Agenda item

Pwrpas:        Darparu’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar y risgiau pennaf/cyfredol o fewn y pum portffolio ac adborth ar y risgiau hynny a ystyriwyd gan y Pwyllgorau Trosolwg a Chraffu.

 

The Chief Executive introduced the report and explained that Portfolio Recovery Business Plans had been developed for exiting the first response phase to the pandemic in 2020.

 

The Recovery Committee had had oversight of the Recovery Business Plans for all five service portfolios during recent meetings.  During each of those meetings the relevant Chief Officers highlighted significant areas of risk.  This report presented progress and updates on those areas of risk for each of the portfolios.

 

Education and Youth

The Senior Manager – Business Support and School Governance said the areas of risk, and the responses from the Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee were:

·         Managing uncertainty around operational changes which may need to be implemented

The Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a report on 16^th September which provided an overview of the revised COVID-19 measures for the safe operation of schools.  The Committee were congratulatory of schools for the positive way in which they had re-opened in September and a letter of thanks to all school staff had been sent from the Chair on behalf of the Committee.  The Committee also received a verbal update on 21^st October.  The update was noted but concerns were raised on the shortage of supply teachers, teaching assistants and caretakers at schools.

·         The impact the pandemic has had on children and young people, specifically on their health and emotional well-being and their ability to engage with learning

The Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a verbal update on 21^st October.  Whilst the Committee was concerned on the pressure being put on Officers and Schools, they supported and appreciated that the Chief Officer Team were doing everything in their power to manage the risk.

·         The resilience of schools in managing a significant number of changes i.e. the new curriculum, Additional Learning Needs transformation and the introduction of school inspections.

The Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a verbal update on 21^st October.  Whilst the Committee was concerned on the pressure being put on Officers and Schools, they supported and appreciated that the Chief Officer Team were doing everything in their power to manage the risk.

 

Councillor McGuill asked for an update on the rollout of CO2 monitors to schools.  The Senior Manager explained that all schools would have received their monitors before the end of the month.

 

Housing and Assets

The Chief Executive said the areas of risk were:

·         Rental income continued to be impacted by the pandemic and when furlough and other protections ended the situation could worsen

The Community, Housing and Assets Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be considering the usual update reports on Housing Income and Welfare Reform at its meeting on 8^th December 2021.  The Committee would also receive and consider the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2022/23 and the HRA Business Plan at its meeting on 12^th January 2022.

·         Homelessness presentations increased as current protections around evictions and furlough ended and landlords took measures to commence and follow through on stalled evictions

The Facilitator for the Community, Housing and Assets Overview and Scrutiny Committee was liaising with the appropriate officers in order to present a report on Homelessness to a future meeting of the Committee.

·         Raw material supplies shortages led to increased costs, programme delays and increased cases of contractual disputes

The Community, Housing and Assets Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a verbal update on 13^th October.  The Committee were assured that the risk was being adequately managed.

 

In response to a question from Councillor McGuill, the Chief Executive said he would provide information on the number of tenant hardship grants that had been applied for, and how many had been approved. 

 

Councillor Jones asked a question on the homelessness risk and the Chief Executive explained that the Housing Support Grant of £1.87m would enable the Housing Solutions Team to increase staffing capacity and other commissioned support services to support people earlier and provide a holistic package for people on the brink of presenting as homeless. 

 

Planning, Environment and Economy

The Chief Officer (Planning, Environment and Economy) said the areas of risk were: 

·         The resilience of various teams due to unprecedented demand to services during the emergency situation

The Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a report on Planning Enforcement on 14^th September which provided an update on the performance of the planning enforcement service and demonstration of the new software system AGILE.  A further update would be considered in March 2022 to monitor progress

·         The delivery of the Local Development Plan and the implementation of the back-office system

The Facilitator for the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee was liaising with the appropriate officers in order to present a report on the LDP to a future meeting of the Committee.  The LDP was driven by the Planning Strategy Group advising Cabinet and the Examination in Public had not yet concluded

·         Public Protection service where resources had been in overwhelming demand during the emergency situation

The above risk was to be added to the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Forward Work Programme

 

The Chief Officer suggested that he could provide a report to the Committee at a future meeting on the risk relating to the Public Protection service, reflecting on the last two years in the service and what they faced in the future.

 

On the LDP, the Chief Officer explained that a letter had been received from the Inspector formally asking that the housing element, consisting of 300 homes, be removed from the Plan as she felt that the site was not in a suitable location for housing development.  It was to be retained as an allocation in the LDP but for employment uses and a commercial hub only.  Councillor Jones asked if an alternative site would be requested for 300 homes and the Chief Officer said he thought that was very unlikely.

 

A report would be submitted to Planning Strategy Group on 19^th November then to a special Cabinet meeting on 30^th November prior to a six week consultation period.

 

            Councillor Bateman asked for an update on whether Planning Committee site visits would be recommencing.  The Chief Officer explained that they were due to be re-introduced from November however he emphasised that it was the decision of the Chair as to whether a requested site visit was required.

 

Social Services

The Chief Officer (Social Services) said the areas of risk were:

·         Recruitment of staff to work in the sector, encompassing social work, occupational therapy and direct social work

·         The fragility of the market around Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) nursing and the recruitment of staff

·         Funding and fees linked to market stability

The Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the stability of the social care market (to include fees and funding) and Social Care workforce pressures and response at a special Committee meeting on 30^th September.  Assurance was given that work was ongoing locally, regionally and nationally to respond to the challenges faced.

 

            Councillor Jones expressed his concern on the wording “However, despite all that is being done, health and social care services are in a serious and deteriorating position” in the report, and asked if that position could be mitigated.  The Chief Officer explained that what was described in the report was the national position and was recognised.  He gave assurance that despite those challenges the services were bearing up due to the resilience of officers.  The situation had however improved slightly since the report was written, with extensive and comprehensive steps being taken to address the issues.  Councillor Jones asked if there was anything Members could do to assist and the Chief Officer responded that recognition of the fact it was very difficult to recruit in social care, and ensuring a long term sustainable package for social care which was key. He emphasised the importance for management teams and the workforce to have respect and recognition for their work.  Councillor Jones said the service was to be applauded.  The Chief Executive explained that he and the Chief Officer met on a regular basis with health colleagues and Welsh Government (WG) and a strong case was being made to WG who were being supportive.

 

            Councillors Roberts and Christine Jones reiterated the details about the discussions underway with WG and the need to praise and encourage staff.

 

            Councillor Bateman expressed her thanks to the Chief Officer and his team, and referred to a meeting of Social and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee that had taken place that morning where Betsi Cadwaldar University Health Board were present.  She was pleased to pass on that of 370 patients ready for discharge across the three hospitals who required care packages, only 10 of those were in Flintshire.

 

Councillor McGuill said the care profession needed to be shared in schools, including details on the Microcare scheme. 

 

            In response to a question from Councillor Carver, the Chief Officer said that the vast majority of carers in Flintshire had received their COVID-19 vaccinations.

 

Streetscene and Transportation

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) said the areas of risk were:

·         Reduced numbers of frontline workers and contractors to deliver services safely due to the requirement for self-isolation

·         The Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be considering a report on this risk on 9^th November.

·         Unable to progress with key infrastructure improvement projects due to lack of resilience in staff, contractors and supply chain

The Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be considering a report on this risk on 9^th November.

·         Unable to gain regulatory approval (planning; drainage; environmental permitting) to progress key infrastructure projects in a timely manner due to delays in processing applications

·         The Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be considering a report on this risk on 9^th November.

·         Public bus services (commercial and subsidised) were financially unsustainable due to reduced passenger numbers

·         This risk was to be added to the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme

·         Increased transport operating costs due to reducing number of available transport operators to provide services

·         This risk was to be added to the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme

 

Councillor Bateman praised the service and asked how remuneration compared to counties across the border.  The Chief Officer said that analysis had not been undertaken but she was aware that office based staff were paid less in Wales.  The Senior Manager – Human Resources and Organisational Development said the remuneration in border counties could be looked into.  In addition, the private sector offered incentive and retention payments which the Council could not compete with.

 

Councillor Cunningham welcomed that Flintshire was training HGV drivers.  The Chief Officer and Senior Manager explained that once drivers were trained, if they left the authority soon after becoming qualified, the cost of the training would be recuperated either from their salary or debt collection.

 

            The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Bateman, including two further recommendations:

 

·         That thanks be expressed to all of Flintshire’s front line staff, but especially those in Social Care and Streetscene & Transportation, whom it is recognised have been under immense strain and pressure;

 

·         That all of the Council workforce is assured that they are appreciated for the work which they do; and

 

It was also agreed that the First and other key Welsh Ministers be written to by the Chair of the Committee, the Chief Executive, the Chief Officer (Social Services) and the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation), to impress upon them the concerns which had been expressed, especially in terms of retaining staffing in the healthcare sector and the retention of other key personnel as the employment market became more buoyant.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the progress of the highlighted areas of risk within all five portfolios identified at earlier meetings of this Committee be noted;

 

(b)       That thanks be expressed to all of Flintshire’s front line staff, but especially those in Social Care and Streetscene & Transportation, whom it is recognised have been under immense strain and pressure;

 

(c)        That all of the Council workforce is assured that they are appreciated for the work which they do; and

 

(d)       That the First and other key Welsh Ministers be written to by the Chair of the Committee, the Chief Executive, the Chief Officer (Social Services) and the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation), to impress upon them the concerns which had been expressed, especially in terms of retaining staffing in the healthcare sector and the retention of other key personnel as the employment market became more buoyant.