Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B.A.L. Roberts, E.G. Thomas and J. Williams and from Councillor L.D. Evans, Executive Board Member for Housing.

There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

[NOTE:  Councillors K. Madge and E. Morgan had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Committee was reminded that in October 2012 the Welsh Government launched Together for Mental Health, a strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales.  Local Mental Health Partnership Boards were established based upon Health Board footprints and each local area produces its own annual report, which is submitted to the Welsh Government. 

The Committee considered a report reviewing progress made in 2014/15 against the following 6 high level priorities which were agreed for the Hywel Dda region:-

·       To ensure that people of all ages are better informed about mental health and mental illness;

·       To ensure that services are based on a recovery and re-ablement approach;

·       To improve families’/communities’ mental health and well-being;

·       To further reduce levels of suicide and self-harm;

·       To ensure that there is a concerted effort to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems;

·       To ensure that service users, their families and carers are involved in service development.

The following issues were raised on the report:-

·       Concern was expressed that the circumstances which contribute to depression e.g. benefit cuts, unemployment are getting worse;

·       With regard to those people experiencing problems with substance abuse, concern was expressed that there are no detox facilities available in the county. The Committee was advised that detox support now takes place in the individual’s own home where they are able to receive support from their family and the community;

·       In response to a question as to what the Council should be doing to help in this regard, the Committee was advised that the Council needs to build on the services already being provided and the importance of early intervention was again emphasised;

·       Concern was expressed over the issue of self-harm and the link with exam stress and the Committee was informed that a lot of work is being done in schools around this issue including engagement with school nurses.

RESOLVED that the report be received.

[NOTE:  Councillors K. Madge and E. Morgan had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Committee received for consideration a report on community resilience and why it is important in supporting the health and wellbeing of the residents of Carmarthenshire.  The report outlined the priorities for community resilience activities, the work being undertaken to support this agenda and future intentions. 

The following issue was raised on the report:-

·       Reference was made to the elderly who are unable to maintain their gardens and fall prey to unscrupulous callers who overcharge for doing the work.  The Committee was informed that the Authority’s Trading Standards Division has done a lot of work in this respect in relation to fraud prevention and protecting the vulnerable.

RESOLVED

6.1     that the report be received;

6.2     that the Committee receive a report at a future meeting on the Trading Standards Division’s initiatives for the protection of the   elderly and vulnerable.

The Committee considered its Forward Work Programme for 2016/17, which had been developed following the Committee’s informal planning session held in April 2016.

The Council’s Constitution requires Scrutiny Committees to develop and publish annual forward work programmes that identify issues and reports to be considered during the course of the municipal year.

It was noted that the date of the December meeting had been moved from the 15^th to the 12^th.

RESOLVED that the Forward Work Programme for 2016/7 be endorsed

The Committee noted the reasons for the non-submission of the Welsh Language in Social Care Services for Older People report.

RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.