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:

• Councillor T Hanley, Agenda Item 8, Adult Social Care Commissioning Services Update due to his position with Bramley Elderly Action.  Minute No. 62 refers.
• Councillor S Varley, Agenda Item 8, Adult Social Care Commissioning Services Update due to her position with Morley Elderly Action.  Minute No. 62 refers.
• Councillor V Kendall, Agenda Item 8, Adult Social Care Commissioning Services Update due to her respective positions with Community Action for Roundhay Elderly and the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service.  Minute No. 62 refers.
• Councillor P Grahame, Agenda Item 8, Adult Social Care Commissioning Services Update due to her position as a Trustee of Crossgates Good Neighbours.  Minute No.62 refers.
• J Fisher, Agenda Items 8, Adult Social Care Commissioning Services Update as a service user and Chair of Leeds LINK and the Alliance of Service Users.  Minute No.62 refers.
• S Morgan, Agenda Item 8, Adult Social Care Commissioning Services Update as a service user and due to her position with various organisations.  Minute No.62 refers.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors P Davey and A Hussain.  Councillor P Grahame was in attendance as a substitute for Councillor P Davey.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2010

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

(Councillor B Cleasby requested that a personal interest be recorded under Minute No.52, Leeds Adaptation Strategy 2010/13 due to having had adaptations carried out to his property).

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Adult Social Services

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services referred to the Boards previous meetings regarding the Inquiry, and how these had informed the development of a set of options for change in relation to residential care homes in Leeds.  The options were agreed by Executive Board at its meeting on 15 December 2010 where it was also agreed to begin public consultation on the options.

The report also outlined the programme of work developed by Adult Social Care to progress and implement the recommendations of Executive Board agreed on 15 December 2010 in relation to future options for long term residential care for older people.  The report also described the consultation process aimed at seeking the wider views of stakeholders and specifically of those people currently living in residential homes and of their carers and staff who provided care and support.

The Chair welcomed Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director – Commissioning and Tim O’Shea, Head of Adult Social Care Commissioning to the meeting.

Dennis Holmes introduced the report to the Board and it was agreed to widen the scope to include the future provision of Adult Day Care Services for which the same consultation process would be used.  Members were informed that the consultation programme had commenced on 10 January 2010 and attention was brought to the consultation calendar appended to the report.  Further issues highlighted included the following:

• Area Committees would be consulted to gain a locality perspective
• Consultation would include residents of care homes along with their relatives and carers.  Attendees of day care centres would also be consulted.
• The consultation would focus on the development of options for the facilities concerned and appropriate options that related to circumstances of the provision of care.
• All 99 Council Members would be briefed and it was aimed to make the consultation as inclusive as possible for Elected Members.
• The consultation was aimed at a wider audience and general public consultation was also available.
• Staff and Trade Unions would be engaged in consultation.
• Consultation with the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sectors.
• The withdrawal of the Private Finance Initiative for the Lifetime Neighbourhoods for Leeds project which would have created 300 extra care housing units.
• Engagement with Health Service partners and how to develop the most appropriate models of care.

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

• Extra Care Housing – this was similar to sheltered accommodation but with a greater amount of care provision.  The majority of Extra Care Housing in Leeds was provided by Housing Associations.
• Due to declining numbers of day care centre users, it was needed to make better and more economic use of the facilities available.
• A census of independent sector facilities had been undertaken.  Some of the newer facilities had untaken spaces which would assist with the relocation of those in residential care, particularly with keeping friends groups together.
• Discussion was proposed with independent sector providers and social registered landlords regarding ways of expanding Extra Care Housing.
• Extra Car Housing reduced  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Director of Adult Social Services

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services provided the Board with an update on progress made with the current commissioning initiatives.  It provided information on how Commissioning Services had, through effective service specification and procurement, provided significant savings and efficiencies as well as improved outcomes for service users with a diverse range of needs.  The report also set out the direction of travel for the development of commissioning in the context of an increasingly challenging financial climate.  This would require an ever more robust approach to all aspects of commissioning in order that services for the most needy and vulnerable continued to be sustainable and affordable.

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

• Contracts for hearing and visual impairment services – it was reported that these had now been awarded.  Some concern was expressed that services, particularly Braille services, should remain in Leeds.  In response to this concern, it was reported that this had been discussed with the successful bidders and it had been requested that they work with local organisations and investigate the use of local facilities.
• East Leeds Neighbourhood Network Services – Meetings were due to be held with Leeds Irish Health and Homes and the 5 Neighbourhood Network Services in East Leeds.  Members requested that Ward Members should be involved in these meetings.  A progress report was due to be submitted to Executive Board in February 2011 and it was requested that a copy of the report be submitted to Members of this Board.  It was further reported that Leeds Irish Health and Homes had not yet received any payment from the Council.
• In response to a question of how savings had been made with the provision of services for those with autistic spectrum conditions, it was reported that individuals could now choose where and how their care was provided which had proved more cost effective than the previous block contract that was in place.

The Chair thanked Dennis Holmes and Tim O’Shea for their attendance.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

(Councillor P Grahame declared a personal interest in this item due to her position with the Cross Gates and District Good Neighbours Scheme as did Councillor R Pryke due to his position with Richmond Hill Elderly Aid)

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme for the remainder of the current Municipal Year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development detailed the Board’s Work Programme and also contained the Council’s Forward Plan and recent Executive Board minutes.

Issues and suggestions relating to the forthcoming Work Programme were discussed.  These included the following:

• Safeguarding
• ALMO/BITMO Capital Allocations
• Update on Residential Care/Day Services
• Executive Board report on Neighbourhood Network Services
• Stroke Services
• Recommendation Tracking
• Scrutiny of the Budget – it was reported that other Boards that had considered this had done so at the request of their Board Members.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the Work Programme be agreed and be amended as discussed.

(2)  That the Forward Plan and Executive Board minutes be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Wednesday, 16 February 2010 at 10.00 am with a pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am.

Wednesday, 16 February 2011 at 10.00 a.m.  A pre-meeting for all Board Members will take place at 9.30 a.m.

The meeting concluded at 11.40 a.m.