Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest in any items on the agenda for the meeting.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or press in respect of matters on the agenda for the meeting.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

The Chair advised that there were no items of business that would require the exclusion of the press or public from the meeting.

Cabinet Portfolio:-                Corporate Services and Finance

Strategic Directorate:-          Assistant Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report providing an update on the implementation of recommendations arising from the scrutiny review of agency, consultancy and interim staff.

It was reported that the Workforce Management Board (WMB) continued to monitor and control agency costs by challenging usage across the Council. In approving agency resource, WMB took into account several factors:

·         What risks are associated with not filling the role – including safeguarding?

·         Is there budget available to fund the agency resource?

·         Is the agency resource required to deliver a statutory function?

·         Can the work be delivered in any other way?

·         Any other factors that are deemed critical for securing additional agency resource

Members queried what work had taken place within the Regeneration and Environment directorate to reduce agency spend and introduce multi-tasking amongst the existing workforce to build capacity and reduce the need for additional cover. In response, officers confirmed that there had been a heavy reliance on agency workers and a large in-year reduction in agency spend was anticipated in the Regeneration and Environment directorate. It was explained that agency costs were largely incurred due to seasonal work between March and October, but work was being undertaken to analyse the potential for the work to be done outside of peak hours.

Members sought to understand how the authority had engaged with the trade unions to prioritise the protection of jobs and saving of money. It was explained that this had been recognised as a priority and options were being explored with the trade unions, who were keen to see staff employed directly by the authority.

Referring to the major transformational changes within Adult Social Care, Members sought reassurances that posts could be filled without recourse to using agency or interim staff. Officers explained that they would need report back outside of the meeting on the detailed numbers, but there was an awareness that recent recruitment activity had been successful and the position would be kept under review.

Members sought further assurance on the way in which the Workforce Management Board monitored spend. It was explained that spend was reviewed on a monthly basis, which had fed into the projections detailed within the report. It was felt that the numbers would have to increase significantly to distort the projected year-end figure.

Having been assured of processes and the ongoing oversight provided by the Workforce Management Board, Members agreed to review the position in respect of implementing recommendations from the scrutiny review of agency, consultancy and interim staff in November 2020.

Resolved:-

1.    That the update be noted.

2.    That a further update on the implementation of recommendations from the scrutiny review of agency, consultancy and interim staff be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in November 2020.

To consider a briefing outlining the outcomes from a recent workshop with Scrutiny Members in respect of Adult Social Care services.

Consideration was given a briefing paper which detailed the main findings from a scrutiny workshop undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 9 October 2019.  The session provided Members with an overview of the new operating model for Adult Social Care that would be implemented from October 2019 onward.

Since 2018, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board has regularly scrutinised the budget position and service performance for Adult Social Care together as the two are closely interlinked.  The purpose of this approach was to seek assurance that the budget overspend would be reduced and proposed savings achieved without a negative impact on service users and performance, whilst making the requisite changes to practice and service transformation.

Members felt that the workshop had provided a very useful insight into the new operating model and had welcomed the opportunity to discuss a number of issues in detail with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health and the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health. There was broad consensus that future discussions on these matters should be conducted in open session, as the workshop approach had served its purpose during the development period for the new operating model.

Resolved:-

1.    That the update be noted.

2.    That the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health and the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health be invited to attend the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board meeting on 4 March 2020 to provide a further update on the progress made in adult social care.

To receive an update on the activities of the Youth Cabinet and other Young People’s Issues.

It was reported that the Rotherham Youth Cabinet manifesto launch had taken place on 21 November, with young people identifying the following four key aims:

·         Environment and Climate Change

·         Mental Health

·         Hate Crime

·         Public Transport

Members noted that the next topic for the Children’s Commissioner Takeover Challenge (CCTOC) had yet to be confirmed.

Referring to recommendations from previous CCTOCs, the following updates were noted:-

·         Public Transport - the South Yorkshire young people’s public transport charter will finally be launched in January

·         Work experience – a progress update will be presented to Rotherham Youth Cabinet on the evening of 27 November 2019

·         Young Carers – a positive meeting had taken place between the Deputy Leader and the Young Carers service at Barnardo’s to discuss ideas.  People for Places leisure were organising a free activity day for young carers in February half term which would be advertised to encourage other young carers to come forward in addition to those with whom the young carers service is already working.

Resolved:-

That the update be noted.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Select Commission on work undertaken and planned for the future.

The Chairs of the Select Commissions provided an update on their recent work:-

Health Select Commission

In the absence of Councillor Keenan, Chair of the Health Select Commission, Councillor Rob Elliott provided an update on the activities of the Health Select Commission:-

·         Workshop on the Refresh of Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Action Plan

This was an opportunity for HSC to have an input into the refreshed plan and to discuss some of the wider partnership work taking place.  HSC made suggestions for improvements to how the “local picture” information was presented in the plan.  They also made some wider recommendations including involving foster carers in training initiatives around mental health.

·         Mental Health Trailblazer project in schools

This will see mental health support teams established in 22 schools and education settings across Rotherham for face-to-face support to help address and prevent mild to moderate mental health problems. The project will be fully operational next month and will complement the RDaSH CAMHS locality model.

·         Social Emotional and Mental Health Strategy

Members considered and commented on the draft multi-agency strategy and action plan.  Initial work focused on the development of robust data on Special Educational Needs and Disability Sufficiency and will culminate in new provision being introduced in a phased approach by September 2021. 

·         Update from Rotherham Hospital following their CQC inspection
Members were updated on the positive work undertaken to address concerns identified by the CQC inspection of the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre.  The CQC returned to the hospital in an unannounced inspection in August and the Trust is awaiting the outcome.

·         Trainee Nursing Associate

A short presentation outlined this recently introduced role which will help to address the shortage of Registered Nurses and also provide potential career progression opportunities for health care assistants. The Trust is actively supporting this initiative as part of its wider workforce planning.

Improving Places Select Commission

Councillor Mallinder, Chair of Improving Places Select Commission, provided an update on the activities of that committee:-

·         Allotments Self-Management

A new Community Benefits Society known as Rotherham Allotments Alliance Ltd. will assume allotment management responsibility from the Council in January 2020.  The original timescale was extended to ensure sufficient time for surveys and to develop heads of terms for the transfer lease. 

·         Impact of traffic from Waleswood Caravan Park

A review of correspondence, observations of the local road network and an assessment of the traffic signal timings at Wales Bar Crossroads have not identified any negative impact on the local highway network.  A follow up traffic speed survey will be undertaken during 2020 to determine existing vehicle speeds as there had been requests for a reduction in the speed limit on Delves Lane. IPSC will have a further report next year and the briefing has been shared with Wales Parish Council.

·         Workshop on Area Housing Panels Review

In effect this was earlier stage pre-decision scrutiny with IPSC having an opportunity to discuss emerging proposals which reflect the move to ward based working and the Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy. Emerging  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

To review and identify items for pre-decision scrutiny from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions covering the period from November 2019 to January 2020.

Consideration was given to the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period from November 2019 to January 2020 detailing the decisions to be taken by the Cabinet over that three-month period.

Members identified the following reports for pre-decision scrutiny at the meeting on 20 December 2019:-

·         HRA Rents and Service Charges for 2020-21

·         HRA Business Plan 2020-21

·         Outcome and recommendations from Non-Residential Charging Consultation

·         New organisational and budget arrangements for Area Housing Panels

·         South Yorkshire Regional Adoption Agency

·         Rotherham Town Centre Parking Strategy

Resolved:-

1.    That the Forward Plan of Key Decisions from November 2019 to January 2020 be noted.

2.    That the following reports be presented for pre-decision scrutiny on 20 December 2019:-

·           HRA Rents and Service Charges for 2020-21

·           HRA Business Plan 2020-21

·           Outcome and recommendations from Non-Residential Charging Consultation

·           New organisational and budget arrangements for Area Housing Panels

·           South Yorkshire Regional Adoption Agency

·           Rotherham Town Centre Parking Strategy

To consider any issues referred for call-in from recent Cabinet meetings.

The Chair reported that there were no call-in issues requiring the Board’s consideration.

To determine any item which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair advised that there were no urgent items of business to be considered by the Board.

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be held on Friday 20 December 2019 at 11.00 a.m. at Rotherham Town Hall.

Resolved:-

That the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board take place on Friday 20 December 2019 at 11.00 in Rotherham Town Hall.