Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th January, 2009, be approved as a correct record.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of Contracting for Care Forum held on 14^th January, 2009 be received, and that Councillor Gosling’s apologies be recorded.

Members considered a petition submitted in relation to the planned changes to the care and support at Oak Trees.

It was reported that there had been a misunderstanding by residents in relation to the proposed changes that were being made to the support and care received from staff.  It was proposed to use some hours that were currently under-utilised, to the new Extra Care Scheme at Longfellow Drive.  This Scheme would be known as Bakersfield Court.  Following the changes, residents would still receive the same level of care and support as currently received and it was not anticipated that this would change.

It was agreed that correspondence be sent out to confirm the above, and that any proposed changes in the future would be presented to the Cabinet Member prior to any decisions being made.

Resolved:-  (1) That the petition be noted.

(2) That a response be sent residents confirming the discussions as detailed above.

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented the submitted report which provided detail of the approved capital programme for the Adult Services department of the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate, actual expenditure for the period 1^st April, 2008 to 16^th January, 2009 and the projected final outturn position for each scheme.

Actual expenditure to mid January was £7.8m against an approved programme of £9.8m.  There had been slippage on a number of capital schemes within Mental Health and Learning Disabilities and the latest forecast expenditure to the end of March was now £9.1m.

A brief summary of the latest position on the main projects within each client group was provided as follows:

Older People

The construction of the two new residential care homes was now completed and the timetable for full decommissioning of existing homes into the new homes had been delayed until mid February 2009.

The Assistive Technology Grant, which included funding from NHS Rotherham was being managed jointly and was being used to purchase Telehealth and Telecare equipment, to enable people to live in their own homes.  The procurement of equipment had now commenced and this included lifeline connect alarms, low temperature sensors and fall detectors within peoples homes.  It was anticipated that expenditure would be incurred in 2009/10 and any balance of funding would be carried forward.

A small element of the Department of Health specific grant (£20k) issued in 2007/08 to improve the environment within residential care provision was carried forward into 2008/09.  The balance of grant was being allocated across the independent residential care sector in accordance with the grant conditions and would be fully spent by the end of March 2009.

Learning Disabilities

The small balances of funding carried forward from 2007/08 were to be used for the equipment for Parkhill Lodge and within supported living schemes.

The refurbishment at the Addision Day Centre which was funded from the Council’s Strategic Maintenance Fund was now complete.

There had been delays in the start of the refurbishment of the REACH Day centre due to insufficient funding, but the scheme was now due to commence in lat February 2009, so the majority of the expenditure would now be incurred in 2009/10.

Mental Health

A small balance remained on the Cedar House capital budget and would be used the purchase of additional equipment.  A large proportion of the Supported Capital Expenditure (SCE) allocation had been carried forward from previous years due to difficulties in finding suitable accommodation for the development of supported living schemes.  Suitable properties continued to be identified and spending plans were being developed jointly with RDASH.  It was now expected that this service would be commissioned in 2009/10 and would support the In-Patient re-Provision Exercise which was at the formal planning stage.  The possibility of funding equipment purchased for direct payments was also being considered to reduce the current pressures on the mental health revenue budgets.  Further options were also being considered to provide more intensive supported living schemes with a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under those paragraphs listed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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 those paragraphs indicated below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

(Exempt under Paragraph 2 of the Act – information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

With the agreement of the Cabinet Member, this item was withdrawn from the agenda and deferred to the next meeting.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)

Kim Curry, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships presented the submitted report in relation to the review of non residential charges 2009/2010.

The report detailed the proposed charges relating to Rothercare and the Extra Care Housing support charge.  These charges needed to be agreed early to enable tenants to receive the 28 days statutory notice of increases.  A further report related to domiciliary care charges was to be submitted to the next meeting after proposals which were being considered as part of the budget setting process had been resolved.

It was proposed that Rothercare and Extra Care Housing support charges were increased by 2.5% from April 2009, which was in line with the recommendation of the Supporting People Commissioning Group.  It had also been included by the Executive Director of Finance in determining the Directorates budget requirements.

Resolved:-  (1) That the revised charges as set out in the report be agreed and implemented with effect from Monday 6^th April, 2009

(2)  That a further report be submitted to the meeting on the 23^rd February, 2009 to consider increases in other domiciliary care charges.

Resolved:- That the next meeting be held on Monday 23^rd February, 2009 commencing at 10.00 am.