Agenda item

Members of the Committee are requested to bring their copy of the agenda for the Executive meeting on 15^th October 2014.

Report CSD14144

The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 15^th October 2014.

(5)  Temporary Accommodation Update – Use of Manorfields as Temporary Accommodation

Report CS15087

The report set out the invest to save requirements for the proposed use of Manorfields, a former residential care home, as temporary accommodation to enable the Council to meet its statutory housing duties and reduce the significant cost incurred by the increased use of nightly paid accommodation. The proposals had been supported by Care Services PDS Committee on 2^nd October 2014.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, as a ward councillor, complained that not enough had been done to inform and consult with local residents and ward councillor, and suggested that the recommendations should be supported only subject to a meeting being held with residents. The successful scheme at Belle Grove was very similar to that proposed for Manorfields, and members had been invited to a visit there. It was noted that the proposals would require planning permission, and the planning process would offer opportunities for residents to comment.

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(6)  Homelessness and Welfare Reform Draw-down from Central Contingency

Report CS14095

The Committee received an update on homelessness pressures in 2014 and the range of initiatives being pursued; it was recommended that £653k of the £1.2m held in central contingency for homelessness and welfare reform pressures be drawn down. It was also reported that formal consultation had started on revisions to the allocations scheme – a further report on this would be presented for formal consideration. The recommendation was supported by Care Services PDS Committee on 2^nd October 2014. The Committee was informed that the drawdown was already assumed in budget monitoring reports.

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(7)  Substance Misuse Services

Report CS14072

The Executive had requested further information and consideration by Care Services PDS Committee before taking a decision on whether to extend three contracts with Crime Reduction Initiatives (CRI) to provide an integrated drug and alcohol service for a period on one year from January 2015. The report also sought approval to extend the contract with KCA to provide an integrated drug and alcohol service for children and young people for a period of one year from January 2015 as allowed for in the contract. Care Services PDS Committee had supported the recommendations.

Members commented that consideration of the contracts had been left too late, and questioned what was proposed after the one year extensions. It was confirmed that processes were in place to ensure that all contracts were reviewed in good time before they expired, although sometimes the pressure of the numbers of contracts needing attention put pressure on resources. Members suggested that this indicated that lead-in times should be extended. It was confirmed that these one year extensions were perfectly permissible legally and were provided for in the original contract, and that often an extension represented good value for money. 

Members questioned some of the statistics in the report, and asked whether this was the totality of substance misuse services, what the cost per person was and whether many people were re-presenting. It was noted that the success of treatment was measured by reference to a period of just three months, which Members considered was too short. Members also inquired about the impact of not providing these services; there was no way to quantify this and it was noted that funding was provided through the Public Health Grant. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(8)  Adoption Grant Drawdown

Report CS14089

The Executive was asked to approve the draw-down of non-ring fenced grant to support adoption reform to ensure that children were adopted without delay. The recommendations had been supported by Care Services PDS Committee on 2^nd October 2014; the Chairman Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe commented that there had been occasions when the courts had ordered children to be returned to their families, only for this to break down shortly afterwards, thus reducing the opportunities for adoption. She confirmed that the money was essential and that she had requested an early update to the next Care Services PDS meeting on 11^th November which clearly identified the outcomes that would be achieved from this additional grant funding. This grant was area-based and not a specific grant and therefore was not ring fenced for adoption services - the money could be used to offset cost pressures elsewhere in the ECHS budget. If the grant drawdown was agreed, it would be necessary to establish when the placement savings would be realised. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(9)  Draw-down of Government Grant Funding held in Contingency to Support the Local Authority in Implementing the SEN Reforms and Pathfinder Champion Support

Report ED15082

The report set out proposals to draw down grant funds held in contingency – SEND Implementation (New Burdens) Grant and Bromley Pathfinder Champion Grant. The recommendations had been supported by the Education PDS Committee on 30^th September 2014.

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(10)  Commissioning – Proposed Total Facility Management Contract

Report DRR14/089

The Committee received a report on the outcome of the market intelligence exercise that had been undertaken regarding Facility Management and Public Protection Services.  The report set out a programme in line with the Council’s financial strategy commencing with a “gateway” report to the Executive in February 2015 including confirmation of the baseline option that would be market tested. Subject to the Executive’s approval, there would be exhaustive work on detailed specifications for all the services which would be key to achieving a successful outcome. Under the Community Right to Challenge, expressions of interest could be made by staff or community groups before 31^st December 2014.

Members questioned whether the savings that potential contractors expected were realistic, given that the services were already very lean. It was noted that the figures given in the report were only approximate, and the general rule of thumb was that private contractors could expect to reduce costs by about 10% when services were first contracted. However, it was emphasised that it was very difficult to pre-judge the likely savings that could be made prior to commissioning negotiations with potential contractors. More substantial savings could only be achieved by reviewing what services were still needed. It was confirmed that it was intended that, should these services go out to tender, companies would be able to bid for different lots, enabling a variety of providers to bid, although it was anticipated that the most savings would come from larger contracts. Tenders would be rigorously tested for both quality and ability to deliver. In taking a “thin client” approach it would also be important to ensure that the authority retained enough client-side officers to ensure that contractors carried out their responsibilities properly. The Chairman commented that it was crucial that contracts needed to be set up such that the Council could monitor contracts with a minimum number of staff, and that the onus was firmly put on the contractor to perform and to report back regularly.

Officers confirmed that consultation meetings with Directors and the project team had been held for all 201 staff affected by the proposals, and all had been formally written to. It was acknowledged that the higher number of full time equivalent (FTE) posts than staff indicated that in some areas temporary staff were in post due to the need to maintain flexibility before budgets were set. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(Councillors Peter Fookes and Angela Wilkins requested that their votes against the recommendation be recorded.)

(11)  Street Lighting – Invest to Save

Report ES14071

The report set out a proposal to amend the outputs of the street lighting invest to save scheme to provide greater efficiency savings – this had been supported by the Environment PDS Committee at its meeting on 23^rd September 2014. 

The Committee discussed how electricity pricing worked for street lighting, given that the Council was now able to monitor and control each individual lamp column, and questioned how electricity was procured for street lighting. Officers reported that there were negotiations at a national level with industry bodies to achieve more accurate charging regimes – this issue would continue to be investigated.

Members were pleased with the savings achieved through this project, and suggested extending it. Officers confirmed that they would investigate this and report back to members as the current project progressed towards completion. 

A member noted that over a third of residents responding to post-completion questionnaires felt that the new lighting was not bright enough. Officers explained that the new lighting was more directed onto the carriageway, possibly giving the impression that it was less bright overall; this would be reviewed in the spring after experiencing leaf-fall and a full winter. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported and that further opportunities be sought to extend the invest to save project.

(12)  Public Toilet Provision

Report ES14085

The report outlined a proposal to close the Penge High Street public toilet from 1^st January 2015 and introduce a community toilet scheme for Penge town centre. It was noted that since the report had been published Weatherspoons had withdrawn and had been replaced by a local café. The Environment PDS Committee had supported the proposals at its meeting on 23^rd September, subject to recommending to the Environment Portfolio Holder that he should ensure that measures were in place to prevent the public toilet building falling into decay should it be declared surplus to requirements. Other concerns had been raised about publicity, signage and the new venues. Councillor Keith Onslow commented that problems had occurred with the scheme at Green Street Green with the old building being neglected and one of the new venues closing very early. Officers confirmed that these concerns would be monitored. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.