Agenda item

A copy of the report to be submitted to the Cabinet at its meeting on 19 September 2014 will be available and circulated to members of this Committee on 10 September 2014. The Committee will be invited to comment on the outcome of the consultation and the proposals. The views of the Committee will be reported to the Cabinet.

 

The report and associated appendices can be viewed through the following link, Agenda Item 6 refers: http://politics.leics.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=4190&Ver=4

 

The Committee considered a joint report of the Directors of Adults and Communities, Children and Family Services and Public Health to be considered by the Cabinet on 19 September which outlined the responses to the consultation on the proposed Adults and Communities secondary prevention offer for Leicestershire. The report also sought approval from the Cabinet for the revised offer and co-development of service specifications for the new services. A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 12’ is filed with these minutes.

                               

The Chairman noted that the Committee had received written representations from a number of stakeholders regarding the consultation. Copies of these representations received from the following were circulated to members of the Committee and are appended to these minutes:-

 

·         The Leicestershire County Council Labour Group;

·         Mr L Yates CC;

·         Shaw Healthcare;

·         Residents at Beresford Court.

 

The Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care, Mr D W Houseman MBE CC, advised the Committee that Preventative Services remained a priority for the County Council and it was seeking to deliver a more focused offer at a reduced cost by providing more unified services and having better integration locally with NHS partners through the Better Care Fund (BCF). He also drew attention to the revised investment for visual impairment which would include the Statutory Sight Register and Specialist Rehabilitation provision that would target those at most risk. Further consideration was also being undertaken with the current provider to ensure the continuation of the Talking Newspaper service beyond its current contract end date of September 2015.  

 

Arising from discussion the following points were raised:-

 

(i)     There was some concern expressed that the level of funding associated with the proposed new model for Preventatives Services would not be sufficient to meet the needs of the community and that the amount of savings outlined could restrict service providers in the level of services that they could deliver and put increased pressure on other organisations such as the NHS. It was explained that the level of funding provided to the County Council was being reduced and, as such, savings had to be identified;

 

(ii)    Through the consultation and other engagement exercises the County Council was working with key providers to ensure that the new offer for Preventative Services would be deliverable and any associated risks would be minimised. Where the Council did not directly deliver a service it was reliant on providers to provide information to service users and encourage participation in the consultation. The County Council would undertake to monitor and analyse new service arrangements once in place to ensure effectiveness of new arrangements;

 

(iii)   The County Council was keen to ensure that providers remained able to deliver services. However, it was recognised that organisations would need to identify alternative funding streams and become more entrepreneurial and self-sustainable in their approach to funding. The Adults and Communities Department was also seeking to identify opportunities to jointly commission services with other departments within the County Council to make better use of resources and ensure a more joined up approach to service provision;

 

(iv)   It was explained that regulations in relation to the commissioning of smaller projects had changed and there was a need for the County Council to get the right balance between commissioning different sized providers whilst still maintaining best value for money for the Council. The County Council had a large number of contracts with external providers which would need to be managed efficiently to reduce costs;

 

(v)    Members expressed concern at the length of time that some homeless people remained living at hostels and the future level of funding for homelessness support. It was explained that this issue was proposed to be addressed through implementation of a new model for homelessness support. The District Councils were key partners in working with the County Council to tackle homelessness and would be involved in the shaping of services moving forward; 

 

(vi)   The Committee was advised that identifying the current level of funding for lunch clubs was difficult due to costs being based on the number of people who attended individual sessions in some cases. All current contracts for lunch clubs would cease in 2015 and providers would have to apply for a further two years of funding from a reduced pool available. Engagement had been undertaken with social groups that provided lunch clubs in the form of emails and letters, in addition to a number of lunch clubs being visited by representatives of the Department. Mr Charlesworth CC advised that Age Concern Oadby and Wigston had not received any notification of proposed changes from the County Council. The Director reported that all key contacts should have received communications and undertook to look in to this issue outside of the meeting;

 

(vii) It was noted that a number of members had received representations from Vista in relation to the future commissioning of visual impairment services. In light of the issues raised, proposals had been revised and £160,000 would now be allocated to fund specialist visual impairment and dual sensory impairment provision. Specialist equipment services previously provided by Vista would now be delivered in house by the County Council.

 

It was moved by the Chairman and seconded by Mr Jennings:

 

a)       That the outcome of the strategic review of the Adults and Communities Department’s secondary prevention services, including results of formal public consultation and the risks highlighted, be noted;

 

b)       That the recommendations to the Cabinet be supported in authorising the Director of Adults and Communities to implement the proposed prevention offer as set out in the report;

 

c)       Subject to b) above, that this Committee supports the further Cabinet recommendations for the procurement process for the proposed secondary prevention offer to commence as soon as practicable with a view to new service delivery starting no later than 1 October 2015.

 

The motion was put, four members voting for the motion and four against. The Chairman exercised her second and casting vote in favour of the motion. The motion was carried

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

a)       That the outcome of the strategic review of the Adults and Communities Department’s secondary prevention services, including results of formal public consultation and the risks highlighted, be noted;

 

b)       That the recommendations to the Cabinet be supported in authorising the Director of Adults and Communities to implement the proposed prevention offer as set out in the report;

 

c)       Subject to b) above, that this Committee supports the further Cabinet recommendations for the procurement process for the proposed secondary prevention offer to commence as soon as practicable with a view to new service delivery starting no later than 1 October 2015.