Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda. None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2017.

That the minutes of the Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 July 2017 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Tuesday 12 September 2017.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast, or recorded, and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, will be uploaded to the website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report analyses the latest performance for 2017/18 and forecasts the financial outturn position by reference to the service plans and budgets for all of the services falling under the responsibility of the Corporate Director of Health, Housing & Adult Social Care.

Members considered a report analysing the latest performance for 2017/18 and forecasting the financial outturn position by reference to the service plans and budgets for all of the services falling under the responsibility of the Corporate Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care.

The Finance Manager for Adults, Children & Education and the Strategic Support Manager for Adult Social Care and Public Health responded to questions from Members relating to forecast overspends on supported living schemes and the Older Persons’ Homes budget, as well as pressures on public health spending. In particular, Officers undertook:

·        to report back to Members on the circumstances relating to the substance misuse contract; and

·        to provide Members with details of the revised key performance indicators in relation to adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues, when available;

Resolved:         That the report be noted and Members be provided with the further updates requested above.

Reason:            To update the Committee on the latest financial and performance position for 2017/18.

This report advises Members on the content and implications of the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 which comes into force on 1/4/18.

Members considered a report advising about the content and implications of the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 due to come into force on 1 April 2018. The Act would further extend the statutory duty to relieve homelessness (assist in finding alternative accommodation) for a further 56 days but Councils were awaiting the accompanying Code of Guidance, as well as details of any available Government grant.

Whilst Members acknowledged that further guidance and details of grants were awaited, concerns were expressed about the potential impact of the Act on resources, together with the lack of affordable housing.

Resolved:         That the new statutory duties placed on City of York Council under the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 be noted so that the Officers could be supported in developing appropriate services, resources and accommodation solutions.

Reason:            To inform the Committee of the content and implications of the Homeless Reduction Act 2017. 

This report provides Members with an update to the verbal report previously provided to by the Head of Building Services on 20 June 2017.

Members considered an update report further to the verbal fire safety report previously provided to the Scrutiny Committee by the Head of Building Services on 20 June 2017, following the Grenfell Tower fire on 16 June 2017. The report summarised actions taken since the June meeting.

The Head of Building Maintenance responded to  Members’ questions. In particular, it was explained that CYC had a voluntary fire safety accreditation for landlords but it was not possible to regulate all privately rented accommodation, including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). In addition, Members were informed that CYC worked with universities to inform the student community about their rights in privately-rented accommodation.

Resolved:         That the update on the actions taken by the authority be noted.

Reason:            To inform Members of fire safety actions undertaken by the Council.

This report updates Members on the financial position of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Members considered a summary report on the financial position of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, as at July 2017.

Andrew Bertram, Finance Director (York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) and Beverley Geary, the Chief Nurse (York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

To set the context of the report, the Finance Director detailed the background to the operation of the Trust. The report highlighted the Trust’s continuing position of deficit in the region of £13.8m. Income and expenditure pressures were analysed in some detail. Members were advised that the Trust’s Corporate Directors were preparing a financial recovery plan in response to the situation.  Meanwhile, the Trust were already in discussions with the Treasury regarding the possibility of securing a capital loan to assist the position, given the additional likely pressures upon the Trust and its services over the coming winter months.

Members discussed the position is some detail, raising the following specific concerns:

·        the impact on patient care should a loan not be secured and funds run out;

·        there appeared to have been ‘inefficiencies’ across the Trust and its services for some years now, which seemed not to have been addressed until the situation had deteriorated so significantly;

·        there appeared to be a growing dependency upon Agency staff, given overall staff shortages, which, in turn, added to financial pressures;

·        the impact on morale and service delivery caused by experienced staff leaving the Trust, as a result of work pressures.

Members commented on the number of abbreviations used in the report and requested a glossary of terminology be provided for similar reports and that, in future the graphs be presented in larger format to make them easier to read.

Resolved:                     That

(i)           The report on the Trust’s financial position be noted, together with the steps being taken to try to address the situation; and

(ii)          The improvements requested above to the presentation of the report be adopted for similar future reports

Reason:                        To inform Members of the current financial position for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This report presents the draft Mental Health Strategy for the city (Annex Arefers). The draft strategy is currently being consulted on with the closing date for comments being Sunday 8October 2017.

Members considered a report submitting, for their comments, the draft Mental Health Strategy for the city. It was noted that consultation on the Strategy was currently underway and ended on 8 October 2017. Members were advised that a workshop was taking place to bring together health & wellbeing partners to work on common focus and vision for the Strategy.

Members commented upon the draft strategy, suggesting that it should focus on ensuring a consistency of service in the provision of acute mental health care and on methods of delivery as well as community support. 

Resolved:         That the draft mental health strategy be endorsed subject to the wider focus outlined above and to any common focus being identified for inclusion by health partners.

Reason:            To ensure Members contribute to the Mental Health Strategy during its consultation stage.

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year.

Members considered and endorsed the Committee’s work plan for the remainder of the 2017/18 municipal year.

Resolved:         That the work plan be noted and endorsed to date.

Reason:            To keep the Committee’s work plan updated.

Cllr P Doughty, Chair

[The meeting started at 5.30pm and finished at 7.50pm].