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Contact: Glynda O'Brien 01341 424301
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APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence was received from Morwenna Edwards (Corporate
Director). |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declaration of personal interest. Additional documents: Minutes: (i)
The following members declared a personal interest
in item 7 on the agenda - Health Provision in Blaenau Ffestiniog,
for the reasons noted:- ·
Councillor
Siân Hughes - as she was employed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health
Board ·
Councillor
Elin Walker Jones - as she was employed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board ·
Councillor
Dafydd Owen - as his daughter was employed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board ·
Councillor
Rheinallt Puw - as he was employed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board The members were of the opinion that they were prejudicial interests,
and they withdrew from the meeting during the discussion on the item. (ii)
Councillor Dewi Wyn Roberts declared a personal
interest in item 7 on the agenda - Health Provision at Blaenau Ffestiniog, noting that his daughter was employed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health
Board. The member was of the opinion that it was not a prejudicial interest,
and he did not withdraw from the meeting during the discussion on the item. (iii)
Councillor Linda Ann Wyn Jones stated that she
would not declare a personal interest this time in Item 7 - Health Provision at
Blaenau Ffestiniog as she had let herself and the
people of Blaenau Ffestiniog down at the extraordinary
meeting of this Scrutiny Committee that took place on 4 September 2017. |
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URGENT BUSINESS To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration. Additional documents: Minutes: No urgent items were received. |
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The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on the 13 June 2017, be signed as a true copy. (Copy enclosed) Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair signed
the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee, that took place on 13
June 2017, as a true record. |
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To consider the Housing, Leisure and Culture Cabinet Member’s report on the above. (Copy enclosed) Additional documents: Minutes: (a) The report of the
Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture on homelessness in Gwynedd was presented. (b) The Senior Manager for Housing and Well-being gave the background to the report and noted that homelessness
was one of the Council’s statutory responsibilities as set
out in the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. Changes
to homelessness legislation
were welcomed and these had come into effect and allowed cases to be open for a much
longer period. However, there was more workload on officers
and although some transitional grant funding had been received this
would end on 31 March 2018 and the Government
had not committed to any subsequent grants thereafter. It was emphasised that without transitional
funding the service would not have been able to cope
with the changes or have so many
successful outcomes with homelessness prevention. In addition, it was noted that there
were changes on the horizon in the welfare benefits system that would impose a burden on the service
and following the commissioned
work, reference was made to the main findings of this research work. (c)
The
service was facing a number of challenges as a result of legislative and benefit changes and it had identified that demand had increased and the forecast was that it would continue to grow. It was therefore crucial to consider how the service would respond
to ensure the sustainability
and ability of the service,
and how to manage future expenditure. (ch) On a positive note, it was stated that in
2015/16 Gwynedd was the best in
Wales in terms of the percentage of homelessness prevention, however this would decrease
this year due to the loss of one member of staff. (d) Members were given
an opportunity to ask questions and the officers responded as follows: (i)
There had not been an increase in
the number of people referred to bed and breakfast accommodation,however, they had stayed there for
a longer time. Nevertheless, the service had managed to support them within
the budget. An assurance was given that the service tried to avoid placing families
with children in bed and breakfast accommodation. At
all times they sought to retain individuals where they were by negotiating
with the landlords. By increasing council tax on
second homes, it was trusted that the money could be re-invested in this area to supply
for the needs of the individuals. (ii)
The
Homelessness and Housing
Support Manager was requested
to send information to the Members Manager as follows: ·
How many people were referred to bed and breakfast accommodation ·
Are they individuals / families / young people / male / female ·
The
costs of the above (iii)
Regarding houses leased by private landlords, rent was paid at the same
rate as the local housing allowance. (iv) That the cases were from across the County and included rural towns and villages. ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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To consider the Housing, Leisure and Culture Cabinet Member’s report on the above. (Copy enclosed) Additional documents: Minutes: The report of the
Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture on homelessness in Gwynedd was presented which referred to several schemes to assist house owners
to make the best use of their property. It
was reported that the Housing Service had succeeded in bringing 455 houses back into
use and, as a result, managed to accommodate 915 people in Gwynedd that had enabled individuals to stay in their communities. A
slide presentation was shown giving a visual taste of some of the problematic houses in the towns/villages of Trawsfynydd, Maentwrog, Llan Ffestiniog,
Penygroes, Bryncrug, Dolgellau, Caernarfon, Llanbedr, Bangor, Nefyn, Llandwrog
and Tywyn. Regarding the continuation and future of the funding available, it was noted that the Council in terms of the capital programme had invested and attracted funding from other sources. It was trusted that additional money received from the increase in Council Tax on second homes
could be re-invested to bring empty homes
back into use. Individual members highlighted the following main points: (i)
It
was asked if it was possible to bring an enforcement case referring specifically to a house in Llan Ffestiniog that had been in a dire
condition for many years and had caused considerable concern to nearby residents. (ii)
In response, the Housing
Manager – Supply and Enforcement outlined the powers available to the Council
and noted that it was possible to bring an enforcement case against the property owner, if the property affected the structure of the house next door. In this specific case
there was no structural impact on the neighbouring house. It was further noted that
discussions on the house in question
had been on-going for many years
with officers from the Snowdonia National Park and
the Local Member was encouraged to discuss the matter further with Park officers as the Housing Unit did not have powers to resolve the matter. In terms of investments
to house owners, it was noted that it was not necessary for them
to undertake a means test and that the investment was not to buy houses, but was rather to make improvements and to bring empty homes
back into use. It was further noted that
a means test could lead to a situation that would slow down the work of bringing empty houses back
into use as landlords would make quite a substantial
investment themselves in renovation costs. The empty house would be part of a leasing scheme for a period
of 5 years, or would be available to people on the Council's waiting list or Social Services clients. (iii)
It
was asked what were the targets and how success would
be measured?
A further comment
was made that the interest rates were approximately 8 / 9 % in 2008 which was a favourable policy at the time but had the figures decreased? In response, the Housing Manager – Supply ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICE IN BLAENAU FFESTINIOG PDF 164 KB To consider the final wording of the recommendations of the Extraordinary Care Scrutiny Committee held on the 4 September 2017. (Copy enclosed) Additional documents: Minutes: A report was submitted that comprised six recommendations
emanating from the discussion on the above matter at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Care Scrutiny Committee that took place on
4 September 2017.
It
was explained that the purpose of the report was to confirm the final wording of the recommendations to
be presented to the Cabinet Member
for Adults, Health and
Well-being and the Chief Executive of the Betsi Cadwaladr University
Health Board for action: There was a difference of opinion amongst Members regarding the wording of clause (ii) of the recommendations and it
was proposed and seconded
to delete the words 'reasonable time' and amend as follows: "that the Committee requests a report immediately on the health provision
in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area
by an independent agency, to be presented for the attention of the Care Scrutiny Committee. That the Scrutiny Committee calls upon the Betsi Cadwaladr University
Health Board to regularly
monitor information and data in
relation to the effectiveness
of current health services in the Blaenau
Ffestiniog area and the well-being
of its residents and to commit to adapting/changing the provision if there is evidence
to justify this. It was confirmed that
the remaining recommendations
(i), (iii), (iv) and (vi) were acceptable. In terms of providing an independent report as suggested above, it was noted that the Council would be able to suggest the names of external independent consultants to undertake the work. It was noted that
the Community Health Council were not pleased that they
had not received an invitation to be represented in the discussion at the Extraordinary Care Scrutiny Committee. Resolved: Convey the following
final recommendations to
the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being and
the Chief Executive of the
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board: (i)
That the Care Scrutiny Committee
calls on the Betsi
Cadwaladr University Health Board
to share all the background
information that was part of the original decision to change the provision of facilities and health services in the Blaenau
Ffestiniog area. (ii)
That the Committee requests
a report immediately on the health provision
in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area
by an independent agency, to be presented for the attention of the Care Scrutiny Committee. That the Committee calls upon the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to regularly monitor information and
data in relation to the effectiveness of current health services in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area
and the well-being of its residents and to commit to adapting/changing the provision if there
is evidence to justify this. (iii) Stemming from the evidence submitted by the Blaenau Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital Defence Committee regarding the lack of response to petitions and correspondence in the past, that the Board give detailed consideration to engagement and consultation shortcomings in the past in order to improve future arrangements. The Health Board ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |