Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which reports the outcome of the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Services, Public Health & NHS) Call In meeting held on 11 October 2016, and which addresses the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board in its statement when referring the matter back to Executive Board for reconsideration.

Further to Minute No. 60, 21^st September 2016, the Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report which presented the outcome of the Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Services, Public Health & NHS) Call In meeting held on 11^th October 2016, and which addressed the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board in its statement when referring the matter back to Executive Board for reconsideration. Finally, Executive Board was invited to further consider those decisions taken on 21^st September 2016, in light of the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board.

For those reasons set out within the submitted report, and as detailed at Minute No. 80, the Chair agreed for this matter to be considered as a late item of business. 

The Board paid tribute to the extensive and detailed consideration that the matter had been given by the Scrutiny Board on 11^th October 2016.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member undertook to work with any individuals and families who were affected by any actions taken as a result of the decisions made by the Board on this matter.

Responding to a specific enquiry, the Board received an update with regard to the current position in respect of the Manorfield House site. With regard to the current 9 residents at Manorfield House, the Board was assured that they would be guaranteed to receive a level of provision which was at least equal in quality, if not better, to the standard of their current provision, with the caveat that should an individual or the family of that individual choose provision that was rated less than their current standard, then where appropriate, checks may be duly undertaken in order to ensure that that choice was in the individual’s best interest. In addition, the Board also received assurances regarding the due regard which had been given to the equality impact procedures in respect of Manorfield House.

Also responding to an enquiry, Members received clarification regarding the occupancy numbers in respect of the Radcliffe Lane Day Centre, and that, as appropriate, further information would be provided to the Member in question in response to the enquiry raised.

With regard to The Green, responding to a Member’s enquiries, the Board noted that the intention was to utilise the facility for immediate care / recovery beds, subject to further discussion and agreement with NHS commissioners. However, if such agreement was not reached and the new facility was not progressed, then the current facility would need to be closed. Also, it was confirmed that should this circumstance arise, a further report would be submitted to the Board on this matter, and that in any event, the Board would be kept up to date on the progress of these issues.

It was confirmed that with the agreement of Group Whips, the ordering of the business at the 9^th November 2016 Council meeting would be amended in order to facilitate Member comment upon this matter.

In discussing the provision of adult social care in the city, together with the role of the Council and other providers, emphasis was placed upon the importance of ensuring that older people in the city had access to good quality adult social care provision, with the role and involvement of Elected Members being highlighted. Emphasis was also placed upon the importance of the relationship between Elected Members and the Adult Safeguarding Board in terms of safeguarding the welfare of older vulnerable citizens.

In conclusion, the Chair reiterated the importance of continuing to highlight the level of resource that the Local Authority needed in order to ensure that there were the necessary levels of social care provision for older people in the city.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations, as detailed at 3.2.1 to 3.2.6 of the submitted report, be accepted, noting the additional comments in relation to The Green, as per resolution (b) below;

(b)  That the original decisions taken by the Executive Board on 21^st September 2016, be re-affirmed, subject to The Green being retained until there can be a seamless transition to the new facility;

(c)  Whilst the decision is to close The Green as a long term residential care service, it will remain open until there is a transition to a new function/ facility. The Board notes The Green will be retained as a community asset and that discussions will continue with the NHS about future use of the facility. A progress report, including an update on discussions with the NHS, will be brought back to the Executive Board. This update report to also provide information about how the seamless transition would work, with any associated timescales;

(d)  That it be noted and highlighted that the input of the Scrutiny Board is appreciated, and that it also be noted that the Scrutiny Board will be kept informed in order to enable it to monitor the progress made against any decisions taken.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decision to re-affirm the resolutions made on 21^st September 2016 as referred to within this minute, whilst under the same provisions, Councillor Golton required it to be recorded that he voted against the decision to re-affirm the resolutions made on 21^st September 2016 as referred to within this minute)

(In accordance with the Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules, the matters referred to within this minute were not eligible for Call In, as the power to Call In decisions does not extend to those decisions which have been the subject of a previous Call In. The Executive’s decisions in respect of such matters were originally taken by the Board on 21^st September 2016 (Minute No. 60 refers) and subsequently Called In. The Scrutiny Board (Adult Social Services, Public Health & NHS) considered the Call In on 11^th October 2016 and referred the matter back to the decision taker for reconsideration, with those decisions being further considered by Executive Board at today’s meeting (19^th October 2016)