Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Langhorne who was substituted by Councillor Nicholson.

Apologies for absence were received from Keith Sangster, Co-opted Member.

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 the nature of the interest being declared.

In relation to Adult Social Care items, Co-opted Member Margaret Dangoor requested that it be noted that she was a carer.

In relation to item 5 (Adult and Community Services Budget) Councillor Nicholson declared that her mother-in-law was a user of the ‘Super Shopper’ scheme.

In relation to item 6 (Adult and Community Services Budget) Councillor Jones declared that her son-in-law worked for Care UK and Councillor Butler declared that his mother resided in a Care UK home.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2012 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2012 were approved as a correct record of proceedings and the Chairman authorised to sign them.

A. To receive a verbal update on changes to local health services

B. To receive a verbal update on Joint Health Scrutiny work.

A. The Committee heard general updates on changes to local health services affecting Richmond Borough residents from Cathy Kerr, Director of Adult and Community Services; Dominic Wright, Chief Officer designate of Richmond Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG); and from Dr Dagmar Zeuner, Director of Public Health. In particular the Committee was advised that:

(i)      The Health and Wellbeing Board would become a statutory body from 1^st April 2013, and preparations were continuing for this including plans to meet in public. 

(ii)    The Council was holding discussions with the London Borough of Hounslow on the possibility of jointly commissioning the support for the new Healthwatch service. This would allow resources to be used more efficiently, whilst the boroughs would each retain their own separate Healthwatch function.

(iii)   Joint Commissioning between the Council and the CCG was also progressing well, with the recent joint appointment (initially on an interim basis) of a Head of the Commissioning Collaborative

(iv)  The recently announced government allocation of £7.6m for public health duties in Richmond was slightly higher than anticipated, though still low in comparison to other London Boroughs. However, Richmond’s relatively low allocation meant that it was better placed to adapt to a means-based allocation formula, which was anticipated in 2015-16. The grant could be spent on capital or revenue projects within a prescribed framework.

(v)    Detailed work was being carried out to ensure that all necessary public health staff transferred from PCT employment to local authority employment when duties were transferred in March. The Committee would receive further updates on this.

(vi)  The CCG was likely to retain a surplus at the end of the financial year. It would be important to invest this in long term service provision and ensure that funds were used effectively. An additional governing body appointment meant that the CCG was now only one ‘flag’ away from full authorisation, which was expected in March 2013.

Committee Members welcomed the news that public health staff were once again working within the local authority and that funding for public health duties had been augmented.

The Committee discussed the process which Kingston and West Middlesex hospitals were following in their applications for Foundation Trust status. It was noted that the process was complex and so far no South West London hospitals had been given Foundation Trust status.

B. The Committee heard updates on the Joint Health Scrutiny work which affected Richmond and was being carried out by some Committee Members. It was noted that:

(i)      In September 2013 a Joint Health Scrutiny Committee had been formed to review the financial situation of NHS Croydon; it was reported that the organisation had overspent by a significant amount in 2010/11. The Joint Committee had heard evidence from current and previous employees of NHS Croydon but it had encountered difficulties in relation to the non-attendance of key witnesses and a lack of clarity on the authorship of a key report. The Joint Committee had considered a draft report in December 2012 and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

This report sets out the detailed revenue budgets for Adult and Community Services for the financial year 2013/14, highlighting significant changes from the previous year. 

Report of the Director of Adult and Community Services and Appendices A to D attached.

The report was presented by the Director of Adult and Community Services, the Head of Finance (ACS) and the Assistant Director of Community Service Operations, who outlined the main areas of change within Adult Social Care and Housing budgets for 2013/14. It was explained that the budget did not differ significantly from that of 2012/13 and reflected the efficiency programmes already in place. The effect of new and transferred government grants on the proposed budget was also explained. Many of the changes in the budget reflected the transfer of public health duties to the Local Authority.

In response to questions Committee Members were advised that:

(i)      £10m of government grant funding for Adult and Community Services would transfer into the Council’s Central Items budget, due to changes arising from the Business Rates Retention Scheme; however this would not affect the budgeted level of expenditure on those services.

(ii)    Certain budget changes such as Local Healthwatch and the disregard of veterans’ Guaranteed Income Payments for social care charges were met by additional Government funding.

(iii)   Budget provision for inflation was estimated using different methods for different areas of the budget, for example: contracts had built in inflationary increases based on each contract’s terms, whilst staffing budgets included an allowance for incremental increases within a pay grade. 

(iv)  The budget for homelessness provision had been increased due to a substantial rise in homelessness figures in the last two years; however, it was expected that these numbers would decrease in the next financial year. The Council was working with housing associations and the private sector to ensure that eviction levels were minimised.

(v)    Where residents chose to spend their Personal Budgets on Council services such as day care provision, the budgeted income from contributions was included under the budget heading “Customer and Client Receipts”.

It was RESOLVED:

That the proposed budget be noted.

This report outlines the fees and charges proposed for the Adult and Community Services Directorate in 2013/14.

Report of the Director of Adult and Community Services (including Appendix A) attached.

[Councillor Bouchier was not present for this item.]

The Director of Adult and Community Services and the Head of Finance presented a report on the proposed Fees and Charges for Adult Social Care and Housing in 2013/14 and outlined how these differed from 2012/13 arrangements. Price increases of 6.2% (equivalent to the Retail Price Index plus 3%) were generally being applied to services, apart from specified services detailed such as Non Residential Care Services, Residential Care Services, Careline, Meals and Temporary Accommodation.

The Director explained that since the report had been published officers had been reconsidering the charge for the ‘Meals at Access Project for adults with physical disabilities’ (Appendix A) because these were not of the same quality as meals served at intensive day centres for older people. The Committee agreed with the suggestion that this charge be revised to £4 to reflect the cost of the meal and heating requirements. With regards to day centres for older people, the Committee was informed that following strong support the provision of fresh vegetables would continue.

The Committee discussed the proposal that a charge of £25 be introduced for the control of bed bugs as part of the new pest control contract. Members felt that this would discourage residents from using the service. It was considered that the Council should be actively promoting the prevention and eradication of such pests.

The Committee discussed the reasons why certain price increases or reductions had been applied in certain cases. It was noted that some increased charges to service users could be met by Housing Benefit claimed.

It was RESOLVED:

That the proposed Fees and Charges to commence from 1 April 2013 be noted, subject to the following Committee recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing:

1. Meals at the Access Project for adults with physical disabilities should be charged at a revised cost of £4 per meal.

2. In relation to control of bed bugs, a cost should not be introduced for residents in receipt of benefits. The Council should take further action in promoting the current service to residents.

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Tobacco Control Task Group.

Final Report of the Tobacco Control Task Group and Appendices A to F attached.

[Councillor Bouchier was not present for this item.]

The final report of the Tobacco Control Task Group was presented by Ofordi Nabokei, Scrutiny Officer, with input from Dr Dagmar Zeuner, Director of Public Health. It was explained that the Task Group had been set up following the publication of a government White Paper; and a proposal put to the committee in April 2011. The group had focused on how to address smoking issues within Richmond upon Thames.

In response to questions it was explained that the Council considered it beneficial to develop a closer relationship with the Richmond Kingston Tobacco Control Alliance. Members were also informed that Richmond had recently awarded its smoking cessation service contract to an independent organisation named ‘Kick it’.

The Committee discussed various approaches to smoking cessation. It was advised that because different methods worked better for different individuals the Task Group had chosen to take a holistic approach to smoking cessation. In terms of the evidence base it was necessary to consider robust empirical evidence rather than anecdotal evidence.

In relation to recommendation 7, it was explained that the proposed training would assist the Fire Service to inform residents about smoking cessation services whilst Fire Safety visits were carried out.

Members discussed how the recommendations in the Task Group’s report could be evaluated. In response to a query, it was explained that third parties such as the Fire Service assisted with the Task Group’s recommendations where relevant, and the input of the Youth Council Members in the development of the recommendations was highlighted. It was hoped that all recommendations would be adopted.

The Committee thanked the Members of the Task Group and in particular the Scrutiny Officer for the comprehensive work which had been carried out.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That it be recommended that the ‘Introduction’ to the final report should thank the Scrutiny Officer, Ofordi Nabokei, for all of her support and hard work.

2. That all of the recommendations contained within the report be approved.

3. That the report be forwarded to the Executive for full consideration and Executive response.

4. That it be noted that, where relevant, approval of the recommendations listed within the report be subject to additional financial costings being developed following discussion with the relevant Cabinet Member.

To receive an update on the Committee’s proposed work programme.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services and Appendix A attached.

[Councillor Bouchier was not present for this item.]

The Committee discussed its programme of work for future meetings.

It was RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme attached at Appendix A be noted, subject to the following amendment:

·        Include reference to updates on Richmond LINk and the development of HealthWatch for the meeting of 26 March 2013.

Update on Finance – Quarter 3.

[Information Items will not be discussed at the meeting. Any questions regarding this report should be directed to the report authors.]