Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Langhorn who was substituted by Councillor Day and Mr Kingsford and Mr Sangster (both Co-Optees.)

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Members are requested to declare any interests orally at the start of the meeting and again immediately before consideration of the matter.  Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and whether the interest is of a personal or prejudicial nature.

Elected members are also reminded of the requirements of Section 106 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 that they should declare and not vote on specified matters if they are two months or more in arrears with their Council Tax payments.

Councillor Bouchier declared a personal interest with regard to Item 7 – Review of the Supporting People Programme. The nature of the interest being that she was an existing member of the Board of Spear and a former member of Age Concern UK.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th June 2011.

A factual amendment to the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2011 was approved by the Committee. The revised minute should read,

‘… tobacco killed 209 people in Richmond per year.’

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2011 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the agreed amendment.

To receive a verbal update from the Director of Adult and Community Services and the Director of Public Health on the latest changes to local health services.

The Committee considered a number of updates with regard to changes in local health services.

Dominic Wright, Managing Director, NHS Richmond provided a brief verbal update regarding the re-designation of the GP Led Health Centre at Teddington Memorial Hospital. He highlighted that both Kingston and West Middlesex Hospitals would be established as urgent care centres and work was being undertaken to ensure residents used local medical and community facilities effectively to reduce the financial cost of unnecessary visits to Accident and Emergency Units. With regard to South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, it was recommended that liaison take place with the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames to discuss potential areas of joint working.

Dagmar Zeuner, Joint Director of Public Health, NHS Richmond and London Borough of Richmond provided an update on the progress of the ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People White paper’ which included the transition of public health functions into Local Authorities and establishment of Public Health England. The statutory responsibility would officially transfer in April 2013 and information was awaited regarding the financial position and practical considerations regarding the workforce and areas of joint interest and responsibility. In response to questioning she confirmed that the financial allocation for Clinical Commissioning Groups was anticipated in December 2011.

Cathy Kerr, Director Adult and Community Services, reported on the progress in establishing the shadow Health and Well-being Board and the statutory responsibilities attributed to the body. She explained that the second meeting had recently taken place and a decision had been taken to keep with the core membership in the developmental stages. Discussions had been positive and key messages would be communicated from the Board regarding its role. The Board had been awarded Pathfinder Status, as part of which additional development support would be made available.

The Committee agreed to note the updates.

To receive a report of NHS South West London Richmond Borough Team Kingston and Richmond Stop Smoking Service (K&RSSS) presenting the Tobacco Control Action plan for the year and providing an update on all the relevant aspects of smoking and tobacco control in Richmond upon Thames. The report aims to provide the necessary information to help the Committee determine whether it is necessary for a Health, Housing and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee task force group to be set up.

The Committee considered an update in respect of tobacco control and the necessity to establish a Task Group with regard to this matter.

Councillor Williams addressed the Committee. He highlighted concern that despite a number of national and local initiatives to tackle tobacco control and smoking cessation, some elements had not been addressed fully by existing activity. Establishing a Task Group would enable Elected Members to investigate and make recommendations on tobacco control and licensing issues (including illegal sales) and deterrents for young people. He explained that the Tobacco Control Plan for England cited Local Authorities as being central to this work. He responded to questions from the Committee regarding the ‘invest to save’ nature of work around tobacco control and potential improvements to the physical environment.

Dagmar Zeuner, Director of Public Health, NHS Richmond and London Borough of Richmond, provided some overview statistics regarding the prevalence of smoking within the Borough and noted that national and local initiatives had been successful in reducing the numbers of smokers most likely to quit. Those remaining were harder to reach.

A discussion took place regarding the establishment of a Task Group on Tobacco Control. It was acknowledged that the Task Group could act flexibly in undertaking its investigations. The issues highlighted within the potential scope were noted to be cross cutting across other Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee agreed:

1. To note the update report on Tobacco Control.
2. To establish a Task Group on Tobacco Control comprising of Councillors Jones, Butler, Coombs, Williams and Margaret Dangoor (co-optee.)
3. That the Education and Children’s Services and Environment, Sustainability and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committees be approached to nominate a representative from each Committee to join the Task Group.

To receive a verbal update from the Chairman of the Committee regarding the review of the provision of Mental Health Services in the Borough by South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust and to discuss the possibility of arranging a special meeting of the Committee to scrutinise this service provision more fully.

The Chairman circulated a letter to the Committee which had been received from South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust.

Members were advised that arrangements were being made for a special meeting of the Committee to take place in October 2011 to consider in-patient provision of mental health services. It was recommended that contact be made with the equivalent Committee at the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames to identify issues common to both Boroughs. Cathy Kerr, Director Adult and Community Services suggested that the format of the special meeting should include an introductory item regarding the context and strategies relating to mental health.

A meeting had been arranged between the Chairman of the Committee and the Chairman of the Trust for 13 October 2011.

The Committee was advised that Richmond LinK had been working jointly with neighbouring Link’s regarding this issue and would be issuing a joint report on the matter in October 2011.

The Committee agreed:

1. To note the contents of the letter from the South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust.
2. That a special meeting to discuss the in-patient provision of mental health services would take place in October 2011.

To receive a report of the Director of Adult and Community Services detailing the current contractual arrangements for service provision funded by the Supporting People Grant within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, outlining the financial and contractual reviews of services that have taken place in 2010/11 and including the commissioning and procurement strategy for 2012/13.

Cathy Kerr, Director of Adult and Committee Services addressed the Committee regarding the review of services in receipt of Supporting People grant and future commissioning intentions. She highlighted that monies were distributed for support and interventions across 13 existing client groups via a large number of contracted providers. Over the 2010-2011 period, commissioning arrangements had been reviewed to identify client groups in greatest need to ensure services were commissioned accordingly and monies used effectively.

A number of questions were raised regarding the use of benchmarking data to inform commissioning priorities and the focus on ensuring services were appropriately commissioned rather than making financial savings. It was acknowledged that quality of care and support remained the main priority in commissioning services and that financial efficiencies could be secured by commissioning efficiently and effectively.

It was clarified that the Supporting People budget was the subject of an ongoing efficiencies programme which did result in reductions in the overall budget year on year. In response to questioning, Cathy Kerr confirmed that capacity existed to manage the commissioning process with regard to Supporting People monies and react to the changing demands of the client groups.

The Committee agreed:

1. To note the report.
2. That information regarding commissioned services for the single homeless with support needs client group be provided to the Housing Task Group to assist with their investigations.
3. That opportunities for the Committee to assist with priority setting for future commissioning be clarified.

To receive the annual report of the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board which provides a summary of work undertaken over the past year and details improved performance, the start of Richmond’s safeguarding team and improved partnership working across the borough.

The Committee received a presentation from Derek Oliver, Assistant Director Commissioning Care Services regarding the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board Annual Report.

Members of the Committee highlighted the importance of the work undertaken by the Board in ensuring the safety of some of the Borough’s most vulnerable residents and noted in particular the comment from the external auditor regarding the excellent examples of casework from the Safeguarding and Community Teams.

In response to a question, it was clarified that Elected Members did not have an automatic right to visit residential and care homes within their wards but could continue to work with the Quality Assurance Team to develop closer links between the Council and such organisations. Link were noted to have statutory rights to undertake quality monitoring visits of residential and care homes.

Derek Oliver clarified that a range of daytime and out of hours services were available for individuals and their carers / families to report issues of safeguarding concern. A pan-London campaign, supported by a new public awareness campaign was due to be launched and included quality standards for adult care and safeguarding.

The Committee agreed to note the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board Annual Report.

To receive a report of the Director of Adult and Community Services which provides necessary financial information to enable scrutiny of the Council’s revenue and capital budget management.

Sinead Borland, Deputy Head of Finance, Adult and Community Services presented the quarter one financial monitoring report in respect of the Adult and Community Services Directorate budget.

The directorate was noted to be projecting an overall underspend of £0.838 million on the revenue budget of £62.842 million for the 2011/12 financial year. She highlighted the key risks facing the directorate and actions being taken to address overspends in care services for people with mental health needs and temporary accommodation services.

A question was raised regarding the 2009/10 outturn position in relation to overspends within the Directorate.

Cathy Kerr, Director Adult and Community Services reported that the key risks facing the directorate had been included in the Medium Term Financial Strategy to inform the budget setting process in future years.

The Committee agreed:

1. To note the quarter one financial monitoring report
2. That details of the 2009/10 outturn position in relation to overspends within the Directorate be circulated to Members.
3. To receive a budget review report at the next meeting of the Committee on 22 November 2011.

To receive a report from the Director of Adult and Community Services providing details of the performance of the Adult and Community Services Directorate in relation to projects and indicators that monitor the council priorities for Adult Social Care and Housing for the period April to June 2011.

The Committee considered and noted the quarter one performance report 2011/12.

To receive a report of the Head of Democratic Services providing details of the review of health services in South West London, ‘Better Services Better Value’ currently taking place and to provide an opportunity for the Committee to consider how it may wish to respond to the potential consultation on proposals for changes to health care provision in South West London as any proposed consultation may require a Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be established by the six boroughs in South West London.

Laura Latham, Assistant Head of Democratic Services provided a brief update on progress to date preparing for full scrutiny of the proposals of the Better Services, Better Value Review of Health Services in South West London.

Timescales regarding the review were highlighted to the group, with an approximate commencement date of February – April 2012 for a proposed Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee was requested to nominate two members to sit on the proposed Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on behalf of the Borough.

The Committee agreed:

1. To note the update report on the Better Services, Better Value Review of Health Services in South West London.
2. That Councillors Jones and Bouchier be nominated by the Borough to sit on the proposed Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To receive a verbal update from the Chairman of the Housing Task Group, Councillor Blakemore, on the work of the group to date.

Councillor Blakemore provided an update on the progress of the Housing Task Group. She noted that the review had been developing as the investigations progressed and that a very informative meeting had recently taken place with a representative from the Department for Work and Pensions. The Group was due to meet with Registered Social Landlords in the coming weeks.

The Committee agreed to note the update report.

To receive a report of the Head of Democratic Services to consider, agree and amend as required, the work programme of the committee for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Committee noted the current Work Programme 2011/12.

To receive feedback from Members of the Committee who have attended training or meetings of stakeholders.

There was no feedback provided on this occasion.

To receive information on current relevant consultations. 

There are currently no relevant consultations to report that are not discussed elsewhere in the agenda.

There was no feedback provided on this occasion.