MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 14 JANUARY 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mr I R Stephens (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs T M Butchers, Mrs B D Clough, Mr C R Hancock, Mr G S Kendall, Mrs E Oulton, Mr R C Richards, Mr D G Williams
Apologies :
Mrs D Gardner, Mr A J Mellor
Portfolio Holder :
Mr R G Mazillius
Also Present :
Mr J A Bowker
48. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2002 be confirmed.
49. HOMELESS MONITORING AND NOMINATION STATISTICS
The Acting Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing introduced Mr Martyn Pearl, the Council’s new Head of Housing to the Select Committee.
It was indicated, that as requested by the Committee, a third appendix had been submitted detailing statistics for families in Bed and Breakfast. The Select Committee were advised that under arrangements with the new Common Housing Register due to come into effect form 1 April 2003 the Council would no longer nominate those people placed on the housing list. This role would be taken on by the Housing Associations and monitored and audited closely by the Council. It was considered that the Housing Associations were best placed to do the majority of nominations. In discussion, Members emphasised the need to monitor housing nominations and to ensure that the Council received an adequate number of placements.
It was clarified that the grant from central Government to support the use of Bed and Breakfast was due to expire in March 2003. However the Council had been invited to submit a bid for the financial year of 2003/2004 by the 24 January 2003.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
50. BUDGET MONITORING AS AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 2002
The Select Committee received the report of the Acting Strategic Director which set out the budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within the Committee’s remit as at the end of November 2002.
It was raised that there was an overspend within the Supporting Peoples budget due to the cost of administering the service. An approach had been made to the Island’s Registered Social Landlords and the Probation Service with regards to support in funding the service. Concern was raised with regard to the cost of the CCTV budget. It was indicated that Members considered that the CCTV budget should not wholly be placed in the Social Services Directorate. It was believed that it was a corporate issue. Members were assured by officers that this issue was being addressed.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
51. BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES 2003/2004
Members received the report of the Acting Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing which informed the Committee of the proposed budget development priorities. Members were reminded that the Select Committee had submitted bids and set priorities throughout the last financial year and these had been included within the budget.
The Portfolio Holder for Social Services and Housing advised the Select Committee that a number of growth bids that had been identified within the Directorate. Firstly the recruitment and retention of staff within Children’s Services. As members were aware the Select Committee had previously endorsed a recruitment and retention of market forces allowance to be paid to address this issue. This was identified as a nationwide problem and it was thought that the market forces allowance would help compete with other authorities.
With regard to the demographic growth in Older People’s social care requirements, the Portfolio Holder advised that an extra budget allocation of £108,000 was required to address the increasing elderly population.
Services to Elderly Carers of Adults with a learning disability were also considered to be an area that required greater financial support.
Assessments of need had identified an increase in the requirement for residential care for people with a mental illness. It was highlighted that a provision of £27,000 was required to support this need.
As Members were aware the new National Care Standards for Residential Care had placed additional financial pressures on care homes. As a result a provision of £98,000 had been identified as necessary to achieve compliance.
Fairer Charging was a new legislative requirement that had a direct impact on the Council’s budget allocation. A provision of £250,000 was required to implement Fairer Charging and no additional government funding had been provided.
Residential and Nursing Care/Home Care Provision had been identified as the most significant area within the 2003/2004 budget. This was largely attributed to the National Care Standard requirements and other new legislation for example work time regulations, national insurance. Complex and delicate fee negotiations were reported to be ongoing.
Finally it was considered Foster Care recruitment and retention on the island required additional support. A potential budget development of £600,000 was proposed.
The Select Committee were advised that the Executive were due to consider the budget of the Portfolio Holder for Resources on 15 January 2003. The allocation given was £2.277 million in total for Social Services and Housing. The Portfolio Holder did not consider this sufficient to meet the Social Services need as outlined in the growth bids.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be accepted.
52. CARE MANAGEMENT AND COMMISSIONING BEST VALUE REVIEW IMPROVEMENT PLAN
The Select Committee received the report of the Acting Strategic Director which gave Members the opportunity to monitor progress made against the improvement plan which had previously been considered by the Committee.
The review had been evaluated by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) in September 2001 and they had considered it to be complex and comprehensive. At the time the SSI had judged the service to be a fair 1 star service with scope for improvement, as the Select Committee were aware the Directorate was now judged to be a 2 star service. It was noted that the review linked closely to the Action Plan for Older People Services.
In discussion, the action point to improve the quality of public information about health and care services for adults was raised. Members were advised that it was intended to re-appoint a communications co-ordinator to address this area. The Select Committee were assured that this appointment had been investigated corporately and consultation had taken place with the Council’s Head of Policy and Communications.
Concern was raised with regard to the services current client database. As Members were aware the system required updating, however the Directorate did not have adequate funding to support its implementation. The Select Committee were advised that a information strategy was in place to replace the client database if funding became available. In order to support the database some additional systems had been installed.
The format for reports and particularly Best Value Improvement Plans was discussed. It was requested that a few minor amendments to the format of the plan be made in particular to ensure that the plan was kept up to date. In addition it was suggested that the Committee receive a annual report presenting all the areas of action which had been achieved.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be accepted and that the Improvement Plan be monitored again by the Select Committee in September 2003.
53. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE 2001 - 2002, AUTUMN POSITION STATEMENT - NOVEMBER 2002
The Select Committee received the report of the Acting Strategic Director which appraised Members of the progress regarding the Social Services Directorates recent submission to the Department of Health (DOH) of the Autumn Position Statement. The Select Committee were advised that the DOH would in due course advise the Directorate through the annual Directors letter as to their opinion on the services performance.
Members were also assured that the performance against the submitted data was being closely monitored.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be accepted.
54. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS IN SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING DIRECTORATE
Consideration was given to the report of the Acting Strategic Director which reported on the Performance Management Arrangements within the Directorate. Members were advised that strategic management and leadership, operational management and a number of performance management activities were already in place. These activities were outlined in Appendix 1. It was also indicated that the Directorate was fully involved in the corporate management initiative.
In discussion, it was highlighted that benchmarking with other Authorities had been undertaken such as benchmarking Authorities of a comparable nature to the Island, to study Authorities that had received a 3 star rating from the SSI and to analyse how the Directorate would improve its own 2 star rating. It was indicated that the SSI were encouraged by the work that had so far been done in this area.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be accepted.
55. FAIRER CHARGING POLICY FOR NON RESIDENTIAL SOCIAL CARE SERVICES - CONSULTATION PROPOSALS
The Select Committee were reminded that the issue of a new charging policy to be effective from April 2003 had initially been brought to the Committee on 6 November 2002. Proposals were now ready for consideration by the Committee. The proposals were currently subject to a consultative framework. It was indicated that the consultation would include users of the service, Focus Groups, the Rural Community Council and Age concern.
During discussion, members raised requirements that would be taken into account when undertaking an assessment of a users ability to pay charges. During discussion it was requested that a briefing paper be circulated to members of the Select Committee outlining subsidies to outside organisations provided by the Social Services and Housing Directorate. The Committee expressed their thanks to the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources for the hard work involved in preparing the report.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the following draft proposals be recommended for approval by the Executive:
(i) Abolishing day care charges
(ii) Waive all charges for children’s services
(iii) A charge to day care service users with capital above limit would be made
(iv) Abolishing charges for intermediate care (up to 6 weeks)
(b) THAT subject to a minor amendment the consultative questionnaire be recommended for approval by the Executive.
56. APPOINTMENT TO AN OUTSIDE BODY
The Select Committee were advised that a vacancy had arisen on the Medina Housing Association Management Board and that two nominations for the vacancy had been received. It was agreed that a vote would be taken by a show of hands.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Executive be recommended to approve the appointment of Mr J R Adams to Medina Housing Association Management Board.
57. EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN (SOCIAL SERVICES ITEMS ONLY)
RESOLVED :
THAT the Council’s Forward Plan relating to Social Services items be accepted.
CHAIRMAN