Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Brenda Thompson, Leslie Marks, Bromley Council on aging; Maureen Falloon attended as her alternate, Angela Bhan, Bromley PCT; Mimi Morris-Cotterill attended as her alternate, Richard Lane, Learning Disability Forum, Keith Marshall, Disability Voice Bromley and Gill Rose, Bromley Federation of Housing Associations.

Councillor Roberts declared an interest as a Member of the Red Cross. Councillor Hubbard declared a personal interest as an Employee of Bromley PCT, a Trustee of Age Concern Bromley and President of Alzheimer’s Bromley, White Gables.  Councillor William Huntington-Thresher declared a personal interest in item 13 as a Member of the Board of Broomleigh Housing Association.

To hear questions to the Committee received in writing by the Legal, Democratic and Customer Services Department by 5pm on Wednesday 23^rd September 2009 and to respond.

Written questions were submitted by Ms Sue Sulis to the Executive and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee on 19^th February 2010.  Who resolved that they were more appropriate for the Adult and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny, therefore they were forwarded to this meeting. Ms Sulis also forwarded another 3 questions for written responses. Both sets of questions and answers are appended to these minutes. 

However Councillor Nicholas Bennett stated that these questions should not have been addressed to the Chairman of the Policy Development and Scrutiny committee and it was agreed that the questions would be answered by the Portfolio Holder.

The minutes of the 17^th November were signed as a correct record subject to one amendment:

Minute 55 – Leslie Marks declared an interest in Age Concern Bromley only. 

The minutes of the 30^th November were signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED that:

1. the minutes of the meeting held on 17th November are agreed as a correct record subject to one minor amendment.

2. the Minutes of the meeting held on 30^th November are agreed as a correct record.

The committee considered a report providing an update on recommendations from previous meetings.

The Chairman reported that herself and the Chairman of the Public Protection and Safety Policy Development and Scrutiny committee would be visiting River House and would report back to a future meeting.

The Leader of the Council had meetings with Affinity Sutton which had been helpful.  A brief protocol was being drawn up. After the May elections both new and old members would receive a presentation.

RESOLVED that the progress made on recommendations from previous meetings be noted.

To hear questions to the Adult and Community Portfolio Holder received in writing by the Legal, Democratic and Customer Services Department by 5pm on Wednesday 23^rd September 2009 and to respond.

The Portfolio Holder gave an update on his meetings with the PCT about using their assets to assist “shared” customers.  He also reported on the “Tech Launch” that he attended and learnt how simple aids could help people lead independent lives.

In addition he highlighted the Personal Care at Home bill which would come into force in October 2010. This would provide free care to those in their own homes in the greatest need. This would have massive implications for the budget as the Council would be expected to fund 1/3 of the costs (approximately £1.4m). He advised that the Adult and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny committee would need to debate this issue.

Written questions had been submitted to the Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee Chairman.  It was noted that these questions would be addressed by the Portfolio Holder. They are appended to these minutes.

The Portfolio Holder gave an update on his meetings with the PCT about using their assets to assist “shared” customers.  He also reported on the “Tech Launch” that he attended and learnt how simple aids could help people lead independent lives.

In addition he highlighted the Personal Care at Home bill which would come into force in October 2010. This would provide free care to those in their own homes in the greatest need. This would have massive implications for the budget as the Council would be expected to fund 1/3 of the costs (approximately £1.4m). He advised that the Adult and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny committee would need to debate this issue.

Written questions had been submitted to the Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee Chairman.  It was noted that these questions would be addressed by the Portfolio Holder. They are appended to these minutes.

The Committee reviewed decisions taken by the Portfolio Holder since the last Adult and Community PDS Committee held on 17^th November 2009.

RESOLVED that the previous decisions be noted.

The Adult and Community Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions.

The Committee considered a report outlining work that had been undertaken to monitor the quality of service provided in residential and nursing homes for adults in the Borough.

One member raised concerns regarding monitoring of residents.  Whilst those funded by Bromley received regular reviews those who paid their own fees (self funding) did not.  Officers explained that they did visit every home and would raise any concerns but did not review self funding residents. There was currently no capacity to offer monitoring to self funded residents.

The Chairman felt that as only one of the homes listed was marked as “excellent” she would like to see a bench marking exercise undertaken.

The Committee also noted that, until May 2009, a rota had been used to for Members to visit homes.  There had not been a visit since then.  Members requested that this was re-instated.  It was agreed that there would need to be a format for the visits and that they could not go “unannounced”.  Reports on these visits would be reported back to the committee.

With regard to the training consortium it was noted that a number of homes did not take advantage of this training.  However officers explained that some of the larger providers had their own in-house providers and whilst it appeared in the figures that they did not undertake training this was due to the fact that in-house training was not recorded by Bromley. However officers did review the homes’ training records.

  RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

(1)  Endorse the principle that new placements are only made in one star homes if the service user wishes to exercise choice;

(2)  Endorse the enhanced review activity which is employed where residents are living in a nil or one star home.

The Committee reviewed a report which provided an update on the latest budget monitoring position for 2009/10 for the Adult and Community Portfolio, based on expenditure levels up to 31 December 2009.

The Director clarified the situation with regard to Bed and Breakfast accommodation.  He confirmed that there were no families living in Bed and Breakfast accommodation.  At any one time there may be a handful of occasions when this there was no option than to use this type of accommodation but not for families.

Members also received clarification on two accounting technicalities relating to direct payments and the carers grant.

With regard to the carers grant the Chairman asked officers to ensure this was clarified as it appeared to suggest that the council had withheld spending money on carers.

Also in relation to item 5 learning disabilities day services the under spend was due to “difficulties” in recruiting staff as opposed to delays.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to note that the sum of £100,000 had been transferred from the budget for Private Sector Renewals, to fund the increased cost of Renovation Grants in 2009/10, as approved by the Executive on 3^rd February 2010.

The Committee considered a report informing the Portfolio Holder of the completion of the exercise to set up a framework for the procurement of Supporting People services and outlining the process for awarding contracts procured from Providers on the framework.

Members raised a point that with regard to domestic violence this may not only be violence against women.  Officers explained that whilst all the refuges were for women only there was a one stop shop for male victims of domestic violence where they could obtain support and information. If men were fleeing domestic violence alternative accommodation would be sought for them within the Council’s statutory duty in regard to homelessness.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to endorse the use of the Framework for housing related support services and for other appropriate contracts from 1 April 2010.

The Committee considered a report highlighting changes agreed by the Executive in respect of the Capital Programme for the Adult and Community Portfolio.  The Executive had also approved new capital bids recommended by Chief Officers in this year’s Capital Review process.

Members requested that new schemes that were endorsed by Executive and Resources were highlighted and that, in future, the report should include a summary of the variations. Following a member query on Section 106 receipts the Director agreed that this needed to be kept under review. The Chairman highlighted that the E&R Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee received a regular report on sections 106 and wondered if this could be referred on to the other Policy Development and Scrutiny Committees. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report providing an update on performance on assessments and reviews during 2009/1010.

It outlined Bromley’s performance in completing assessments and undertaking annual reviews.  It was noted that the performance declined over the period 07/08 and 08/09.

Members noted that demand for assessments had increased by 60%. There was concern that this could increase again. They asked officers if it had reached a “plateau” or would it rise again.  Officers said that the rise at the end of 2009 was unusual and it was hard to establish why it had happened. Whilst they could not categorically state that it would not rise again they felt that it was unlikely the referral rates would increase to such a degree again.

With regard to the time taken from assessment to the implementation Bromley had 93% of its referral implemented within 28 days.  However members felt that the figures should be more detailed as some referrals were implemented within 7 days and this needed to be reflected in the statistics. Officers reported that 96% of referrals were implemented within 7 days. 

Officers were requested to provide data covering the number of referrals from 2006 – 2009 outside of the meeting.

Members requested that they receive an update report in 12 months.

  RESOLVED that

(1)  current performance in respect of assessments and reviews and the action being taken to improve performance in these areas.

(2) That officers submit an update report in February 2011

Jean Penney gave a presentation in conjunction with a report which provided an update on the development of the Supporting Independence in Bromley Programme and the Customer Journey.

The programme was intended to support funding for people deemed to have critical and substantial needs and safeguarding adults. It would provide help and support to allow them to do more for themselves.  It would focus on reducing need and building independence through targeted short term prevention, re-enablement and independence training.

Members congratulated officers on the work undertaken to enable the elderly and vulnerable adults to lead independent lives if they wished to.

  RESOLVED that the customer journey is noted.

The Committee considered a report reviewing the range of Government Grants deployed within the Adult and Community Portfolio and outlining the risk of dependency on such grants, summarising the exit strategies that are in place to cope with the eventual cessation of the grants.

Members commented that they felt the report lacked detail relating to what the outcomes would be for the schemes if funding was withdrawn, which would establish the costs of not having the scheme balanced against the costs of providing it.

  RESOLVED that the report is noted.

The Committee considered a report providing an update on progress towards re-providing accommodation and care for people with learning disabilities moving out of “campus” accommodation previously provided by Bromley Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Members were pleased to note the progress.  They raised one query related to Hawes Lane regarding the plans for the building and also requested that before any planning applications were submitted that ward members were made aware of the proposals.  The co-opted member representing the PCT agreed to investigate and report back to a future meeting. 

RESOLVED that progress on the re-provision and care for people with learning disabilities moving from PCT provided campus accommodation is noted.

The Committed reviewed its work programme for 2009/10.

Members requested the following items be t included on the work programme:

• A report on the outcomes from the recent disciplinary appeal the findings of which were reported to the GP and Licensing committee. 

• Consideration to be given to the out of hours GP service and questions added to the PCT “Picture of Health” and to receive a presentation, once it was “live”, at the meeting in either September of November. 

• A report from the care homes reference group in November

• Consider Policy development for the following year at the June meeting.

RESOLVED that the 2009/10 work programme be noted.

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

This item was moved into the part one part of the meeting (see minute 17).