COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLAENAU GWENT
REPORT TO: / THE LEADER AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVESUBJECT: / EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – 19THFEBRUARY, 2014
REPORT OF: /
EXECUTIVE/SCRUTINY OFFICER
PRESENT: Leader of the Council
Councillor H. McCarthy, B.A. (Hons) (Chair)
Deputy Leader/Executive Business Manager
Councillor S. C. Thomas
Executive Member – Social Services – Children’s
Services
Councillor A. Hobbs
Executive Member – Social Services – Adult Services
Councillor H. Trollope
Executive Member – Waste Management & the Environment
Councillor K. Hayden
Executive Member – Highways & Transportation
Councillor D. White
Executive Member – Financial Management & Strategy
Councillor J. McIlwee
Executive Member – Economic Strategy & Development
Councillor G. Bartlett
Education Commissioner
Bethan Guilfoyle
WITH:Chief Executive
Chief Finance Officer
Interim Chief Education Officer
Corporate Director Social Services
Corporate Director Regeneration & Environment
Head of Legal & Corporate Compliance
Head of Technical Services
Press & Communications Officer
DECISIONS UNDER DELEGATED POWERS
ITEM / SUBJECT / ACTION1. / APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from:-
Councillor D. Wilkshire - Executive Member Skills & Work Preparation
Councillor B. Sutton - Executive Member Governance
2. / DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND DISPENSATION
No declarations of interest and dispensations were reported.
MINUTES
3. / EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The minutes of the Executive Committee held on 8th January, 2014 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
4. / EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The minutes of the Special Executive Committee held on 17th January, 2014 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes be accepted as a true record of proceedings.
GENERAL MATTERS
5. / CONFERENCES/COURSES
WLGA Scrutiny Chairs Network
Regeneration, Housing and Environment – 4th February, 2014
Social Services, Education and Corporate Policy – 17th February, 2014
RESOLVED that retrospective approval be granted.
SOCIAL SERVICES – CHILDREN & ACTIVE LIVING MATTERS
6. / DRAFT FLYING START STRATEGIC OUTLINE PLAN 2015/2016
Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director Social Services.
The Executive Member for Social Services Children & Active Living presented the report which sought approval of the draft Flying Start Strategic Outline Plan 2015/16.
She stated that the Flying Start Programme was developed by the Welsh Government in 2006 to support eligible children aged 0-3 years and their families, and was targeted at the most deprived areas in Wales.
The report presented the Flying Start Strategic Outline Plan 2015/16 and detailed the capital investment needed from Welsh Government in order to roll out the Programme in Blaenau Gwent 2015/16 to Cwm 2 and Abertillery.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Draft Strategic Outline Plan (SOP) for capital investment 2015-16 be approved.
7. / GRANTS TO ORGANISATIONS
Consideration was given to report of the Head of Education Transformation & Performance.
Members were advised of the following additional grants which had been submitted since the preparation of the report:-
ABERTILLERY
Six Bells Ward – Councillor M. Holland
1. / St. John’sChurch, Six Bells / £150
2. / Six Bells Regeneration / £200
3. / Nevil Hall A&E Endowment Fund / £100
Llanhilleth Ward – Councillor H. McCarthy,
M. Bartlett & J. McIlwee
1. / Llanhilleth Pigeon Club / £2002. / Llanhilleth Bowls Club / £200
BRYNMAWR
Brynmawr Ward – Councillor J. Hopkins, B. Sutton & K. Brown
1. / Brynmawr Motorcycle and Car Club / £100EBBW VALE
Cwm Ward – Councillor D. Bevan
1. / Cwm Pigeon Club / £50Cwm Ward – Councillor K. Bender
1. / Cwm Pigeon Club / £50RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the information contained there be acknowledged.
8. / EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT SERVICE INTERVENTION FRAMEWORK, SCHOOLS CAUSING CONCERN POLICY
Consideration was given to report of the Interim Director of Education.
The Education Commissioner presented the report which attached the Intervention Framework, Schools Causing Concern Policy for local implementation within Blaenau Gwent.
The Commissioner explained that the Framework categorised schools based on a five point scale, which reflected the national models currently in existence for Estyn follow up and school banding. However, from September a four point scale would be adopted across Wales.
The overall intervention categorisation determined the level of support, challenge and intervention required by schools. Schools categorised 4 and 5 were considered to be in need of support and intervention plans were produced in conjunction with the System Leaders, EAS, Director of Education and the Local Authority.
The Executive Member for Social Services Adult Services asked when the Executive would have sight of the intervention plans for individual schools.
In response the Education Commission said there was no current programme of official reporting to Members on the progress of intervention plans.
The Interim Director of Education said it had been agreed by Scrutiny that individual schools would be identified in all future school performance data. He also suggested that perhaps Members request more detailed information on schools categorised 3 and 4, particularly in light of the four point scale to be adopted, as it was likely that more schools would fall within the intervention categorisation, and would be scrutinised more than in the current system.
The Executive Member for Social Services Adult Services stressed the importance of Members receiving more detailed information on the progress of intervention plans, to ensure sharing of good practice in improving schools.
The Education Commissioner said work was being done at a Corporate level, in terms of the inter-relationship with Executive and Scrutiny, as this was the general feeling of Members.
The Chief Executiveconfirmed that work was ongoing with the Recovery Board to ensure that all information was fed into both Executive and Scrutiny.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the EAS Intervention Framework, Schools Causing Concern Policy be adopted for local implementation in Blaenau Gwent.
WASTE MANAGEMENT & THE ENVIRONMENT
9. / AUTHORISATION OF KINGDOM SECURITY LIMITED OFFICERS
Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director Regeneration & Environment.
The Executive Member for Waste Management & the Environment presented the report which sought approval to authorise Kingdom Security Limited Officers to exercise the powers detailed in the schedule attached to the report.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Kingdom Security Limited Enforcement Officers named in the Schedule to the report be authorised to enforce the powers outlined therein. The list supersedes all previous authorisation reports for Kingdom Security Limited staff.
10. / ANIMAL HEALTH & WELFARE SERVICES – NEW LEGISLATION THE CONTROL OF HORSES (WALES) 2014 – AUTHORISATION OF OFFICERS
Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director Regeneration & Environment.
The Executive Member for Waste Management & the Environment presented the report which sought approval to authorise Animal Health & Welfare Officers of Powys County Council and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council following the introduction of The Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014.
In response to a question raised, the Executive Member said the new legislation gave the Authority more powers to deal with problems of fly grazing horses and abandonment of horses. He also reminded Members of events last winter with horses on common land within the Borough suffering from malnutrition, and said these powers would assist the Authority to deal with animal welfare issues.
The Corporate Director Regeneration & Environment said the report demonstrated that collaborative working had resulted in a more efficient service.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Powys CC and Blaenau Gwent CBC Officers be authorised to exercise the powers contained within the Control of Horses (Wales) Act 2014 in accordance with the schedule attached at the Appendix to the report.
SOCIAL SERVICES – CHILDREN & ACTIVE LIVING MATTERS
11. / DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL ADOPTION SERVICE FOR WALES
Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director Social Services.
The Executive Member for Social Services Children & Active Living presented the report which outlined the proposal for achieving a National Adoption Service. Blaenau Gwent would be part of the South East Wales Regional collaborative as part of the national proposal, and it was proposed that Blaenau Gwent would act as the lead Authority for the South East Wales Adoption Service.
In response to questions raised by the Executive Member for Social Service Adult Services, the Corporate Director of Social Services explained that a Task and Finish Group had been established to produce a robust change programme for implementing the functional model, and Tanya Evans, Head of Children’s Services would be representative on that Group.
In terms of any potential capacity issues, the Director said this was not anticipated. Blaenau Gwent already hosted the Tri Partite Service with Torfaen and Monmouthshire, and this arrangement had been working well for two years. It was proposed that the capacity for the service would come from all five Local Authorities.
A discussion ensued when the Executive Member for Financial Management & Strategy said he was aware that in some instances in other Local Authorities the adoption process was extremely lengthy, and this was a concern for families going through that process.
The Director said the proposals would make the service more robust and efficient, and increased staffing levels would hopefully reduce the waiting time for families.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted the Executive:-
- Acknowledge the contents contained therein;
- Endorse the proposals for achieving a National Adoption Service in Wales as detailed in the report of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru;
- Agree that Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council act as the lead Authority for the South East Wales Adoption Service
FURTHER RESOLVED that the decision not be subject to “call-in”.
LEADERSHIP MATTERS
12. / EXEMPTION FROM STANDING ORDERS FOR CONTRACTS
Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director Environment & Regeneration.
The Leader of the Council presented the report which allowed a contract to be awarded, that had not been procured in compliance with Standing Orders for Contracts, to allow the Council to take advantage of a late funding opportunity from Welsh Government. He said the report was excellent for the area named therein.
He said in December 2013 the Council was notified of short notice funding becoming available to improve the energy efficiency of properties within the County Borough, and a bid was made to Welsh Government to access the funding. The Council was notified on 16th January, 2014 that the bid was successful.
The Leader and Members commended the Department for their work in submitting the bid, and said this was evidence that the Council was taking every opportunity to access as much funding as possible.
The Chief Finance Officer confirmed that the formal written offer of funding had now been received, and it was
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and an exemption to Standing Orders for Contracts be approved to allow United Welsh Housing Association to be appointed as Project Managers to undertake works on 17 properties on Upper Salisbury Street and Islwyn Terrace in Tredegar.