Item 2

AT A MEETING of the SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Friday, 23 January 2004

PRESENT

Councillors: Mrs. P.G. Banks (Chairman); Jenny Wride (Vice-Chairman);

K.G. Chapman; Mrs. P. Dickens; A.G. Dowden; Mrs. J.K. Frankum; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown; Mrs. C.A. Leversha; A.R. Ludlow; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; Mrs. V. Steel; Mrs. P.A. West.

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

129 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. Dickens and Ludlow declared non-pecuniary interests in Item 6.

130 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 November 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

131 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Care Standards Commission

The Chairman reported that a further response had been received from the Care Standards Commission on the question of the percentage of single adults and older people going into permanent residential and nursing care who were allocated single rooms. She circulated a copy of the letter to Members.

132 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no Members' questions to this meeting.

133 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

134 MENTAL HEALTH NATIONAL SERVICE FRAMEWORK AUTUMN MONITORING 2003

The Director of Social Services presented a report summarising the findings of the Autumn Monitoring of the Mental Health National Service Framework (Item 6 in the Minute Book). Good progress had been made across a range of service areas and in the context of significant financial challenges to the health and social care economy. There were, however, a majority of key National Service Framework targets that remained to be met, including the need for crisis resolution and home treatment teams, an early intervention service across Hampshire, additional staff in Primary Care and an integrated mental health electronic information system. Local information teams had now been established and Primary Care Trusts were still in the process of prioritising their framework for financing. Members were interested in dual diagnosis and the links with the Drug Action Team; they were concerned at the forthcoming reclassification of cannabis and the growing problem of alcohol abuse.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Social Care be requested to use whatever influence she has to actively encourage Primary Care Trusts to provide funding for mental health.

135 DRAFT COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOR HAMPSHIRE

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the draft Community Strategy for Hampshire which was currently out for consultation with a wide range of partners
(Item 7 in the Minute Book). He outlined the key themes and the consultations that had taken place. Members saw the key role of the strategy in getting everyone working together. The Chairman drew Members' attention to the response document attached to the draft strategy and urged members to send in their comments before 31 January 2004.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and members be requested to send in their comments on the strategy before 31 January 2004.

136 REVENUE BUDGET 2004/05

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services presented the Revenue Budget 2004/05 (Item 8 in the Minute Book). The County Treasurer explained that the budget supported the County Council's corporate aims and its four priorities by focusing financial resources on areas such as improving the quality of life of children in need, vulnerable adults and older people. Members expressed concern at the proposed increase in prices of the meals on wheels service, taking the view that it should be limited to the rate of inflation.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations to the Executive Member for Social Care contained in the report be noted.

137 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2004/05 TO 2007/08

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services Presented the Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2007/08 (Item 9 in the Minute Book).



RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Social Care be advised to:

(a) Recommend to the Cabinet the Capital Programme for 2004/05 to 2007/08 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.


(b) Request the Cabinet to agree (subject to the submission of an appropriate business case) an unsupported credit approval of £1m to fund the SWIFT development.

138 LICENCE RENEWAL INSPECTION OF SWANWICK LODGE SECURE UNIT BY SOCIAL SERVICES INSPECTORATE

The Chairman welcomed Alyson Johnson, Inspector with the Social Services Inspectorate, who outlined the findings following the inspection of Swanwick Lodge and highlighting areas for development. At the time of the inspection Swanwick Lodge was in the process of undergoing considerable change which had not been firmly bedded down, further changes of practice were planned, some of which had now taken place, and were welcomed. The Director of Social Services presented a report on the licence renewal application (Item 10 in the Minute Book) giving details about Swanwick Lodge, the relicencing and future proposals for improvement. The Inspectorate had recommended the Secretary of State that Swanwick Lodge be re-licensed as a secure unit for a further 3 years and this was granted on 21 October 2003.

RESOLVED:

That the findings of the Social Services Inspectorate following the licence renewal inspection of Swanwick Lodge Secure Unit be accepted.

139 SUPPORTING PEOPLE - AN UPDATE

The Director of Social Services presented a report updating Members on Supporting People since it went live in April 2003 when Hampshire County Council took on responsibility for the funding, contracting and monitoring of services for 25,000 people in over 1,000 services (Item 11 in the Minute Book). He outlined the programme ahead and the five year strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and noted.

140 THE GREEN PAPER - "EVERY CHILD MATTERS"

The Director of Social Services and County Education Officer presented a report updating members on progress and developments that had taken place since the publication of the Green Paper (Item 12 in the Minute Book). They outlined the goals of the Green Paper and the County Council's response which had been submitted by the Leader following consideration by the Cabinet. A seminar on the Green paper was to be held for all members of the County Council on 2 February 2004.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and Members concur with the response on the Green Paper sent to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by the Leader.

141 MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES

The Chief Executive reported that no Members had attended conferences since the last meeting of the Committee.

142 COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Director of Social Services presented the Committee's forthcoming work programme (Item 14 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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