Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Rachel Hodson, John Cooke and Cynthia Ransome.

None

Councillor Jane Kidd declared an interest in Agenda Item 5 by virtue of being an employee of SYCIL that could be commissioned to deliver a service.

Councillor K. Rodgers declared an interest in Agenda Item 5 by virtue of being a Member of the Co-operative Party and also a member of the Co-operative Group which has a link to the Co-operative Enterprise Hub.

There were no public statements made.

Kim Curry, Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing attended the meeting to provide an overview of Adult Services Transformation Programme.  Members were reminded that the presentation had been previously circulated on the 9^th March 2016 and therefore Members should already be in receipt of the information.

The presentation included the following areas;

·         National and Local Picture

·         The Policy Context

·         Adults – performance

·         Where are we now?

·         How will we do it?

·         Immediate Business Improvement Projects

·         Next Steps

In terms of what this would mean to the Council, it was stressed how important it was to get a strategy in place to prepare in view of the pressures and demands being placed on local authorities.

Following the presentation, the Committee entered into a discussion which included the following areas: -

Residential/Nursing - Reference was made to the performance information, in particular how many were in Doncaster residential/nursing homes compared to Yorkshire and Humber and all of England.  Members were advised that with strong management action in place the current or projected figure may exceed the target of 909.  Members were assured that those people who needed residential care would receive it. 

Direct Payments - It was recognised that there was work to be undertaken on direct payments and ensuring that we provided the best range of services for people.  Concern was raised that there was an element of fraud risk with direct payments but Members were assured that this was minimal and no greater than with any other provider.  It was commented that users of social care services in Doncaster needed it to be easier to use.

One Member questioned why direct payment support was now in-house.  Members were informed that steps to improve this area were being taken and included looking at other local authorities’ processes such as Oldham who had been successful with their approach.  It was commented that the decision to provide this function had occured before the current Directors time but they did support comments that this service should not be provided in-house as it was not a truly independent service.

Members were informed that there had been a similar picture shown nationally in terms of which barriers were preventing direct payments from improving.  These included reasons such as how traditional social care practices were still being used or simply that individuals had not found it easy to use direct payments.

Community Based Services – Members were informed that consideration was being given as to how the figures could be reduced but that there was expectation that the target would be met. 

It was raised that people were being given more packages of care at home and acknowledged that there were possibly too many services being provided to people who could manage with a lower level service. 

Immediate Business Improvement Projects (Digital) – In respect of improving digital ways of accessing services, concern was raised about the costs incurred to some residents having to pay for the internet.  It was acknowledged that some residents might not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Councillor Neil Gethin, Vice Chair of the Children and Young People Panel Number introduced to the Committee, the Panels review ‘Children with Disabilities’.  It was explained that the purpose of this review was to consider the support services and Council respite in place for children with disabilities.  Members were referred to the recommendations made within the report.

A Member spoke about examples of how some school might be seen as discriminating in relation to children with disabilities in regards to attendance.  The Assistant Director for Jo Moxon, Assistant Director Learning and Achievement explained to Members the difference of recording attendance due to illness and conditions but emphasised that the discriminatory point about severe disabilities or long term illness should not be discriminated against and in those instances could be referred to Chair of Governors.

The Vice Chair of Children and Young People spoke to the Committee about the treatment of autistic children within schools.  Reference was made to findings from the review around Looked after Children and how for example, at North Ridge there had been a project undertaken with Next and considered whether there were any other ways that this could be expanded across to other business within Doncaster.  It was commented that it was about changing mind-sets towards young people with disabilities and what they had to offer.

It was commented that the Bentley Training Centre could be utilised more and it was explained that it was not about training but more about getting young people into work experience through learning life skills.  Examples of this were being able to travel on a bus or go to a bank.  It was added that although this was useful when it came with children with certain disabilities, it was also about retaining or remembering this information.  Concern was raised that one of the challenges with recruiting young people with disabilities was society providing them with job opportunities.

The Chair of OSMC welcomed the recommendations and it was questioned whether an Action Plan could be provided to monitor the recommendations and progress made within the review.  Members were reminded that this could be included as parts of the 2016/17 years workplan as the Children with Disabilities Social Work team will be transferred over to the trust and they already provide a quarterly update to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

In terms of Looked After Children, it was noted that within this area it was our job to notify concerns in respect of providers and that the same applied with Looked After Children in out of other authority placements.  It was advised that in terms of authority support for children with disabilities that this was provided up to 25 years old children in education as this was a shared responsibility with Special Educational Needs (SEN).  Members advised that there was information on the website regarding the local offer.  A briefing on this was offered to be provided to Members including the key contact information.

Concern was raised about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Councillor Craig Sahman, Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel introduced to the Committee, the Panels review ‘Place Marketing – Development of the Doncaster Brand’.  It was explained that the focus this year had been on ‘regeneration’ and the purpose of this review was to look at Place Marketing and in particular, what could be done to improve the Doncaster’s brand regionally and internationally as well as to how we could improve our own internal understanding.  Members were referred to the 18 recommendations made within the report and how the review had been conducted through focusing on 4 key areas Work, Play, Learn/Skills and Rest with a number of key partners and external organisations being involved.

It was expressed that the review has been an ‘eye-opener’ as to how fantastic Doncaster is what has been achieved to reach where we are today as well as what needs to be done to take us to the next level.

Members were informed that work was already being undertaken in taking the next steps in developing to Doncaster brand.

The Vice Chair of Children and Young People spoke about benefits of Sandal Park and the Council having no plan with greenspaces.  Members were reminded that Doncaster is the biggest metropolitan council in the Borough.  Members were advised that the review was a strategic look at regeneration in the Borough and how to get people into Doncaster and developing the Doncaster brand.  It was stated that on this basis the Panel was not able to look at everything.

Reference was made by the Vice Chair in respect of recommendations 15, 16, 17 and 18 which had arisen from the Learn/Skills meeting and the barriers and opportunities that existed.  There was also a mention of recommendations 4 and 11 in reference following Members attendance on the familiarisation tour aimed at promoting the Borough’s regeneration and development opportunities to potential investors.

Members were informed that within the Members Seminar programme was one on Major Projects and the forthcoming work of the Education Skills Commission.

The Chair of the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel expressed his thanks to Members of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Members, Officers, parents and organisations for their support and input into the review. 

RESOLVED that: 

a)         The Committee agreed the recommendations and report attached

The Senior Governance Officer presented the current Overview and Scrutiny work plan highlighting areas of work undertaken by the Scrutiny Panels since the last meeting.

Members were informed that workplan topics were being drafted for Overview and Scrutiny 2016/17 and that any Member suggestions that had been put forward would be included during that time.

RESOLVED that:

i.           the 2016/2017 Overview and Scrutiny workplan, be noted.