To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies received.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To approve the part I minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2016

The minutes of the meeting held on the 2^nd February 2016 were approved as a true and correct record.

To comment on the Cabinet report.

Richard Bunn introduced the latest financial update report due to be considered by Cabinet.  The Panel were informed that there was a projected underspend of £543,000, whilst noting the addition funding to the Adult Social Care budget earlier in the year, reserves remained at a acceptable level. The Adult Social Care directorate reported a projected year-end underspend of £6k.

Cllr Jones asked if the transfer of fund to Adult Social Care was sufficient to deal with the increased demand and was informed that that the transfer of funds was monitored monthly and was based on a number of risks; Adult Social Care being one.  Cllr Jones asked if we monitored the impact of taking money from over directorates to cover risks and was informed that it was not taking funds from other services but it was using identified savings.

Resolved Unanimously: that the Adult Services O&S Panel note the report.

To comment on the report being submitted to Cabinet on 31 March 2016

Hilary Hall introduced the report that considered whether dynamic purchasing was a route the Council wished to proceed down to procure its services and the options available in the market.  There was to be a trial of a dynamic purchasing system for home to school transport and depending on the outcome a role out for residential care.

In response to questions the Panel were informed that suppliers added to the system could be bot local or national as long as they passed the eligibility test, that he role out for residential care would be in the next financial year depending on the results of the trial and that success for the pilot scheme would be more competition, quicker response by the market to changes and maintained quality and a competitive price.

Members were informed that they could see the system in operation if they wished.

The Adult Services and Health O&S Panel considered the report and fully endorsed the recommendations being made to Cabinet.  The Panel were keen to see the results of the pilot scheme in October 2016 and if successful Members were keen to see options of rolling out into a care setting; as long as quality of service was not compromised.

To comment on the report being submitted to Cabinet on 31 March 2016

Hilary Hall introduced the annual update report on Ways into Work, the Royal Borough’s employment and training service supporting people with learning disabilities. The Panel were informed that the service had become independent of the council in 2015 which had enabled it to grow and service a wider area. The service had exceeded all the targets set.

Cllr Jones questioned the target results in the report as in table 1 it had a baseline of 110 people supported but had a result of 83 people supported.  Officers would review and provide the Panel with an update. Cllr Jones informed that she felt the service had been successful and Old Windsor PC had employed two people via the service.

Resolved Unanimously: That the Adult Services and Health O&S Panel considered the report and fully endorsed the recommendations being made to Cabinet.  The Panel felt that the service had been a success.

To comment on the report being submitted to Cabinet on 31 March 2016

Hilary Hall explained that the report introduced a refreshed RBWM Transformation Programme (strategy) 2015-18.  It was noted that the programme was designed to respond to the changing face and funding structure of local government and enable the Royal Borough to become a change ready and ‘Agile’ organisation. 

The Panel were given a short presentation and were informed that the Royal Borough had been transforming for a number of years now and that over the next couple of years the Royal Borough needed to respond to challenges and aim to be an agile Council. 

The transformation programme would focus on three key areas:

•          Knowing our services –

–        Fundamental Service Reviews (FSRs)

–        Using the outputs to plan the future of our services

•          Having the right people and tools –

–        creating a strong ‘can do’ culture across the organisation

–        equipping managers with the right skills to do their jobs

•          Delivering differently –

–        using relevant information and management skills to adapt our services

–        flexing the size and shape of the council over time to meet demands and pressures we face.

The Panel were informed that the later Part II report would show how delivering Children’s Services differently may be achieved and the Council would be looking at improving Adult Services.

Cllr Jones mentioned that it was important that any changes continued to allow accessibility to officers for elected Members, maintain an effective scrutiny process and have effective governance arrangements.

Resolved Unanimously: that the Adult Services and Health O&S Panel considered the report and fully endorsed the recommendations being made to Cabinet.

To consider passing the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 8-9 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

To approve the part II minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2016

The Part II minutes of the meeting held on the 2nd February 2016 were approved as a true and correct record.

To comment on the report being submitted to Cabinet on 31 March 2016