Councillors question costs of Flintshire Connects revamp
Flintshire Cabinet members have defended the proposed transformation of Flintshire Connects into an outreach service.
But county councillors who called-in the plans at Thursday’s Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee raised concerns about the costs, strategy and promotion of the service.
Flintshire Connects is a service based out of five permanent offices in Flint, Mold, Buckley, Connah’s Quay and Holywell. It provides community access to council services for residents who are unable to use online services or who are vulnerable.
Last month Flintshire’s Cabinet elected to change the delivery model to a ‘peripatetic’ model – with staff travelling to communities across Flintshire to deliver services in a surgery or ‘pop-up’ style from local community centres.
But the plans were called in by Flintshire County Council’s True Independent group of councillors amid fears that the proposals agreed did not include enough detail around the costs and savings proposed and how the service would run. They were also worried that the proposal would lead to the closure of the five existing offices.
“We, as instigators of this call-in, accept the concept of the community outreach outlined,” said Buckley, Pentrobin Cllr Mike Peers. “It’s recognised by the council that those who cannot go online need access to Connects Centres – this is all about inclusion.
“We understand the need for efficient resource allocation but we believe this decision fails to capture the full value and necessity of these services in our communities.
“The public consultation refers to key findings – 48% of people did not know about Connects, so it begs the question what is being done to advertise the service and to make people aware?
“Connects Centres serve residents who are digitally excluded, elderly or have complex needs. Since June the existing centres have been closed for a total of 108 days that they should have been open.
“Regular closures risk deepening inequality and marginalising those who need face-to-face support. Reconsideration is required to minimise the impact this decision will have on existing Connects Centres and to appreciate the value that they provide.
“One of the reasons for calling for a review of the service was the concern over declining footfall. Footfall does not reflect need. Low usage at certain times does not mean services are unimportant. Many residents, especially the elderly, disabled and those without access to private transport depend on consistent availability.
“Reducing the hours risks excluding those that need it most.”
The committee was told that centres had been closed due to staffing issues that cannot be resolved until the service model is decided.
Cllr Linda Thomas, Cabinet Member for Customer and Corporate Services said Connects offered reassurance to Cllr Peers that under the proposal the five existing centres would remain, but the opening hours would change.
“This isn’t done and dusted,” she said. “The next steps are that Cabinet to decide if all members should be consulted on the locations of pop-ups, discussion about the recruitment for three currently vacant posts that have contributed to the closures over the summer and community mapping to develop new locations for the service and implement the new model as soon as possible.
“We agree that the proposal didn’t fully reflect the outcome of the members workshop.
“Members did advise they wanted to retain some presence within the existing locations and to expand to new locations through a surgery or pop-up model and partnership working.
“It is the intention to retain five centres on a part-time basis.”
Flintshire People’s Voice councillor Alasdair Ibbotson warned that the service would need more suitable promotion to service users.
“There needs to be more than social media posts and a notice on the community council noticeboard,” he said. “There needs to be familiarity that it is in a location, so the costs of promoting it to get footfall that is adequate probably require a leafleting campaign in the weeks leading up to it. There are costs that have not been mentioned here.”
Cllr Peers shared Cllr Ibbotson’s concerns over the unknown costings of the new model.
“The Cabinet decision lacked detail or costings,” he said. “It is not acceptable or desirable to approve a new service model without the detail or the cost of design, build, consultation implementation or delivery.
“We’re not here to block the model, we support it but we need the detail. We think the community outreach will be beneficial to new communities in new locations but Cabinet has approved it with no detail, no plan.”
But deputy leader of the Council Cllr Richard Jones argued that the change to the service would better serve residents living in more remote areas.
“This is going to be a real benefit for rural areas without any loss to urban centres,” he said.
“We want to get the right outreach in the right places. But this isn’t all about saving money. We have to consider that, but it’s also the value for money. With the same resources we are creating a wider reach for that resource providing a better service.”
Committee members voted that they were satisfied with the cabinet’s response to the call-in, paving the way for the service change programme to continue.
By Alec Doyle – Local Democracy Reporter
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