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.

In addition to Members’ standing declarations, Councillors Cannon, Cullwick, and Pavlovic declared a personal interest as patients of York Hospital. Cllr Doughty declared a personal interest as his partner had previously worked for The Retreat, York.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2017.

Members felt the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2017 did not offer sufficient detail of the questions asked during the meeting, particularly around the STP (minute 44). It was agreed that the Chair would liaise with Democratic Services and an amended version of the minutes would be brought to the next meeting for the committee’s approval.

It was agreed that information relating to the public health grant (minute 46) would be circulated to members by the end of January 2018. It was confirmed that the report on homelessness (minute 45) due to be taken to Executive on 25 January 2018 would suggest suitable ways for well-wishers to support rough sleepers through donations to charities.

Resolved:  That the Chair would liaise with Democratic Services to amend the draft minutes of the meeting of the Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 December 2017 and that these would be brought back to a future meeting for the Committee’s approval.

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 5:00 pm on 12 January 2018.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

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 under the council’s scheme of public participation.

To provide members with an update on the response of The Retreat to the CQC inspections of November 2016 & February 2017 and the safeguarding investigation from February-July 2017.

Members considered a report updating them on the response of The Retreat to the CQC inspections of November 2016 & February 2017 and the safeguarding investigation from February-July 2017. The Chair congratulated staff at The Retreat for the progress made since the inspections.Cathy Waters and Jo Skinner from The Retreat were in attendance and in response to questions it was reported that:

·        It was hoped The Retreat would take a more formal role in the development of the STP’s mental health agenda and that they could re-engage with voluntary sector partnership work within the city. Members agreed to support them with this.

·        The Retreat’s new business plan would include strategies for reducing the average length of stay by patients where this was appropriate.

·        Regulations regarding staffing levels were being met and a greater number of staff were now receiving appraisals. Recruitment of qualified and experienced staff remained a challenge shared by the health and social care sector nationally.

·        Concerns around the dispensing of medication had been addressed through better recording practices and staff training.

·        An involvement worker was in post to support clients to feedback to the organisation on the services they received.

·        The identified action relating to dining facilities would be included in a longer review of the building and estate but could not be easily resolved in the shorter-term.

·        It was agreed that The Retreat would work with the council to find a long-term strategy for tackling graffiti on the back wall of their grounds.

Resolved:  To note the update on the response of The Retreat to the CQC inspections of November 2016 & February 2017 and the safeguarding investigation from February-July 2017.

That the scrutiny officer contact the STP to ask that The Retreat is invited to take part in mental health workstream items that may be planned in the future.

Reason:     To keep the committee updated on the progress of The Retreat Quality Improvement Plan.

To provide Members with information on the performance and standards of provision across care services in York.

Members considered a report detailing performance of providers of Residential, Nursing and Homecare in York. The report detailed improvements to the services since a CQC inspection and report in June 2017 and detailed improvement tasks still outstanding. The Head of Commissioning for Adult Social Care introduced the report and in response to questions it was reported that:

·        York outcomes were positive in comparison to national averages and no services had been assessed as inadequate but recruitment and retention of staff remained the biggest challenge in the social care sector. It was hoped that the recruitment of care-home managers would provide greater stability.

·        The new inspection framework had been used for all inspections listed in the report and the commissioning team worked alongside the CQC to visit providers and look at the quality of provision. Homes in crisis would be subject to an improvement plan.

Resolved:  To note the performance and standards of provision across care service in York.

Reason:     To assure Members on the quality of adult social care services in York and the impact that this has on people who use these services

To provide Members with an update on progress towards delivering the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme including programme delivery, resource deployment and risk.

Members considered a report updating them on the Older Person’s Accommodation including programme delivery, resource deployment and risk. The Programme Director for the Older Persons Accommodation Programme was in attendance to present the report. In response to Members’ questions it was reported that:

·        The programme was on track to provide its target of 713 new care units by 2020, with risks largely under control and minimised. Planning continued to be the greatest risk facing the programme.

·        Older person’s accommodation was usually rented or owner-occupied and increasing the number of care places would free up more family homes for the city.

·        Car-use by care home residents was often very low and the requirement for off-road parking varied by site. Advice had been taken regarding parking allocations for staff. The officer agreed to provide Cllr Richardson with further information on parking allocations for specific sites.

·        Future need was calculated using demographic projections and a national assessment framework. It was predicted that nationally the over 75 population would increase by 50% by 2030.

·        As a key purchaser of care places, the council had some influence over care provision in York. With few exceptions, care places were available to anyone to ensure transitions into care could be made in a timely way.

·        Receipts from the sale of old premises would be used to support the Older Person’s Accommodation programme. The Burnholme site was budgeted for separately but would be funded in part from the scheme. It was agreed to send a more detailed budget to Cllr Cannon for her information.

·        The Executive’s priority in disposing of the Willow House site was to gain the maximum capital receipt for investment in the programme. This was not the case for the Carlton Tavern site where priority had been placed on retaining the site for a new care home and the applicant had therefore been provided with information from the programme team to support their application.

·        The cap on mitigating care costs, paid by the council, was re-negotiated annually with each cap lasting for three years.

The development of the Burnholme campus was discussed including the proposed closure of three surgeries in the Tang Hall area. Members were concerned with the impact this may have on their existing patients and felt accessibility should be made a priority in any plans for the new campus. It was explained that the Priory Medical Group was responsible for undertaking an impact assessment exercise and consulting with their patients appropriately.

Resolved:  (i) To note the good progress in delivering the Programme.

(ii) To request a further update be presented at a future

meeting.

(iii) To invite Priory Medical Group to a meeting to present their plans for mitigating the impact of planned surgery closures.

Reason:     To keep Members updated on the Older Person’s Accommodation programme

                   To reassure the committee that the impact on vulnerable patients had been considered in the plan to change health provision arrangements in the Tang Hall area.

To provide Members with an update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Housing Registrations scrutiny review.

It was agreed to take item 7 and 8 together. The Head of Housing was in attendance to respond to questions.

Members considered two reports. The first report detailed the progress made on implementing the recommendations of the Housing Registrations scrutiny review. The review had been inherited from a former scrutiny committee which had appointed a task group to look at the processes relating to Housing Registrations.

The second report provided information on the future involvement of City of York Council (CYC) with North Yorkshire Home Choice (NYHC) common allocations policy and choice based lettings system. It was reported that officers were confident that in the short term the scheme could continue to work for York residents and agreements with local providers would continue. The formal consultation on the proposed policy would be in a variety of formats, and cover a wide range of stakeholders and partners. It was currently in draft form and Members were welcomed to share their comments on the draft with officers.

The bronze band for social housing applicants would be eliminated, with exceptions, as this created unnecessary administration while not increasing the priority of applicants in the waiting list. A focus had been placed on robust and honest conversations with applicants about the likelihood of having their housing requests granted and this had resulted in a considerable drop in applications received. The ‘potentially homeless’ gold band would also be eliminated following legislation which enabled the groups’ needs to be addressed through other avenues.

In response to a question it was reported that the impact on York of a national policy to specify room sizes in shared accommodation had not yet been fully explored.

Resolved:  To note the implementation update information detailed in Annex A.

To sign off the remaining recommendations and request regular updates on the ongoing work to respond to changes in housing related legislation etc.

To receive the completed draft policy at a future meeting for Members’ comments and response.

Reason:     To conclude this review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols and inform the future work of scrutiny.

To provide Members with an update on the review of the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy and Choice-Based Lettings.

See minute item 7.

Resolved:  To note the information in this report

Reason:     To proceed with the work on the allocations policy for York residents (subject to formal decision) and of scrutiny in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols

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

The work plan for the remainder of the municipal year was considered.

Members were invited to attend an informal meeting organised by the Children, Education and Communities Select Committee at 5.30pm on 29 January to discuss the potential merits of conducting a joint scrutiny review into Children’s Mental Health provision in the city. Some members felt this would not be within the scope of the committee but it was agreed that members would attend to discuss the remit and ambitions of such a review. It was suggested that a review of the committee’s remit be carried out in the new municipal year and it was agreed that the Scrutiny Officer would make enquiries regarding this.

The following amendments were made to the work plan following discussion:

·        The deferral of the six-monthly BeIndependent report to a later meeting to allow an existing review with the organisation to be completed.

·        The addition of a discussion on the impact of planned surgery closures to which the Priory Medical Group should be invited along with officers from the relevant council departments (including highways, transport, commissioning, and health).

·        The addition of a review of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Council’s new Mental Health Strategy at a date to be confirmed following liaison between the Scrutiny Officer and Director of Public Health.

·        The addition of an update on the impact of the decision made regarding the incorporation of North Yorkshire Fire Authority within the remit of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Resolved:  To note the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year and to add the items as above.

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