Meeting documents

People Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013 6.00 pm

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

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
417 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Carr (substitute Cllr Brown), Councillor Grimwade (substitute Cllr Longley), Councillor Walker (substitute Cllr Evans) and M Rickett (co-opted member).
418 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Holdcroft, Courtenay and Salter - interest in the pre-Cabinet scrutiny items and referred item; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th June 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;
(b) Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to Carers Strategy - non-pecuniary - member of Steering Group at Trust Links;
(c) Angelina Clarke - agenda item relating to Carers Strategy - non-pecuniary - Southend Carers Forum currently commissioned by the Council for provision of services to carers;
(d) Councillor Flewitt - agenda item relating to Carers Strategy - non-pecuniary - friend attends Trust Links premises for a group;
(e) Councillor Robertson - agenda item relating to Services with people with a physical disability and / or sensory impairment - non-pecuniary - NED with Affinity Trust;
(f) Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to Report on Early Years & Schools Standards incorporating schools progress - non-pecuniary - Governor at Friars Primary School and Bournes Green Infant School;
(g) Councillor Betson - agenda item relating to Report on Early Years & Schools Standards incorporating schools progress - non-pecuniary - Governor at Heycroft Primary School;
(h) Councillor A P Jones - agenda item relating to Report on Early Years & Schools Standards incorporating schools progress - non-pecuniary - former Governor at primary school mentioned in report;
(i) Councillor Woodley - agenda item relating to Report on Early Years & Schools Standards incorporating schools progress - non-pecuniary - Governor at Thorpe Greenways School;
(j) Councillor Caunce - agenda item relating to Report on Early Years & Schools Standards incorporating schools progress - non-pecuniary - Governor at Barons Court School;
(k) Councillor D Norman - agenda item relating to Report on Early Years & Schools Standards incorporating schools progress - non-pecuniary - Governor at Milton Hall School.

(Note - Councillor Kaye left the meeting at the conclusion of item 5 and Councillor Flewitt, Vice Chairman, took the Chair).
419 Questions from Members of the Public.
 Councillor Salter, the Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care, Health & Housing, responded to written questions received from 12 members of the public, about Priory House and Delaware House.
420 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 420
Business for item 420
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That it be noted that the consultation process carried out in respect of the futures of Priory House and Delaware House was both proper and lawful."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Salter.
421 Residential Care for the Elderly in Southend - Outcome of Delaware/Priory Consultation and the future of the 2 Homes
Business for item 421
Resolved:-

1. To generally endorse the proposals with regard to Delaware House as set in the draft report to Cabinet.
2. That before Cabinet makes a decision on Priory House, there needs to be: (a) a full evaluation of the viability of Councillor Woodley's alternative Business Plan by the consultants, Laing & Buisson; and
(b) further consideration regarding allowing flexibility over the timing of any closure of Priory House.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Salter.

COUNCILLOR FLEWITT (VICE-CHAIRMAN) IN CHAIR FOR REMAINDER OF MEETING.
422 Joint Commissioning Strategy - Adult Carers
Business for item 422
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 16, section 5.2 - include number of Southend carers involved;
• Include information on universal gateway to service providers;
• Need to expand the priority themes in the document;
• Consider establishing steering group to develop the strategy.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Salter.
423 Services for People with a Physical Disability and/or Sensory Impairment
Business for item 423
Resolved:-

That the draft report 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:- Salter.
424 Exclusion of the Public.
 Resolved:

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Part II(Confidential)
425 Report on Early Years & School Standards incorporating Schools Progress
  • (Attachment: 33)Report of Corporate Director for People
Business for item 425
Resolved:

1. That the school performance and inspection outcomes be noted.
2. To note the approach to schools causing concern, which takes account of revised DfE Guidance.
3. That the Corporate Director for People provide a report to the next ordinary meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on the super pupil premium for Looked After Children.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Courtenay.
18.00 / 21.15

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Kaye (Chairman),
Councillor Flewitt (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Betson, Brown*, Caunce, Chalk, Crystall, Day, Evans*, Hadley, A J Jones, A P Jones, Longley*, Morgan, Norman, Robertson and Woodley

*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31.

Mr Copeland, Ms Semmence, Mr Keay, Ms Clarke (co-opted members) and M Sylvester (observer)
In attendance:
Councillors Holdcroft, Courtenay and Salter (Executive Councillors)
Councillors Assenheim, Ayling, Borton, Gilbert and Terry
J K Williams, F Abbott, S Leftley, J Chesterton, I Ambrose, J Theadom, J Lansley, K Marks, C Cranfield, K Marks, Dr Atherton and C Cheswright

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
420 Called in by Councillors M Terry and A M Chalk.
Final call on 27/09/2013 at 10:13

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That it be noted that the consultation process carried out in respect of the futures of Priory House and Delaware House was both proper and lawful."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Salter.

Business

ItemBusiness
420Minute 271 of Cabinet held on 17th September 2013 (concerning the consultation process) was referred to this meeting pursuant to Minute 345 of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 8th October 2013, so it could be considered in conjunction with the main report on the future of the 2 homes.

The Council's Head of Legal & Democratic Services advised that the main report also deals with the consultation process, so discussion on the item was carried out in conjunction with agenda item 5.
421(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 included a draft report to Cabinet as an attachment). The report concerned the outcome of the formal consultation and recommendations for the future of Delaware House, Priory House and Priory Day Centre and requested the Committees' views on the draft report to Cabinet. The report explained the consultation process and summarised the responses received, including reference to the 2 Petitions considered by Council at the meeting on 17th October 2013 (Minutes 388 and 390 refers).

The Committee additionally had before it an amended paper from Councillor Woodley, which detailed an alternative Business Plan for Priory House.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and asked a significant number of detailed questions which were responded to by officers and the Executive Councillor.
422This 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 progress of the Joint Commissioning Strategy for Adult Carers.

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

It was noted that an update on the progress on implementing actions from the previous in depth scrutiny projects ‘Carers Need Care Too' and ‘Young Carers' had been sent to Members recently. The actions relating to the Council have now been included in the draft action plan.
423(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 progress of the services for people with a Physical Disability and\or Sensory Impairment Commissioning Strategy.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and there was general consensus and support for the direction of the strategy and content of the report.
425The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for People. This advised Members of the educational standards achieved by Southend pupils at the end of the academic year 2012 /13 and the rate of exclusions and school absence and the inspection outcomes for schools inspected under the new Framework.

The Council's Head of Learning confirmed that the performance data included in the report is provisional and that a revised version of the report will be available in January 2014, which will also include national comparisons.

In response to questions the Council's Head of Learning said she would be happy to provide a report for the Committee on the status of Seabrook College.

 

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