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.

Councillor R Grahame declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 13, Major Adaptations for Disabled Adults – Recommendation Tracking and Performance Information for Quarter 1 2010/11 due to his position as a Director of the East North East Homes ALMO.  (Minute No. 30 refers)

Councillor J Chapman declared personal interests in Agenda Item 8, Performance of Independent Homecare Service Providers as she has a relative who works in the Independent Homecare sector (Minute No. 25 refers) and also in Agenda Item 13, Major Adaptations for Disabled Adults – Recommendation Tracking and Performance Information for Quarter 1 2010/11 as a Panel Member of West North West Homes ALMO. (Minute No. 30 refers)

Joy Fisher declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, Performance of Independent Homecare Service Providers as a service user. (Minute No. 25 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Davey, Pryke and Renshaw.  Councillors P Grahame and R Grahame were in attendance as substitute members.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2010

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2010 be confirmed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment.

Minute No. 10  - Declarations of Interest – to read that Councillor V Kendall is the Chair of Community Action for Roundhay Elderly (CARE) Management Committee.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which provides an overview of the information and the assessments that has been submitted to the Care Quality Commission for 2009/10.

The report of the Director of Adult Social Services referred to the requirement of the Council to submit a Self Assessment Survey (SAS) of overall performance in relation to improving outcomes for people by mid May 2010 as a key part of the performance management methodology employed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director - Strategic Commissioning and Stuart Cameron-Strickland, Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement were in attendance for this item.

Members attention was brought to the performance table which was outlined in the report and detailed seven main outcomes.  As part of a more streamlined process, the CQC would only be assessing the outcomes where an outcome had changed since the previous assessment.  The CQC’s ruling on the assessment would be known on 25 November 2010.  As part of the CQC’s requirements, their results would be reported to the Executive Board.  It was anticipated that this would be in January 2011.

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

• Other issues across the Council and outside of Social Services that may affect the assessment.  It was reported that consultation with colleagues across the Council had been undertaken during the self assessment.
• CQC expectations of getting more users to use of direct payments to promote individual choice.
• Choice for those with statutory social care needs.

The Chair thanked Dennis and Stuart for their contribution to this item and passed congratulations on behalf of the Board for the progress made.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Director, Strategic Commissioning which updates the Board on the overall performance of independent home care providers in the City.

The report of the Deputy Director, Strategic Commissioning updated the Board on the overall performance of independent homecare providers across the City.

Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director – Strategic Commissioning and Mark Phillott, Commissioning Manager were in attendance for this item.

Members attention was brought to the main issues in the report which included the following:

• Cost of Independent Sector Provision
• Contract changes across the City
• Increasing choice of provision

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

• Training of staff and NVQ qualifications – Minimum numbers of NVQ qualified staff had previously been a national requirement.
• The Council, as the contracting body did not carry out inspections of Independent Sector providers but does monitor performance in accordance with contract specifications.  It was reported that the LINk could participate in inspections.  The CQC had previously carried out an inspection, as the regulatory body.
• Safeguarding issues.
• Staff to service user ratio – this depended on the needs of the individual service users.
• Key quality issues – reducing complaints.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

a)  To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which recommends the terms of reference for the Future Provision of Domiciliary Care and Reablement Services Inquiry

b)  To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which recommends the terms of reference for the Future of Residential Care Provision for Older People in Leeds Inquiry.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted reports detailing draft terms of reference for the following inquiries:

• The Future Provision of Domiciliary Care and Reablement Services
• The Future of Residential Care Provision for Older People in Leeds

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

• Working Groups
• Witnesses for the Inquiries
• Timescales

RESOLVED – That the report and future inquiries be noted.

a)  To receive and consider the report of the Head of Policy and Performance which represents key performance information against the Leeds Strategic Plan improvement priorities relevant to the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Board for Quarter 1 2010/11.

b)  To receive and consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which provides a summary of progress against recommendations 2,5 and 7 of the Self Directed Support Scrutiny Inquiry Report.

The reports of the Head of Policy and Performance and Director if Adult Social Services updated the Board on Performance Issues for Quarter 1 and A Summary of Progress in Response to the Self Directed Support Inquiry Report Recommendations.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Dennis Holmes, Deputy Director – Strategic Commissioning
• Stuart Cameron-Strickland, Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement
• John Lennon, Chief Officer – Access and Inclusion

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

• Some of the indicators were not given a traffic light rating as there was no comparable information to measure them against.
• Concern with indicator NI135 – it was reported that contact had been made with carers and a training programme had been introduced.
• Concern with Indicator NI131 – The Board was informed of issues related to delayed transfers and the ongoing work with health and social care partners to resolve what was a complex area.  Further discussion was held regarding the provision of Community Intermediate Care.
• Action Plans.

RESOLVED – That the reports and performance information be noted.

(Councillor A Hussain left the meeting at 11.30 a.m. during the discussion on this item)

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which details the responses of the Director(s) presented to the Executive Board on the 21^st of July and the response of that Board.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development introduced the formal responses of the Directors of Children’s Services and Adult’s Services to the Boards reports on the review of progress against the Independence Wellbeing and Choice Action Plan Statement and inquiry into Transitional Arrangements for Disabled Young People into Adult Social Care.

It was reported that all the recommendations had been accepted and Members attention was brought to the Recommendation Tracking report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which details the progress made against the recommendations stipulated by the Board on conclusion of its inquiry.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided the Board with a progress update on the recommendations following the Inquiry into Transitional Arrangements for Disabled Young People into Adult Socuial Care.

Stephen Bardsley, Service Delivery Manager for the Learning Disability Team addressed the meeting.  He reported on the work that had been carried out between Children’s and Adult Services on transitional arrangements.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

a)  To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which details the progress made against the recommendations stipulated by the Board on conclusion of its inquiry.

b)  To receive and consider the report of the chief Officer for Health and Environmental Action Services which represents Quarter 1 performance information for 2010/11 .

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the Boards previous Inquiry into  Major Adaptations for Disabled Adults and gave a progress report on the Board’s recommendations.

The following officers were in attendance for this item:

• Simeon Parry, Housing Policy and Monitoring Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Liz Ward, Head of Service Support and Enablement, Adult Social Care
• Mark Greenfield, Aire Valley Homes
• Helen Miller, Principal Planner, City Development
• Andy Beattie, Head of Service – Housing and Pollution Control, Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Robin Coghlan, Team Leader Policy, City Development.

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

• With reference to Recommendation 7 and the production of a citywide Adaptations Strategy and Delivery Plan, it was reported that significant progress had been made and there would be a further report to the Board in December 2010.  This had also led to a number of initiatives that would improve service delivery, provide value for money and efficiencies that would also relate to other recommendations of the Board.
• Adaptations and property lettings – concern was expressed regarding instances of adaptations being removed from vacant properties and questions were asked as to why these properties could not be re-let to those in need of the adaptations.  Issues arising from this included the following:
  • It was not always possible to link demand for adaptations to vacant properties but appropriate tenants were sought when properties became available.
  • Recycling of adaptations and equipment such as stair lifts
  • The need to balance the benefits of retaining empty adapted properties against bringing these back into use.

• Under occupied properties and downsizing.
• Provision of affordable housing – there would be provision for disabled people.
• Associated planning and building regulation issues relating to the provision of properties built to lifetime homes standards.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Councillor Chapman left the meeting at 12.20 p.m. at the conclusion of this item).

To receive and consider the report of Leeds Initiative which details the consultation and communication plans for the forthcoming Vision for Leeds.

The report of the Director of Leeds Initiative informed the Board that this was the 3^rd Vision for Leeds and gave a progress update and outlined the next steps including the public consultation phase.

The Chair welcomed Martin Dean, Deputy Director Leeds Initiative and Sally Corcoran, Planning, Policy and Improvement to the meeting.

It was reported that there were 3 areas of major change to the Vision:

• Environment – Climate Change Strategy
• Economy – Change in what can be achieved and effects of the recession
• Population growth – Leeds population could reach one million by 2030

Consultation had been held with key stakeholders and the following issues had been highlighted:

·  For the Leeds economy to be prosperous and sustainable

·  For Leeds to be an open and welcoming City

·  That communities should be safe, healthy and successful with opportunity for people to progress

It was felt that if these could be achieved by 2030 Leeds could be internationally recognised as the best city in Britain.

The Board was informed of the timetable for the remainder of the consultation period and in response to comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Different methods of consultation used, in particular the move to use social networking.
• Work with partners in Adult Social Care during the consultation process to target members of the community with social care needs.
• Changes since the previous vision.
• Access to jobs for local people.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which outlines the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlined the Board’s future Work Programme and also included the latest Forward Plan of Key Decisions and Executive Board Minutes.

Sandra Newbould, Principal Scrutiny Advisor brought Members attention to the Work Programme and forthcoming work of the Board.  Members were also informed of an impending site visit.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 6 October at 10.00 a.m. with a pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30 a.m.

Wednesday, 6 October 2010 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)