Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd February, 2009 be approved as a correct record.

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented the submitted report which provided a financial forecast for the Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate to the end of March 2009 based on actual income and expenditure to the end of January 2009 and forecast costs and income to 31^st March 2009.

The approved net revenue budget for Adult Services for 2008/09 was £68.5m and included funding for demographic and existing budget pressures together with a number of efficiency savings identified through the 2008/09 budget setting process.

During the year there had been a number of budget pressures within the service, mainly in respect of the delays in the implementation of shifting the balance of home care in-house to the independent sector.  This was due to the decisions taken by the Council to undertake a further round of consultation with Trade Unions and employees.  On 21^st January, 2009 Cabinet approved a revised estimate for the service of £1m and the latest report now showed a projected balanced budget by the end of the financial year assuming the completion of shifting the balance to 65%/35% split was achieved.

There still remained underlying budget pressures within residential care within physical and sensory disabilities due to an increase in demand and the average cost of care packages, increased demand and cost of direct payments and increased energy costs.

These pressures were being offset by additional income from continuing health care funding, slippage on developing supported schemes within learning disabilities and management actions identified from budget performance clinics.

The overall forecast outturn also included the impact of the delays in finalising the construction and opening of the two new residential care homes.  The decommissioning of the five residential care homes was now complete.

Budget clinics with Service Directors and managers continued to take place on a monthly basis to monitor financial performance against approved budget and consider further options for managing expenditure within budget.

A discussion took place around direct payments and why there was still an increased cost attached to them and when this would cease to be the case.  It was confirmed that this was due to some services continuing to be provided via block contracts and the services being provided were currently very limited.  It was agreed that a presentation would be given at the Cabinet Member meeting to be held on 6^th April 2009 to help members understand direct payments more.

Resolved:- (1) That the forecast balanced outturn against the revised budget for 2008/09 be noted.

(2) That a presentation be made at the meeting to be held on 6^th April 2009 in relation to Direct Payments.

Consideration was given to a petition which had been submitted in respect of the proposed changes to the care system at Potteries Court.

The Director of Health and Wellbeing confirmed that this was similar to a petition which had been reported at the Cabinet Member meeting on 9^th February 2009 in respect of Oak Trees

She agreed that correspondence to the petitioners to clarify that the proposed changes would not affect their current level of care and support.

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

(2) That a response be sent to residents confirming that the level of care and support received by residents would remain unaffected.

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

Shona McFarlane, Director of Health and Wellbeing presented the submitted report in relation to the Learning Disability Funding Transfer.

The draft paper ‘Valuing People Now’ published in early 2008 signalled a planned transfer of commissioning responsibility and associated funding for social care services provided by Primary Care Trusts to Local Authorities as the lead commissioners for Learning Disability services.  The final amount for transfer was expected to be agreed between the NHS and local authorities by 28^th February 2009 for submission to the Strategic Health Authority.  The final return to the Department of Health had to be made by the 31^st March 2009.  This timetable was in line with the contracting timetable for the NHS.

Rotherham submitted the proforma in December 2008 with a baseline amount agreed for transfer (£5.3m).  Further discussions had taken place to resolve the outstanding £1.2m and these had now been concluded.

Resolved:- (1) That the Cabinet Member approve the transfer of the full amount of funding for submission to the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) by 28^th February 2009, subject to Cabinet/Board agreement and Chief Officer sign off by the 31^st March 2009.  This would take the transfer amount to £6.4m in 2009/2010.

(2) That the Cabinet Member notes the risks inherent in the process and a plan to mitigate these be agreed as part of the process.

(3) That Cabinet Member notes the proposals to review the provision at the three SYHA homes, and endorse further work to develop the project plan into a detailed proposal for agreement at a future meeting. 

(4) That a final report in relation to redirection of funds from pooled budgets be presented to a future meeting.

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

Dominic Blaydon, Strategic Planning and Commissioning Manager presented the submitted report which put forward proposals for the use of new funding which the Department of Health allocated to Rotherham MBC to assist with the delivery of effective stroke care.  Rotherham had received an allocation which equated to £144,000 for the next two years which was ring-fenced for the purpose of providing support services to stroke survivors and their carers.  The report sought an exemption from Standing Order 48.1 in tendering for contracts over £50,000 due to the specialist nature of the social care provision and the limited number of service providers.

Resolved:- (1) That the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health approve the exemption from Standing Order 48.1 and award the contract for the provision of Family Carer and Support Service and Community Integration Service to the Stroke Association for a two year period commencing April 2009.

(2)  That the report be presented to the next Adult Services and Health Scrutiny Panel on 2^nd April 2009.

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

Consideration was given to a report in respect of the decision and recommendations made by the Adult Social Services (Complaints) Review Panel for Client 1/2009.

Resolved:- That the decisions of the Complaints Panel and the reasons for the decisions, outlined in the letter of response dated 28^th January 2009 to the complainant be received.

Consideration was given to the Action Plan arising from Adult Social Services (Complaints) Review Panel held on 26^th January 2009 in respect of complaints made by Mr M.

Resolved:- That the Action Plan be noted.

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

Consideration was given to a report in respect of the decision and recommendations made by the Adult Social Services (Complaints) Review Panel for Client 2/2009.

Resolved:- That the decisions of the Complaints Panel and the reasons for the decisions, outlined in the letter of response dated 18^th February 2009 to the complainant be rejected as it did not meet the blue badge criteria.

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