1. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2004 were agreed subject to the inclusion of Mr J A Bowker on the list of those present.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations at this stage.

3. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY COUNCIL :

To appoint Mr R G Mazillius as Vice Chairman of the Adult and Community Services Select Committee.

4. FORWARD PLAN

The Portfolio Holder for Resources advised the Select Committee that he had nothing further to report regarding forthcoming items on the Forward Plan coming within the remit of the Select Committee. It was noted that the Pan Urban Extension was due to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 30 June 2004 which would contain details of the types of housing that would be used for the development.

During discussion it was agreed that lead members would be identified within the Select Committee to drive key areas forward.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

a) The Council’s Forward Plan be visually displayed at future meetings with only items relating to this Select Committees remit being identified.

b) That lead members be identified to drive forward key areas of work.

c) The Select Committee be formally advised that the Pan Urban Extension report was due to be considered by the Executive on 30 June 2004.

5. QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT

(During discussion Mrs D Gardiner declared a personal interest in matters relating to Unison)

The Select Committee received the report of the Portfolio Holder for Adult and Community Services and the Deputy Leader for the Council.

Members raised concern regarding the figures relating to Looked After Children (LAC). It was explained that there were currently 167 LAC and that these figures were relatively stable compared with national figures. The Directorate hoped to reduce these numbers through the Local Preventative Strategy. The Director for Adult and Community Services told members that Authorities could face criticism if they did not have enough LAC as it could indicate an increased risk for children. It was noted that the target for 2004/05 would be 57 although this might have been considered a retrograde step, due to the current target being 55. Officers indicated that it was a more realistic target.

Only part of the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target, “Rehabilitation care for older people and a reduction in delay discharges from hospital”, had been met. There were no delayed discharges but there were some issues with home care provision. A strategy was in place to improve the availability of home care and a tender would be awarded in September 2004 to deliver this service. The number of readmissions to hospital had increased and the Directorate were in discussions with health partners regarding the need for robust multidisciplinary discharge planning.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE DEPUTY LEADER, PORTFOLIO HOLDER AND HEAD OF CORPORATE POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS :

a) That more detail be included in the Key Performance Indicators relating to Looked After Children.

b) Performance Summary to identify where the detailed information was contained later in the report.

c) To change how the information on the Recruitment and Retention of staff was presented.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF ADULT SERVICES :

d) That a briefing note on the Home Care Strategy and its current progress be circulated to members of the Select Committee

6. BUDGET MONITORING AS AT END OF APRIL 2004 AND PROVSIONAL OUTTURN FOR 2003/04

The Portfolio Holder presented his report which set out the budget and spending position on revenue for the services within the Committees remit as at end of April 2004. The provisional revenue outturn that was still subject to any final adjustments that might be made as the accounts were finalised.

The Select Committee were advised that the Directorate had now identified £349,000 efficiency savings as part of the 2004/5 budget settlement. These had been identified from reorganisation and some extra income which had arisen from the increased charges in home care and day care services. Some concern was raised that this would not create continued efficiency savings. It was noted that only £50-60,000 had been found through additional income the rest had come from savings elsewhere.

Social Services had received approximately £400,000 from the underspend in the Free Nursing Care Pooled Budget which had assisted with pressure in the Community Care Budget.

Negotiations were still on-going regarding the staff pay award, the figures were due to go out to consultation. It was noted that any award above 2.8 % would create pressure on the budget.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES :

To identify in future those areas where accounts have been closed down and those areas where funding had been amended.

7. WORKPLAN

Members received the Select Committees draft workplan which had been formulated at the Committees Development Day in May 2004. There was some discussion regarding the need for an update report on the Recruitment and Retention Task Group. The work of this group was now part of the Children’s Services Select Committee remit. Members discussed the need to arrange a meeting with both Select Committees in order to ensure a smooth transition of work.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES :

a) A report on the Temporary Accommodation Review be considered at the Select Committee’s meeting on 16 September 2004.

b) That at the Select Committee’s meeting on 15 July 2004 consideration be given to the Children’s Services Inspection report.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT :

c) To facilitate arrangements for dealing with the transfer of areas of responsibility with the Children’s Services Select Committee

CHAIRMAN