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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – i. That the work programme as attached at Appendix 1 to the report COGC/32/23s be agreed.
AGREED - i. That consideration be given within the Local Development Plan providing service users with the best possible access to services in relation to transport needs. ii. That Buildings and Centres out of which services are delivered are equipped with up to date resources including efficient internet and WIFI systems. iii. That the final review document to be presented to the Safeguarding & Well-being Scrutiny Committee prior to going on to the Executive Board.
AGREED – i. The Committee thanked the Lead Members and Officers for the high level report ensuring that Wrexham’s voice is heard regionally and nationally. ii. The Committee will be provided with an annual update on services locally and regionally with a focus on any current gaps.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Kate Wilkinson.
The minutes of the meeting held on 8 March, 2023 were submitted. AGREED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March, 2023 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – i. That the work programme as attached at Appendix 1 to the report COGC/32/23s be agreed.
The Chief Officer Governance and Customer submitted a report COGC/32/23s to allow Members to consider the revised work programme of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report, referring in particular to the proposed changes which were highlighted in the work programme (as attached at Appendix 1 to the report). · It was highlighted that there were some gaps in the Work Programme, particularly, in July and the Chair welcomed the submission of topic selection forms from committee members. · The Work Programme be considered as an item at or around the May meeting to ensure the Programme is as complete and that we look to next years’ content with the caveat that there will be a new Council Plan coming into being next year which may affect the topics and issues to be discussed. · The Work Plan in May will now include the Play Sufficiency Assessment Report and the annual report on PCSO’s will be considered in July. AGREED – i. That the work programme as attached at Appendix 1 to the report COGC/32/23s be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED - i. That consideration be given within the Local Development Plan providing service users with the best possible access to services in relation to transport needs. ii. That Buildings and Centres out of which services are delivered are equipped with up to date resources including efficient internet and WIFI systems. iii. That the final review document to be presented to the Safeguarding & Well-being Scrutiny Committee prior to going on to the Executive Board.
The Lead Member for Adult Social Care submitted a report COSC/08/23, offering a summary of current Day and Work Opportunities and plans around the future development of the service. The Lead Member for Adult Social Care introduced the report and highlighted the main points within, it he also referred to the ‘Reshape Day and Employment Opportunities’ project being paused due to the significant impact that Covid-19 had upon the project. The Chief Officer for Social Care informed Members that a full service review is required, he outlined the work of ‘Day and Employment Services’ and the following points were highlighted: · The Cunliffe Centre and The Erlas Site were temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. · The Cunliffe Centre re-opened gradually in April 2021 subject to ongoing Welsh Government restrictions. · Confirmation that the review, which will be undertaken over the next six months, will include consultation with service users and their families and will be undertaken with a partner organisation to consider a range of issues including centre based options and other appropriate services. · Acknowledgement that there remains a need to modernise and reshape day services in order to deliver more flexible and person centred services that meet an individual’s outcomes. · It is evident that the redesign plan agreed in 2018 requires review and evaluation as services have been significantly impacted by Covid-19. It is essential that time is dedicated to appraise the vision for day and work opportunities in Wrexham if we are to achieve any meaningful reshaping. To achieve this, a full service review is required by undertaking a feasibility study. · The Cunliffe Centre is Wrexham’s sole day care facility for adults with disabilities and is based on the Greenacres site in Rhosddu Road in Wrexham. The Cunliffe Centre provides a day service to citizens with a range of varying disabilities. The centre was built in the 1970’s and covers an area of approximately 10,700 sq ft. The building is outdated and not configured to meet the service needs. · Acknowledgement that it is important for members to be kept informed around the ongoing developments in relation to Day and Work Opportunities as this service also has bearing upon other developments across the Council. These include the entire Greenacres site and the Erlas site which have either been identified for housing development or Local Development Plan. A discussion ensued and Members raised the following points: · Members support the review of Day and Employment Services, Disability Services. · That the Committee acknowledge and thank staff at The Cunliffe Centre for their commitment and dedication, particularly for working continually throughout the pandemic. · Clarification sought regarding the Safe Spaces Scheme and if it was still running. · Confirmation was given that the Safe Spaces Scheme is still ongoing in the city centre and outlying villages. · Assurances were sought that equal financial remuneration is provided for work carried out by adults with disabilities. · Assurances were given that work is carried out with Welfare Rights Team and that the Learning Disability Strategy ensure each case is assessed on an individual basis. AGREED - i. That consideration be given within the Local Development Plan providing service users with the best possible access to services in relation to transport needs. ii. That Buildings and Centres out of which services are delivered are equipped with up to date resources including efficient internet and WIFI systems. iii. That the final review document to be presented to the Safeguarding & Well-being Scrutiny Committee prior to going on to the Executive Board.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – i. The Committee thanked the Lead Members and Officers for the high level report ensuring that Wrexham’s voice is heard regionally and nationally. ii. The Committee will be provided with an annual update on services locally and regionally with a focus on any current gaps.
The Lead Member for Adult Social Care submitted a report COSC/09/23, explaining that the purpose of this report is to present the joint area plan required by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Care and Support (Area Planning) (Wales) Regulations 2017. This plan sets out how the North Wales Regional Partnership Board (NWRPB) will respond to the findings of the North Wales Population Needs Assessment published in April 2022 and Market Stability Report published in November 2022. This is an opportunity for Scrutiny Committee to inform the Plan. A single regional Market Stability Report (MSR) was produced and published in November 2022 for the North Wales Region and approved by Full Council for each of the local authority areas (Gwynedd, Ynys Mon, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham) and the Board of the Local Health Board. The MSR Code of Practice requires that Local Authorities and Local Health Boards work in partnership to prepare and publish market stability reports based on data for each local authority area as well as an aggregated version on an RPB footprint. The Lead Member for Children’s Services introduced the report to Committee. The Chief Officer for Social Care informed members that a single regional MSR report must be produced for the North Wales Region and be approved by Full Council for each of the local authority areas below and the Local Health Board: Gwynedd, Ynys Mon, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire Wrexham and by Welsh Government in March 2023. The Regional Plan which was viewed by the Committee in December, 2022 and approved regionally, had been submitted to Welsh Government at the end of March 2023. As a living/working document feedback and comments can be added on a regular basis to update the Plan. A discussion ensued and the following points were raised: · Assurance was sought that Members will be provided with updates as this is currently a live /working document · Reassurances were given that updates will be provided annually on the whole action plan. · Assurances were given that we work jointly with the Housing Department in relation to Housing and Homelessness, for children and adults. · Concerns were raised about un-regulated and/or unregistered providers for children. · Assurances were given that if the placement is not suitable the child will be removed. · Ty Nyth work with the child and their family with the aim of keeping the individual in their own home or returning a child to their own home. · Tapley Avenue is an overnight respite provider and officers gave assurances that while respite was paused families have been contacted so that alternative respite could be considered. AGREED – i. The Committee thanked the Lead Members and Officers for the high level report ensuring that Wrexham’s voice is heard regionally and nationally. ii. The Committee will be provided with an annual update on services locally and regionally with a focus on any current gaps.
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