To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Langhorne and Palmer. 

Councillor Day attended as substitute for Councillor Langhorne

To receive any declarations of interest from members of the committee pertaining to items on the agenda.

Councillor Frances Bouchier declared a personal interest by virtue of her membership of the board of Spear.

To receive the minutes of the last meeting held on 17^th October 2011 and approve for singing by the Chairman.

The minutes of the precious meeting held on 17^th October 2011 were agreed as a correct record of events and the Chairman authorised to sign them.

Any member of the public registered to speak will be asked to make their representation at the beginning of the relevant agenda item.

One member of the public, Theresa Rowe had registered to speak and one member of the public had submitted a written representation.  Both the speaker and the written representation would be heard at the relevant agenda item.

To receive reports relating to Cabinet decisions called in by the Committee. 

[There are no call in reports to receive at this meeting].

There were no executive decisions called in.

To receive a verbal update from the Director of Adult and Community Services and the Managing Director of NHS South West London Richmond Branch on the latest changes to local health services.

Dominic Wright NHS South West London, NHS Richmond Borough Team, Cathy Kerr, Director of Adult and Community Services and Dr Marilyn Plant attended the meeting to update the Committee on changes to local health services since the last meeting.

The Committee heard a written representation from a member of the public, Frances King, attached at Appendix 1 to these minutes.

In response to the written representation Dominic Wright confirmed that £1.4m would be given to Croydon PCT on the basis that it would be repaid next year and hence no monies would be lost to NHS Richmond in the longer term.  He also reported that an investigation was ongoing by Ernst and Young on the auditing position of Croydon PCT and that he could not comment further until this was finalised.

The officers present updated the committee and made the following salient points:

·         Dr Marilyn Plant reported that the mental health work discussed at previous meetings continued to progress well with an expectation that the Adult and Older Adults mental Health Strategies would go to consultation at the ned of February/beginning of March 2012 but this might depend on the purdah period that might need to be observed because of the Mayoral elections.

·         The Clinical Commissioning Group pathfinder work continued to progress towards the authorisation stage.  It would require engagement with patients and carers and bespoke workshops were being established to facilitate this.

·         Cathy Kerr reported that commissioning support work continued for the local authority in conjunction with the partners present and discussions were in progress as to how this will move forward locally.

It was RESOLVED:

That the information received be noted.

To receive a report of the Director of Public Health providing an update of the local process and content of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, produced in partnership between LBRuT and NHS SWL Richmond Borough Team (formerly Richmond PCT).

The Committee received a report of the Director of Public Health on behalf of NHS South West London Richmond Borough Team and London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 

The Director of Public Health was in attendance to talk to the report.  She briefly explained the purpose of the report and in particular referred to the following elements within it:

• That it was acknowledged that Richmond was an affluent Borough but that there were issues to be uncovered and addressed. 
• It was important that through partnership working the data collected by various bodies about the Borough’s population was used to uncover areas where multiple need could be identified, for example Health and Housing need.

In response to comments made and questions raised by the Committee the Director offered the following additional information:

(i)      That a briefing would be produced for members regarding MMR vaccinations in the Borough detailing targets, coverage and work with pre-schools and schools to encourage take up.

(ii)    That all vaccines were monitored using the ‘yellow card’ system and information on this would be sent out to members.

(iii)   That information would be provided for members regarding HIV diagnosis within the Borough.

(iv)  That absolute poverty was identified as being more detrimental to health and well being than relative poverty but that inequality could also be damaging.  This was in issue that was prevalent in Richmond Borough and was a focus of work at hand.  

(v)    Some Richmond GP’s have patients registered from other Boroughs, i.e. from Hounslow, where deprivation is greater than in Richmond.  Consequently, the population registered with a Richmond GP is overall more deprived than the Richmond resident population.

(vi)  That there was no short term solution to the problems that existed in the Borough and nationally but that investments made to preventative services in the areas of smoking, cardiovascular health, alcohol and children’s health would make long term differences.

(vii)Richmond Borough vital statistics data (such as deaths and births) includes all residents regardless of whether they have private health insurance or use the NHS.  Health Service activity data is limited to the NHS and is not routinely available from the private sector.

It was RESOLVED:

That the information in the report be noted

That the information requested and noted in points (i) (ii) and (iii) be provided

To receive three reports, detailed below, on aspects of Homelessness and Housing in London Borough Richmond upon Thames.

The Committee heard a representation from one member of the public, Theresa Rowe which was a comment on items 8a,b and c.  In particular she made the following points:

(i)      That she worked for Richmond Aid and was particularly concerned about the impact of the Housing changes on those with disabilities. 

(ii)    That the allocations policy included one criteria of community involvement, which whilst welcome for the general population should not disadvantage those with disabilities who could not participate.

(iii)   That those people who report to the Council seeking housing and are unsuccessful should be recorded and their disability status should be part of those records. 

(iv)  That hostel accommodation for those with disabilities was not appropriate in the Borough and should be addressed.

To receive the final report (attached) and recommendations of the Housing Scrutiny Task Group, set up by the Health, Housing and Adult Services OSC on 11 November 2010.  The report seeks comments from the committee on any of the recommendations (set out on page 5 of the report).  In addition the report seeks to establish monitoring arrangements for those recommendations accepted by Cabinet.

The Committee received the final report of the Housing Scrutiny Task Group, presented by members of the Group, Councillors Blakemore, Coombes and Co-optee Martyn Kingsford.

Councillor Blakemore described the process by which the task group had worked and the remit it had in place.  She described the importance of the work at a time when finances at local level and changes to policy nationally were creating a need for reflection and change.  She thanked the members of the Task group and officers involved for the hard work that had gone in to the report and recommendations and sought the agreement of the committee to put those recommendations to Cabinet.

The Committee discussed the report and recommendations and the following issues were raised and comments made:

(i)      That potentially more people would be presenting as homeless in the future when changes to benefits were made and this was addressed in the report.

(ii)    That recommendations 6a – 6e were particularly welcome and young people must be protected as a group.

(iii)   That recommendation 15 was welcomed and a briefing be organised for committee members to hear about the supporting people programme.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That the final report of the Housing task group be noted
   
   
2. That the recommendations be agreed and put before cabinet.

To receive a joint report of the Assistant Director for Commissioning Corporate Strategy & Policy, and the Assistant Director of Community Operations which provides a summary of the findings of the Homelessness Review, initial thinking around potential policy options developing from the evidence base and the recommendations on these findings from the Housing Scrutiny Task Group.

It was agreed that items 8b and 8c be discussed as one item.

The Committee received, at Item 8b, a joint report of the Assistant Director Commissioning Corporate Strategy and Policy and the Assistant Director Community Operations the purpose of which was provide a summary of the findings of the Homelessness Review and forward suggestions for policy options based on those findings.  In addition the Committee also received, at item 8c, a report of the Assistant Director Community Operations containing information on suggested changes to the Housing Allocations policy.

The Assistant Director of Community Operations was in attendance to talk to the report and he briefly introduced it to the committee drawing attention to the central tenets within it. 

In response to comments made by the public speaker at the beginning of the item, he offered assurances that housing provided must be fit for purpose for those with disabilities.  Short term accommodation was a particular problem and where it could be avoided it was.  Where disabled people do become homeless, the council treats them as a priority.

In response to questions raised and comments made by members of the committee, the following additional points were made:

(i)      That should a person be evicted owing to their anti social behaviour and they have nothing that classes them as particularly vulnerable they would not be rehomed in the Borough as there would not be the capacity to do so.  In addition checks would always be carried out to assess whether the person presenting has made themselves intentionally homeless.

(ii)    That changes to rental caps and benefits would mean that cross borough movement of homeless people was to be expected in the future and a London protocol was in place to which Richmond had signed up, to ensure that contact with the authorities was maintained for vulnerable adults and children.

(iii)   Boroughs may have to work together to provide temporary housing in some boroughs and long term offers in others where housing was more available than others.

(iv)  That members would be provided with numbers for the percentages included in the report and in addition any trends identified would be reported.

(v)    That the Council had made offers on two sites in the Borough with the potential for development , in order to alleviate some of the housing shortage in the Borough

It was RESOLVED that:

1. The two reports be noted

2. That the information requested in (iv) above be provided for members.
   
   
3. That regular updates continue to be provided as work progresses.

To receive a report of the Assistant Director of Community Services providing an update on recent developments affecting the allocation of social housing in the London Borough of Richmond.

This item was discussed as part of agenda item 8b.

To receive a report of the Assistant Director Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy seeking consideration of the forward procurement plans and views on the mechanism for presenting the plans to Overview and Scrutiny Committees, subject to these considerations, the report requests the identification of any specific procurement the Committee would wish to scrutinise.

The Committee received a report of the Assistant Director Commissioning Corporate policy & Strategy addressing the new approach to procurement planning and scrutiny and seeking agreement to continue with the mechanisms in place and of the particular items that the committee would like to scrutinise in depth.

The Assistant Director presented the report to the Committee and briefly described the goals behind the decision to produce this plan. 

In response to questions and comments from the committee the Assistant director made the following further comments:

(i)      That the LSP was considering ways in which small and medium size enterprises in the Borough could be supported and that this would be the subject of a separate report to cabinet.  It was reported that the Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee ahd already reviewed this information

(ii)    That information pertaining to procurement activities that could be scrutinised in the future should be available to members as part of the briefing pack that would be distributed in December.

It was RESOLVED:

1.      That the information in the report be noted and the mechanisms for scrutiny contained within be approved

2.      That Supporting People be identified as an area for particular scrutiny and a briefing be arranged.

3.      That suggestions for further scrutiny of procurement projects be sent to the DSO for consideration by the Chair and Vice Chair

4.      That authority be delegated to the Chair and Vice chair to decide on the second area for scrutiny from those suggested under 3.

To receive two reports of the Director of Adult and Community Services containing financial information for consideration.

To receive a report detailing the Adult and Community Services revenue and capital budget management for consideration and comment.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Adult and Community Services, the purpose of which was to enable to Adult and Community Services Revenue and Capital Budget to be scrutinised. 

The head of Finance for ACS attended to present the report and he briefly introduced it to the committee, identifying for them the key areas to note, which were:

• Mental health Services
• Temporary Accommodation
• Grants to voluntary organisations and
• Directorate management and Finance.

In addition he reported on the efficiency programme and noted some of the successes to date.

It was RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

To receive a report seeking input from the Committee into the budget setting process prior to the detailed budget being brought to the January 2012 meeting of the Committee and the Council’s overall budget being approved by Cabinet in February 2012.

The Committee received a report if the Director of Adult and Community Services setting out the specific service changes being implemented, and proposals under development, that would have an impact on the ACS budget for 2012/13.

The Head of Finance for ACS was in attendance and presented the report to the committee.  He briefly outlined the main issues contained within and described the process of scrutiny at hand and that some areas would fall within the remit of other O&S committees.

The committee discussed the report, during which time the following comments were made and themes raised:

(i)      Further information was requested regarding the net and gross figures provided.

(ii)    That some monies included for the short term could not be guaranteed into the medium and long term and therefore could not be included in future budgets at this stage.

(iii)   That efficiency savings were ahead of target at present

(iv)  That any savings created from the cessation of support for those with moderate needs was difficult to calculate.

It was RESOLVED

That the report be noted

To receive any reports containing performance information for consideration.

To receive a report of the Director of Adult and Community Services which provides an update on performance in relation to projects and indicators that monitor the council priorities for Adult Social Care and Housing for the period July to September 2011.

There were no outstanding indicators or projects that met the requirements of reporting to the committee for underperformance.

RESOLVED that the performance information be noted.

To receive a report of the Director of Adult and Community Services which provides an overview of the Adult Care Provision Priority Programme which will transform care service provision for adults with a learning disability who are currently supported in Council managed services.  It is intended to provide preliminary information prior to any formal decision making. 

The Committee received a report of the Director of Adult and Community Services the purpose of which was to provide for the committee an overview of the Adult Care Provision priority Programme.  The Assistant Director of Community Operations introduced the report. 

The Committee discussed the introduction and report and in response to points raised he addressed the following:

(i)      The committee urged that there be no drop in the level of service provided for vulnerable people in our community.

(ii)    The officer assured the committee that where savings were made by tendering out services provided in residential homes and services the quality would be enshrined in the contracts. 

(iii)   That the costs of in house services were found to be higher than those provided by external private or voluntary sector providers  for the same services.

(iv)  That most residential homes in the Borough were already outsourced so that this was not a polemic shift.

(v)     That the way in which performance is reported should be changed to reflect the performance of those organisations commissioned to provide traditional service of the LA.

It was RESOLVED:

That the report be NOTED.

To consider, amend and agree as required the Work programme of the Committee for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Committee discussed the work programme for the remainder of the following year and following discussion it was RESOLVED that:

1. A briefing with the new Safeguarding Officer be arranged to discuss the postholders’ plans and member concerns regarding vulnerable people in residential homes and reporting mechanisms available to concerned residents.
   
   
2. That SWL and ST Georges mental Health Trust become a standing item on the HHASO&S agenda – within the changes to local health care item.
   
   

That the Mental health Commissioners be asked to attend the Committee in March.

To receive verbal updates from Councillors on meetings attended, information received from third parties or training undertaken which is relevant to the Committee.

There was no feedback from members.