ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the ADULT SOCIAL CARE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE held at The Castle Winchester on Tuesday, 27 July 2005

PRESENT

Councillors: R.C. McIntosh (Chairman); E.F. Gale MBE (Vice-Chairman);

Mrs C. Bailey; Mrs E.M. Byrom; A.G. Dowden; R. Hughes; A.R. Ludlow;

Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; E. Neal

1. DECLARATION 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 was discussed..

Councillor Ludlow declared a personal interest in Item 9 when Primary Care Trust Budgets were raised as he is Chairman of North Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

2. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Social Care Policy Review Committee held on 30 March 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

3. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Terry Butler

The Chairman said that this was Terry Butler's last meeting on behalf of the Committee he thanked him for his excellent service as Director of Social Services over the past 17 years and wished him well for the future.


(b) Rea Mattocks

The Chairman reported that the new Director of Adult Social Care, Rea Mattocks, would take up her post on 15 August 2005.


(c) Visits to Care Homes

The Chairman reported that he had visited Deeside, The Grange and Ticehurst and in particular had been impressed with the services provided at Deeside and Ticehurst.

4. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

There were no members' questions to this meeting.

5. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

6. BEST VALUE REVIEW OF SENSORY SERVICES

The Director of Social Services presented a report informing members of the developments which had taken place during the past two years in sensory services following the best value review of the service (Item 6 in the Minute Book). He outlined the recommendations of the review, the challenges and the work undertaken to achieve them. He said that waiting times had been reduced from 30 to 19 weeks and highlighted some case studies to show what had been achieved.

RESOLVED:

That:

(a) The achievements made to date be noted and it be recognised that further service improvements will be achieved as part of service improvement plans.


(b) The continuing development of the career pathway for sensory officers be supported.

7. SEXUAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF SERVICE USERS

The Director of Social Services presented a report on the proposed procedure on sexual health and the education of service users that had been developed to provide a framework of good service practice for staff to work within (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He highlighted the role of staff, confidentiality and access to contraception and sexual health services.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Adult for Social Care:

(a) To approve the procedure on sexual health and education of service users to cover social care practitioners across all sectors of the Social Services Department and


(b) To approve the development, within the next eighteen months, of separate procedures for the new Children's Services Department and Adult Social Care Department.

8. FINAL ACCOUNTS 2004/05

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services presented the Social Services Final Accounts for 2004/05 (Item 8 in the Minute Book). The County Treasurer reported that a small (0.17%) overspend of £532,000 was shown due to pressures in Children and Families, Older People and Adults Services. The Cabinet had agreed that the overspend be carried forward to 2005/06 based on current policy and be deducted from the £1.3m contingency approval as part of the 2005/06 base budget. Concern was expressed at the decision being taken by Cabinet prior to consideration by the Policy Review Committee.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care that:

(a) The final accounts for 2004/05 be approved.


(b) The £532,000 overspend in 2004/05 be carried forward and offset against the contingency of £1.3m contained in the 2005/06 budget.

9. 2005/06 BUDGET - POSITION STATEMENT AS AT 31 MAY 2005

The County Treasurer and Director of Social Services presented the 2005/06 Budget Position Statement as at 31 May 2005 (Item 9 in the Minute Book). The County Treasurer explained the pressures on the budget, how the split between Children and Adults would take place and the management action being taken to bring the budget within cash limits

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care that the 2005/06 budget position highlighting the net pressure be noted and the management action being taken be endorsed.

10. GREEN PAPER: INDEPENDENT, WELL-BEING AND CHOICE

The Director of Social Services presented a report summarising the Green Paper - Independence, Well-Being and Choice and proposing the County Council's response to the direction of travel and detailed responses to the consultation question in the Green Paper (Item 10 in the Minute Book). He outlined the proposed outcomes of the Green Paper, Hampshire County Council's position and the proposed response to consultation questions. Members were happy with the proposed response to consultation questions but on the question as to how central government could best enable LSPs to develop and monitor progress on cross cutting issues it was suggested that there should be partnership working with LSPs and appropriate funding.



RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care that the proposed response to the consultation questions on the Green Paper be agreed subject to the response to question 22 being as follows:-

How can central government best enable LSPs develop and monitor progress on cross cutting issues?

The Local Area Agreements provide an opportunity to develop and monitor progress on cross cutting issues. Criteria for central grant provision could include evidence of partnership working via LSPs with an indication of which LAA "block" the funding request fits. A joint performance framework of existing targets for each LAA block could be developed and monitored. It would be helpful to establish a national learning set on LAA/LSP to include central government policy makers and publicise good practice.

11. COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Director of Social Services presented the Committee's forthcoming work programme (Item 11 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be received noted.

12. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY PERFORMANCE REPORT

The Director of Human Resources presented a report outlining the actions required to ensure the County Council meets statutory requirements on human rights, race, age, sexual orientation, disability and religion (Item 12 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and that the implementation of the Equality Plan and Race Scheme be fully supported.

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