Agenda item

The Committee considered the Council’s draft Annual Report for 2016/17 incorporating the second year progress report on the Corporate Strategy 2015-20, (including the Summary Annual Report 2016/17) and the full Annual Report which had to be published by the end of October each year as a requirement of the Local Government (Wales) Measure

It was noted that when the Corporate Strategy had been published in 2015/20 the authority had undertaken to produce an annual progress setting out 24 outcome measures against which performance would be judged.  The Corporate Strategy would be subject to review in 2018/19 to incorporate the Council’s Well-being objectives as required by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The following observations/questions were raised on the report:-

·        References were made to the 0.7% increase in sickness absence levels within the authority from 10.1% to 10.8% and views expressed that the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee, which had the remit for staff absence levels, should take urgent action to examine the reasons for that increase possibly, by re-visiting the work of its previous task and finish group on staff sickness levels.

·        In response to a question relating to the action to reduce referrals to adult and children’s social services, the Head of Housing and Public Protection advised that generally, referrals were reducing via use of Information, Advice and Assistance. Previously, the position was that referrals would automatically be directed to Social Services. That was no longer the case as now, following a basic assessment, service users would be signposted, as early as possible, to the most appropriate care service whilst ensuring the sign posting was accurate and relevant.

·        Reference was made to the theme of ‘Building a Better Council’ and the action to ‘increasing public communication, consultation and engagement. The Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager advised that the Council was currently revisiting its corporate consultation and engagement strategy in light of the provisions of the Well-being and Future Generations Act. A report on the outcome of the review would be submitted to Council via the normal reporting procedures.

·        In response to a question on responsibility for undertaking a countywide assessment under the provisions of the Well-being and Future Generations Act on the level of support for communities, the Committee was advised that whilst that lay with the Public Services Board, the council would need to contribute to undertaking more localised work thereon in the future.

·        Reference was made to page 17 of the report and the statement made to the use of renewable energy having more than doubled. Clarification was sought on whether that total usage, representing less than 1% of the total energy consumed was as a consequence of the authority increasing its own electricity generation or, increasing the quantity purchased. A view was expressed that the Committee could be provided with a report on the level of electricity generated and purchased and what percentage of that was green energy.

The Committee was advised that whilst that subject came within the remit of the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee, arrangements could be made for the information to be shared with the Community Scrutiny Committee.

The Head of Housing and Public Protection reported that the Housing Services Division would shortly be tendering for the procurement of photo voltaic cells where appropriate on its 9,000 properties which could significantly increase the council’s electricity generating potential.

·        Reference was made to the recent changes introduced to the Council’s garden waste collection service and information requested on the impact of those changes in relation to any difficulties encountered, take up figures and any financial impact. The Committee was advised that whilst that subject came within the remit of the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee, arrangements could be made for the information to be shared with the Community Scrutiny Committee.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED