19. 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

20. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Policy Review Committee held on 4 April 2007 were, subject to Councillor Mrs. Frankum's apology being recorded, confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

21. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

a. Housing Award

The Chairman reported that the County Council had been presented with a national award for its work in supporting vulnerable people with housing services. Councillor Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, had accepted the award on behalf of the County Council from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

b. Housebound help with Gardens

The Chairman reported that the County Council had

funded a pilot scheme in Totton and the surrounding area to

provide gardening assistance for older people.

22. ADULT SERVICES PERFORMANCE AGAINST

NATIONAL RATINGS

The Director of Adult Services gave an update on

performance improvement including the performance

overview 2006/07, how performance priorities were being

addressed and the National Performance Assessment

Framework. She said that addressing performance was a

priority and that there had been improvements on over 90%

of the high level indicators.

RESOLVED:

That the Director of Adult Services presents a further

update of Adult Services against national ratings to the

Committee in six months.

23. OFFENDER MANAGEMENT BILL

Barrie Crook, Chief Hampshire Probation Officer, gave a presentation on the work of the Hampshire Probation Service and the impact that the Offender Management Bill, when enacted, would have on the service. He outlined the current arrangements, the aims of the National Probation Service, links with Hampshire County Council. The Offender Management Bill proposed end to end management, rebalancing sentencing, commissioning through regional offender managers, statutory powers being given to the Secretary of State for Justice, Probation Trusts and contestability. The Bill was currently in the Committee stage in the House of Lords and was expected to receive the Royal Assent in autumn 2007.

RESOLVED:

That Barrie Crook be thanked for his presentation.

24. BETTER HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND

RE-PROVISION OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

The Director of Adult Services presented a report on the

consultation process for better housing solutions and

re-provision of residential services when any significant

change was proposed in service delivery (Item 6 in the

Minute Book). She outlined the statutory consultation

requirements and in addition to this the County Council had

also signed up to the Hampshire Compact which reinforced

the requirement to have , at least, a twelve week consultation

period for any significant change. She said that it was

important that service users and their relatives were engaged

at the outset and that local Councillors and MPs were also

involved.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and noted.

25. PRE-SCRUTINY - DEPARTMENT LISTS

The Chief Executive gave details of the items, within the

Committee's remit, from departments requiring Executive

Member/Cabinet decisions. These included Community

Safety Service: Tactical Areas of Responsibility and Protocol

with Hampshire Constabulary and The Food Service Plan.

26. BLOCK CONTRACTS AND SPOT PURCHASING

Councillor Dowden, in his role as lead scrutineer for

vulnerable adults expressed concern about the issue of block

contracts and spot purchasing. He said that there was concern

with Hampshire wide social care services on the issue

because it denied local areas the flexibility and by signing

many long term contracts it took away some flexibility. He

was of the opinion that the County Council could be held

hostage by block contract providers. He was concerned that,

because of contractors having to cut costs, carers time with

clients was severely restricted.

The Director of Adult Services reported that no

contractor held a block contract for care services covering the

whole of the County, contracts were awarded locally and

responded to local needs. Adult Services had been working

with Property, Business and Regulatory Services to make the

contracting procedure more efficient.

The Committee took the view that a half day workshop

should be arranged to enable it to give consideration as to the

process of awarding block and spot contracts for social care.

RESOLVED:

That a half day workshop be arranged during 2008 to

enable consideration to be given to the process of awarding

block and spot contracts for social care

27. ALCOHOL - ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES

INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH

The Chief Executive reported that the Alcohol Scrutiny

Panel had now been established comprising of Councillors

R.C. McIntosh (Chairman); Anne Edwards; R.J. Kimber;

Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott; Sam Payne and Mrs. J.E. Porter.

The initial meeting of the Panel had taken place on 29 June

2007 and further meetings had been arranged for 30 July, 6

September, 24 October, 9 November, 16 November and 19

November 2007. The Panel's findings would presented to the

Committee in April 2008.

28. CARE AT THE END OF LIFE

The Chief Executive reported that two of the recommendations of the Care at the End of Life Review related to support for carers and fell within the remit of the Committee. These were:

"The Director of Adult Services shall provide information on the way in which informal carers' assessments are requested, who conducts these and any timescales that support this process as well as the means by which the client's satisfaction is evaluated"

and

"In order to promote consistency in service provision, and support from front line staff, Hampshire County Council shall publish a County wide policy setting out the support to be provided to informal carers. This shall include arrangements for supporting patients and carers with social care needs where NHS continuing care is being provided"

It was agreed that it would be appropriate to follow the responses to these recommendations through and that the Lead Scrutineers should undertake the task.

RESOLVED:

That Councillors N. Clarke and R. Hughes, Lead Scrutineers for Carers monitor the responses of Adult Services on the recommendations of the Care at the End of Life Panel and feedback regularly to the Committee.

29, COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Chief Executive presented the Committee's Work Programme (Item 11 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the Committee's work programme be approved subject to the inclusion of a half day workshop on block contracts and spot purchasing in early 2008

The Director of Adult Services presents a further update of Adult Services against national ratings to the Committee in six months.

The Chief Executive makes arrangements for a half day workshop on block contracts and spot purchasing in 2008 to enable consideration to be given to the process of awarding block and spot contracts for social care.

A report by the Chief Executive on the findings of the Alcohol Scrutiny Panel to the Committee will be presented to the Committee in April 2008

That Councillors

N. Clarke and

R. Hughes, Lead Scrutineers for Carers monitor the responses of Adult Services on the recommendations of the Care at the End of Life Panel and feedback regularly to the Committee.

The Chief Executive includes a half day workshop on block contracts and spot purchasing in the work programme in early 2008