and allowing them to concentrate on more relevant cases and would like to see this moved on to help more staff. The Director of Social Services explained that digital technologies had the potential to improve the way we work in social care and that Copilot AI technology was being piloted in Children’s Services as one of our digital strategy priorities. The Chair put on record his thanks to staff. The Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED: to note the contents of the report.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To acknowledge the work undertaken by TGP Cymru.
Tros Gynnal Plant provided the Corporate Parenting Board with a progress update for the quarter 3 period, which covered October to December 2024 and the quarter 4 period, which covered January to March 2025. The Officer then took CPB Members through the Q4 report, acknowledging the comparisons with Q3 including key statistics from sections on Activity Overview, Other Information, Visiting Advocacy and Service Information, before concluding with a case example. The Chair thanked the Officer, and acknowledged the case studies in particular were reflective of the importance of advocacy for children. A Member, referring to the Q3 report, sought clarification around the noticeable increase in IBA referrals and around the case study. The Officer provided a comprehensive response with regard to the Q3 case study and clarification around the IBA referrals. The Director of Social Services explained that it was important to ensure there was balance of input/output activity information as well as outcomes and case study experiences. The Director added that the increase in young people accessing service was a positive and thanked the Officer. A Member, referring to the Q3, page 57, asked if there had been any progress in relation to the ways in which young people under the Youth Justice Service could access the advocacy service. The Officer provided the Member with an update, acknowledging the eligibility criteria. The Chair, referring to page 58, in respect of a funding source to deliver a pilot project which will focus on the delivery of advocacy services to children and young people suffering with emotional and mental health difficulties but do not meet criteria for statutory services, and said he would like to see more on the success of that service. The Corporate Parenting Board RESOLVED: To acknowledge the work undertaken by TGP Cymru.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the Schedule 12A of the Act.
It was RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act (as amended) for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of the Schedule 12A of the Act.
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.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.