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The committee considered a request from Conwy Youth Council for young people to sit on all scrutiny committees, the Director of Social Care's annual report, inspection reports from Care Inspectorate Wales, and two reports on rising demand in disability and older people's services. It recommended to Council that a Youth Council representative join the committee as a non-voting co-optee, meaning a person who is not a councillor. It recommended the annual report to Cabinet, referred the inspection report to the Governance and Audit Committee, and noted the demand reports, asking for business cases in future budgets.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: DOCVARIABLE "MembersApologiesShortList" \* MERGEFORMAT Mandy Hawkins, Kay Redhead, Austin Roberts and Elizabeth Roberts.
Councillor Goronwy Edwards declared a personal interest in agenda Item 8(i) – Director of Social Care’s Annual Report 2024-2025 as a family member works for Social Services. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Edwards remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed and voted upon. Councillor Cheryl Carlisle declared a personal interest in agenda item 8(iii) – Disability Demand update as a family member is in receipt of direct payments. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Carlisle remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed and voted upon.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 June, 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 June, 2025 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 June, 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme (FWP), together with the combined FWP be approved.
The Chair provided an update on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme (FWP) and the combined FWP. - Due to the pre-election period, the More Than Just Words action plan and the update on the Supported Living Service had both moved from April 2026 to June 2026. - The Joint Conwy and Denbighshire Adoption Panel Annual Report had moved from October 2025 to November 2025 as the National Adoption Service won’t have published its annual report and key information from the report was needed to inform the scrutiny report. RESOLVED- That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme (FWP), together with the combined FWP be approved.
Callum Morrisey, Chair of Conwy Youth Council spoke in favour of the report. The Head of Democratic Services introduced a report, which sought to co-opt representatives from the Conwy Youth Council to Overview and Scrutiny Committees. Key points from within the report were highlighted, including an explanation of the role of the statutory and non-statutory co-optees. Members were also informed of the recent Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendation (01/09/25) to Council that a representative of the Youth Council be invited to attend and participate as a non-statutory co-optee, without voting rights, during the open (non-exempt) part of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Cabinet Member for Culture, Governance and IT supported the report. In scrutinising the report, discussion arose regarding the following: • Young people having a say on matters affecting their communities was supported. • Safeguarding concerns in respect of Youth Council representatives remaining in the room for exempt items due to the nature of matters being discussed. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That a representative of the Youth Council be invited to attend and participate as a non-statutory co-optee, without voting rights, during the open (non-exempt) part of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services presented the Director of Social Care’s Annual Report for 2024-2025, which demonstrated how Social Care had promoted well-being and accounted for the delivery of well-being standards. In addition, the report provided information on areas of new development, together with evaluated performance during the year. The Strategic Director - Social Care and Education, provided the detail, alongside an informative presentation. In scrutinising the report, discussion arose regarding the following: • Thanks were extended to all the staff within Social Care for the work undertaken across the teams. · Collaboration with organisations and the importance of early intervention, prevention and supporting all members of society was highlighted. · In terms of addressing child exploitation, criminal exploitation and substance misuse. It was acknowledged that communities faced significant challenges in relation to criminal exploitation and substance misuse, therefore, it was important for a multi-agency response for timely identification and coordinated intervention. - On going efforts in relation to the above, included advanced safeguarding meetings, new police teams addressing anti-social behaviour and the need to raise awareness within communities to report such activities to the police. • Recognition of the dedication and extensive work of social services staff and practitioners despite significant workloads and recruitment challenges. Initiatives such as the ‘grow your own’ programme was considered positive, together with the work of the family centres and youth engagement programmes. • In relation to autism support and autism related strategies, Members were informed that funding for autism and neurodiversity initiatives continued, although some posts remained vacant. · In relation to how services and decisions affect people with protected characteristics (Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010), it was acknowledged that future reporting would address such mattes more explicitly. Members were informed that a joint meeting of the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee would take place on 3 March, 2026 in relation to safeguarding. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET That the Director of Social Care’s Annual Report for 2024-2025 be approved and that the Local Authority’s improvements in providing services to people in the area, as outlined in the report, be supported. NOTE: Councillor Goronwy Edwards declared a personal interest in the above item as a family member works for Social Services. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Edwards remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed and voted upon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee refer the regulatory inspection report from Care Inspectorate Wales and action plan to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content has been acknowledged and that proactive steps have been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services presented a report on two Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspections in relation to Llys Elian and Conwy’s Fostering Service and the Service Manager, Quality Standards and Commissioning provided the detail. In scrutinising the report, discussion arose regarding the following: • The cost of implementing improvements and the need to provide detailed financial information at future meetings, particularly the Governance and Audit Committee. • Thanks were extended to all the staff for the work undertaken. RESOLVED: That the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee refer the regulatory inspection report from Care Inspectorate Wales and action plan to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content has been acknowledged and that proactive steps have been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the report be noted, together with the service pressures, work already undertaken to manage demands within the eligibility criteria and that, in order to meet the demand pressures going forward a business case would be required as part of the 2025/2026 budget setting process. NOTE: Councillor Cheryl Carlisle declared a personal interest in the above item as a family member is in receipt of direct payments. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Carlisle remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed and voted upon.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services presented an update report on disability demand and the Head of Integrated Adult and Community Services provided the detail. Thanks were extended to the Disability Managers, Ramona Murray and Ffion Edwards Roberts for their hard work. In scrutinising the report, discussion arose regarding the following: • Management capacity due to growing responsibilities and workloads. • Support for informal carers, including respite breaks was recognised as critical in order to sustain care within the home. • Budgetary pressures from bespoke residential placements, legal costs and sustainability concerns should funding reduce were highlighted. • The challenges faced in terms of legal service capacity and the on-going efforts to balance in-house and external legal support. • Bathroom adaptations, to include the speed in which they were being completed was queried. In response, Members were advised that the data would be circulated to the membership following the meeting. • The contracts in place with agencies to assist with recruitment and employment support for direct payment recipients. RESOLVED: That the report be noted, together with the service pressures, work already undertaken to manage demands within the eligibility criteria and that, in order to meet the demand pressures going forward a business case would be required as part of the 2025/2026 budget setting process. NOTE: Councillor Cheryl Carlisle declared a personal interest in the above item as a family member is in receipt of direct payments. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Carlisle remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed and voted upon.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the service pressures and work already undertaken to manage demands, whilst ensuring compliance with the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act eligibility criteria be noted, together with the need for a business case as part of the 2026/2027 budget setting process in order to meet demand pressures going forward. In addition, Members were informed that Councillor Penny Andow would be stepping down as Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services and Councillor Hannah Fleet would be taking up the position. The Committee thanked Councillor Andow for all her hard work and dedication as Cabinet Member.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services presented an update report on older people care demands and the Service Manager, Older People Services provided the detail. In scrutinising the report, discussion arose regarding the following: • Supporting carers / dementia respite provision. • Telecare service affordability and accessibility, especially in rural areas and those affected by network infrastructure changes. • Growing service demands and budgetary pressures. • The hospital discharge processes and role of the Reablement Teams in filling care gaps if required was questioned. RESOLVED: That the service pressures and work already undertaken to manage demands, whilst ensuring compliance with the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act eligibility criteria be noted, together with the need for a business case as part of the 2026/2027 budget setting process in order to meet demand pressures going forward. In addition, Members were informed that Councillor Penny Andow would be stepping down as Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services and Councillor Hannah Fleet would be taking up the position. The Committee thanked Councillor Andow for all her hard work and dedication as Cabinet Member.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Goronwy O. Edwards: Personal interest on Director of Social Care's Annual Report 2024-2025
A family member works for Social Services. The interest was not considered prejudicial, so the councillor stayed in the meeting and took part in the vote.
Cheryl Carlisle: Personal interest on Disability Demand Update
A family member receives direct payments. The interest was not considered prejudicial, so the councillor stayed in the meeting and took part in the vote.
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