Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at: http://council.webcast.vualto.com/leicestershire-county-council/home?EventId=17139

Mr. Dave Houseman MBE CC, Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care (Minute 32 refer).

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2016 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

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

No such declarations were made.

There were no  declarations of the party whip.

A Call-in was received on Monday 17 October in relation to the Cabinet decision taken on 11 October on Community Life Choices Framework 2017-20 - Outcome of Consultation on Future Delivery, a copy of which is attached to this agenda.

The decision of the Cabinet on this matter, together with the report which was considered by the Cabinet on 11 October, the Consultation summary, the Equalities and Human Rights Impact Assessment and representations received and considered by the Cabinet is attached, as follows:

·         Call-in Notice (Page 15)

·         Cabinet Decision (Page 17)

·         Cabinet report on Community Life Choices – 11 October (Pages 19 to 30)

·         Appendix A – Consultation Summary (Pages 31 to 37)

·         Appendix B – EHRIA (Pages 39 to 62)

·         Comments received by the Cabinet (Pages 63 to 76)

Members are asked to note that the proposals on Community Life Choices were the subject of extensive consultation and that consultation is now closed. A summary of the consultation responses is set out with this agenda pack and it is not intended to allow further representations as this would call into question the fairness of the completed consultation.

The Director of Adults and Communities will provide a supplementary report responding to the terms in the Call-in notice. A copy of that report will be circulated to members shortly.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive and Director of Adults and Communities which drew attention to the receipt of a call-in of the decision of the Cabinet in relation to the “Community Life Choices Framework 2017-20 – Outcome of Consultation on Future Delivery”. A copy of this report, the original report submitted to the Cabinet on 11 October 2016, together with the comments submitted to the Cabinet, marked ‘Agenda Item 4’ is filed with these minutes.

In her opening remarks, the Chairman stated that the purpose of the meeting was to consider whether the reasons set out in the call-in were sufficient to ask the Cabinet to reconsider the decision and not to consider representations afresh or allow further representations as this would call into question the fairness of the completed consultation process.

The Chairman asked Mr. M. H. Charlesworth CC and Mr. J. Miah CC to explain their reasons for calling-in the matter.  Accordingly, they made the following points:-

(i)    The report to the Committee on 6 September 2016 entitled “Community Life Choices Framework 2017-20 – Outcome of Consultation on Future Delivery” presented the case for possible savings to be made as a result of tackling duplication in service provision. It was felt that the report lacked clarity on the full extent of the savings and their likely impact on service users and those affected;

(ii)  The fairness of the consultation process was called into question. Concern was expressed that the full impact on service provision resulting from the savings had not being adequately communicated to parents, carers and service users. It was suggested therefore that the Cabinet should agree to re-consult and make all those affected by the proposals aware of the consultation and the likely impact of the proposals.

In response to the points made, and by way of taking members through the supplementary report, the Director made the following points:-

(i)    The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) required £16 million of savings within Adult Social Care. The savings identified for CLC services would amount to £750,000. A significant portion of the £750,000 saving would be achieved through those in residential care no longer receiving Community Life Choices (CLC)  services;

(ii)  The report considered by the Cabinet on 11 October 2016 included the views of this Committee, the Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment and the summary of the outcome of the consultation which highlighted the negative feedback received to the two specific proposals subject to consultation, together with the Department’s response and the mitigating actions offered;

(iii) CLC services were provided to 132 people out of a total of 2,200 users in County Council-funded residential care. 114 of those in receipt of CLC had learning disabilities. A recent review of CLC services highlighted that the current practice for individuals in residential care to access CLC did not represent a cost effective or equitable approach to commissioning individual support as it was not applied consistently to all service user groups;

(iv) The providers of care homes were contracted to provide 24/7 services, including recreational and social activities;

(v)  The reduction in the number of weeks during which the services were delivered meant that the providers could have a reasonable closure period for annual leave and training purposes. Exceptions would be considered for those who required alternative care during any CLC holiday closure periods;

(vi) The Director highlighted the responses to the alternative proposals put forward by Mr. Hadfield (Agenda Supplement paragraph 27 (a) to (g)) and advised that these would not achieve the required savings or address the issues of fairness raised within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place on 8 November at 2.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on 8 November 2016 at 2.00pm.