Agenda and minutes

Venue: Room 210, Floor 2 Civic Office

Contact: Christine Rothwell  Tel. 01302 735682

Items
No. Item

6.

Apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Councillor Neil Gethin and Councillor John Cooke

 

7.

To consider the extent, if any, to which the public and press are to be excluded from the meeting.

Minutes:

None

 

8.

Declarations of Interest, if any.

Minutes:

Councillor Jane Kidd declared an interest in Agenda Item 9 - DMBC Finance and Performance Quarter 3 16/17 when discussing direct payments in her capacity as an employee of a disability organisation.

 

Councillor Paul Wray declared an interest in Agenda Item 7 - St. Leger Homes of Doncaster (SLHD) in his capacity as a board member of SLHD.

 

9.

Minutes from the Meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee held on 15th December, 2016, 19th January and 15th February, 2017 pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on 15th December, 2016, 19th January and 15th February, 2017 were agreed and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

 

10.

Public Statements.

[A period not exceeding 20 minutes for statements from up to 5

members of the public on matters within the Committee’s remit,

proposing action(s) which may be considered or contribute towards the future development of the Committee’s work programme.]

Minutes:

Mr Brown raised the issue that external consultants were being paid to look at equality and diversity which was encouraging although there were members of the public and people in the building that could tell us what needs to be done.  Mr Brown stated that DMBC was still reporting that there was neither an engagement plan nor a BME Health Needs Assessment. It was further said that this was not a recent incident and Councillors would know it had been previously raised in the Corporate Governance Report 2010.  Mr Brown asked why there was still no engagement plan and needs assessment (which was 13 years out of date) and that BME groups did not have a voice.  It was commented that those documents were not just about health but also about housing, education and jobs.   It was questioned what the impact of this was on protected characteristics groups (of which there are 9 under the Equalities Act).  Mr Brown continued that he had a son aged 18 and stated that he was speaking as someone who though protected in law felt that his needs were being disregarded.  Mr Brown gave credit to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services for the information provided to his son and those young people who aspire to work in accountancy and finance.  Mr Brown stated that it had been alluded to that higher aspirations would be introduced for people in Doncaster.  Mr Brown stated that it pained him that there was no engagement, no needs assessment and no voice and asked to be informed when this was going to be addressed when these issues have been neglected for so long.

 

The Director of Corporate Services and Finances stated that the Health Needs Assessment had been launched.  It was responded to by Mr Brown that there was neither action plan nor strategy and that only a timeline had been provided.

 

Regarding the Engagement Strategy, it was explained that there was a previous one in existence and this needed expanding not just for BME groups but wider.  It was commented that the Council had been too paternalistic in its approach and needed to do more to engage with communities and the different groups.  It was advised that further information could be sought from the Assistant Director of Adult Social Care and Director of Health and Wellbeing.

 

Members were directed to the Finance and Performance Report for further information on employment and BME apprenticeships and the Director of Corporate and Finance Services stated that he was open to suggestions about how the information could be monitored.

 

In regards to equality and diversity, the Chair of Overview Management and Scrutiny Committee offered to ensure that further details are made publicly available.

 

To conclude, reference was made by Mr Brown to the use of Consultants by the Council.

 

11.

Finance and Performance Quarterly Monitoring Report - Quarter 3 pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Minutes:

Finance and Performance Quarterly Monitoring Report - Quarter 3

 

The Committee considered the quarterly finance and performance report, with the following areas addressed by Directors or their representatives when responding to Members questions:

 

Finance and Corporate Services

 

Sickness - In respect of sickness, it was reported that although progress had been made there had recently been a downward trend.  It was outlined that the aim was to reach the national average of 8.7 days.  It was stated that last year this figure had reduced to 7.9 days before increasing to 9.2 days and at an additional 1.3 days per person this amounted to 5,000 people days lost which was about £1million in value. Members were informed that individual Managers received sickness reporting on their teams and some did not monitor their systems effectively which was essential in improving the figures.  Members were assured that more would be done to try and identify the underlying causes.

 

A Member raised their concern about stress related sickness caused by cuts within the Council.  Reference was made to figures showing stress at 14% and depression at 20%.  It was felt that these figures were in reality higher as many individuals were not making full declarations about their illnesses. It was questioned what was happening to support this and suggested that a blind survey might be useful in addressing it.

 

It was commented that about two thirds of stress related sickness was non-work related (for example, due to relationship breakdown, financial issues and death) and that only some of this sickness was partially contributed to by work related stress.

 

It was noted that reports of musculoskeletal issues were quite high although to a point this was expected when considering some of the services being provided by the Council.  Members were informed that steps were being taken such as physiotherapy and changing working practices which may in time reduce these figures.

 

Finally, it was acknowledged that infections/viruses had been the main causes of short term illnesses. It was concluded though that the two main areas being concentrated at this present time included infection and musculoskeletal reports.

 

Impact of Brexit - Members were assured that the Council was monitoring inflation rates following the ‘Brexit’ outcome.  It was mentioned that inflation rates may rise in 2019 and that the Council needed to put extra inflation into next year.  Members were informed that more cash has been used as part of a deliberate under borrowing strategy and that the Council will need to consider getting back to borrowing the full amount if it can borrow at the right time.  It was reported that the Council were monitoring interest rates on a daily basis and had the tools in place ready to do this.

 

Public Health/Adults Health & Well Being

 

Direct Payments - In respect of direct payments, it was explained that although they had increased significantly compared to other places, Doncaster was not quite where it wanted to be.  Members were informed that the commissioned care and support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

SLHD Performance & Delivery Update: 2016/17 Quarter Three pdf icon PDF 811 KB

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to the St Leger Homes Doncaster (SLHD) Finance and Performance report for Quarter 3 and addressed the following areas:

 

·         Days Lost to Sickness per Full Time Equivalent (below target – red) – Members were informed that this was a slippage that had worsened mainly due to short term illness such as viruses and heavy colds.  Musculoskeletal related sicknesses were reported as being an ongoing concern, it was explained that it was about ensuring that the workforces were able to undertake safe ways of working.

 

·         Number of households in temporary accommodation (below target – red) – it was outlined that this was due to the response to Tent City and by the end of Quarter 3, 10 people were placed in temporary accommodation.  It was explained that it had raised the profile of homelessness services and more people were now presenting.  It was explained that these people would be supported to have independent lives and that many existed with complex needs.  It was felt that more could be achieved through better joined up working.

 

Concern was raised that following complaints being made about neighbours, residents were being rehoused to less suitable areas.   It was responded that although effective housing management can be undertaken other services needed to be in place as well.  Members were informed that St Leger Homes Doncaster had gradually taken possession of the worst cases and were now looking at solutions to anti-social behaviour in their response to rehousing.  Concern was raised that Riverside were not moving people on as quickly as they should be.  Members were informed that they had commissioned someone from York to consider the real issues and a suitable pathway for people outside temporary accommodation in Doncaster.

 

RESOLVED: that the report and discussion be noted.

 

13.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Update pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Minutes:

The Chair proposed that the item be deferred to the next OSMC meeting in June 2017, this was due to time constraints and other areas of the agenda that needed to be addressed at this meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Update report from, be deferred, to later meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

14.

Regeneration and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Homeless Review pdf icon PDF 172 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair thanked Members of the Regeneration and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel for such a comprehensive report.

 

The Chair of the Regeneration and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel expressed that it was positive that this issue was progressing in the right direction.   It was commented that the work towards homelessness in the Borough was operating in a more holistic way and steps were being taken to break the cycle of homelessness by keeping people stable.  It was added that St Leger Housing Doncaster was benefiting from expertise through the appointed Director of Housing Services who had previously worked at York.   

 

RESOLVED: That the Panel agree the recommendations in the Regeneration and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Homelessness Review

 

15.

Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel Domestic Abuse Review pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel Domestic Abuse Review

 

The Chair paid compliments to Members of the Communities and Environment Overview for such a comprehensive report.

 

The Chair spoke about the work that had gone into producing the report including visiting a refuge. In respect of accommodation for domestic abuse victims, Members heard that there were issues for victims such as targets to move them on, undertaking longer periods of stay and bureaucracy in respect of finding new housing.

 

Members were informed that Members of the Panel had talked to survivors and realised how it intertwined with our own lives.  It was observed that the quality of commissioning was very important.  In respect of perpetrators it was noted that this was not effective if they were made to participle in available courses. It was understood that this issue affected men as well and specialised gender specific services were needed. 

 

The Chair of the Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel stated that the aim of the review was for better information and better working on the ground, more joined up training and consistent use of assessment forms.  It was noted that what was continuously heard from the evidence was that the designated phone line was very important and essential that callers received the right response; it was felt that this was something that needed to be improved.

 

RESOLVED: That the Panel agree the recommendations in the Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Domestic Abuse Review

 

16.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan 2016/2017 Update pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair proposed that the item be deferred to the next OSMC meeting in June 2017, this was due to time constraints and other areas of the agenda that needed to be addressed at this meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan Updatereport, be deferred until the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee meeting in June 2017.