Agenda and minutes

None.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 June 2019 were approved as a true and accurate record, subject to the following amendment:

·        On page 8, in the discussion about Sustainable Travel, the inclusion of the following comment regarding travel in rural areas: “A Member commented upon the importance of having a sustainable bus service in rural areas.”

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 July 2019 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Attendees:

-       Matt Lewis (Chief Officer, Shared Resource Service)

-       Kath Beavan-Seymour (Assistant Director, Shared Resource Service)

-       Cath Barnard ( Service Manager Education Services, Shared Resource Service)

-       Mike Doverman (User Support Manager, Shared Resource Service)

-       Annette Drew (Business Manager, Shared Resource Service)

-       Tracy McKim (Interim Head of People and Business Support)

-       Mark Bleazard (Digital Services Manager)

-       Dominic Gibbons (Digital Projects Manager)

The Chief Officer presented a brief overview to the Committee and highlighted they key areas for consideration.  Members’ attention was drawn to the finance section of the report, and the savings options provided to the Finance and Governance Board for review.  He advised that the SRS was on budget and had delivered the savings requested.  Partners were now in a  single category agreement with Microsoft. The largest increase in costs were due to the Office 365 migration and Microsoft agreement and based upon need.

He referred to the previous report to the Committee, when Members had asked about timescales for ICT for Education and advised that a Strategy Group had been set up and had met twice.

Capital drawdown had greatly reduced. Application Support was a pressure, queries had reduced as one person returned, and services were down to just one person. However, SRS are in process of moving to a different platform. Papers would be considered by the strategic board the following week, of which Newport’s Cabinet Member is a member.  A key meeting would be taking place the following week relating to consumption models and cloud services.

Ten recommendations had been given from the strategic board and there were updates taking place on a quarterly basis, but there was some overlap. A copy of the Recommendations and Next Steps paper could be circulated to Members of the Committee. It was also advised that there had been a lot of positive feedback.

Members asked the following:

·      A Member referred commented that SRS received £2.2 million but that it wasn’t clear what Welsh Government wanted the money to be spent on, e.g. broadband.  Not all schools had bought into the Service Level Agreement, so how could the Partners ensure that those schools will get a provision.  The Officer advised the Committee that the money had originally needed to be spent within 7 categories, now 6 categories and details could be circulated to Committee Members.  There were 6 layers, that schools had to work up and there needed to be a standard of infrastructure that schools need to hit the next level. Every school would benefit, although an example was given that it would be likely that a school with everything in place already would receive less money than a school who had little in place. Partners were committed to delivering the SLA in Newport.

·      A Member raised confidence of teaching staff being able to teach using devices and asked if Welsh Government was providing supporting guidance on the way forward regularly. Members were advised that the SRS had brought together delivery authorities to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Attendee:

-       Roxanne Green (Regional Partnership Board Regional Team)

-       James Harris (Strategic Director - People)

-       Chris Humphrey (Head of Adult and Community Services)

The Head of Service presented a brief overview to the Committee and highlighted they key areas for consideration. It was advised that the Integrated Care Fund was now in its 5^th year, and is a grant that comes from Welsh Government to support the development of services across the shared services. Every regional board bids for the grant. There are a number of different grants, and the requirements for the grants are that they cannot be used to support care services.  The grant had been used in the past in Adult Services to provide step down beds in Parklands, upgrade respite facilities at Centrica Lodge. Live proposals for Children’s Services are to provide more in house care facilities rather than send children further away. Over the last few years the Council has benefited from this money. It underpins our prevention and early prevention services. It is also used to bolster layers so people don’t have to move into more complex care services.

The Officer gave context to the Members as outlined in appendix 1 in the report. It was advised that the services are provided by three funding streams. Partners have to utilise funding by providing Welsh Government with a robust plan, who make a final decision. This has brought up challenges and delays with the CPA investment plan. Newport currently have projects in ten programmes. Newport’s allocation for revenue is 16%. It was then advised that partners were not expecting £19.4 million to the region. All strategic partners had to work hard to understand the financial plan. Newport is leading the way developing children structures.

Members asked the following:

·                Members thanked the officers for the helpful introduction. Comment was made that it would be useful to see how Newport benefits has partners, as well as outcomes and benefits that residents have seen. Members were advised that officers have to provide quarterly updates on every project. In terms of residents benefiting, officers have people’s feedback and stories. Example was then given of Step Up, Step Down outcomes 95%, being one of the highest. Members advised it would be useful to see more information in future papers. Officers replied that they are currently doing last quarter’s information, Members will have a clear picture of the prospective project. Officers can feedback these projects back to the committee.

·                What lessons have been learnt whilst working together, and have there been any challenges? Members were advised that a factor in this was how money was best used, the partners have learnt from which projects have worked and been effective and which haven’t. Projects are agreed collaboratively across Gwent and then tested as a pilot. If successful they are then scaled up throughout Gwent. Example was given that hospital discharges and delayed transfers of care have decreased considerably over the last four to five years.

Further examples were given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Attendees:

-       Emily Warren (Regional Partnership Board Regional Team

-       Chris Humphrey (Head of Adult and Community Services)

-       James Harris  (Strategic Director - People)

The Head of Service presented a brief overview to the Committee and highlighted the key areas for consideration. It was explained that this is another Welsh Government funding stream and is fairly new. The Head of Service has worked collaboratively and Newport are the host authority for Home First, which are a part of the hospital discharge team. They work at two sites: Royal Gwent Hospital and Neville Hall. This scheme is making sure that people being admitted to A&E are the ones that realty need to be.

The Officer gave context to the committee, and advised that the Head of Planning in ABHB wanted to work towards a more seamless system in care. The Healthier Wales policy was published in June 2018 and was cost neutral. £100million was gathered over a period of two years of delivering transportation. The sooner you put in an offer the sooner you can get the funding. Some of the questions Welsh Government ask include “Do you work in partnership?”  A small leadership Group was set up to see what could be delivered in 14 months that benefits social care and health and in which they had confidence.

Consultations had been taken with CIT representatives in four challenge support sessions, and discussed networking, what is out there in the committee, what you might go to a GP for and to access Mental Health services. Five well-being co-ordinators have been funded in areas so they can signpost people for advice.

During the sessions there had been some great suggestions. Examples were given such as transformation of primary care services, training and supporting GPs, and also putting in a multi-disciplinary team to make sure when patients access primary care services they can be navigated. They are trying to test the principles, if this work is how we should deliver, and where can we bring in additional people? The Home First model was then advised, where families can access adult mental health services. The whole school approach also equips schools to signpost and identify work with families.

A significant portion of the money had gone into training staff. In terms of outcomes, this is very early programme, which had only started in January 2019. There had been 792 calls as of the end of June so it can be seen how it could make a difference, which is already being seen to struggling families. Home First has had over 1000 assessments, and 30% for admissions.

Members asked the following:

·      Members praised the programme as impressive and exciting. It was then asked in what context would Brexit effect the programme. Members were advised about an underspend in two projects which are being funded from the sustainable funding stream. This was planned so it could be rolled over it next year, and the projects are ready to be delivered in April 2020. Often  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

a)       Forward Work Programme Update (Appendix 1)

b)       Action Plan (Appendix 2)

Attendee:

-      Meryl Lawrence (Scrutiny Adviser)

a)   Forward Work Programme Update

The Scrutiny Adviser presented the Forward Work Programme, and advised the Committee of the topics scheduled for the next two Committee meetings:

Wednesday 4 December 2019:

·     National and Regional Adoption Service

·     Update upon Developing Regional Fostering Arrangements

Wednesday 5 February 2020:

·     Education Achievement Service – Business Plan

·     Well-being Plan Mid-Year Update

She also advised of the list of Briefings the Committee had requested. Following discussion, the Committee requested arrangements be made for a visit to the Wastesavers Recycling Facility on Wednesday 20^th November 2019 at 3pm, followed by a presentation of an Overview of the partnership arrangements.

b)   Action Sheet

The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee of the Actions from the Minutes held on 26 June and 10 July 2019, as listed on Page 121.

c)   Information Reports

The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that there were no Information Reports to bring to the Committee’s attention.

d) Scrutiny Letters / Public Services Board Minutes.

The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that a Scrutiny Letter had been sent to

the Public Services Board scheduled for 4 October, submitting the comments that the

Committee had made upon the Well-being Plan Annual Report 2018-19 at the 26 June

Meeting. The Minutes of the Public Services Board meeting on 4 October would be circulated to the Committee.