Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care) for the 2008/09 municipal year.

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

Councillor J Chapman declared a personal interest in Minutes 4 and 5,  in view of her daughter-in-law’s employment in private industry as a Carer who visits people in their homes.

To receive and note the last minutes of Scrutiny Board (Health & Adult Social Care) meeting held on 21^st April 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the former Scrutiny Board (Health & Adult Social Care) held on 21^st April 2008 be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides information and guidance to assist the Board in developing a work programme for 2008/2009 that is focused on strategic issues.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report providing Members with information and guidance to assist the Board to develop its work programme for 2008/09.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information, comment and consideration of the meeting:-

(i)  Board’s Terms of Reference

(ii)  Core information on relevant aspects of the:-

·  Local Area Agreement

·  Leeds Strategic Plan and Council Business Plan (2008 -2011)

·  Corporate Assessment Actions 2008

·  Corporate Performance Management information (Pls), including identified areas of improvement

·  Details of any planned review of key policies and strategies (including those items which make up the Council’s policy framework)

·  Outstanding issues from previous municipal year

(iii)  Current Forward Plan and minutes of last Executive Board meeting held on 14^th May 2008

For additional information, Members were also provided with a copy of the Adult Social Services Business Plan (2008/09).

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor P Harrand, Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for Adult Health and Social Care;  Sandie Keene, Director of Adult Social Services and Lindsay Richardson, Directorate Support Manager who were in attendance to help the Board’s consideration of its work programme for the coming year and to respond to any questions raised by Members regarding the information presented. 

Councillor Harrand outlined some of the pressures on the Adult Social Services Department for the coming year and also raised some topics for possible scrutiny by the Board.

The Director of Adult Social Services summarised the key activities and priorities of the Department for the year ahead, which included:

·  The Personalisation agenda – which included service quality and the level of choice and control of service users;

·  The forthcoming inspection of Older People’s Services – which would include a focus on preventative services and safeguarding arrangements

·  Income generation for Community Care Services

·  Older People’s Day Care

·  Implications of new Mental Health legislation

·  Implications of the government publication ‘Valuing People Now’ on services for people with Learning Disabilities

·  Preparation of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment – aimed at identifying the needs of the city, alongside proposals to jointly meet those needs with health service providers

Following detailed discussions, the Chair thanked the Executive Board Member, the Director of Adult Social Services and Lindsay Richardson for their attendance.

RESOLVED -  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted and, along with the comments and information presented at the meeting, be considered as part of the Board’s determination of its work programme, identified elsewhere on the agenda. 

Note:  Councillor P Ewens and Councillor T Murray joined at the meeting during discussions on the above item.

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to determine the Board’s work programme for 2008/2009.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report requesting that the Board consider formulating a draft work programme.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Board outlined a desire to undertake two major scrutiny inquiries during the course of the municipal year, and made reference to the referral from Executive Board regarding the robustness of current safeguarding arrangements.  The Board discussed various issues and highlighted a number of possible inquiry topics, including:

·  Adapations

·  Dignity in Care

·  Implications of an ageing population

·  Respite Care

·  Impact of increasing energy costs on older people

·  Isolation

The Board also discussed the need for regular updates on various topics to be included in the work programme for the coming year, including:

·  Income generation for community care services

·  Commissioning

·  Homecare provision

·  The outcome of any inspections and service reviews

The Board expressed interest in holding inquiries on the following (to be scheduled):-

·  Adapations

·  Dignity in Care

RESOLVED -  That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser, in consultation with the Director of Adult Social Services, be requested to update and timetable the Board’s work programme with a view to incorporating the above Inquiries and reports.

Note:  Councillors D Coupar, J McKenna and T Hanley rejoined the meeting  at 11.00 a.m. after attending a Call-in meeting of Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods).

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

to help the Board determine any appropriate co-options to the Board.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member development submitted a report which outlined the provision to allow the appointment of co-opted members to Scrutiny Boards.  It was reported that up to five non-voting co-opted members could be appointed to the Board for a term of office which did not go beyond the next annual meeting of Council and up to two non-voting members for a term of office which related to a particular scrutiny inquiry. 

Members were informed of previous arrangements for the Scrutiny Board (Health and Adult Social Care) and expressions of interest for co-option to the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care).

RESOLVED – That the following be co-opted to the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care) for the 2008/09 Municipal Year:

·  Ms Joy Fisher – Alliance of Services Users and Carers.

·  Sally Morgan – equality issues representative (a member of the public recruited with a remit to keep matters of equality at the forefront of the Board’s discussions).

Wednesday, 23^rd July 2008 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-Meeting at 9.30 a.m.)

RESOLVED -  That the following dates and times be noted and approved:-

Wednesday, 23^rd July 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 17^th September 2008 at 10.0 a.m.

Wednesday, 15^th October 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 12^th November 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 10^th December 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 7^th January 2009 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 11^th February 2009 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 11^th March 2009 at 10.00 a.m.

Wednesday, 8^th April 2009 at 10.00 a.m.

(Note:  All Pre-meetings to take place at 9.30 a.m. before the meeting)

The meeting concluded at approximately 11.40 a.m.