MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON FRIDAY, 20 APRIL 2001 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

Present :

Mrs A Leigh (Chairman), Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr O C Huggins, Mrs M A Jarman (as deputy for Mrs B Lawson), Mr D J Knowles, Mrs J L Wareham (as deputy for Mrs J White)

Also Present Non-Voting :

Mr M J Cunningham, Mr A D Hollands, Mr R A Sutton

Apologies :

Mrs D Gardiner, Mrs B Lawson, Mrs J White

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2001.

61. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Mrs S White of Seaview referred to a question concerning Sex Abstinence Education she had raised at the meeting of the Education, Community Development and Life Long Learning Select Committee on 6 April 2001.

The Chairman indicated that the Childrens' Committee was the most appropriate committee to consider the issue and officers were requested to prepare a report on the general issues involved.

62. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The following members declared non-pecuniary interests:

Mrs A Leigh as a member of or as having an interest in Medina Housing Association and Care Group Limited and the Vectis Housing Society Committee.

Mr J Bowker as a member of or as having an interest in Medina Housing Association and Care Group Limited.

Mr D Knowles declared a non pecuniary interest in Minute No 64 (a) - Best Value Review of Care Management and Commissioning.

63. URGENT BUSINESS

The Chairman agreed to consideration of a Council nominated person as the named Elderly Peoples Champion as a decision was required prior to the next meeting.

Nominated Champion for Elderly People

The Director of Social Services and Housing reported on the Department of Health's recently issued National Service Framework which required the identification of a nominated person to be the Council's Elderly Peoples Champion, by June 2001. The Select Committee expressed their support for Cllr J Bowker in being the nominated representative of the Council. However the Director of Corporate Services advised members that the appointment of a Council representative did not fall within the remit of the Select Committee and the matter had to be referred to the Executive for decision.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Executive be recommended to consider the appointment of a Council nominated Elderly Peoples Champion.

64. REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

(a) Best Value Review of Care Management and Commissioning

The Director of Social Services and Housing introduced his report on the Best Value Review of Care Management and Commissioning, which was part of the five year programme of Best Value Reviews undertaken by all Directorates. The Review was produced following nine months of extensive consultation involving a wide range of stakeholders, including service users and carers, voluntary organisations and independent service providers. Various aspects of the Review were highlighted and discussed. The summary of the range of strategic options and recommendations identified to ensure that the changes and improvements necessary to develop user and other stakeholder satisfaction and which were achievable, were noted. Members had been circulated with the detailed action plan which set out the identified proposals for improvements in access to services, information and care and improvements in arranging and purchasing care. A report would be presented to the Executive for approval of a grant from the 'Spend to Save' provision to fund a pilot care purchasing scheme (Brokerage), which if successful, would be fully funded in 2002/03 through efficiencies and further redeployment of resources. The Chairman thanked the project team for their diligence in producing such a valuable and significant document.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Best Value Review on Care Management and Commissioning be received.

(b) Social Services and Housing Budget : Income and Expenditure to Month 12

The Chairman referred to the informal working party which had been established to investigate the implications of the non-payment of charges for Social Services. Members were confident that Council procedures were being implemented rigidly and that there appeared to not be a problem in that particular area. The Customer Accounts Manager had expressed her willingness to attend future meetings of the Select Committee periodically, if members so instructed.

The report of the Director advising of the latest predications for the Social Services and Housing budget was received. The projected overspend, based on actual income and expenditure to the end of March (month 12) remained at �920K. However, it was reported that a large number of transactions which take place in April but were coded back to the old financial year could have an impact on that figure. The major areas of projected overspend were noted.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

65. MINUTES FOR INFORMATION

Members received for information the minutes of the meeting of the Partnership Board for Health and Well Being held on 20 March 2001 and the Childrens' Committee held on 22 March 2001.

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes be noted.

CHAIRMAN