Agenda and minutes

Co-opted Member present – Dr J Beal

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals.

1.  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2.  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3.  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

  No exempt items have been identified.

There were no exempt items.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda, however, supplementary information in respect of item 9 “Access to Local NHS Dental Services – Working Group Summary” had been despatched to Members prior to the meeting and published to the Council’s website. (Minute no.59 refers)

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

No declarations of interests were made at the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board meeting held on 11^th January 2022.

To also note for information the note of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board consultative meeting held on 8^th February 2022.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th January 2022 be approved as an accurate record.

(b) That the note of the consultative meeting held on 8^th February 2022 be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services which presents a progress report produced on behalf of the Independent Chair of the LSAB for the Scrutiny Board’s consideration.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report which introduced a progress report provided to the Scrutiny Board by the Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB).  The progress report included reference to the LSAB Annual Report for 2020/2021 and highlighted progress made against its Strategic Plan for 2021/22, as well as sharing some early thinking about its ambitions for 2022/23.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Cllr Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

·  Richard Jones CBE, Independent Chair of Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board

·  Cath Roff, Director of Adults and Health

·  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health

·  Shona McFarlane, Deputy Director Social Work and Social Care Service

The Chair particularly welcomed the attendance of the Independent Chair of the LSAB, Richard Jones CBE.  In introducing this item, the Chair acknowledged the significance of the wording set out as part of the foreword to the LSAB 2020/21 Annual Report and therefore invited the LSAB Chair to relay this to the Board prior to presenting the broader progress report.

In introducing the LSAB progress report, the LSAB Chair highlighted the following:

·  There had been an increased rate of safeguarding referrals made during 2020/21, with 10,917 referrals made (an increase of 12% from 2019/20).

·  When a referral is received by Leeds City Council: Adults & Health, a decision is then made whether to undertake a safeguarding enquiry.  In 2020/21, there were 3286 safeguarding enquiries commenced, which amounts to 30% of all referrals.

·  Such safeguarding enquiries involved one or more of a range of different types of concerns, with the highest proportion involving concerns around neglect and acts of omission (32%); physical abuse (25%) and financial or material abuse (13%).

·  During 2020/21, the LSAB sought to reach out across diverse communities in Leeds, to promote awareness of safeguarding and the work of the Board.  This continues to remain a priority.

·  The LSAB is promoting positive images of safeguarding, of the support and help that is available, and the difference it can make to people's lives. These messages are based on citizen-led consultation about what good practice looks like and feels like. This also reflects the Board's commitment to becoming increasingly citizen-led.

·  The LSAB worked with the city’s Community Safety Partnership, Safer Leeds in undertaking a thematic review, conducted under Section 44 (5) of the Care Act 2014, using the LSAB’s powers to conduct a discretionary review, considering the experience of adults who died while living street-based lives in Leeds.

·  The LSAB also published two mandatory Safeguarding Adults Reviews in 2020 concerning Mr and Mrs A and Mr B. The joint action plan that was developed as a result of these two reviews has been a significant focus of the Board’s work in 2020-21 and has enabled the Board to work towards the development of a robust approach to supporting those citizens living in circumstances of harmful self-neglect.

·  It was acknowledged that the LSAB has close working relationships with a range of organisations and networks that enable the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

To receive a report from the Director of Adults and Health which provides an update on the development of a new Better Lives Strategy and seeks the input of Scrutiny prior to the new Strategy being approved.

The report of the Director of Adults and Health presented an update on the development of a new Better Lives Strategy, which is the Council’s strategy for people with care and support needs. Linked to this, the Scrutiny Board was invited to review and comment on the draft proposed strategy prior to it being approved by the Executive Board in April 2022.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Cllr Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

·  Cath Roff, Director of Adults and Health

·  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health

·  Shona McFarlane, Deputy Director Social Work and Social Care Service

·  Carmel Langstaff, Chief Officer Transformation and Innovation

The Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships gave a brief introduction, which included an overview of the engagement work undertaken to inform the new strategy and also the associated governance and performance monitoring arrangements linked to the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) and the role of the Better Lives Board.

The Chief Officer for Transformation and Innovation also provided further detail surrounding the engagement and consultation work undertaken to help understand what matters most to people, which had consequently led to the identified 6 priority areas set out within the new strategy.

In consideration of the report and the draft strategy, the following areas were raised by the Board:

·  Reflecting the ambition for Leeds to become a Marmot City – having recently given its support to the proposal for Leeds to become a Marmot City, the Board was pleased to note that one of the six identified priorities set out within the new Better Lives Strategy focuses on ‘Tackling Poverty and Inequality’.  The Board was also assured that, moving forward, associated links between the new strategy and the Marmot City ambition would be strengthened through the connected leadership of the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Better Lives Board.

·  Using digital tools and technology – the Board discussed the identified priority to support people to use digital tools, technology, and services in the right way for them. In doing so, Members emphasised the importance of the new Strategy also recognising those individuals unable to utilise digital tools due to dexterity limitations or other types of disability, for which they would need alternative means to access support.  The Board also acknowledged that there is ongoing digital technology innovation within the health and care sector and was informed about the intention to develop a separate digital strategy for Adult Social Care.

In conclusion, the Scrutiny Board collectively endorsed the new draft Better Lives Strategy 2022 – 2027.

RESOLVED –

a) That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

b) To note that the Scrutiny Board (Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles) collectively endorses the new draft Better Lives Strategy 2022-2027.

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services which presents a summary note of the main issues arising from the working group’s discussion on 25^th February 2022, including proposed recommendations, for the consideration and formal ratification of the full Scrutiny Board.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services introduced the summary note of the main issues and proposed recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Board’s working group meeting on 25^th February 2022 in relation to access to local NHS dental services.

The summary note, which was referenced as Appendix 1 to the report, had been published and circulated separately to Board Members as part of a supplementary agenda pack.

In introducing the report, the Scrutiny Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser gave an overview of the proposed recommendations set out within the working group summary note for the Board’s consideration and formal ratification.

In endorsing the proposed recommendations, an additional recommendation was also proposed in relation to the Chair of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board writing to the national NHS England & NHS Improvement Team to also highlight local concerns raised that are associated with broader national issues within the dental sector in terms of workforce capacity and whether the existing NHS dental contract, which came into force in 2006, remains fit for purpose?

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and working group summary note be noted.

(b)  That the proposed recommendations set out within the working group summary note be approved.

(c)  That an additional recommendation be added, as reflected above.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2021/22 municipal year.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that presented the work schedule for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser explained that there were no further formal public meetings of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board scheduled for this municipal year. However, the Board was reminded that there will be a remote consultative meeting taking place in April, which will be focused on the ongoing development of the new Integrated Care System.

Members were also advised that a date for the Board’s Active Leeds visit is to be confirmed, with the intention to try and hold this before the end of the municipal year.

In conclusion, the Chair highlighted to Members that the Scrutiny Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser, Angela Brogden, will not be continuing to support the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board in the new municipal year but will be remaining within the Scrutiny Team.  The Chair therefore took the opportunity to formally thank Angela for her support to the Scrutiny Board over the last two years.

RESOLVED – That the work schedule for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year be noted.

The Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board is holding a remote consultative meeting on Tuesday 26^th April 2022 at 11.30 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 11.15 am).

RESOLVED – To note that the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board will be holding a remote consultative meeting on Tuesday, 26^th April 2022 at 11.30 am (with a pre-meeting at 11.15 am)