Archived decisions

    AT A MEETING of the SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday, 25 January 2002

PRESENT

    Councillors: M.L. Sheehan (Chairman); Mrs. M.D. Snaith (Vice-Chairman);

Mrs. P.G. Banks; Mrs. P. Dickens; A.G. Dowden; Mrs. J.K. Frankum; E.F. Gale, MBE;

Mrs. D.R. Harrison; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; Mrs. C.A. Leversha; Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott;

Mrs. P.G. Peskett; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; Mrs. V. Steel; Mrs. P.A. West; Miss J.D. Wride.

Also in attendance: Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE, Executive Member - Social Care.

6 HONORARY ALDERMAN JACK MAYNARD

Members stood in silence as a mark of respect following the recent death of Honorary Alderman Jack Maynard.

7 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 21 September 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

8 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

The Director of Social Services presented a report (Item 2 in the Minute Book) describing the Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) used by the Department of Health to measure national and local performance; giving details of Hampshire's results for 2000/01 highlighting key achievements as well as areas for improvement and identifying themes from the Autumn position statement which sets out County targets for the next few years for use in local and national monitoring.

Overall the County Council's performance had improved, particularly with childcare, and had been awarded the maximum classification for 11 of the 44 indicators. However, the minimum classification was awarded for 4 indicators. In acknowledging these statistics it was pointed out that in 3 of the areas data collection difficulties had contributed significantly to the classification. The actions being taken to address the issues concerned were outlined.

RESOLVED:

That:-

      (a) The report be received.

      (b) The Executive Member - Social Care be advised that:-

        (i) The Social Services Department's performance against PAF indicators
        be received.

        (ii) The work underway to address issues arising be noted.

        (iii) The departmental priority to target services at people assessed as
        being in greatest need be confirmed.

        (iv) The Social Services Department looks carefully at recording low level
        services to the elderly in order to prove that the County Council is an
        enabling authority and that the results be presented to this Committee
        in due course.

      (c) The officers be thanked for their work.

9 REVENUE BUDGET 2002/03

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services presented the Revenue Budget 2002/03 and reported on the revised budget for 2001/02 (Item 3 in the Minute Book).

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services gave details of the main pressures on the budget to be coped with in the coming year, efficiency improvements, the proposed review of charges and additions and redeployment proposals. They highlighted that much of the budget was ring fenced or tied to specific inflation and demand pressures and therefore, despite a substantial increase, did not enable much flexibility.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member, Social Care be advised:-

      (a) to approve for submission to the Cabinet:-

        (i) the base budget (as set out in Appendix 1 and Annexes 1 to 4);

        (ii) the efficiency improvements (as set out in Appendix 2);

        (iii) the proposals to increase charges (as set out in Appendix 3);

        (iv) the proposals for new growth and redeployment within budget
        guidelines (as set out in Appendix 4);

        (v) the budget for 2002/03 and the revised budget for 2001/02 (as set out
        in Appendix 5);

        (vi) the report on the extent to which specific grants are used to assist or
        improve service levels, the impact of changes in function, and the
        extent to which other pressures and demands can be absorbed within
        the adjusted 5.3% passported cash increase; and

      (b) to request the Cabinet to make contingency provision for additional demands and inflationary pressures that cannot be met within the budget proposals.

10 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 TO 2005/06

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services presented the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2005/06 (Item 4 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member, Social Care be advised to approve for submission to the Cabinet the capital programme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

11 BEST VALUE REVIEWS - OUTCOME REPORTS

The Chief Executive presented a report advising Members of the outcome of the Best Value review for Looked After Children (Item 5 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That:-

      (a) The outcome report for the Best Value Review of Looked After Children be approved.

      (b) Summaries of the review be prepared in the standard format for inclusion in the Best Value Performance Plan.

      (c) The summaries and Improvement Plans be provided to the Executive Member, Social Care to effect implementation of the review outcomes.

      (d) An annual progress report on the Improvement Plan be presented to the Committee each January, starting from 2003, to facilitate reporting in the Best Value Performance Plan.

12 PROGRESS ON YEAR 1 (2000/01) BEST VALUE REVIEWS

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the progress of the Year 1 Best Value Reviews (Item 6 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That:-

      (a) The progress made on the Year 1 Best Value Reviews be endorsed.

      (b) A further progress report on the Year 1 Best Value Reviews be presented to the Committee in January 2003.

4dM470102