Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

The Executive Member was invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudical interests he might have in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Decision Session – Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services held on 23 March 2010 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Representations were received from Councillor Simpson-Laing  regarding agenda items 2, 4, 5 and 6 as follows:

• Item 2 Minutes – Councillor Simpson-Laing asked that it be made clear that she had not requested a Scrutiny Review on the matter  of performance and the collection of rents. She had requested further information to assist her in understanding the problem.
• Item 4 – It was queried whether residents and carer groups been consulted on the change as she felt it was important the changes were fully understood prior to take up.
• Item 5 – She was glad to see the move towards providing home cooked meals as evidence shows freshly prepared food is better nutritionally.
• Welcomed the new procedures and is glad that an extra Officer is being employed to implement the procedure.
• Welcomed Pete Dwyer as the new Director.

Councillor Simpson-Laing left the meeting.

This report seeks the Executive Members approval to complete the implementation of a policy to discontinue key holding of customers’ keys in our in-house Home Care Services

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member approved the extension of the current practice of non-key holding in City of York Council Home Care to all its customers and operates a range of alternative property access arrangements.

REASON:                  The move to a completely key-less service is essential to the delivery of the savings and benefits arising from the More for York project on the Electronic Monitoring System for Home Care. It is essential to the ability of the in-house service to reduce its unit costs and deliver more time to work face to face with its customers.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval for the implementation of a policy to discontinue the holding of customers keys in the Council’s in house Home Care Services.

Officers outlined the paper which highlighted the following issues:

• The current position and the issues surrounding key-holding.
• The desired position and the proposal to extend current policy for new customers to existing customers to become non key-holding.
• The implications for existing customers – customers would have 4 options including a coded key safe and access facilitated by a nominated individual.
• The benefits to CYC Home Care Services – i.e. more efficient service.

The Executive Member queried how existing customers would be informed of the changes. Officers advised this would be done on a personalised basis by talking to each customer and assisting them to make new arrangements. With this assurance, the Executive Member agreed the recommendation.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member approved the extension of the current practice of non-key holding in City of York Council Home Care to all its customers and operates a range of alternative property access arrangements.

REASON:                  The move to a completely key-less service is essential to the delivery of the savings and benefits arising from the More for York project on the Electronic Monitoring System for Home Care. It is essential to the ability of the in-house service to reduce its unit costs and deliver more time to work face to face with its customers.

This report seeks the Executive Members approval to make changes in the provision of meals in elderly persons homes in line with the Council’s Sustainable Procurement Policy.

RESOLVED: (i)That the Executive Member approved the proposals outlined in Option 2, for the eight remaining homes to move to home cooking for all meals of the day.

REASON:                  To enable Managers to provide a more appropriate nutritionally balanced diet that will meet the needs of all residents in residential care homes.

RESOLVED: (ii)That the Executive Member approved the proposal to procure bulk food items and general supplies with a view to procuring as much produce as locally as possible.

REASON:                  To be in line with the Council’s procurement strategy and will fulfil the need to ensure value for money when purchasing basic food supplies.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval to make changes in the provision of meals in elderly persons homes in line with the Council’s Sustainable Procurement Policy.

Officers gave an update and advised that bringing the preparation of meals back into the homes would offer personalisation and provide a better nutritional service. They advised a plan was in place to make the shift from the NHS provision to home cooked meals by August 2010.  

The Executive Member commented that he supported the sourcing of local produce where possible.

RESOLVED: (i)That the Executive Member approved the proposals outlined in Option 2, for the eight remaining homes to move to home cooking for all meals of the day.

REASON:                  To enable Managers to provide a more appropriate nutritionally balanced diet that will meet the needs of all residents in residential care homes.

RESOLVED: (ii)That the Executive Member approved the proposal to procure bulk food items and general supplies with a view to procuring as much produce as locally as possible.

REASON:                  To be in line with the Council’s procurement strategy and will fulfil the need to ensure value for money when purchasing basic food supplies.

This report advises the Executive Member of the successful outcome of the trial change of procedure within Housing Services to evaluate the potential to use the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Schedule 3 to gain access to Council Homes to ensure that we comply with our statutory duties to ensure that gas appliances within our properties are serviced on an annual basis.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member agreed Option 1, to adopt the new procedure as council policy.

REASON:                  To ensure that council tenants, residents and the wider community are safe and that the council fulfils its statutory responsibilities to annually service its domestic gas appliances.

The Executive Member considered a report which advised of the successful outcome of the trial change of procedure within Housing Services to evaluate the potential to use the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Schedule 3 to gain access to Council Homes to ensure that the Council complies with statutory duties to ensure that gas appliances within Council properties are serviced on an annual basis.

Officers gave an update and outlined Annex B which detailed the results of the trial. The trial had focused on a small number of tenants that had repeatedly denied the Council access to their homes to carry out servicing of gas appliances. Officers advised that the Courts had been co-operative with the Council throughout the trial. It is anticipated an additional enforcement officer would be required to manage the additional workload.

The Executive Member agreed Option 1, to adopt the new procedure.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member agreed Option 1, to adopt the new procedure as Council policy.

REASON:                  To ensure that council tenants, residents and the wider community are safe and that the council fulfils its statutory responsibilities to annually service its domestic gas appliances.