Care Scrutiny Committee

The minutes of this meeting have not been published, so this summary covers what the committee was due to consider, not what it decided. Councillors were to put questions to four housing associations, consider the draft North Wales Population Needs Assessment and its public consultation, review the annual report on social services complaints for 2025-26, and nominate two members to attend performance challenge meetings for the Housing and Property Department.

1. Questions for the housing associations

   Why

   The committee prepared 24 questions for four housing associations: Adra, Clwyd Alyn, Grŵp Cynefin and North Wales Housing. The questions cover how homes are allocated under the council's Common Housing Allocation Policy, house swaps, repairs and waiting times, empty homes, complaints and antisocial behaviour. The minute for this item is not yet published, so it is not known how the questions were used.

   Based on the minutes, Questions to ask the housing associations

2. North Wales Population Needs Assessment 2027 draft

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the committee offers its observations on the draft needs assessment as part of the public consultation.

   Why

   The North Wales Regional Partnership Board, which brings together the six councils, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other partners, must produce a Population Needs Assessment under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. The draft is out for consultation from August to October 2026, and the final version must be published in April 2027. The draft says there will be more older people, more people need support with mental health and neurodivergence, and unpaid carers provide much of the care, which it estimates would cost £2.3 billion to replace with paid care.

   Based on the minutes, Report, North-Wales-Population-Needs-Assessment-2027-main-report-consultation-draft-202607-1

3. Social services complaints and enquiries, 2025-26

   Why

   The annual report, prepared for the Director of Social Services, covers complaints about the Children and Supporting Families and the Adults, Health and Well-being departments. The council must produce it under 2014 regulations, and it helps departments learn lessons. Enquiries and informal complaints rose from 28 to 42 in Children and Supporting Families, and from 42 to 52 in Adults, Health and Well-being, between 2024/25 and 2025/26. The text provided does not include the formal complaint figures or the lessons learnt.

   Based on the minutes, Gwynedd Social Services Complaints and Enquiries Annual Report 2025-26 - ENG - final

4. Nominating members to performance challenge meetings

   Proposed

   The report asks the committee to nominate two members to represent it at the performance challenge meetings of the Housing and Property Department, which is due to meet on 29 September 2026.

   Why

   Performance challenge meetings are internal reviews, held four times a year, of how a council department is performing against its Council Plan priority projects and performance measures. After calls from the Scrutiny Forum and scrutiny committee members, the council intends to pilot inviting two committee representatives to one department's meetings. The Scrutiny Forum recommends Housing and Property. Members who attend must listen to the discussion and report back to the committee.

   Based on the minutes, Report - PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE MEETINGS, Appendix1 - Template - reporting back from performance challenge meetings

Written by AI from the reports on the agenda, before the minutes are published. Reports say what council officers recommend; the meeting can decide differently. Once the minutes are out, this becomes a summary of what was decided.

1. 1

   Apologies

2. 2

   Declaration of Personal Interest

3. 3

   Urgent Business

4. 4

   Minutes

   Papers: Minutes 16.07.26
5. 5

   Working with the Housing Associations

   Papers: Questions to ask the housing associations
6. 6

   North Wales Population Needs Assessment 2027 Draft Report

   Papers: Report, North-Wales-Population-Needs-Assessment-2027-main-report-consultation-draft-202607-1
7. 7

   Gwynedd Social Services Complaints and Enquiries Annual Report 2025-26

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Gwynedd Social Services Complaints and Enquiries Annual Report 2025-26 - ENG - final
8. 8

   Performance Challenge Meetings

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Report - PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE MEETINGS, Appendix1 - Template - reporting back from performance challenge meetings

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.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• Angela Russell, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Anwen J. Davies, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Beth Lawton, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Einir Wyn Williams, Committee MemberPlaid CymruSent apologies
• Gareth Coj Parry, Committee MemberGwynedd yn Gyntaf / Gwynedd FirstPresent
• Gwynfor Owen, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Jina Gwyrfai, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Linda Morgan, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Menna Baines, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Meryl Roberts, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Rheinallt Puw, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent
• Sian Williams, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent

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