38. 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 save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 12 of the Code .

There were no declarations of interest.

39. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Committee held on 10 October 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

40. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

a. Cultural Strategy

The Chairman reported the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage had requested Members to let her have any views on the Cultural Strategy. He urged all Members to let Councillor Mrs. Snaith have any comments they may have on the Strategy as soon as possible.

.

41. ADULT SERVICES REVENUE BUDGET

2008/09, 2009/2010 AND 2010/11

The County Treasurer and Director of Adult Services

presented the Adult Services Budget for 2008/09, 2009/10 and

2010/11 (Item 4 in the Minute Book). They gave details of the

additional funding that had been made available from the

Cabinet, changes to the grant formula, the financial recovery

and ongoing pressures.

RESOLVED:

That :

i. The Officers and Executive Member for Adult Social Care be congratulated on the recovery programme.

ii. It be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care that:

a. The revised budget for 2007/08 totalling £273m (as set out in appendices 1 and 2).

b. The base budget for 2008/09 totalling £274.8m (as set out in Appendix 3).

c. The proposals for growth totalling £15.6m (as set out in Appendix 4).

d. The proposals for redeployment of resources totalling £6.8m in 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 4).

e. The proposals for efficiency improvements totalling £7.7m (3.1% of the base budget) in 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 5).

f. The annual review of income and charges (as set out in Appendix 6).

g. The detailed budget for 2008/09(as set out in Appendices 7 and 8).

h. The workforce implications of the proposed budget for 2008/09 (as set out in Appendix 9).

i. The provisional budget for 2009/10 of £294.9m and for 2010/11 of £308.1m (as set out in Appendix 10).

j. The unused money available for winter pressures in 2007/08 (which totals £3.5m) is requested to be carried forward into 2008/09 subject to pressures on it between now and the end of the financial year. The first £2m will be allocated to capital in order to invest in the social care building stock, particularly extra care. The remainder will be transferred to winter pressures in order to bolster this, ideally to the £3m which is considered necessary to manage a demand-led service in the context of the pressures applying in 2008/09.

k. A planned underspend of £0.8m be carried forward in order to fund the shortfall in resources required to meet the growth pressures in 2008/09. Resource is already available in future years.

l. The carry forward of £0.298m of Emergency Carer's Respite grant into 2008/09 for continuation of a pilot scheme.

be approved for submission to the Leader and the Cabinet.

42. ADULT SERVICES CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2008/09

TO 2010/11

The County Treasurer and Director of Adult Services

presented the Adult Services Capital Programme for 2008/09

to 2010/11 (Item 5 in the Minute Book)

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member

for Adult Social Care that the Capital programme for 2008/09

to 2010/11, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved

for submission to the Cabinet.

43. ADULT SERVICES PERFORMANCE

The Director of Adult Services presented a report

summarising the improvements made during 2007 to bring the

Adult Services Department to its current position, what was

being done to maintain the position in 2008 and addressing

key areas for improvement (Item 6 in the Minute Book). She

said that the three star rating was as a result of strong

leadership by members and County Council managers and

commitment and passion of staff. There was a need to focus

on seven outcomes:

· Improved Quality of Life

· Making a Positive Contribution

· Increased Choice and Control

· Freedom from Discrimination or Harassment

· Economic Wellbeing

· Improved Health and Wellbeing

· Maintaining Personal Dignity and Respect

to move from good to excellent status. The Assistance of members was vital in achieving this in continuing with the:

· Awareness of national direction for Adult Services

· Feeding in local needs

· Scrutiny of performance and budgets

· Asking questions

· Raising users concerns

· Encouraging service users and carers to write in when they were happy with a service.

RESOLVED:

That:

a. The performance improvements in the Adult Services

Department and the action being taken to maintain and

improve performance in 2008 be noted.

b. Members look for opportunities to develop services and identify gaps.

44. MENTAL CAPACITY ACT 2005

The Director of Adult Services presented a report detailing

progress on the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act

2005 in Hampshire (Item 7 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That progress on the implementation of the Mental Capacity

Act 2005 in Hampshire be noted.

45. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC

INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH ACT 2007

The Chief Executive presented a report giving information

about aspects of the Local Government and Public

Involvement in Health Act 2007 that apply to overview and

Scrutiny (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the changes contained in the Act affecting overview and

scrutiny be noted.

46. ALCOHOL - ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES

INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH

Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott, Chairman of the Alcohol

Scrutiny Panel, gave an update on progress being made with

the review. The Panel had met with a range of stakeholders

and would be meeting shortly to consider the evidence received

and prepare a report for consideration by the Committee at its

next meeting.

47. COMMITTEE'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Chief Executive presented the Committee's Work Programme (Item 10 in the Minute Book). The key principles for generating ideas for topics were outlined.

RESOLVED:

That the key principles for seeking ideas for scrutiny topics for 2008/09 from internal and external sources be approved and the Scrutiny Officer be tasked to invite topic ideas from County Council members and Officers as well as third sector and crime and disorder county wide organisations.

Members to let Councillor Mrs. Snaith have any comments on the Cultural Strategy

Members look for opportunities to develop services and identify gaps. Officers to provide examples of Commission for Social Care Inspection improvement outcomes that are reflected in the budget.

That Members advise the Scrutiny Officer of any topics that they would wish to see included in the Committee's work programme and consider these at the April meeting.