Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor K Gibbs and Councillor L Minett Vokes.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

No Declarations of Interest were made.

To consider report of the Chief Executive

The Chair welcomed Councillor A Barry Cabinet Member, Hannah Brown, Mike Parry and Rebecca Delaney to the Meeting.

Rebecca Delaney then led the Committee in detail through the ‘Customer Services and the One Stop Shop' report.

Councillor A Barry also addressed the Committee in relation to the One Stop Shop.

The following questions were then raised by the Committee and were responded to in detail by Councillor A Barry and the Officers with the Chair advising that he would also be raising questions that had been submitted by Councillor L Minett Vokes.

·        Pilot scheme with a review in December - Could a review report on Customer Services and the One Stop Shop be presented in six months time this being the same time as the report agreed at the last Meeting of Council in relation to Changes to Council’s Flexi Scheme

·        How many of the public are aware of the extended hours – Expressed support for the extension of the trial period

·        Suggestion that there be a review in December together with a further review after six months

·        Will the review finding be presented to the Committee or to Council

·        Policy in Housing regarding the times Officers are available to take telephone calls – Could this Policy be looked at, Monitored and a report be made back

·        Concerns in relation to the Customer Charter not being followed as Customers are the priority – What is the way forward and approach in relation to Customer Services

·        Explanation requested in relation to the Policy of the Housing Department with the answering of calls

·        Members of the public who are shift workers who are unable to make calls during these hours – Why is a rota system not being operated

·        Are there Social Services Duty Offices available during the day

·        Paragraphs 5.7, 5.9 and 6.4 – Older residents with no access to the Internet or Social Media sites – Concern regarding the Cost of Living Crisis that a lot of residents do not know how to apply and what systems do the Council have in place – What is being done to ensure that digital resources are available to Customers

·        What plans are in place to go forward if things are needed in the future

·        Age Alliance Wales – Digital exclusion – The number of people who have Smart phones – Concern regarding access to Smartphones in the over 75 age group – Needs to be addressed as well – The elderly and the vulnerable

·        Need to look to see if the Council is excluding and to what extent

·        Community Hubs – The need to advertise these Hubs that can help with filling out forms etc

·        Joint Learning and Social Services Scrutiny Workshop has been arranged regarding the Cost of Living and that there will be feedback from this Workshop

·        Paragraph 6.4 – Printing error ‘of’ to be deleted

·        Flexible working – Do any staff wish to work longer hours for example in the evening and for the one Stop Shop to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 369.

To consider the attached report

The Chair referred the Committee to the Forward Work Programme 2022/23 report and advised that a further Meeting would be held to look at the Cabinet Work Programme with a view to bring this into the Committee Work programme.

The Committee then agreed the items as set out in the Forward Work Programme.

There were no Scrutiny Referrals.

Did we address the recommendations in each report and how have we added value?

The Chair referred to the report on the One Stop Shop and the agreement by the Committee that a report be presented to the Meeting in January 2023 in response to the issues raised.

Any outstanding actions?  Feedback from workshops / task and finish groups / enquiry days, etc.

There was no update on this item.

The Chair advised that there was no business deemed urgent.