Agenda and minutes

Mr R Blunt CC, Cabinet Lead Member for Heritage, Leisure and Arts (minute 37 refers)

Mr D W Houseman MBE CC, Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care (minute 37 refers)

Ms Fiona Barber, Healthwatch Leicestershire (minute 37 refers)

Mr Brian Voller, Lead Petitioner and Chair of Friends of Snibston (minutes 36 and 37 refer)

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The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2013 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

Ms Betty Newton CC declared a personal interest in the item entitled ‘Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014/15 – 2017/18’, with specific reference to the Better Care Together Fund, as she had two family members who worked for the NHS.

There were no declarations of the party whip.

A petition signed by 8047 residents is to be presented by Mr Brian Voller, as Lead Petitioner, in the following terms:-

“In the light of overwhelming public support for Snibston Discovery Park, we the undersigned and the Friends of Snibston call upon Leicestershire County Council to honour its civic duty and continue to manage and fund this important local heritage site and resource for learning.”

A petition signed by 8047 residents was presented by Mr Brian Voller, as Lead Petitioner and Chair of Friends of Snibston, in the following terms:-

“In the light of overwhelming public support for Snibston Discovery Park, we the undersigned and the Friends of Snibston call upon Leicestershire County Council to honour its civic duty and continue to manage and fund this important local heritage site and resource for learning.”

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the petition be noted and taken into consideration when the savings proposals in respect of Snibston are discussed later in the meeting (minute 37 refers).

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Adults and Communities and Director of Corporate Resources which provided information on the proposed 2014/15 to 2017/18 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as it related to the Adults and Communities Department. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 8’ is filed with these minutes. 

The Chairman welcomed Mr D W Houseman MBE CC, Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Mr R Blunt CC, Cabinet Lead Member for Heritage, Leisure and Arts to the meeting for this item.

Arising from discussion the following points were raised:-

General

(i)            The Department was facing unprecedented budget restrictions and demand pressures arising from an increasing elderly population and more complex and high cost packages for people with learning disabilities. In response to this challenge the Department had focussed on:-

·         Reducing demand by investing in early intervention and prevention;

·         Ensuring care is provided in the most cost effective way which would mean some restriction on choice;

·         Closer working and commissioning of services with partners, particularly the NHS.

Growth

(ii)          The Committee was advised that the Department had a good track record of forecasting demand pressures, using data from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, demographic data and service provision trends;

(iii)         Item G12 – Emergency Duty Team – This growth would enable the service to focus solely on adults;

(iv)         Item G13 - Effective Support efficiency savings – The growth of £2.5million was to meet the shortfall in the programme;

Adult Social Care - Service Reductions

(v)          Item S32 – Community and Day Centre Meals – Whilst noting the need to reduce the subsidy, members sought and obtained an assurance that individual service users would be assessed and those who required it would be provided with support in other ways;

(vi)         Item S33– Limiting service user choice - This would apply to both new and existing users. In respect of existing users, this would be done following the annual review of assessed need;

(vii)        Item S34 – New Models of Early Intervention and Prevention Support – The process would entail a review of existing provision to ensure it was delivering the priorities of the Department at a lower cost. This would mean some services currently provided would cease. The Director undertook to provide a list of providers that were likely to be affected by this proposal (copy attached);

Communities and Wellbeing – Service Reductions

(viii)      Item S35 – Redevelopment of Snibston - At the request of the Chairman, Mr Voller, Lead Petitioner, addressed the Committee. He requested the Council to reconsider the current proposal which would see a refocusing of the Snibston offer on mining and the scheduled ancient monument. He drew attention to the fact that approximately 48% of the 8047 signatories to the petition resided in the Coalville area and that Snibston was an important local facility. He urged the Council to consider alternatives including partnership options, which would see the retention of Snibston on the current basis.

The Committee also noted a written submission made by the local member, Dr T Eynon CC, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.

In reply to questions and comments the Committee was advised as follows:-

·         The significant financial pressures facing the County Council had meant that all services of the Council needed to look critically at how they operated and make a contribution to savings requirements;

·         The proposals to refocus on mining and the scheduled ancient monument and to reduce the current level of subsidy provided to Snibston Museum would be worked up in greater detail over the coming weeks  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The next meeting will be held on 25 March 2014 at 2pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on 25 March 2014 at 2.00pm.