CRAFFU : ADFYWIO AC AMDDIFFYN Y CYHOEDD

2.30 pm DYDD MAWRTH, 19EG IONAWR, 2021 CYFARFOD X XXXX - TIMAU MICROSOFT

By Cynhelir Cyfarfod Cyn y Cyfarfod cyn y cyfarfod hwn ac anfonir gwahoddiad ar wahân gan Swyddogion Cymorth Craffu at Aelodau'r Pwyllgor yn unig

Noder bod cyfarfod heddiw’n cael ei recordio

Gellir y recordiad hwn ddarlledu ei ar fewnrwyd yr Awdurdod

Bydd pawb sy'n bresennol yn weladwy i'r camera a, thrwy xxxx mynychu yn cydsynio i xxxx xxxx ffilmio ac i'r posibilrwydd o yr awdurdod ddefnyddio'r delweddau a recordiadau xxxx hynny fel y soniwyd uchod.

Cafodd yr Agenda hwn ei baratoi gan yr Adran Gwasanaethau Democrataidd. Dylai unrhyw aelod o’r cyhoedd xxxx xxxxx gwybodaeth gysylltu â’r adran ar (01685 725284) neu e-bostio xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx .

Gellir dod o hyd i unrhyw ddogfennau cyfeirio, y cyfeirir atynt ond nad ydynt yn cael eu cyhoeddi fel rhan o’r agenda hwn ar wefan neu mewnrwyd y Cyngor, o xxx Papurau Cefndir

AGENDA

1. Ymddiheuriadau am absenoldeb

2. Datgan buddiant (yn cynnwys datganiadau chwipio)

Atgoffir Aelodau o'u cyfrifoldeb personol i ddatgan unrhyw fuddiant personol a niweidiol mewn perthynas â materion sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn yr agenda hon yn unol â darpariaethau Deddf Llywodraeth Leol a Cyllid 1992 sy'n ymwneud â Treth Cyngor, Deddf Llywodraeth Leol 2000, Cyfansoddiad y Cyngor a Chod Ymddygiad Aelodau.

Nodyn:

(a) Mae Aelodau yn cael eu hatgoffa bod rhaid iddynt nodi rhif eitem a’r mater xxx drafodaeth, a bod rhaid iddynt nodi natur y buddiant personol; a

(b) Lle mae aelod yn ymneilltuo o gyfarfod o ganlyniad i ddatgelu buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu rhaid hysbysu'r Cadeirydd pan fyddant yn gadael.

3. Adroddiad Diweddaru - Trais yn erbyn Menywod a Merched, Cam-drin Domestig a Thrais Rhywiol

I ystyried yr adroddiad amgaeëdig 5 - 14

4. Y Wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am Ymateb i Coronafeirws

Derbyn yr adroddiad atodedig 15 - 18

5. Rhaglen Waith 2020-2021

I ystyried yr adroddiad amgaeëdig 19 - 30

6. Cyfeiriadau Craffu, Adborth a Gweithredu Dilynol

7. Myfyrio ar y Cyfarfod a'i Gwerthuso Derbyn diweddariad oddi wrth y Cadeirydd

8. Unrhyw fater arall y mae'r Cadeirydd yn ei ystyried yn bwysig

CYFANSODDIAD: Cynghorwyr: X Xxxxx (Cadeirydd)

X Xxxxx (Is-gadeirydd)

Cynghorwyr: X Xxxxxxx, X Xxxxxx, J Xxxxxx x X Xxxxxx

Aelodau cyfetholedig: X Xxxxxxx, X Xxxxxxx x X Xxxxx ynghyd â swyddogion priodol

Os byddai’n well gennych xxxx o’r agenda hwn mewn Iaith arall, cysylltwch a xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx neu ffoniwch 01685 725284

Xxxxxx y dudalen hon yn wag yn fwriadol

Eitem Agenda 3

Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN

Main Tel: 00000 000000 xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx.xx

SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REPORT

Date Written	8th January 2021
Report Author	Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx/Xxx Xxxxx
Organisation/Agency	Safer Merthyr Tydfil
Committee Date	19th January 2021

To: Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen

Update Report – Violence Against Women & Girls, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

1.0 SUMMARY OF THE REPORT

1.1 The Committee has requested a report outlining the current position of VAWDASV services in the County Borough along with information on the status for the wider Cwm Taf region, since the occurrence of Covid 19. The Committee would specifically like to know the impact that the pandemic has had on services and how services have adapted to continue to offer support

2.0 RECOMMENDATION(S)

2.1 The Committee receives and notes the content of the report.

3.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

3.1 This report has come to Scrutiny Committee to ensure that members of the group have an awareness of what is happening, and has recently happened to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence services during the global pandemic created by Covid 19, specifically in Merthyr Tydfil.

3.2 The request for information also requires an outline of what is happening in the broader Cwm Taf region. This report also covers the Bridgend region as since April 2020 the region has become Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) for the purposes of VAWDASV

3.3 The detailed content of the report will focus upon the journey undertaken by Safer Merthyr Tydfil (SMT) during the period of March 2020 – December 2020, as the authors of this report are employees of that organisation.

3.4 This report has been prepared by the Chief Executive Officer of Safer Merthyr Tydfil and the VAWDASV Regional Adviser for Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

4.0 WHERE WE WERE

4.1 Until 2015, the service provisions in Merthyr Tydfil focussed primarily on services for the victims of domestic abuse and sexual abuse. However, in 2015 with the advent of the Violence Against Women Domestic Abuse Sexual Violence (Wales) Act responsible authorities were given duties to prevent, protect and support victims of Honour Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation, Forced Marriage, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence. The Act recognises that domestic abuse and sexual violence, along with forced marriage are also experienced by men.

4.2 To meet the needs generated by the broadened scope of the Act, SMT has increased the range of services it now provides. The service still primarily deals with Domestic Abuse but now works with male as well as female victims, perpetrators of either gender who are committing abuse and children and young people who are victims of domestic abuse. When safe to do so and where appropriate, a whole family approach is adopted.

4.3 In 2016 the Welsh Government determined that the areas of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf would become one region for commissioning and service delivery of VAWDASV: the motivation for this change being greater integration, consistency, and equality of provision across the region. In April 2020, the region was again extended to include the Bridgend area, so the region is now CTM.

4.4 With the expansion of the region SMT has extended some provision of services in the three areas of CTM. There is also a greater degree of partnership and shared working arrangements

4.5 Pre Covid, the Teulu Multi Agency Centre (Merthyr Tydfil’s Domestic Abuse One Stop Shop) received 1,330 referrals during 2019-20, a 12% decrease from the previous year (1,517).

4.6 Across the region, high risk cases of domestic abuse are referred to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). Pre-Covid MARAC data shows there was a 4% decrease in the number of high-risk cases heard at Merthyr MARAC from 356 cases (2018/19) to 343 cases (2019-2020).

4.7 It is important to note that Merthyr Tydfil MARAC cases during 2019/20 exceeded the SafeLives recommended cases per 10,000 female head of population by 39%, further evidencing the high-risk nature of domestic abuse concentrated in the area.

4.8 Prior to Covid, all services operated within tried and tested formats that had worked successfully for many years, referral pathways were well known and operational partnerships well established. Interventions whether offered individually or through groups were primarily delivered in a face to face format. Partnership meetings were also generally face to face with a very small amount of tele-conferencing.

5.0 WHERE WE ARE NOW

5.1 This section will highlight the journey SMT and other providers had to undertake and the challenges to be overcome in continuing to provide services. The motivation driving all services was the understanding that abuse of any type would not stop because of the pandemic, but that there was increased risk to victims as they were locked down with their abusers. To increase the safety of victims, services had to remain available and find new methods of remaining visible to victims albeit using new means of safe communication.

5.2 Just before lockdown at the end of March 2020 all services faced the huge challenge of sourcing the appropriate equipment to enable staff to commence working from home. This was a difficult task as everybody else was doing the same thing and equipment became scarce and expensive. Purchasing of this equipment had to be borne by organisations as this was not a predicted situation with an allocated budget. In addition to securing the hardware, organisations had to ensure that staff had secure access to the documents and data they needed to continue this work away from the work environment. For Safer Merthyr Tydfil, this meant expediting the migration from server based to a cloud based back up system and ensuring staff had appropriate and secure connection facilities. In the early days of lockdown, contact with service users was primarily through telephone. Despite the difficulties VAWDASV services have been delivered every working day since lockdown.

5.3 Working with service users remotely using online methods and over the telephone presented further challenges and resulted in new risk assessments being considered and completed, staff had to be sure that it was safe to contact the service user if they were with their abuser 24/7. Additional training for staff had to be completed together with the adoption of safe work procedures with regards to use of platforms such as Zoom and Teams, WhatsApp and Facebook Live. A policy and procedure were developed for staff supporting children and young people when using online platforms

– modelled using NSPCC guidance.

5.4 Whilst agencies had the technology to contact existing service users, organisations had to ensure that new service users knew how to get in touch to seek support. This need drove a significant amount of communication with the public through social media. All VAWDASV organisations used Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to raise awareness of service provision and how to obtain support. CTM agencies also promoted Welsh Government’s campaign ‘Home shouldn’t be a place of fear’.

5.5 To encourage male victims to seek support we launched the CTM Any Man Can campaign. As time has passed organisations have become more sophisticated in their use of technology to reach out to their colleagues and the public. Consequently, websites have been updated to be more responsive to those seeking information and support using additional methods of communication not used prior to Covid. YouTube channels are utilised to promote the awareness raising videos developed to assist victims and families whilst in lockdown. However, these will be useful resources for the future and can be accessed by service users and members of the public who may be supporting family and/or friends or may themselves be contemplating support.

5.6 To encourage collaborative safeguarding activity the CTM Safeguarding Board established Command Meetings at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, these were multi agency partnerships covering operational to strategic issues. The purpose of these meetings was to gather information and data, identify trends and respond collectively to issues. VAWDASV agencies were a major participant in these groups.

5.7 Through the data collection process of the Bronze Command meetings, organisations were able to determine what was happening to their referral rates. At SMT there was a rise in the referral rates into the Teulu one stop shop once it was apparent lockdown was going to happen and then a drop the initial week or two of lockdown, but this quickly escalated again. After this period referrals were busy some weeks not so busy others, increase was 44% during May, however an average of the months April – September saw an overall 3.5% increase (688 referrals) as compared to the same period last year (665).

5.8 What became apparent was that organisations were seeing a greater uptake of support and engagement of service users who needed contact more frequently, longer support sessions and that the issues they were presenting were more complex. Service user numbers increased by 50% between April – September (377) as compared with same period during 2019/20 (252). During lockdown, cases remained open for longer as service users required ongoing emotional support with a plethora of issues including mental health, substance misuse, financial hardship all requiring referrals to other agencies.

5.9 Having the above information was extremely useful in helping to secure the additional resources made available to combat Covid. Applying for all the different grants has been a time-consuming process that often had to happen within short timescales and has been accompanied by challenging and frequent monitoring and reporting activity. However, across the region organisations have successfully achieved additional grant funding from Welsh Government, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) Office, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and various charitable foundations. However, it should be noted that many of the gaps bridged by this funding existed prior to the pandemic e.g., therapeutic interventions for children and young people and Recovery programmes for victim/survivors.

5.10 Working online with service users has also had implications for the health and wellbeing of staff. In an office environment staff can distance themselves from the trauma they have worked with, by having a distinct separation between home and work. Working from home does not allow this, workers are having the trauma brought into their homes. An office environment also brings with it immediate and organic support from Managers and colleagues which is not immediately available when home working. To offset harm that staff may experience, organisations have had to increase the levels of managerial support provided and have purchased additional, external support such as clinical supervision and trauma informed training. On a more positive note there have been benefits to working online such as a reduction in travelling time and increased accessibility for service users.

5.11 Covid restrictions have changed and are still changing so organisations must adapt to the current climate. Most VAWDASV organisations have seen some return to the office to deal with the most urgent need, however this must be carefully managed. Social distancing is hard to achieve in small premises. In SMT work bubbles have been created with specific days when that cohort can be in the office. Senior staff have conducted Covid specific risk assessments and prepared work environments to be Covid Secure and compliant with workplace guidelines. Staff have also had to deal with the use of PPE, mask wearing, Covid cleaning regimes and restrictions on the use of facilities such as kitchens. Disruption to face to face contact remains ongoing as SMT responds appropriately to ‘firebreak and lockdown’ restrictions. Despite these barriers to delivering services, VAWDASV agencies continue to deliver.

6.0 WHERE WE WANT TO BE

6.1 Feeling confident to continue to provide quality services that are responsive to need against a landscape that is still changing due to Covid restrictions

6.2 Specialist VAWDASV want to receive appropriate and sustainable resources. Whilst additional grants have been forthcoming during the pandemic all additional funding ends at the end of March 2021, so services will be operating at a level insufficient to need. VAWDASV services in Merthyr are heavily reliant on external funding, whether that be WG, UK Govt, PCC or Trust funding. In both RCT and Bridgend the core

services are supported by respective local authorities. There is a risk to services in Merthyr Tydfil, particularly as they currently receive a disproportionate amount of the WG VAWDASV grant and if parity of funding across the region were to be sought it could significantly reduce services in MT. VAWDASV services would welcome consideration be given to greater investment and sustainable funding.

6.3 Service delivery during Covid has changed and is unlikely to revert entirely to pre Covid methods of delivery, therefore there is a need to develop a shared vision of how services across the region will look in the future.

6.4 VAWDASV services need to continue to embrace the use of technology to make services more accessible to service users, especially as online services are not limited by geography

6.5 Prior to Covid the CTM areas were working together to try and achieve consistency and equality of services across the region, this commissioning work was derailed by the need to ensure that services were available to keep people safe. Once this work recommences it may impact upon the issues outlined in 6.3 of this report.

7.0 WHAT WE NEED TO DO NEXT

7.1 Service providers need to continually analyse the environment that they operate within to be responsive to changes in legislation and guidance, thereby safeguarding staff and service users, whilst delivering services

7.2 Service providers will continue to apply to grant making trusts to support the development and enhancement of services whilst statutory services have an ongoing role in supporting core provisions.

7.3 Service providers and Statutory Authorities need to raise awareness with funding bodies of the crisis service providers will face in March 2021 when additional Covid funding ends

7.4 Statutory authorities have duties under VAWDASV legislation and should monitor and review their commitment and financial support to VAWDASV services possibly committing to the issuing of longer length contracts

7.5 VAWDASV Strategic and Commissioning Partnership to establish a task and finish group that considers what services of the future look like and commissions services accordingly, in a manner that ensures consistency and equity across the region but also meets with local needs

8.0 CONTRIBUTION TO MTCBC WELLBEING OBJECTIVES

8.1 VAWDASV service provisions contribute to all the Council’s wellbeing objectives. However, as this report focuses upon the services provided by SMT then the focus of this report will be upon the wellbeing objectives that SMT contributes to.

8.2 SMT contributes to the following objectives:

• Best Start to Life

Children and young people get the best start to life and are equipped with the skills they need to be successful learners and confident individuals.

• Working Life

People feel supported to develop the skills required to meet the needs of businesses, with a developing, safe infrastructure which makes Merthyr Tydfil an attractive destination.

• Living Well

People are empowered to live independently within their communities, where they are safe and enjoy good physical and mental health.

8.3 Children who live in homes where they experience or witness domestic abuse have further to travel to achieve these outcomes. However, with the support of services such as DART, Comets and Rockets and the Family Programme these outcomes are achievable.

The integrated support that these projects provide, helps victims (parents) to be more able to respond positively to the traumatic experiences their children have experienced. The interventions offered provide support to reduce risk, increase safety and opportunities to re-build parent/child bonds. Creating resilience in families helps to reduce repeat referrals and pressure on frontline services, including statutory intervention

Specialist domestic abuse therapeutic is essential for children and young people who are adversely affected by domestic abuse. These interventions allow children to safely process their experiences, this in turn reduces fear and anxiety. Therapy of this nature enables an understanding of healthy relationships, improves health and wellbeing and contributes to better outcomes with their development and education.

8.4 A key element in the Working Life objective is to develop safer communities, which the Drive project contributes to. The Drive project works with high risk perpetrators of domestic abuse with the objective of helping them to change their abusive behaviour. This approach aims to eliminate the root cause of domestic abuse and prevent further victimisation. This in turn will lead to safer less violent communities.

SMT victim services highlighted above also contribute to communities and residents feeling safer. Each project assists victims in their recovery journey to increase their feelings of safety and their sense of being connected to their communities. Through increased confidence and self-esteem, victims are able to see a future for themselves and are more able to achieve their future aspirations.

8.5 SMT’s domestic abuse services deliver on many of the components of the Living Well

objective but for the sake of brevity this report will focus upon:

• Safeguarding children and adults who are at risk of harm;

• Tackling adverse childhood experiences and developing community resilience.

Domestic abuse services work in close collaboration with safeguarding services as adults and children who experience abuse may also need safeguarding. Witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse. Many of the children supported by SMTs Comets and Rockets project are registered on the child protection register or are children looked after.

The Drive Project works with high risk perpetrators of domestic abuse therefore safeguarding of victims and children is a core priority.

To achieve a reduction in harm the MARAC coordinator is situated in the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) so that all safeguarding risks to family can be considered. The MARAC process itself can also be considered a safeguarding tool as its sole purpose is to identify and mitigate the risk of harm to victims and their families. XXXX is a key player in this process as the IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Adviser) will attend the MARAC and independently represent the needs and wishes of the victim.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur before the age of 18 and are remembered throughout adulthood.

These experiences range from suffering verbal, mental, sexual and physical abuse, to being raised in a household where domestic violence, alcohol abuse, parental separation or drug abuse is present.

Evidence shows children who experience stressful and poor-quality childhoods are more likely to develop health-harming and anti-social behaviours, more likely to perform poorly in school, more likely to be involved in crime and ultimately less likely to be a productive member of society (Public Health Wales).

SMT domestic abuse services work with victims who have experienced one or usually more ACEs. Many of the children and young people have experienced parental separation and/or parental incarceration in addition to one or more of the types of abuse identified. A high proportion of victim’s experience increased mental health needs and substances; drugs and/or alcohol are often used for coping with the abuse, which also has a negative impact on parenting. SMT using an integrated approach

(The Family Programme) provides families with the appropriate support at the relevant time in order to maximise positive outcomes for all family members and builds resilience against future harm.

XXXXXX XXXXXXX SAFER MERTHYR TYDFIL

BACKGROUND PAPERS
Title of Document(s)	Document(s) Date	Document Location
List the Background documents which have been relied on in preparing the report. e.g. previous minutes of relevant committees
Does the report contain any issue that may impact the Council’s Constitution?			No

Xxxxxx y dudalen hon yn wag yn fwriadol

Eitem Agenda 4

Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN

Main Tel: 00000 000000 xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx.xx

SCRUTINY REPORT

Date Written	18th December 2020
Report Author	Scrutiny Section
Committee Division	Scrutiny
Exempt/Non Exempt	Non Exempt
Committee Date	19th January 2021

To: Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen

INFORMATION REPORT: Update on Council’s Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

1.0 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

1.1 Members of the Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee have requested a regular update report be introduced on the Council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic

2.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

3.1 At the Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny meeting held on 13th October 2020; Committee Members requested an update report be provided on the Council’s response to Coronavirus at each meeting.

3.2 The Committee Chair confirmed that this information could be presented in template format; and that it should contain data and information updates relating to the services’ key response activities.

3.0 WHERE WE WERE

3.1 An initial report offering data/information on the Council’s response to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic on 22nd September 2020. The Committee reviewed the content of the report; and explored the activities impact on both the services delivery the support services, and communities across the County Borough.

3.2 On review of this report; Committee Members discussed the need to maintain an overview of this topic, and to scrutinise the impact of the response activities which

the Community Regeneration, Public Protection and Housing services were delivering.

4.0 WHERE WE ARE NOW

4.1 At the subsequent Committee meeting held on 20th October 2020; it was confirmed the Committee sought to receive an update on activities at all subsequent meetings. This agenda item has now been added to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme as a standard agenda item.

4.2 Receiving regular update reports enables Committee Members to maintain an overview of both the progress made and the challenges faced by officers; whilst also enabling the voice/concerns of the public to be raised.

4.3 Following the meeting, it was agreed this report could be presented in template format which the Committee would review with officers, taking up a critical friend role.

5.0 WHAT WE NEED TO DO NEXT

6.1 Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Members will receive an updated report at each meeting. They will provide ‘critical friend’ challenge, and aim to work with officers to identify and drive any further improvements required.

Performance and Scrutiny Department MTCBC

BACKGROUND PAPERS
Title of Document(s)	Document(s) Date	Document Location

Does the report contain any issue that may impact the Council’s Constitution?			No

CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE UPDATE:

COMMUNITY REGENERATION, PUBLIC PROTECTION & HOUSING: DECEMBER 2020

Measure	Status at 29 September 2020	Current Status	Notes / Comments
Council advice and support around business closures	1,053	2,836	+1,783
Number of joint visits made by Environmental Health; Trading Standards and Licensing officers	225	423	+198
Number of fixed penalty notices issued by the Council in relation to business closures/ social distancing	0	37	--
Transforming Towns Thematic Covid-19 response grant – percentage spent to date	Awarded: £365,000	Spend to Date: £50,051	+£50,051
Local Sustainable Transportable Measures Covid-19 Fund – percentage spent to date	Awarded: £414,000 Spend to Date: £21,747	Spend to Date: £42,675	+£20,928
Total number of support	(a) Number of Businesses: 1524 (b) Spend to date: £20,240,825	Number of	Businesses
funding secured by businesses		Businesses:	supported:
in Merthyr Tydfil with total value		2299 Spend to date: £22,499,315	+775 Spend to date: +£2,258,490
Number of households in temporary accommodation	127 TOTAL: 62 x B&B	Homelessness presentation	--
(as at w/c 18.12.2020)	9 x HMO	continue to
	4 x Private Lease	increase
	Hostels = 20
	31 x other
	supported TA
Total funding secured to enable provision of intensive support for Phase 2 of Recovery	£1,615,042	£867,616 MMC x 8 units MVH £40,000 PRS project 2 x 1 bed flats	See comments below
		£37,100 regional outreach project led by RCT

Further details below

Highlights since last reporting period:

•

Reallocation of approx. £700K of Welsh Government Phase 2 funding originally designated for conversion of Neighbourhood Learning Centre, now being considered for additional 6 modular homes with Merthyr Valley Homes. To be sited on Gurnos Estate. Awaiting Welsh Government approval. Neighbourhood Learning Centre proposal withdrawn as project cannot be delivered by 31st March 2020. Alternative funding stream (possibly ICF) to be considered for this project at a future date.

Plans for Private Landlord project at Trevethick Street– conversion of 2 bed house into 2 x 1 bed flats now submitted to Planning Department. Objections received from residents. Await planning decision to confirm whether project will proceed. £40k Welsh Government Phase 2 funding at risk if project cannot complete.

Both projects form part of Covid 19 homelessness exit strategy.

•

Significant cutback of vegetation on town centre path to ensure adequate footway widths to aid social distancing.

•

Introduction of permanent bollards on lower High Street to restrict vehicular access and improve the pedestrian environment.

JANUARY 2021

A further increase in the level of finance support to businesses, now including the additional grant funding linked to the latest round of lockdown.

•

Eitem Agenda 5

Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN

Main Tel: 00000 000000 xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx.xx

SCRUTINY REPORT

Date Written	4th January 2021
Report Author	Scrutiny Section
Committee Division	Scrutiny
Exempt/Non Exempt	Non Exempt
Committee Date	19th January 2021

To: Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen

Forward Work Programme 2020/21

1.0 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

1.1 To provide the Scrutiny Committee with its draft work programme for consideration and to prepare in advance of the next scrutiny committee meeting.

1.2 To remind Scrutiny Committee members that they need to consider the requirements of the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 in all aspects of scrutiny work.

2.0 RECOMMENDATION(S)

2.1 The Committee considers the attached Draft Forward Work Programme and approves, revises or amends it as deemed appropriate; and to consider the questions at 3.7 in planning for the next meeting.

3.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

3.1 The attached draft forward work programme identifies the topics and issues under consideration by the Scrutiny Committee and allows an opportunity for additional subjects to be identified and included on the programme.

3.2 Scrutiny committees are required to prepare and keep under review a programme for their future work. By reviewing and prioritising issues, members are able to ensure that the work programme delivers a member-led agenda.

3.3 The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires each Public Service Board (PSB) and Council to work with their communities to develop local objectives. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC) and the Cwm Taf PSB have acted on this.

3.4 MTCBC has four local Wellbeing Objectives, each having clear outcomes that will help the Council to respond to local community needs and contribute to the seven national wellbeing goals. The four Wellbeing Objectives are:-

BS Best Start to Life - Children and young people get the best start to life and are equipped with the skills they need to be successful learners and confident individuals.

The key outcomes for Best Start to Life are:

• Children live in a nurturing and stimulating home environment

• Children have access to high quality pre-school and school education

• Improve the educational outcomes for all children and young people

• Children and young people have good health and wellbeing

WL Working Life - People feel supported to develop the skills required to meet the needs of businesses, with a developing, safe infrastructure which makes Merthyr Tydfil as an attractive destination.

The key outcomes for Working Life are:

• Merthyr Tydfil realises its full economic potential, with a skilled workforce and better employment opportunities;

• People value and enjoy the built and natural environment, protecting and enhancing our cultural assets for current and future generations;

• We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.

EW Environmental Wellbeing - Communities protect, enhance and promote our environment and countryside.

The key outcomes for Environmental Wellbeing are:

• Environmental damage is minimised by preventing pollution

• To maximise the amount of materials and resources recycled in line with the waste hierarchy;

• Merthyr Tydfil has good quality, biodiverse and connected green infrastructure and open spaces; and

• The use of renewable and low carbon energy is increased.

LW Living Well - People are empowered to live independently within their communities, where they are safe and enjoy good physical and mental health.

The key outcomes for Living Well are:

• People live safe and independent lives within their communities

• Children and adults are safeguarded from harm and feel safe

• Children and young people live safely with their family or close to home and have transitioned well into adulthood.

3.5 The Scrutiny Committee is encouraged to identify issues that reflect these priorities that are within your remit and/or are a priority for local people and communities. If a matter is a recurring issue for the people you, as Councillors, represent, the likelihood is that it is something that the Committee should consider. The more relevant the issue is to local communities then the greater the likelihood of engaging those communities in the scrutiny process and of producing outcomes that will be visible to those communities you represent.

3.6 MTCBC has developed an ‘Our Shared Vision’ document (Appendix I). This makes the connections from the seven national Wellbeing Goals through to the local objectives and political priorities. This document is contained within one page and acts as an easy to understand guide. When considered with service area strategies and operational plans a thread is created that can be extended down to individual tasks. This helps staff members see how they are contributing to the Act and the ‘Wales We Want’, and will assist Scrutiny members better understand the connections with the Act.

3.7 The work programme is a dynamic document and is reviewed at every meeting of the Committee to ensure that its contents are still relevant and will add value to what the Council and partners are doing. At each meeting the committee will agree the agenda items for their next meeting and in preparation may in advance wish to ask itself the following questions.

Q) Why has the item been placed on a Scrutiny Work Programme?

a. Does this item/ topic contribute to the delivery of the Council’s wellbeing objectives?

b. Does this item/ topic contribute to the delivery of the Council’s corporate priorities/ objectives?

c. Is this item/ topic relating to service performance concerns?

d. Is this item/ topic of significant public interest?

e. Does the item/ topic have any budgetary implications?

f. Is this an item/ topic where Xxxxxxxx involvement will make a significant difference and achieve tangible outcomes?

g. Can effective Scrutiny of this issue be delivered from within available resources?

Q) What is the specific role of the Committee?

This will depend on the item – for example the role could be:

a. to determine if performance levels are acceptable in relation to a particular department;

b. to determine if a specific policy is fit for purpose;

c. to satisfy itself that the Authority is working well with its partners in tackling a major issue;

d. to gather the views of specific stakeholders as part of an on-going scrutiny investigation/ review;

e. to explore possible solutions to an issue.

Q) What outcome is the Committee seeking from the consideration of this item?

a. To comment on the proposed budget and make suggestions to cabinet regarding the proposed budget’s ability to deliver the priorities of the council

b. Identification of any causes for concern and note successes.

c. To receive an overview presentation.

d. To gain an understanding of and to comment on a policy/ strategy

e. To explore ideas around the setting of budgets while considering the pressures facing each service. This also helps provide an overview of the policy frame work.

f. For the scrutiny committee to gain an overview and refresh their knowledge of the wellbeing objectives/ other plan/ other strategy.

g. Improvement in service delivery

Q) What information does the Committee need to fulfil this role/ achieve this outcome?

What is the Committee trying to do? You might be trying to do some or all of the following i.e. establish facts; gather opinions; or explore new ideas/ solutions.

Q) Who should be invited to the meeting to provide the information?

Depending on the information you need you might want to hear from a range of witnesses – e.g. Cabinet members, Senior Officers, Service users, and External partners – e.g. Police, Strategic Partners etc

Q) Does the Committee need to ask for written representations?

The Committee may wish to pose some questions to the Directorate/ Cabinet Member/ External Partner etc. prior to the meeting. This may help in instances when the Committee is looking for something specific to be addressed. This will assist whoever is attending to ensure that they have the information/ answer ready for the meeting.

Q) Which meeting format/ venue would be most appropriate for the item and for the witnesses that will be invited to attend?

Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic, all scrutiny committees are to be held via Microsoft Teams at least for the time-being. This decision has been taken to ensure the safety of our members, officers and all others in attendance. Currently, there is no clear indication of when hybrid meetings will be appropriate; and this will be reviewed in line with any updates and advice from U.K. and Welsh Government.

Even under normal circumstances, meetings do not have to be held in a formal committee room environment. You may wish to hold occasional meetings in community location settings e.g. community centres, sports facilities etc. It depends on the subject. Some people find the formal setting intimidating. Site visits for example may be more appropriate to see first-hand what the committee is investigating/ obtaining information on e.g. waste sites, regeneration projects etc.

Q) Method of Scrutiny?

Once Members have identified the matters they wish to scrutinise, consideration should be given to scoping the subject in more detail including the timing and method of scrutiny to be used. Support in this process will be given by the Scrutiny and Support Manager and Officer. Members may wish to:

a. Consider an item at a single meeting;

b. Consider an item over a series of meetings;

c. Allocate the work to a small working group of Members (Task & Finish group) to investigate the issue over a period of 2-3 months (this may involve visits to see how services are working in practice);

d. Undertake an Inquiry Day (or days);

e. Undertake joint scrutiny with members of another Scrutiny Committee;

f. Invite expert witnesses to give their views;

g. Seeking the views of service users/ carers and/ or the general public (public calls for evidence)

Performance and Scrutiny Department MTCBC

BACKGROUND PAPERS
Title of Document(s)	Document(s) Date	Document Location
Statement of Wellbeing & Focus on the Future: Wellbeing in our Community	4th April 2018	MTCBC Website Full Council 4th April 2018
Does the report contain any issue that may impact the Council’s Constitution?			No

APPENDIX I

Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Descriptors 2020/2021

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(The Work Programme is reviewed at each meeting and as such is subject to change)

Date / Timing	Overarching Item	Cabinet Member & Officer(s)	Scrutiny Focus
29th September 2020	Draft Committee Work Programme 2020/21	• Committee Chair • Scrutiny Committee Members	The Committee to discuss the draft Work Programme and make any required adjustments to this in order to agree its content and sign off the Work Programme for 2019-2020.
29th September 2020	Coronavirus Update – Response and Transition to Recovery	• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection • Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing • Head of Housing & Economic Development • Head of Protection & Safety Services	Scrutiny and Challenge: Local councils have faced unprecedented events during 2020 as a result of the pandemic and, more specifically, the impact of the prolonged period of lockdown. With a specific focus on the areas of Community/Economic Regeneration; Protection and Safety Services and Housing; the Committee seeks a report that will enable them to review how these specific service areas within the Council have responded to pre-existing and emerging needs resulting from the prolonged period of lockdown; and how it has worked differently to manage/mitigate identified risks/issues specifically linked to these. The report should reflect on what outcomes were achieved, whether opportunities were identified and acted upon and what lessons have been learned; showing how these will be used to take the next required steps supporting recovery in both the immediate and longer-term.
20th October 2020	Housing & Homelessness	• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection • Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing • Head of Housing & Economic Development • Head of Protection & Safety Services	Scrutiny and Challenge: The Committee has requested a report be provided to review the Council’s provision of Housing and Homelessness services. The Committee request the report contains information on the following elements: • The most recent available data in relation to homelessness; • The recent changes to Welsh Government housing/homelessness legislation and the implications of these on the Council’s services; • Details on how services have had to adapt to meet requirements of the coronavirus and the impact of these changes; • Housing/homelessness in the Town Centre – an overview of the current status and the related issues which arise from this (this would lead on to the ASB/Substance Misuse and the Town Centre report which is also on your Work Programme). Additionally; the Committee seeks an update on the current status of the Council’s plans for the Winter Night Shelter showing how recent events have been impacted on the planning of this.

Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Descriptors 2020/2021

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(The Work Programme is reviewed at each meeting and as such is subject to change)

1st December 2020

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)/Substance Misuse in the Town Centre

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Housing & Economic Development

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

Scrutiny and Challenge: The Committee requests a report be produced advising Committee Members of the latest status in relation to the Council’s activities regarding anti-social behaviour and substance misuse in the Town Centre. The report will include:

• The latest data into the number of instances of anti-social behaviour within the Town Centre;

• A breakdown of the types of ASB incidents being reported;

• The number of ASB letters being issued by the Council;

• An overview of the instances where, following investigation of a complaint, substance misuse is found to be a key factor in relation to ASB incidents being reported;

• An overview of the actions being taken to address these issues; including a breakdown of any projects or targeted activities to support improvements in this area.

The Committee also wishes the report to reflect the impact the recent and current local

lockdowns have had on the issues; and how the pandemic has affected how services are delivered.

Update on Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Housing & Economic Development

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

Overview and Scrutiny: The Committee requests a short update be presented at each Committee meeting providing them with key information on the ongoing response activities in relation to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. By receiving regular updates; the Committee can maintain an overview of progress made and the challenges faced; whilst enabling the voice/concerns of the public to be raised. Committee Members will provide ‘critical friend’ challenge, and aim to work with officers to identify and drive any further improvements required.

Draft Committee Work

Programme 2020/21

• Committee Chair

• Scrutiny Committee Members

To review the items due to be presented at the next Committee meeting, ensuring a clear

brief of the Committee’s expectations are available to report authors who will be drafting

the report.

Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Descriptors 2020/2021

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(The Work Programme is reviewed at each meeting and as such is subject to change)

19th January 2021

Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence*

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

• Representative from Safer Merthyr Tydfil

Scrutiny and Challenge: The Committee acknowledges the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have been a difficult and worrying time for everyone; particularly so for adults and children living with abuse, and the professionals working hard to support them.

The Committee requests a report be produced outlining the current status re: domestic abuse and sexual violence across the County Borough along with information on the status for the wider Cwm Taf Region. Current information should be presented and contextualised against the pre-Covid 19 status, enabling the Committee to establish the impact of the extraordinary circumstances.

The Committee would also seek to identify the different ways of working which support provides have had to adopt in order to provide targeted to support to those at risk of harm; safeguarding them.

Update on Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Housing & Economic Development

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

Draft Committee Work Programme 2020/21

• Committee Chair

• Scrutiny Committee Members

To review the items due to be presented at the next Committee meeting, ensuring a clear brief of the Committee’s expectations are available to report authors who will be drafting

the report.

Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Descriptors 2020/2021

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(The Work Programme is reviewed at each meeting and as such is subject to change)

23rd February 2021

Subsidised Bus Services and the City Deal Metro programme

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Housing & Economic Development

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

Overview and Scrutiny: Following queries and comments received from community members across the County Borough; the Committee seeks to open a discussion with officers around the current arrangements in relation to the subsidised bus services covering the public transport network.

The report should include detail on:

• the process used to secure sufficient; affordable and quality bus services for communities to use and access;

• an overview of the allocation of funding to this process to ensure best value and a description of how this has changed over time;

• an assessment regarding whether best value is being achieved from contracts/agreements; and

• how the proposed network development linked to the South Wales Metro aims to

further improve the public transport network across the County Borough and beyond.

Update on Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Housing & Economic Development

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

Draft Committee Work Programme 2020/21

• Committee Chair

• Scrutiny Committee Members

To review the items due to be presented at the next Committee meeting, ensuring a clear brief of the Committee’s expectations are available to report authors who will be drafting

the report.

Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Descriptors 2020/2021

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(The Work Programme is reviewed at each meeting and as such is subject to change)

13th April 2021

Crucible Project & the developing Special Purpose Vehicle

Scrutiny & Challenge: Reports received by the Committee previously on this topic have offered Committee Members an insight on the early stages of planning; key project strands and demonstrated the connectivity within this large-scale heritage, culture and destination development project.

The Committee seeks a report containing a full status update; along with key aspects of the project (scope; cost; timescales; key partners; benefits/dis-benefits etc.). The Committee would also seek to develop their understanding of the requirements of any developing Special Purpose Vehicle mechanism – a component which was previously outlined as a key consideration of this project.

Update on Response to Coronavirus Pandemic

• Cabinet Member – Regeneration & Public Protection

• Chief Officer – Community Regeneration; Public Protection & Housing

• Head of Housing & Economic Development

• Head of Protection & Safety Services

Draft Committee Work Programme 2020/21

• Committee Chair

• Scrutiny Committee Members

To review the items due to be presented at the next Committee meeting, ensuring a clear brief of the Committee’s expectations are available to report authors who will be drafting

the report.

Regeneration and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Descriptors 2020/2021

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(The Work Programme is reviewed at each meeting and as such is subject to change)

Additional Topics for Review

To be discussed

Xxxxxx Master Plan

Public awareness around the proposed development of the Xxxxxx site is growing and people are keen to find out more about what is being discussed, what impact any development would have on the people living in the areas around the Xxxxxx site as well as to find out what role the Council will play in this. This development is understood to align with the ongoing development of the Cardiff and the Regions City Deal Offer and the Committee would seek to explore key requirements; how the connections noted would

To be discussed

Violent Crime: Sexual Violence

The Committee has requested a report on this topic, which would include both local and national data on sexual violence. The report should outline the impact of sexual violence on citizens (i.e.) STIs; pregnancies; impact on mental health and offer basic detail on the support structure available for victims both at the time incidents occur and in the longer-term.

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CRAFFU : ADFYWIO AC AMDDIFFYN Y CYHOEDD

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