Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2NKDhFz

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2018 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There were no urgent items for consideration.

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

All members of the Cabinet who were also members of a District Council declared a personal interest in the report on the Strategic Growth Plan (item 4 on the agenda).

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive seeking approval of the Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan, a long-term strategy for the future development of the area.  A copy of the report, marked ‘4’, is filed with these minutes.

Referring to comments from the Scrutiny Commission, the Chief Executive suggested that, with partners’ agreement, arrangements for the future review of the SGP should be considered by the Members Advisory Group rather than incorporated in the document so as not to delay its publication. 

Mr. Rushton thanked all partners for their good work on the SGP.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the Strategic Growth Plan (SGP) “Leicester and Leicestershire 2050: Our Vision for Growth” be approved;

(b)      That the Chief Executive (or equivalent) of each SGP partner authority, following consultation with the Leader of that authority and the Joint Strategic Planning Manager, be authorised to agree, prior to publication, any final minor amendments to the SGP which do not significantly change the overall content or purpose of the document;

(c)      That the Members’ Advisory Group be thanked for its work on the preparation of a long-term strategy for the future development and prosperity of Leicester and Leicestershire.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Approval of the SGP will put in place a key long-term strategy for the future development and prosperity of Leicester and Leicestershire.

The revised SGP is being submitted to each participating authority for approval during the autumn/early winter and it is likely that, during this process, the need for some minor changes will be identified.  Enabling the Chief Executive (or equivalent) to make such amendments following consultation with the Leader and Joint Strategic Planning Manager (JSPM) will avoid unnecessary delay (the JSPM reports to all partner organisations and acts on behalf of the Members’ Advisory Group (MAG)).

The MAG, comprising representatives from each of the District Councils, the County Council and Leicester City Council (with the LLEP as an observer), has overseen the preparation of the SGP over the past three years.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive regarding the Annual Delivery Report and Performance Compendium for 2018 which set out the Council’s performance over the past year, including detail on comparative funding, savings plans and transformation requirements, service pressures and risks.  A copy of the report, marked ‘5’, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. Rhodes said that the Council had transformed its ways of working in recent years with great success and its performance was impressive: were it to receive fair funding from the Government it would be even better.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the overall progress during 2017/18 in delivering on the Council’s Strategic Priorities, securing transformation, and mitigating the impact of national funding reductions, as set out in the draft Annual Delivery Report, be noted;

(b)      That the current comparative funding and performance position, service pressures and areas for continued focus set out in the Performance Compendium be noted;

(c)      That it be noted that the national funding system is:-

(i)       causing serious financial challenges for the Council, with major implications for the provision of services to the people of Leicestershire;

(ii)      placing increasing pressure on delivery with risks to the quality of services which require enhanced performance monitoring, contract and risk management;

          and that the Council continues to press its case for a fairer funding settlement and to pursue other major savings initiatives;

(d)      That the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, be authorised to make any amendments to the draft Annual Delivery Report and Performance Compendium prior to its submission to the County Council on 5 December 2018 for approval.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

It is best practice in performance management, implicit in the LGA Sector-Led approach to local authority performance and part of the Council’s Internal Governance Framework, to undertake a review of overall progress at the end of the year and to benchmark performance against comparable authorities. It is also good practice to produce an annual performance report and ensure that it is scrutinised, transparent, and made publicly available.

The Council is poorly funded in comparison with other local authorities and this will affect future delivery and performance levels.

The draft Report and Compendium may be modified to reflect comments made by the Cabinet as well as to include any final national comparative data which becomes available prior to its consideration by full Council.

The Cabinet considered the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report for 2018 which concerned the issues of multi-morbidity, where an individual had two or more chronic medical conditions, and frailty, which was often (though not always) associated with old age.  A copy of the report, marked ‘6’, is filed with these minutes.

Mrs Posnett spoke of the importance of encouraging a healthy lifestyle, particularly for older people, and addressing issues such as loneliness and social isolation.  She thanked the Director for an excellent report.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the recommendations contained with the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2018 be supported;

(b)      That it be noted that the Annual Report will be submitted to the County Council on 5 December 2018.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To note the Annual Report, which was considered by the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 November and will be submitted to the County Council meeting on 5 December 2018.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health seeking approval to consult on a new model for the Homelessness and Housing Support Service in Leicestershire.   A copy of the report, marked ‘7’, is filed with these minutes.

Mrs Posnett said that the proposals planned to build on the Council’s Local Area Coordination work, making the service community-based and more effective in preventing homelessness.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the draft model for homelessness and housing support be agreed for consultation;

(b)      That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet in Spring 2019 regarding the outcome of the consultation and presenting the final service model for approval.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The County Council has a statutory duty to take appropriate steps to improve the health of people living in Leicestershire, including the provision of health improvement information and advice and support services aimed at preventing illness. Consultation with stakeholders will help inform the revised model. Being homeless has significant negative impacts on both physical and mental health and so the health of the homeless people is a priority area for public health.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy includes a savings target of £3.1m by 2020/21across a number of contracts as part of the Early Help and Prevention Review (EHAP).  Expenditure on homelessness support has been included in the Review and any savings realised from the current offer will contribute to the EHAP savings target.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources regarding proposals for a new bridge and cycleway across the River Soar to improve connections within Watermead Country Parks.  A copy of the report, marked ‘8’, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. Rushton said that the new bridge and improved access would enable more people to enjoy the area and bring the two park areas together.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That £750,000 be allocated for the construction of the footbridge and associated footpaths and cycleway at Watermead Parks identified on the plan appended to the report subject to the City Council agreeing to contribute the equivalent amount;

(b)      That the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to take all necessary steps to progress the project including leading on the procurement for the scheme and establishing joint programme arrangements with Leicester City Council;

(c)      That the continued partnership working between both Councils be welcomed and supported.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To improve connectivity within Watermead Country Parks and to promote, maintain and enhance the Parks as a visitor attraction.

There were no items referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The public are likely to be excluded during the following item of business in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972:-

Adult Social Care Target Operating Model.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs 3 and 10 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act specified below and that, in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:-  Adult Social Care Target Operating Model.

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 10 of Schedule 12A)

The Cabinet considered an exempt report of the Director of Adults and Communities regarding the proposed development of a new target operating model for the adult social care services in Leicestershire including the expenditure required for this.  The report was not for publication by virtue of paragraphs 3 and 10 of Schedule 12(A) of the Local Government Act 1972.  A copy of the report, marked ‘12’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the development of a new target operating model for adult social care services as outlined in the report be approved;

(b)      That funding be allocated as identified in paragraph 17 of the report to support the development and implementation of the target operating model, from a combination of 2018/19 in-year underspends, the future developments fund, and savings arising from the operation of the new model;

(c)      That the Director of Adults and Communities and the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised, following consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Adults and Communities and Resources, to appoint a suitably qualified strategic partner and to enter into such contractual arrangements with third parties and deploy such internal resources as are necessary to deliver the revised target operating model.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The new target operating model will deliver enhanced outcomes for service users and improved ways of working, ensuring that the Department operates as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Identified opportunities will yield additional benefits beyond the Department’s existing transformation activities and will potentially realise service efficiencies and ongoing savings in the region of £10.45m.  This will help to safeguard the sustainability of services for the future at a time of changing need and increasing demand for adult social care.

External support is needed to provide the necessary expertise and capacity, to ensure that the maximum benefit is derived from the new model.