Agenda, decisions and minutes
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Contact: Jill Pickering Democracy Officer
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Election of Chair Minutes: In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, Members agreed that Cllr Morley should take the Chair for the duration of the meeting. |
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Declarations of Interest At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. Minutes: Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.
Cllr Taylor declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 (Minute 70 refers), as his mother was an elderly resident of the City who may have been interviewed as part of the consultation relating to this item.
Cllr Funnell declared a personal, non prejudicial interest in agenda item 5, as a member of the executive of the Older People’s Assembly. |
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To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17th March 2008. Minutes: RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 2008 be approved and signed by the Chair and Executive Member as a correct record. |
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Public Participation 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 5pm on Friday 30th May 2008. Minutes: It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. |
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Housing and Adult Social Services 2007/08 Service Plan Outturns The purpose of this report is to advise the Executive Member of the performance and financial outturns for housing and adult social care in 2007/8. Additional documents:
Decision: Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the contents of the report; (ii) Agree the carry forwards set out in paragraph 19 of the report, to be forwarded to the Executive for approval; (iii) Approve the virements over £100k outlined in paragraph 12.
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: For information and in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and Financial Regulations. Minutes: Members considered a report which presented the performance and financial out-turns for the Housing and Adult Social Services departments at the end of the 2008/09 financial year.
Details of performance within each service plan area were set out in Annexes 1-6 to the report. Progress on key service objectives included:
With regard to financial performance, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) working balance had increased by £916k to £6,546k at out-turn, while the approved Housing General Fund (HGF) budget now stood at £1,400k. The draft out-turn on the HGF was £110k less than the approved budget, representing an underspend of £92k after carry-forwards. The approved budget for Adult Social Services was now £34.3m, with a draft out-turn of £941k less, representing a net underspend of £656k. Reasons for the budget variations were detailed in the report annexes. It was proposed to carry forward HRA projects totalling £8.4k and HGF projects totalling £302.2k into the 2008/09 financial year. Details were set out in paragraph 19 of the report. Executive Member approval was sought for the following virements exceeding £100k:
Officers responded to Members’ questions regarding Annex 1 (HRA Service Plan / Outturn). In particular, it was noted that the out-turn figures for minor and major adaptations under the ‘Process Based Measures’ section should read 28% and 26% respectively and that a report on revised processes for estate improvements would be brought to EMAP in July. The Executive Member paid tribute to staff in both departments for their hard work during a difficult and challenging year
Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the contents of the report; (ii) Agree the carry forwards set out in paragraph 19 of the report, to be forwarded to the Executive for approval;1 (iii) Approve the virements over £100k outlined in paragraph 12.2
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: For information and in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and Financial Regulations. |
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Outcome of the consultation on the Future Challenges for Social Care
The report reports on the consultation agreed by the Executive Member in October 2007, and the progress in delivery of the initial commissioning plan for the Long Term Commissioning Strategy. It seeks agreement to undertake an option appraisal in respect of the Council’s residential care homes, to consider the opportunities and costs to develop appropriate care choices for older people in York. Additional documents:
Decision: Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to agree that:
(i) Any opportunities to lobby Government regarding the funding requirements for older people’s services should be used (Option 1); (ii) Work to develop new low level and preventative services to increase health and well being should continue through the joint project with the Primary Care Trust (Option 2); (iii) Work to develop personalised budgets for older people should be undertaken as part of the Transforming Social Care agenda (Option 2); (iv) Any consideration of further savings targets within home care services will be undertaken only within the context of the review process of the current 3-year contracts and Service Level Agreements (currently December 2009) (Option 3); (v) An option appraisal be undertaken to explore the opportunities to develop more appropriate specialist residential care and housing choices for older people, in partnership with other providers, and to consider the options for the development of Council run homes to provide more specialist care (Option 3).
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: So that the Council can begin to address the challenges that face social care services for older people, taking into account the feedback received from the consultation process. Minutes: Members considered a report which presented the outcome of the above consultation, authorised by the Executive Member in October 2007, together with progress on delivery of the commissioning plan for the Long Term Commissioning Strategy, agreed by Members in January 2007, and sought approval for further action to develop appropriate care choices for older people in York.
The consultation had comprised two events for stakeholders at the start and end of the process, a survey of over-50’s in the City over a 4-week period in March / April and four focus groups, meeting during April / May. Results of the survey were summarised in Annex A to the report and conclusions from the focus groups were set out in Annex C. In the light of these results, and in line with the report presented last October on The Future Challenges, Members were asked to consider the following options:-
Option 1 – increase the funding available for older people’s services, by lobbying Government, increasing Council Tax and / or redirecting funding from other council services. Option 2 – reduce demand for services, by raising the eligibility level, developing new preventative services and / or providing older people with resources to choose their own arrangements through personalised budgets. Option 3 – deliver services more efficiently, by considering further savings targets in the context of the review process of current contracts and SLAs and / or undertaking an option appraisal to explore opportunities to develop more appropriate specialist residential care, both in-house and with partners.
A full analysis of the above options, incorporating views from the consultation, was provided in paragraphs 21 to 47 of the report. The recommendation was that a combination of the suggestions presented under each of these options be adopted.
Advice of the Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to agree that:
(i) Any opportunities to lobby Government regarding the funding requirements for older people’s services should be used (Option 1);1 (ii) Work to develop new low level and preventative services to increase health and well being should continue through the joint project with the Primary Care Trust (Option 2);2 (iii) Work to develop personalised budgets for older people should be undertaken as part of the Transforming Social Care agenda (Option 2);3 (iv) Any consideration of further savings targets within home care services will be undertaken only within the context of the review process of the current 3-year contracts and Service Level Agreements (currently December 2009) (Option 3);4 (v) An option appraisal be undertaken to explore the opportunities to develop more appropriate specialist residential care and housing choices for older people, in partnership with other providers, and to consider the options for the development of Council run homes to provide more specialist care (Option 3).5
Decision of the Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: So that the Council can begin to address the challenges that face social care services for older people, ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Housing and Social Services Capital Programme 2007/08 Outturn This report presents the out turn position of the 2007/08 Housing and Adult Social Services Capital Programmes and the resources available to support them. Additional documents: Decision: Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the out-turn position of the Housing and Adult Social Services Capital Programme, as set out in the report; (ii) Refer the slippage of £165k on Housing and £77k on Social Services to the Executive for approval.
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: For information, and in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and Financial Regulations. Minutes: Members considered a report which presented the out-turn position of the 2007/08 Housing and Adult Social Services Capital Programme and the resources available to support it.
The value of the approved Housing Capital Programme was £9,453k, of which £4,712k was funded through the MRA. There was a total of £165k slippage into 2008/09 on the capital funded element of this programme and an overall overspend of £468k, with an underspend of £222k on the MRA funded element. Details were set out in paragraphs 8 to 24 of the report.
The approved Social Services Capital Programme was £646k, of which £311k was grant funded. There was slippage of £77k, (£51k on the grant funded element) and a total net underspend of £2k, as detailed in paragraphs 25 to 28.
Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the out-turn position of the Housing and Adult Social Services Capital Programme, as set out in the report; (ii) Refer the slippage of £165k on Housing and £77k on Social Services to the Executive for approval.1
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: For information, and in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and Financial Regulations. |
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Social Care Reform Grant The report introduces the recent policy paper ‘Putting People First’ from the Department of Health, and sets out plans for the use of a new Social Care Reform Grant. The Executive Member is asked to note the importance of this policy agenda and to agree the plans it contains for the use of the Social Care Reform Grant for 2008-09. Decision: Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the priorities for action to deliver the transformational change that Government requires; (ii) Note the proposed principles for use of the grant to deliver these priorities; (iii) Note the proposed investment plan for the grant in 2008/09; (iv) Receive further reports on the delivery of personalisation and early intervention, once the impact on current service delivery models is clear.
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: For information, and on the basis that the proposals will ensure that the Social Grant can be used effectively to meet the challenges that transformational change will bring, and support the delivery of personalisation of services and early intervention. Minutes: Members considered a report which introduced the Department of Health policy paper ‘Putting People First’ and sought approval for plans regarding the use of the new Social Care Reform Grant in 2008/09..
The Government was providing funding over three years, through the Social Care Reform Grant, to support the transformation of social care. York would receive £245k in 2008/09, £573k in 2009/10 and £709k in 2010/11. The guidance in Putting People First made it clear that transformation must deliver the personalisation of services and a focus on early intervention and prevention. Changes would need to be delivered in partnership with health colleagues to ensure integrated services. Those areas considered to be priorities for action were set out in paragraphs 16 to 23 of the report. Suggested principles for agreeing use of the grant were listed in paragraph 24.
Proposals for the use of grant funding in the first year (2008/09) were outlined in paragraph 25 and comprised support for the following:
More detailed plans would be developed during Year 1 for use of the grant in the next two years, as a vision of how the transformed services would look was developed and shared.
Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the priorities for action to deliver the transformational change that Government requires; (ii) Note the proposed principles for use of the grant to deliver these priorities; (iii) Note the proposed investment plan for the grant in 2008/09; (iv) Receive further reports on the delivery of personalisation and early intervention, once the impact on current service delivery models is clear.1
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: For information, and on the basis that the proposals will ensure that the Social Grant can be used effectively to meet the challenges that transformational change will bring, and support the delivery of personalisation of services and early intervention. |
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This report outlines the work undertaken to date to develop a Physical & Sensory Impairment Strategy for adult social care in York. Additional documents: Decision: Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the attached draft of the first chapters of the Strategy; (ii) Approve completion of the Strategy after further consultation; (iii) Endorse the proposal to establish a Partnership Board framework for the consideration of further developments that will support people with a physical and / or a sensory impairment within York.
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: To support the continuing development of the Strategy and the development of a Centre for Independent Living. Minutes: Members considered a report which outlined work undertaken to date to develop a Physical and / or Sensory Impairment Strategy for adult social care in York and sought approval for action to progress this work.
A draft of the first few chapters of the Strategy was annexed to the report. Consultation had revealed a strong interest amongst people with a physical and / or sensory impairment for further dialogue in developing the Strategy. In addition, there was a need for strong partnership working between the Council and people with a disability in order to meet the requirement to put in place a user led Centre for Independent Living (CIL) by 2010.
It was therefore recommended that a Partnership Board, involving the Council and representatives from the ‘community’ of people with disabilities be created, to move the Strategy forward and support the development of a CIL. The Board would be formally linked to the Local Strategic Partnership and the Local Area Agreement by reporting to the Healthy City Board.
Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the attached draft of the first chapters of the Strategy; (ii) Approve completion of the Strategy after further consultation;1 (iii) Endorse the proposal to establish a Partnership Board framework for the consideration of further developments that will support people with a physical and / or a sensory impairment within York.2
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: To support the continuing development of the Strategy and the development of a Centre for Independent Living. |
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Review of Grants Policy The purpose of the report is to brief the Executive Member and outline the proposed changes to the Grants and Assistance Policy regarding the: a) Energy Efficiency Grant –amending the eligibility criteria to take account of the national changes to the priorities group and b) Disabled Facilities Grants Programme –to provide a brief summary of the Governments proposals to improving programme delivery, giving the York context and to request that a letter is sent to Government Office regarding the impact on the funding arrangements Additional documents: Decision: Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the contents of the report, and that a letter has been sent to Government Office expressing the Council’s concern over the budget allocation; (ii) Approve the revision to the existing policy in line with this interim review, including: a. The change to the eligibility criteria for the energy efficiency grant b. The briefing on proposed changes to the DFG (noting the short term and long term impact of the changes on the delivery of the disabled facilities grant programme) c. Endorsement of the Council’s adaptation programme across all tenures (noting the potential financial implications) and continued support for this area of work.
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: To respond to changes in national policy and to assist vulnerable residents of the City of York. Minutes: Members considered a report which informed them of proposed changes to the Grants and Assistance Policy with regard to the Energy Efficiency Grant and the Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) Programme.
The changes had arisen from national policy developments. The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), which came into effect on 1 April 2008, required suppliers to direct at least 40% of carbon savings to a priority group of low income and elderly customers. This would affect the uptake of the Energy Efficiency Grant currently offered by the Council. Changes were therefore proposed to maximise eligibility for the grant, including lowering the age criteria for grants for cavity wall and loft insulation and for heating measures to meet decent homes standards.
The government had recently published a package of reforms to the DFG, as part of an ongoing review. These included significant key changes, particularly in relation to funding and allocations. It was noted that while funding for the programme had increased, this was not reflected in York’s allocation for 2008/09. A letter had been sent to Government Office expressing disappointment at this year’s allocation and requesting details of the new approach being developed for allocations in future years. A response had now been received, indicating that the comments would be taken into account when considering next year’s allocations. Information was awaited on a proposal for discretionary consent, which would enable the Council to place a charge on adapted properties of owner occupiers, where the DFG exceeded £5k.
Members were invited to consider the following options: Option 1 – revise the existing policy in line with this interim review, as recommended in the report and the amended Policy attached as Annex 1; Option 2 – maintain the current policy with no revisions; Option 3 – amend the proposals outlined in the report.
In response to a query raised during discussion, Officers agreed to look into the reason why the Kirklees model of loans to home owners could not be used in York and inform the Member concerned.1
Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to:
(i) Note the contents of the report, and that a letter has been sent to Government Office expressing the Council’s concern over the budget allocation; (ii) Approve the revision to the existing policy in line with this interim review, including:2 a. The change to the eligibility criteria for the energy efficiency grant b. The briefing on proposed changes to the DFG (noting the short term and long term impact of the changes on the delivery of the disabled facilities grant programme) c. Endorsement of the Council’s adaptation programme across all tenures (noting the potential financial implications) and continued support for this area of work.
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: To respond to changes in national policy and to assist vulnerable residents of the City of York. |
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Homeless Strategy 2008-13 To note the review of the homeless strategy and approve the contents of the strategy that will cover the period between 2008 and 2013. The strategy is required to be submitted to Communities and Local Government by the end of July 2008. Additional documents: Decision: Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to endorse the draft Homeless Strategy and recommend it to the Executive for approval.
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: In accordance with the legal requirement for the Council to have a Homeless Strategy. Minutes: Members considered a report which sought endorsement of a draft York Homeless Strategy for the period 2008-2013, following a review of the 2003/08 Strategy. A copy of the draft Strategy was annexed to the report.
The over-arching aspiration of the Strategy was to eradicate the use of emergency accommodation and move away from a reactive approach to homelessness. It included four key strands - Partnership working; Advice and information and prevention; Accommodation; Support Services. An action plan set out what was required over the next five years to achieve the aims of the Strategy. Development of the Strategy had been overseen by a Homeless Strategy Steering Group, with a membership reflecting the wide range of services involved. This group would also be responsible for monitoring the action plan.
It was noted that the draft Strategy at Annex 1 was a working version that still contained some gaps in relation to certain statistics. An updated version had been prepared for referral to the Executive.
Advice of Advisory Panel
That the Executive Member be advised to endorse the draft Homeless Strategy and recommend it to the Executive for approval.1
Decision of Executive Member
RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.
REASON: In accordance with the legal requirement for the Council to have a Homeless Strategy. |