Agenda and minutes

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

ShivBhurton, Housing Access Manager presented the submitted report which provided information relating to work undertaken to explore the concept of and establish the need for a fit for purpose “Independent Living” Centre in Rotherham.

Independent Living Centres vary within our immediate region in terms of how they were delivered and why they were originally developed.  They were mainly a service which provided free and impartial assessment and information to any potential user on a range of issues, typically including:-

• Assistive technology and equipment such as aides, chairs, beds, kitchen equipment and stair lifts
• Information on benefits and employments
• Careers training to enhance independence
• Advocacy services
• Support with Direct Payments and Individual budgets

They were typically non-residential, private, not for profit, consumer controlled, community based organisations providing services and advocacy by and for persons with all types of disabilities.  Their goal was to assist disabled people and their families/carers achieve their maximum potential within their home, life and communities.  They served as a focus for advocacy as well as pressure groups working to improve access to housing, employment, transportation, communities, recreational facilities, and health and social services.  Independent Living Centres promotes and enables a focus on delivering services for the vulnerable disabled groups in line with a ‘social model of disability’ by reducing barriers to access and changing attitude to improve inclusion.

A review of the document was undertaken last September and it was agreed that rather than commissioning a discreet Independent Living Centre, further work should be undertaken to improve access to and make better use of existing resources such as the South Yorkshire Centre for Inclusive Living at Doncaster, the Extra Care housing facilities and REWS.  This would determine any gaps in existing services for disabled people that could then be identified in our commissioning priorities when developing the right CIL model.

A task and finish group was established to explore:-

• How to ensure that the range of existing service were better coordinated so that disabled people, their families and carers could make the best use of the available resources in the Borough.
• How existing services could be improved to ensure that the needs of disabled people were better served  and whether there were any gaps that needed to be identified in our commissioning priorities
• How and where we should direct out Preventative Technology Grant to establish demonstration sites to showcase the available equipment available to disabled and vulnerable people.  This would include exploring partnerships with commercial business such as the Parkgate Mobility centre or making better use of existing resources such as at our Extra Care Services, within REWS, hospitals or joint service centres and partnership developments venues such as Breathing Space.
• Obtaining feedback from stakeholders such as the PCT and joint service providers in mental health and learning disabilities.

The group was set up in November and key stakeholders and partners were invited to contribute and progress the above actions.  The membership gradually expanded to include representatives from the following:

• Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented the submitted report with provided a financial forecast for the Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate to the end of March 2010 based on actual income and expenditure to the end of September 2009.

The approved net revenue budget for Adult Services for 2009/10 was £72.9m which included additional funding for demographic and existing budget pressures together with a number of new investments and efficiency savings identified through the 2009/10 budget setting process.

The latest budget monitoring report for Adult Services showed some underlying pressures of £2m, however after taking account of a number of achieved savings and assuming the achievement of all management actions it was forecast that there would be an overall net overspend of £225k by the end of the financial year, a reduction in the forecast overspend by £95k since the last report.

Management actions of £1.004m were endorsed by the Cabinet Member on 14 September 2009 and since the last report a further £135k Management Actions had been identified to reduce the budget pressures. A total of £408k had already been achieved to-date and were now included in the detailed forecasts. This reduced the underlying pressures to £956k and left a balance of £731k management actions to be achieved by the end of the financial year.

The latest year end forecast showed the main budget pressures in the following areas:-

• Home Care as a result of delays in shifting the balance of provision to the independent sector (£740k). The 70/30 split was achieved at the end of July 2009 and the balance had now moved beyond 70/30 towards an 80/20 ration that the Cabinet recognised as the optimum level based on experience elsewhere in the country.
• Independent sector home care provision for Physical and Sensory Disability clients had increased by an additional 970 hours since April 2009, a further 38 clients were now receiving a service. This was resulting in an overspend of £332k against the approved budget.
•  A significant increase above approved budget in clients receiving a Direct Payment within Physical and Sensory Disabilities and Older Peoples Services (£380k).
• Additional one-off expenditure was being incurred in respect of the costs of boarding up, removal of utilities and security costs at the former residential care homes prior to them transferring to the Council’s property bank (£200k).
• Delays in the implementation of budget savings agreed as part of the budget setting process for 2009/10 in respect of meals on wheels (£240k), laundry (£160k) and the bathing service (£40k).

These pressures had been reduced by :-

•  Additional income from continuing health care funding from NHS Rotherham (-£305k).

·        Delays in the implementation of new supported living schemes within Learning Disability services (-£205k).

·        Savings within independent residential care due to an increase in income from property charges (-£428k).

·        Savings on the reconfiguration of Extra Care housing (-£315k).

·        Slippage in recruitment to a number of new posts (-£78k) where additional funding was agreed within the 2009/10 budget  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

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 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Chrissy Wright, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships presented the submitted report which set out proposals to use resources available for carers more efficiently and effectively by not renewing the contract for the Carers Forum with the current provider and instead utilising the money and other investment from Carers Group to develop a Carers Resource Centre. 

In addition, there were significant performance and prevention benefits associated with the development of a Carers Resource Centre which were issues identified in the CQC Inspection.  The centre would host a range of services; information and advice in one place, which would help more carers than existing services and would deliver far more outcomes.  The proposal was based upon consultation with carers and underpinned the public commitments and targets that have been made within Rotherham’s Local Area Agreement and Joint Carers Strategy.

Resolved:- (1) That the development of a Carers Resource Centre which would include the Carers Forum be approved.

(2) That the location of the site at Drummond Street be approved.

(3) That the additional expenditure of £30k from Carers Grant be approved.

Doug Parkes, Business Manager presented the submitted report which sought the agreement of Elected Members to set the fees to be paid to Independent Section Residential and Nursing Care Providers for 2010/2011 in accordance with the established inflation formula.

This inflation linked formula was a contractual commitment.

Due to the combination of the low pay inflation rate and the negative rate of non-pay inflation there would be no increase in the baseline fees for 2010/2011.

However, in order to continue to drive standards, additional funding had been made available to pay a premium to those homes achieving the Gold Status in the Council’s Home from Home Quality Premium Scheme.

Resolved:- That the report be received and the fee levels for Residential and Nursing Care Home, as set out in paragraph 7 of the report be agreed subject to consultation with the Contracting for Care Forum, to be effective from 11^th April, 2010.

Chrissy Wright, Director for Commissioning and Partnerships presented the submitted report which set out options for recommissioning Third Sector services for those contracts that expired on 31^st March 2010 to achieve re-commissioned services for personalisation and to achieve efficiencies.  Consultation period of 90 days would commence immediately post decision.

Each option included an impact assessment that detailed the risks associated with the delivery of that option.

Resolved:- (1) That the three options proposed for recommissioning for personalisation of the Third Sector contracts due for renewal on 31^st March 2010 be considered.

(2) That the implementation of Option 3 be supported.

Councillor Walker, Champion for Older People reported that she had recently met with Jackie Clark and Lucy Pullen to address the issue of social workers.  She confirmed that the meeting had been very productive and her next step was to meet with Carol Smith who was responsible for Council buildings.

Councillor Doyle wished to place on record his thanks for the work that all Champions undertook.