Issue - meetings

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 Panel’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 11 August at 10.00am.

It was reported that there had been three registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on Agenda Item 5 (Confirmation of the arrangements for the In House restructure of Home Care services).

Liz Young, from Unison, addressed the committee regarding Unison’s outstanding concerns on the restructure. These concerns included the change to more variable shift pattern and the impact on home life, the removal of the Senior Home Care Assistant and Team Leader posts, and the effect on vulnerable customers.

Mr Jack Archer raised issues regarding the consultations with voluntary groups such as Age Concern. Mr Archer thanked officers for consulting with Age Concern but wanted reassurance that Age Concern would still be able to apply for funding from ward committees. Mr Archer raised questions about what support would be provided to older people who were unable to collect pensions or go shopping, and whether the Council’s scheme and Age Concern’s Neighbour Scheme would work alongside each other.

Mr James Player spoke on behalf of Age Concern. He highlighted that his primary concern was about the tendering exercise for the three locality providers, what processes were in place to monitor the contracts and that the providers selected were good reliable organisations. Mr Player also raised concerns about the impact on frail older people who would lose their regular carers.