Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11^th February, 2008 be approved as a correct record.

- report of Julie Slatter, Head of Policy and Performance

(this item was deferred on 11^th February, 2008)

In accordance with Minute No. B121 of a meeting of the Cabinet held on 9^th January, 2008, consideration was given to a report on the new ways for patients and the public to be involved in decisions about the operation of health and social care services through the establishment of Local Involvement Networks (LINks). 

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act sets out a duty for all social services authorities to make arrangements for LINk activities to take place, through a contract with a host organisation.  The report provided an update on progress to date and set out the timetable for the procurement of the ‘Host’ organisation.

Steve Turnbull, Head of Public Health, reported that, following the advertisement in the European Journal, 11 requests for information had been received.  5 organisations had submitted pre-tender questionnaires who would be invited to make formal tender applications.  The contract would be awarded in May, 2008.

There would be a gap between the contract commencing and the demise of the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums.  It was hoped that the existing PPI members would become a committee that could be consulted in the intervening period.  An officer working group had been established and expanded to include other partners.

Any issues or complaints received in that 6 week time gap would be referred to the LINk.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)   That the proposals for use of the free consultancy advice provided by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) Expert Advisory Team be noted, as approved by Cabinet on 9^th January, 2008 (Minute No. B121).

(3)  That the response to the LINks Regulations consultation, as attached at Appendix 2 of the report now submitted, be noted.

The Service Accountant (Adult Services) presented the submitted report on the latest projections and commitments against the approved Adult Services capital programme for the 2007/08 financial year.

The capital monitoring report provided detail of the approved Capital Programme for Adult Services, actual expenditure for the period April to mid-January, 2008, and the projected expenditure for each scheme to the end of March, 2008.

The approved 2007/08 Capital Budget for Adult Services had been revised to take account of slippage in a number of schemes and therefore reduced from £15.6M to £12.6M.  The main revision was in respect of the two new residential care homes.  Actual expenditure to mid-January, 2008 was £5.9M.  The approved schemes were funded from a variety of different funding sources including unsupported borrowing, allocations from the capital receipts, Supported Capital Expenditure and specific capital grant funding.

The report gave a brief summary of the latest position on the main projects within each client group, as follows:-

v           Older People

v           Learning Disabilities

v           Mental Health

v           Management Information

Resolved:-  That the report be received and the latest capital expenditure monitoring report for 2007/08 be noted.

In accordance with Minute No. 92(2) of 11^th February, 2008, the Project and Partnerships Manager (Rotherham Construction Partnership) gave a verbal update as follows:-

v           Timetable

v           Pre-fabricated unit manufacturer

v           Sprinklers/fire strategy

v           Highway drainage

Resolved:-  That the report be noted.

Resolved:-  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 indicated below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person including the Council).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs, indicated below, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Health and Wellbeing on a proposal, and the implications of reintroducing, a flat rate charge of £1.00 per return journey for day care transport to be effective from April 2008, and a proposal to process consultation, prior to the final decision being made.

The report contained details of the projected impact of the proposal and the process by which consultation would be carried out.

Resolved:-  (1)  That, subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise, a flat rate day care transport charge of £1.00 per return journey be implemented with effect from Monday, 7^th April, 2008.

(2)   That a consultation process with customers be implemented prior to a final decision being made.

(3)   That a final report outlining the results of the consultation be submitted to a future meeting.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to financial/business affairs)

Consideration was given to a report of the Business Development Manager on In-House Residential Accommodation Charges 2008/09.

The report detailed the proposals for setting the interim maximum charge (full cost) to service users for the provision of in-house residential care for the 2008/09 financial year, calculated in accordance with CIPFA guidance.

The Council has a statutory duty to set a full cost charge for residential accommodation provided in Local Authority Homes.  This charge has to reflect the total costs of providing residential care and reflect expenditure such as running costs and management overheads.

The report provided information with regard to:-

v           Homes for Older People

v           Homes for Other Service User Groups

Resolved:-  (1)  That the charges as set out in Appendix 1 of the report now submitted be agreed.

(2)         That the interim charges, as agreed, be effective from the 6^th April, 2008.

(3)         That a further report be submitted to Members setting out the maximum charges for the two new residential care homes.

(4)  That the report be referred to the Adult Services and Health Scrutiny Panel for information.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial/business affairs of the Council).