Agenda and minutes

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.

The following declarations of interest were made in Agenda Items 9 and 10 Input to the Work Programme 2010/11 – Sources of Work and Establishing the Board’s Priorities/Determining the Work Programme 2010/11.  (Minute No. 6 refers):

• Councillor B Cleasby as a Member of the Horsforth Live at Home Scheme and as his wife was in receipt of a care allowance.
• Councillor J Chapman as she has a family member employed in a local care capacity.
• Councillor G Hyde as a Neighbourhood Network Member.
• Councillor R Pryke as a Neighbourhood Network Member.
• Councillor S Hamilton due to her employment with the NHS
• Councillor V Kendall due to her position with Community Action for Roundhay Elderly.
• Councillor Hanley as a director of Bramley Elderly Action

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors A Gabriel and K Renshaw.  Councillor G Hyde was in attendance as a substitute for Councillor Renshaw.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2010

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May, 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development sought the Scrutiny Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted Members to the Board.

The Board were asked to consider the co-option of the following for the 2011/12:

• Joy Fisher – Alliance of Service Users and Carers
• Sally Morgan – Equality Issues

In addition to this, the Board discussed having a co-opted Member who represented the Leeds LINk.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the following be co-opted to the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Care) for the 2010/11 Municipal Year:

·  Joy Fisher, Alliance of Service Users and Carers

·  Sally Morgan, Equality Issues

(b)  That a further report be submitted to the next meeting to give further consideration to co-opting a Member from Leeds LINk

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Development.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to recent amendments to the Council’s Constitution as agreed by Council, which directly related to and/or impacted on the work of Scrutiny Boards.

The following main issues were highlighted:

• The need to investigate ‘value for money’ in any scrutiny reviews
• The reduction to 6 Scrutiny Boards – Scrutiny Board (City and Regional Partnerships) had ceased
• Substitute Members were now permitted for all Scrutiny Board meetings provided that the substitute was already a Scrutiny Board Member

Concern was expressed due to the cessation of the Scrutiny Board (City & Regional Partnerships) particularly as it was felt that there were cross boundary issues in relation to the provision of adult social care.  It was reported that there was a regional network of Lead Members for Adult Social Services and networking also took place with other Local Authorities and the Centre for Public Scrutiny.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The reports of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided information and guidance to assist the Board in developing its Work Programme for 2010/11.

Members attention was brought to the following content detailed in the report:

• Council Business Plan
• List of previous Scrutiny Inquiries relevant to the Adult Social Care Portfolio
• The Forward Plan of Key Decisions
• Suggested work areas.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

• Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member for Adult Social Care
• Sandie Keene, Director of Adult Social Services
• Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director of Adult Social Services
• John Lennon, Chief Officer – Access & Inclusion

Councillor Yeadon and Sandie Keene addressed the Board and highlighted some of the key issues/areas concerning the provision of Adult Social Care over the following year.  These included the following:

• Budget constraints
• Residential and domiciliary care
• Provision of Day Services
• Work with health partners
• Neighbourhood Networks
• Learning Disability Services

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Hospital discharges/admissions and the need for improved integrated working with health partners.
• End of life care
• Day centre provision and the impact of proposed closures
• Integration issues with health service partners and joint commissioning
• Issues surrounding IT systems including compatibility and transfer of data with partner organisations
• Working Groups – the Principal Scrutiny Adviser agreed to contact Members regarding availability for Working Groups and with dates and times of meetings. 
• The possibility of joint working with the Scrutiny Board (Health) on various issues and the need to avoid duplicating areas of work.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted and the Work Programme be amended accordingly.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the Board’s Inquiry into Self Directed Support and Personal Budgets.  It was reported that the Director of Adult Social Services response to the Executive Board had been approved and all this was detailed in appendices to the report.  Members were asked to consider the responses provided and to decide whether further scrutiny was required

John Lennon gave the Board a brief overview of the Inquiry and Members were invited to make comments and questions.  In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

• It was suggested that the Board monitored the position in relation to Self Directed Support and Personal Budgets on a quarterly basis.
• Individuals did not have to move to a personal budget, and those who did would be assessed for suitability.
• The relevant information on the Inquiry as detailed in the successor Board’s Annual Report would be distributed to all Board Members for information.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted

Monday, 19 July 2010 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Monday, 19 July at 10.00 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)