Meeting documents

People Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 8th October, 2013 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
334 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kaye (substitute Cllr Holland), Councillor Walker (substitute Cllr Byford), and Linda Barnard (co-opted member).
335 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Courtenay and Salter - interest in the pre-Cabinet scrutiny/referred/called-in items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th June 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;
(b) Councillor A P Jones - agenda item relating to School Organisation Data Supplement - non-pecuniary - parent of primary school child; parent of secondary school child; Governor at primary school;
(c) Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to School Organisation Data Supplement - non-pecuniary - Governor at Friars Primary School and Bournes Green Infant School;
(d) Councillor Caunce - agenda item relating to School Organisation Data Supplement - non-pecuniary - Governor at Barons Court School;
(e) Councillor Woodley - agenda item relating to School Organisation Data Supplement - non-pecuniary - Governor at Thorpe Greenways School;
(f) Councillor Betson - agenda item relating to School Organisation Data Supplement - non-pecuniary - Governor at Heycroft Primary School;
(g) Mr Rickett - agenda item relating to School Organisation Data Supplement - non-pecuniary - Governor at school in Borough;
(h) Councillor Carr - agenda item relating to Southend Skills Strategy - non-pecuniary - South Essex College mentioned and on Board of Corporation;
(i) Councillor Holland - agenda item relating to Chairman's update - non-pecuniary - President of Southend Stroke Club and Trustee and Chairman of The Village disability charity;
(j) Councillor D Norman - agenda item relating to Priory House and Delaware House - non-pecuniary - Board Member SEH;
(k) Councillor Dr Velmurugan - agenda items relating to - Southend Hospital; Chairman's update - GP and Council appointed Governor of Southend University NHS Foundation Trust at the Hospital;
(l) Councillor Salter - Chairman's update (vascular services update) - non-pecuniary - husband is Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Business Unit Director for Surgical Services SGH.
336 Questions from Members of the Public.
 There were no questions from members of the public.
337 Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 9th July, 2013
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 9th July, 2013 be confirmed and signed.
338 Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Business for item 338
Resolved:-

That the item be deferred.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
339 Southend Skills Strategy
Business for item 339
Resolved:-

That the draft report be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 5th November 2013, with the inclusion of the following:
• Paragraph 6.5 - strengthen wording around building on existing work of the college;
• Paragraph 5.3.7 - include information on how will measure outcomes; and
• Include information on the membership of the 14-19 Strategic Partnership.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillors:- Courtenay and Lamb.
340 Local Account of Adult Social Care Services in Southend 2012-13
Business for item 340
Resolved:-

That the draft report be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 5th November 2013 with the inclusion of the following:
• Page 8 - SPOR - provide explanatory details on figures;
• Page 22 - include information on the total number of respondents; and
• Transfer relevant key points from the statutory ‘Compliments, compliments & complaints' Report.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Salter.
341 The Care Bill & Caring for our Future consultation
Business for item 341
Resolved:-

That the report be noted and subject to any additional comments from Members of the Committee, the proposed response to the consultation be supported and endorsed.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Salter.
342 The 2013 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health
Business for item 342
Resolved:-

That the 2013 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health and its recommendations be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 5th November 2013.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft
343 Monthly Performance Report
Business for item 343
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Courtenay.
344 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 17th September, 2013.
 
Annual Report - Comments, Compliments and Complaints
Scrutiny Comment for item 344
Business for item 344
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That the performance in respect of compliments, comments and complaints for 2012/13 be noted, which continues to result in the delivery of service improvements as a consequence of effective complaints handling."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Courtenay, Moring and Salter.
345 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 17th September, 2013.
 
Consultation on the futures of Priory House and Delaware House - Request from Council
Scrutiny Comment for item 345
Resolved:-

That this matter be deferred for consideration at the meeting of the People Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013 commencing @ 18.00.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Salter.
346 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 17th September, 2013.
 
Children's Centre Provision - Hamstel and Temple Sutton
Scrutiny Comment for item 346
Business for item 346
Resolved:-

1.1. That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

"1.2. That the Temple Sutton and Hamstel Children's Centres are merged into one children's centre with the main base on the Temple Sutton site.

1.3. That the services are co-ordinated from the Temple Sutton site utilising other satellite sites including the St Lukes Centre and Hamstel schools.

1.4. That Officers continue to support the development of a provider partnership model for the new children's centre provision.

1.5. That the provider partnership develops a plan to deliver the 2015/16 element of the savings that seeks to minimise the impact on service delivery.

1.6. That the savings are re-profiled to deliver £20k in 2014/15 and £44.5k in 2015/16."

2. That in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 39.2, the matter be referred to Council.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay.
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet Scrutiny on 2nd September 2013
347 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 17th September, 2013.
 
Charging for Adult Social Care Services
Scrutiny Comment for item 347
Business for item 347
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That formal consultation be undertaken in respect of the options for charging adult social care services as outlined in the submitted report.

2. That following consultation, detailed proposals will come forward as part of the 2014/15 budget process."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Salter.
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet Scrutiny on 9th July 2013
348 School Organisation Data Supplement
Business for item 348
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
349 Success for All Children Group Annual Report 2012/2013
Business for item 349
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
350 Chairman's Update
Business for item 350
Resolved:-

1. That the report and actions taken be noted.
2. That the project plan for the in depth scrutiny project ‘Southend primary schools' falling grammar school entry figures', attached at Appendix 2 be agreed.
3. Noted there is a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 22nd October 2013 @ 18.00.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
351 Minutes of the Meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 15th July, 2013
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 15th July, 2013, be received and noted and the recommendations therein endorsed.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.
18.30 / 21.00

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Flewitt (Vice-Chair, in the Chair),
Councillors Betson, Byford*, Carr, Dr Caunce, Chalk, Crystall, Day, Grimwade, Hadley, Holland*, A J Jones, A P Jones, D Norman, Morgan, Robertson and Woodley

*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31.

Mr Copeland, Mr Rickett, Ms Semmence, Mr Keay, Ms Clarke (co-opted members) and M Sylvester (observer)
In attendance:
Councillors Courtenay and Salter (Executive Councillors)
Councillors Gilbert, Godwin, Dr Velmurugan and Ware-Lane
R Tinlin, D Simon, F Abbott, S Leftley, Dr Atherton, S Hadley, D McAughtrie, C Cranfield, S Baker, L Park, M Gray and D Coleman

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
344 Called in by Councillors P Collins and G Longley.
Final call on 25/09/2013 at 16:19
345 Called in by Councillors M Terry and A M Chalk.
Final call on 27/09/2013 at 10:13
346 Called in by Councillors P Collins and G Longley.
Final call on 25/09/2013 at 16:19
Supported by M Terry, A M Chalk
347 Called in by Councillors P Collins and G Longley.
Final call on 25/09/2013 at 16:19

Business

ItemBusiness
338The Chairman advised that unfortunately Sue Hardy, Deputy CEO / Chief Nurse, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is unwell and unable to attend the meeting.
339(This is a pre-Cabinet Scrutiny item to all three Scrutiny Committees).

The Committee received a joint report of the Corporate Director for People and Corporate Director for Place, by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny. This provided an update on the delivery of skills, education and training in Southend for young people and adults and detailed the strengths of the current position and proposed significant actions to further improve the development of opportunities for local residents for discussion.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and there was general consensus and support for the proposed actions and about the content of the report.

The proposal for the Strategy was one of the recommendations from the in depth scrutiny project ‘Developing strong partnership links to encourage investment in the town and the supply of employment opportunity', and the Chairman of that Scrutiny Committee requested that his thanks and appreciation be forwarded to the project team and supporting officers.
340(This is a pre-Cabinet Scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for People by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny. This presented the draft of the Local Account of Adult Social Care services in 2012/13, including priorities and plans for 2013/14.

This is the third annual report of this sort to be produced by the Council. Previous versions of the Local Account have been used regionally and at a national event as an example of good practice. The Local Account aims to provide information about the quality and value of the social care services to the users of services and local people. It is the Council's self assessment of how it provided services during 2012/13 together with plans for the future which contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of the local community.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and there was general consensus and support for this local account and about the content of the report.
341(This is a pre-Cabinet Scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for People by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny which informed the Committee about the content of The Care Bill and the Caring for our Future Consultation. The proposed response to the consultation had been circulated separately.

There was general consensus and support for the proposed response to the consultation and content of the report. The Chairman suggested that any further comments on the proposed response from Members of the Committee be forwarded to the Corporate Director for People as soon as possible.
342(This is a pre-Cabinet Scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report from the Director of Public Health by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny. This presented the 2013 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health.

During the discussion on the item, the Director of Public Health said that she would be happy to attend a meeting of the Youth Council to discuss the report.
343The Committee considered Minute 259 of Cabinet held on 17th September, 2013, together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to the end of August 2013, which had been circulated on 2nd October 2013.

The Executive Councillor for Children and Learning said that he would pass on the compliments made regarding the continuing downward trend of Indicator CP 4.3 - Number of LAC. With regard to CP 6.2 - drug users left treatment successfully, the Corporate Director for People said he would provide a written response after the meeting on this area of performance.
344The Committee considered Minute 268 of Cabinet held on 17th September, 2013 which had been called in to all 3 Scrutiny Committees, together with the Report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which had been prepared in response to the Local Authority's statutory duty to produce an annual report on compliments and complaints received about its Children and Adults' Social Care functions.
346The Committee considered Minute 272 of Cabinet held on 17th September, 2013, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People on the outcome of the second public consultation on the proposed changes to Hamstel and Temple Sutton Children's Centres. The report also summarised the views on the proposed changes expressed by Members at the meeting of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd September 2013 (Minute 235 refers).
347The Committee considered Minute 274 of Cabinet held on 17th September, 2013, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People setting out the options available for reviewing the existing charges that apply for some adult social care services.
348The Committee considered the School Organisation Data Supplement 2013. The Data Supplement is prepared annually to inform members, schools and the public of trends in: demographics; admissions; and the number of school places in Southend.

In response to the questions from Members of the Committee regarding the following issues, the Council's Head of Children's Services undertook to provide a written response after the meeting that:
• Adds attendance data to the table on mobility;
• Provides explanations on the variation across schools on SEN (page 38); and
• Re-circulates data on primary admissions 2014 and published admissions numbers.

The Head of Children's Services confirmed that next year's report will include attendance data / mobility data.

In response to questions, the Corporate Director for People said that he would circulate a structure chart for the senior management in the People Department.
349The Committee considered the Success for All Children Group's Annual Report 2012/2013. The Success for all Children Group has previously been required to publish a self assessment of its performance. Although this is no longer an Ofsted requirement, the Success for All Children Group have continued to prepare a self assessment in the form of an annual report as part of its performance management and planning cycle.

In response to questions, the Council's Head of Children's Services said that future reports will include figures as well as percentages.
350The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which updated Members on some health scrutiny matters and other matters, as follows:

(a) Information from Care Quality Commission - set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report and at Appendix 1 - noted;
(b) Direct access to Pathology Services - information set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report - noted;
(c) Elective and Emergency Vascular surgery in Essex - information set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report - noted;
(d) Cystic Fibrosis service reconfiguration - information set out in paragraph 3.4 of the report - noted;
(e) Proposed project plan for the in depth scrutiny project - 'Southend primary schools' falling grammar school entry figures' - set out in paragraph 4 of the report and at Appendix 2 - agreed.

 

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