Resolved unanimously: that Cllr Ilyas be appointed as Chairman and Cllr M Airey as Vive-Chairman of the Adult Services and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel.  

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received by Cllr Lenton; Cllr Story attended as a substitute.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To approve the part I minutes of the meeting held on 19/5/16.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19^th May 2016 were approved as a true and correct record.

For members to comment on the Cabinet report.

The Finance Partner informed  the Panel that part I of the report summary had to be amended and should have read that the non-service variances are projected to have a £70k underspend, meaning there is a projected £41k overspend on the General Fund; the appendices to the report were correct.

The Panel were informed that the Adults, Children and Health directorate was reporting a projected overspend of £155,000, which was £8,000 lower than had been reported in June 2016. It was noted that costs often related to a small number of individuals with high associated costs with learning disabilities.  It was difficult to get a fixed budget projection for this area and costs varied dependent on need. 

Cllr Jones reminded the Panel that the budget for Adult Services was significantly increased last year and in response the Panel were informed that there had been a £3.5 million growth in older person services, however this year there has been a decrease in this area.

Cllr Story questioned if the £440k pressure was a best guest for the year and was informed that there was unpredictability with regards to a small number of high cost cases where the liability of the Council to meet their costs is uncertain either due to their Ordinary Residence or due to their eligibility for Continuing Health Care funding.  The pressures within the report were being managed.

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

To comment on the Cabinet report to members.

The Panel considered the Cabinet report regarding a procurement exercise to secure care provision in two older people’s residential and nursing homes owned by the Council, Clara Court in Maidenhead and Queens Court in Windsor. Members noted that Clara Court provided 76 beds and was run by Care UK; Queen’s Court provided 24 nursing beds and 22 residential places and was run by Central and Cecil who had indicated that they would be withdrawing from their contract.  The Council leased the buildings to Radian and Housing solutions respectively.

Cllr Story asked for clarification on the embargo on Queens Court and was informed that officers and the CQC had raised concern about the home and thus had started an improvement programme, until then an embargo on new residents had been introduced.  As there had been improvements made a phased introduction of new residents had started.

Sheila Holmes (Healthwatch WAM) asked if it was known which providers were interested in running Queens Court and was informed that a number had shown an interest.

Cllr Jones asked if the tender process would specify a mix of beds; for example separating dementia beds.  The Panel were informed that the tender process would provide an opportunity to look at requirements and provide placements without putting service users at risk. 

It was noted that the Royal Borough did have a high proportion per head of care homes and this provided a budget pressure when private care placements could no longer afford to pay for their care.  Provision was being put in the Local Borough Plan that any new providers needed to show need for a new care home and officers worked with providers to ensure private residents had sufficient funds to support their care.

In response to a question raised by Cllr Hollingsworth it was confirmed that during the change over of providers extra provision would be in place to monitor the well being of residents and the providers would also wish to ensure residents are well cared for as they would not want a safeguarding complaint against them.  

The Chairman asked how often standards at homes were checked and was informed that if an individual safeguarding issue was raised then this would trigger an inspection and if required an improvement action plan would be introduced.  There were also CQC inspections.

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

To note the Forward Plan.

The Panel noted the forward plan and agreed that at future meetings they would drill down some of the budget lines raised in the Financial Update report, look at the cost of home care and review agency staff / case loads.

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 item 9 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: 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 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 consider Part II minutes of the meeting held on 19/5/16.