Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday, 17 January 2003
PRESENT
Councillors: M.L. Sheehan (Chairman); Mrs. M.D. Snaith (Vice-Chairman);
Mrs. P.G. Banks; K.G. Chapman; Mrs. P. Dickens; A.G. Dowden; Mrs. J.K. Frankum;
E.F. Gale, MBE; Mrs. K. Heron; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; Mrs. C.A. Leversha;
A.R. Ludlow; Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs. P.G. Peskett; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; J.W. Stocks; Mrs. P.A. West; W.H. Wheeler; Miss J.D. Wride.
Also in attendance Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE - Executive Member for Social Care.
56 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal
prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at
the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances
described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct,
consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is discussed.
Councillors Mrs. P. Dickens and A.R. Ludlow declared non-pecuniary interests in
Item 6 on the Agenda (Delayed Transfer of Care - Proposals for Reimbursement).
57 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 November 2002 were,
subject to the third bullet point on page 21 being amended to read:
"Improved communication with carers from hard-to-reach groups and wider
recognition of their needs" ,
confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
58 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
There were no Chairman's communications.
59 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS
There were no Members' questions to this meeting.
60 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations to this meeting.
61 DELAYED TRANSFER OF CARE - PROPOSALS FOR REIMBURSEMENT
The Director of Social Services presented a report summarising the possible financial implications to the County Council following the implementation of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges Etc.) Bill (Item 6 in the Minute Book). Details were given of the potential reimbursement arrangements and an assessment undertaken in October 2002 of the risk to the County Council arising from delayed transfers of care and options for action to reduce exposure to reimbursement. Members requested a further report following the implementation of the Bill.
RESOLVED
That:-
(a) The potential financial implications to the County Council of the implementation
of the new legislation be noted.
(b) The actions required to implement the new legislation be noted.
(c) A further report be presented to the Committee following the implementation of
the new legislation.
62 REVENUE BUDGET 2003/04
The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services presented a report setting out the proposed Social Services Revenue Budget for 2003/04 and the revised budget for 2002/03 (Item 7 in the Minute Book). They explained the new grant distribution system mechanism (Formula Spending Share) and highlighted the increases in demand and risks of the various services.
RESOLVED
That the Executive Member for Social Care be advised to recommend to the Cabinet that:-
(a) The base budget for 2003/04, as set out in Appendix 1, be approved.
(b) The framework to set the Social Services 2003/04 revenue budget within the
passported amount be approved, but with the understanding that this depends on
the outcome of assumptions which cannot yet be verified. These include the
extent to which specific grants can be used under the new freedoms for the
County Council to meet local pressures and priorities.
(c) The potential impact of 1% and 1.5% reductions below the passported amount as
set out in the report be noted.
(d) The annual review of income and charges as set out in Appendix 4 be approved.
(e) Non-residential care charges be reviewed in July 2003 with the possibility of
increases from October 2003.
(f) The revised budget for 2002/03, as set out in Appendix 7, be approved.
(g) The Cabinet considers setting up a corporate contingency against which the
Executive Member, Social Care can make a claim if the outcome of the
uncertainties identified leads to a worsened position such that pressures and
demands cannot be absorbed within specific grants and the adjusted 7.3%
passported cash increase in the social services Formula Spending Share.
63 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/04 TO 2006/07
The County Treasurer presented the Capital Programme for 2003/04 to 2006/07 (Item 8 in the Minute Book).
RESOLVED
That the Executive Member, Social Care be advised to recommend to the Cabinet
that the Capital Programme for 2003/04 to 2006/07. as set out in Appendix 1, be
approved.
64 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
The Director of Social Services presented a report describing the Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) process used by the Department of Health to measure national and local performance and giving details of Hampshire's results for 2001/02, highlighting key achievements and areas for improvement (Item 9 in the Minute Book). He explained the two-star rating awarded to Hampshire Social Services and how it fitted into the PAF and the Corporate Comprehensive Performance Assessment. Overall the County Council's performance had improved, albeit with variations across sectors. The County Council was awarded the maximum classification "5 blobs" for 10 of the 48 indicators; however, the minimum classification "1 blob" had been awarded for 3 indicators. In acknowledging the scope for improvement in these areas it was pointed out that difficulties in collecting information had contributed to the classification.
RESOLVED
That:-
(a) The report be accepted.
(b) The Executive Member, Social Care be advised that action should be taken on
those services receiving one and two "blob" indicators to improve the situation.
(c) A further report be presented to the Committee on action being taken to improve
the one and two "blob" indicators.
65 MONITORING OF YEARS 1 AND 2 BEST VALUE REVIEWS
The Director of Social Services presented a report on the monitoring of the years 1 and 2 Best Value Reviews (Item 10 in the Minute Book).
RESOLVED
That:-
(a) The progress made on years 1 and 2 Best Value Reviews be endorsed.
(b) Members receive further progress reports on these reviews in January 2004.
66 INTEGRATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Director of Social Services presented a report on the progress made in
developing an integrated mental health service with West Hampshire NHS Trust and
Surrey and Hampshire Borders NHS Trust (Item 11 in the Minute Book). He said that
the next steps required by April 2003, as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report, were on
target to be achieved.
RESOLVED
That the report be endorsed.
67 STAGE 4 MONITORING OF NATIONAL SERVICE FRAMEWORK FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The Director of Social Services presented a report describing the progress of the mental health National Service Framework targets at the fourth stage of national monitoring (Item 12 in the Minute Book). Members took the view that this would be an appropriate issue to raise with the new Health Review Committee.
RESOLVED
That the report be endorsed and referred to the Health Review Committee for consideration.
68 COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME
The Director of Social Services presented a report of the Committee's forthcoming work programme (Item 13 in the Minute Book).
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
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