Meeting documents

People Scrutiny Committee
Wednesday, 28th January, 2015 6.30 pm

Place:
Jubilee Room, Civic 1, Civic Campus, Victoria Ave
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
590 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor E Day (substitute Cllr J Garston), Councillor Betson (substitute Cllr Wexham), Councillor Endersby (no substitute), J Keay, M Rickett and V Copeland (co-opted members), I Blair and E Johnson (Youth Council observers).
591 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Woodley, A P Jones, D Norman MBE, Gilbert, Longley and Terry - interest in the pre-Cabinet scrutiny/referred/called-in items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b) Councillor Salter - agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee update - non-pecuniary - husband is Business Unit Director at Southend General Hospital for surgical services including oral surgery - urology;

(c) Councillor McMahon - agenda item relating Annual Report on Safeguarding - non-pecuniary - often acts as ‘McKenzies Friend' in Family Court;

(d) Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to Schools Progress Report - non-pecuniary - governor at Friars Primary School;

(e) A Clark - agenda item relating to Schools Progress Report - non-pecuniary - foster child attends school mentioned in report;

(f) Frances Neil - agenda item relating to Schools Progress Report - Disqualifying non- pecuniary interest - withdrew.
592 Questions from Members of the Public.
 Councillor Anne Jones, the Executive Councillor for Children & Learning, responded to 2 written questions received from Mr Webb.
593 Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 2nd December, 2014
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 2nd December, 2014 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.
594 Outcome of the Review of the Decision to Close Priory House and Redevelop Delaware House
Business for item 594
Resolved:-

1. That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

"1. That the decision made in November 2013 to close Priory House is not endorsed and implementation stopped with immediate effect.

2. That the decision made in November 2013 to establish a dedicated dementia facility be supported in principle, subject to the revised approach set out below and further consultation where required.

3. That residents, relatives & carers, and staff at Delaware House and Priory House be informed of the position.

Short-term arrangements

4. That the progress on making a revenue saving of £540k in 2014/15 in respect of Priory House and Delaware House be noted, and that £167k from the Business Transformation Reserve be used to finance revenue expenditure in 2015/16, whilst details of a medium-term solution are finalised.

5. That capital works to Priory House to address issues identified in a recent condition survey be undertaken and that a sum of £225k be earmarked from the Council's Capital Reserve.

6. That, subject to the outcome of consultation with users, their carers and affected staff, the Priory Day Service be closed from July 2015.

Delivery of medium-term solution

7. That the establishment of a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) or Charitable Trust be approved in principle. This LATC or Charitable Trust will be designed to deliver dementia care facilities (and other Council services), subject to necessary consultation and such model being demonstrated to be viable through an independent assessment of a detailed feasibility study and business case.

8. That a detailed and costed feasibility study be undertaken in respect of establishing a new dementia facility to replace both Priory House and Delaware House, such facility to be located on a site comprising Priory House and the adjoining school site.

9. That the sum of £100k be earmarked in the Business Transformation Reserve to fund the consultation, investigations and studies referred to in 7 and 8 above."

2. That in accordance with Standing Order 39 the matter be referred up to Full Council.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- D Norman MBE
595 Future Development for Viking Day Opportunities
Business for item 595
Resolved:-

1. That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted and Resolution 2 be amended as set out below (underlined text):-

"1. That Option 1, namely the construction of a new Learning Disabilities Day Centre and a new dementia, frail and elderly care home on the Priory House/School site, be the preferred option, thereby releasing the Avro and Delaware House sites to the surplus assets pool for redevelopment/sale.

2. That a detailed feasibility study, including design and cost information, be commissioned and funded from the Business Transformation Reserve and that any necessary consultation be carried out.

3. That the preferred option be worked up in detail and submitted for planning approval and if permission is granted then, subject to the cost plan demonstrating that the project (including site preparation) can be fully delivered within the agreed budget, it can be implemented.

4. That the information set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report be noted."

2. That in accordance with Standing Order 39 the matter be referred up to Full Council.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- D Norman MBE
596 Draft Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2018/19
Business for item 596
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

"1. That the current approved Programme for 2015/16 to 2017/18 of £100.1m, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the changes to the approved Programme, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be noted.

3. That the proposed new schemes and additions to the Capital Programme for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19 (and later years) totalling £49.0m of which £41.2m is for the General Fund and £7.8m for the Housing Revenue Account, as set out in appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, be endorsed.

4. That it be noted that the proposed new schemes and additions, as set out in appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, along with other adjustments as set out in appendix 2 to the report, will result in a proposed capital programme of £156.9m for 2015/16 to 2018/19 (and later years), as set out in appendix 8 to the report.

5. That it be noted that the level of external funding supporting the total programme of £156.9m for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19 (and later years) is £57.8m.

6. That it be noted that a final exercise is being undertaken on the 2014/15 projected outturn and that the results will be included in the report to Cabinet on 12th February 2015."

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2015 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
597 Draft Fees & Charges 2015/16
Business for item 597
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the proposed fees and charges for each Department as set out in the submitted report and appendices, be endorsed."

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2015 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
598 Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2015/16
Business for item 598
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

"1. That the 2015/16 draft revenue budget and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the draft budget has been prepared on the basis of a Council Tax increase of 1.95% and the consequent rejection of the Government's Council Tax freeze grant offer for 2015/16.

3. That it be noted that the 2015/16 draft revenue budget has been prepared using the provisional local government finance settlement and that the outcome from the final settlement will need to be factored into the final budget proposals for the Cabinet and Council.

4. That it be noted that the 2015/16 draft revenue budget has been prepared on the basis of using £1.888m from earmarked reserves to allow for a smoothing of the budget gap across the next three financial years with a consequent replenishment of those reserves in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

5. That the 2015/16 draft revenue budget, as approved, be referred to the Scrutiny Committees to inform Cabinet, which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Council.

6. That the Schools budget position and recommendations from the Schools Forum on 14th January 2015, as set out in Appendices 14 and 14(i) to the submitted report, be noted and referred to People Scrutiny Committee before going to Cabinet and Council.

7. That the direction of travel for 2016/17 and beyond, as set out in section 15 of the submitted report, be endorsed.."

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on the 12th February 2015 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
599 Monthly Performance Report - October 2014
Business for item 599
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
600 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 6th January, 2015.
 
Annual Report on Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults
Scrutiny Comment for item 600
Business for item 600
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the report be noted and that the actions detailed in paragraph 3.8 of the submitted report, be approved."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones and D Norman MBE
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet scrutiny on 2nd December 2014.
601 Annual Public Health Report
Business for item 601
Resolved:-

That the contents and recommendations of the 2014 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health be endorsed for submission to Cabinet at its meeting on 17th March 2015, with the inclusion of the following:

• mental health promotion - include information / bench marking.
• section 7.1 - Carers - the local picture (page 82 - figure 5) - try to include some statistics locally to give contextual picture.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Gilbert
602 Scrutiny Committee - Updates
Business for item 602
Resolved:-

1. That the report and actions taken be noted.
2. That Councillors Crystall, Salter and Davies be appointed to sit on the Joint Committee with Essex and Thurrock looking at specialised urological cancer surgery.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.
603 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 item of business set out below, on the grounds that it would 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)
604 Schools Progress Report
  • (Attachment: 43)Report of Corporate Director for People
Business for item 604
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- A P Jones
18.30 / 22.00

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Moyies (Chairman)
Councillors Davies (Vice-Chairman), Ayling, Borton, Butler, Byford, Chalk, Courtenay, Crystall, Folkard, J Garston*, McMahon, Phillips, Salter, Ware-Lane and Wexham*
F Neil, A Clarke and A Semmence (co-opted members)
(*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
Councillors Woodley, A P Jones, D Norman MBE, Gilbert, Longley and Terry (Executive Councillors)
Councillor Habermel
R Tinlin, D Simon, F Abbott, S Leftley, Dr Atherton, J Theadom, M Wintle, J O'Loughlin, J Williams, I Ambrose, A Ward, L Park and C Cheswright

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
600 Called in by Councillors A Holland and J Lamb.
Final call on 15/01/2015 at 15:35

Business

ItemBusiness
594The Committee considered Minute 563 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with a report by Corporate Director for People. This detailed the outcome of the review of the decision to close Priory House and re-develop Delaware House, along with proposals for the future direction of both care homes and delivery of adult social care services.
595The Committee considered Minute 564 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with a report by Corporate Director for People. This updated Members on the preferred option for the future new build and location for Viking Day Opportunities.

The Corporate Director for People said that the wording of Cabinet Resolution 2 should be amended to reflect that necessary consultation will be undertaken.

In response to questions, the Executive Councillor confirmed that he would take into account the view that it is desirable to have a swimming pool / hydro therapy pool and gave an undertaking that he would ‘sense check' the Viking decision as part of the Priory and Delaware site and will consult the relevant ward councillors at the appropriate time.
596The Committee considered Minute 567 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team setting out a draft programme of capital projects for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Cabinet would consider any views of the Scrutiny Committee, but that any proposals for formal amendments to the draft Capital programme should be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.1(e).
597The Committee considered Minute 568 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015,, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team detailing fees and charges for services included in the budget proposals for 2015/16.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Cabinet would consider any views of the Scrutiny Committee, but that any proposals for formal amendments to fees and charges should be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.1(e).
598The Committee considered Minute 569 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team presenting the draft revenue budget for 2015/16.

The description of the proposed budget saving PE34 (SEN Reform Grant - £20,000) set out in Appendix 12 to the submitted report should read as follows: "This saving will be achieved through the off-setting of a proportion of management costs within the SEN Service against the SEN Reform Grant. This grant is potentially time limited and therefore carries a potential risk which is mitigated by the size of the off-set which is small in proportion to the total salary budget for the team".

During the debate there were comments on some of the proposed savings detailed - Connexions service (PE6), mental health efficiencies (PE9), the Better Care Fund (PE10) and Children's Centres management (PE19).

In response to questions regarding PE 25, carers grant budget, the Corporate Director for People said that he would report back on the statement and also confirmed that no carers currently receiving a service would be affected.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Cabinet would consider any views of the Scrutiny Committee, but that any proposals for formal amendments to the draft budget should be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.1(e).
599The Committee considered Minute 521 of Cabinet held on 6th January 2015, together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end November 2014, which had been circulated recently. The Committee additionally had before it an Exceptions Report which had been circulated on 23rd January 2015.

In response to a question, the Corporate Director for People said that he would review how CP 4.2 (number of Looked After Children) is expressed in the reports.
600The Committee considered Minute 525 of Cabinet held on 6th January, 2015, which had been called in to scrutiny (Cabinet item 8 refers), together with a report of the Corporate Director for People. This concerned the annual assurance assessment in respect of the Council's responsibilities for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in Southend.
601(This is a pre-Cabinet Scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report by the Director of Public Health by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny. This concerned the 2014 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health.

The Committee discussed the report in detail, made a number of comments on the report, outlining where some further work was required and there was consensus and support for the recommendations of the report.
602The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which updated Members on some scrutiny matters, as follows:

(a) special dental service - information set out in section 3.1 and at Appendix 1 of the report - noted;
(b) minor oral surgery procedures - position set out in section 3.2 of the report - noted;
(c) tier 3 weight management - noted that this update will now not be taken at this meeting;
(d) potential change to specialised urological cancer surgery - information set out in section 3.4 of the report - noted;
(e) A&E Performance data - updated performance data from the Hospital Trust, set out at section 3.5 and at Appendix 4 of the report - noted;
(f) Update on the in depth scrutiny project - ' How the Council assists and excites individuals and community groups to achieve healthier lifestyles' - set out at section 4 and at Appendix 5 of the report - noted.
604The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for People. This advised Members on measures taken to support, challenge and intervene in schools identified as causing concern and also advised Members of the impact of those measures.

The Committee asked that their congratulations be forwarded to the staff, governors and children at Friars primary school for the progress and achieving the good judgement in the recent Ofsted inspection.

The Corporate Director for People said that officers would review how information is presented to Members in the future.

 

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