skip to main content

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH

Contact: Annes Siôn  01286 679490

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Croesawyd Aelodau’r Cabinet a Swyddogion i’r cyfarfod.

Derbyniwyd ymddiheuriad gan y Cyng. Catrin Wager.

 

2.

DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Nia Jeffreys declared an interest in item 8 as she was a member of the Dementia Go scheme Steering Group.  It was a prejudicial interest and she left the meeting during this item. 

 

3.

URGENT MATTERS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Nid oedd unrhyw faterion brys

 

 

4.

MATTERS ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from overview and scrutiny.

5.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7 MAY 2019 pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman signed the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 May 2019, as a true record.

6.

YSGOL LLANAELHAEARN pdf icon PDF 503 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Cemlyn Williams

Additional documents:

Decision:

To grant permission to the Education Department to hold formal meetings with the governing body and other relevant stakeholders to discuss a range of potential options for the school’s future.

 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Cemlyn Rees Williams

 

DECISION

 

To grant permission to the Education Department to hold formal meetings with the governing body and other relevant stakeholders to discuss a range of potential options for the school’s future.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was presented, noting that the department was eager to hold formal meetings with the Governing Body and other relevant stakeholders to discuss a range of potential options for the school’s future. It was noted that concerns had been raised regarding the significant decrease in pupil numbers at the school, and that estimates showed that the numbers would decrease further.

 

It was noted that initial discussions had been held with the Governing Body, and it was emphasised that a consultation would be held in order to identify and discuss possible options. The Education Officer added that the school's capacity was 53 pupils, and that the numbers had fallen to 11. The numbers had been decreasing since 2013 and several children in the catchment area were attending other schools.

 

The Local Member stated that Ysgol Llanaelhaearn was a small school that had worked hard in recent years to raise the standard of education and the children's attainment. He noted his disappointment and sadness about the school's situation and that the Governors had worked hard to try to increase the pupil numbers at the school. He added that he was aware that the school would face significant financial difficulties unless the numbers increased, but asked the Cabinet Members to consider the standard of the education and the children's happiness when discussing the options.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     A question was raised about whether last year's Schools Organisation Code changed the way that the department could consider options.  It was noted that the school fell under the Rural School Closure Arrangements category, and as part of these arrangements all options had to be looked at, giving real consideration to the effect of closure on education, the community, and travelling arrangements to other schools.

¾     In relation to the timetable of meetings, it would be necessary to hold the first meeting before the end of the summer term, and the second meeting in September following further research over the summer

Awdur: Gwern ap Rhisiart

7.

TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE BY INCREASING CAPACITY, DEVELOPING SERVICES AND CHANGING CULTURE WITHIN THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROVISION pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Dafydd Meurig

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved to earmark £116,000 in one-off resources from the Transformation Fund to finance an Occupational Therapy Leader post who will be responsible for leading and developing the Occupational Therapy service across the Adults, Health and Well-being Department (for a two-year period).

 

Minutes:

The report was submitted by Cllr Dafydd Meurig 

 

DECISION

 

Resolved to earmark £116,000 in one-off resources from the Transformation Fund to finance an Occupational Therapy Leader who would be responsible for leading and developing the Occupational Therapy service across the Adults, Health and Well-being Department (for a two-year period).

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was presented, which noted that the department would be submitting a one-off bid for £116,000 from the Transformation Fund to finance an Occupational Health Leader for a period of two years. It was added that the rationale for this stemmed from the Department's transformation agenda for preventative services, and to identify ways of keeping service users at home for as long as possible before they entered care. The crucial role of Occupational Therapists in ensuring support within the home was emphasised. It was highlighted that this was a new key role to change the culture within the service, to ensure that the citizen was central to the services offered to them.

 

The Senior Adult Services Manager noted that the role would transform the service, by placing a specific emphasis on preventative work. She added that the role would entail remodelling and integrating the therapy roles between the Local Authority and the Health Board to ensure that existing resources were used in the most effective way and that they provided a more person-centred service for the citizen.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

-        A question was asked about whether the Health Board was willing to collaborate more closely with the Council. It was noted that the Regional Integrated Committee had a consistent vision to work more closely, and it was added that there was a need to look at joint processes to reduce duplication.

-        Support was expressed for the scheme, and it was noted that it was consistent with Cabinet priorities. Reference was made to the importance of preventative work, as small actions could make a huge difference to ensuring that people were able to stay in their own homes for longer.

-        It was emphasised that this was a one-off bid for two years, and that the scheme would be reviewed at the end of the period.

-        A question was asked on whether apprenticeships in this area were a possibility. It was noted that discussions were being held with Glyndŵr University to train staff in this field to gain Occupational Therapy qualifications. 

-        It was confirmed that the Cabinet, when receiving reports on the final accounts for 2018/19 at the meeting on 21 May, had reviewed the funds and provisions, and had transferred £3m to the Transformation Fund for the main priorities in the Council Plan. Therefore, sufficient monies had been earmarked there to fund the one-off bids submitted here, namely Promoting Independence by increasing the capacity of Occupational Therapy, and the Community Dementia Support services scheme, which will make a real difference to some of Gwynedd’s residents.

 

Awdur: Mari Wynne Jones

8.

A ONE TIME BID FOR RESOURCES FROM THE TRANSFORMATION FUND TO FUND THE DEMENTIA SUPPORT SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY SCHEME FOR ONE YEAR pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Dafydd Meurig

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved to earmark £97,660 from the Transformation Fund to finance the Community Dementia Support Services Scheme (which includes Dementia Go), to fund two full-time posts (in Pwllheli and Porthmadog) and two 7-hour a week posts, located in Tywyn and Caernarfon, until 31 March, 2020. 

 

Minutes:

Submitted by Cllr Dafydd Meurig

 

            DECISION

 

Resolved to earmark £97,660 from the Transformation Fund to finance the Community Dementia Support Services Scheme (which includes Dementia Go), to finance two full-time posts (in Pwllheli and Porthmadog) and two 7-hour a week posts, located in Tywyn and Caernarfon, until 31 March, 2020. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was presented, noting that this was a bid for funding following a two-year successful pilot period. It was noted that the Dementia Go element was an original programme developed in Gwynedd that contributed to the lives of people who lived with dementia and their carers. It was added that Dementia Go was an opportunity to bring people who lived with dementia together socially, and that it assisted in enabling people to remain in their own homes for longer.

 

It was noted that 11 Dementia Go groups had been held across the county with four staff members working specifically on the scheme. It was added that the four staff members were champions in this field, and that they shared information and discussed dementia within the community. The Dementia Go sessions emphasised physical exercise, brought people together and reduced isolation.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

¾     Attention was drawn to the reference made in the report to the element of developing technology, and a question was asked about the type of developments this would entail. It was noted that the service had developed a tool that used virtual reality equipment to provide people in the community with an understanding of the experience of living with dementia. 

¾     It was noted that this was one-off funding, and a question was asked about whether staff within the Healthy Living Centres could be trained so that they could continue to hold the sessions. In response it was noted that Dementia Go staff held training sessions specifically in residential homes.

¾     It was emphasised that research was being undertaken and that a more formal evaluation should take place during the year that would lead to a consideration of whether funding should be provided after this year.

 

Awdur: Aled Davies