Minutes:
The Director of Corporate Resources provided an overview and reminded Members the report was a summary of activity that took place earlier in 2021, specifically looking at the performance and financial position.
It was highlighted to Members that; · The Doncaster Council Covid-19 Timeline (Appendix A) identified key milestones and challenges for the Authority. · The Authority received significant additional financial support amounting to £166 million pounds of business. · Some Performance Indicators were modified, or set aside to take into account the affects of Covid-19.
The Committee acknowledged it had been a challenging year, and commended the maintained performance. The Authority ended the year with a favourable outturn position, given that it responded to Covid-19 as well as continuing to carry out normal business.
Councillors then explored the following topics in more detail;
CONNECTED COUNCIL
Financial Risks - In response to a question it was explained that COVID-19 had amplified risks the Council already had, the top three financial risks were identified as;
1. Children – in terms of supporting children that have not been within the normal school environment with learning and attainment. 2. Environment – as a result of people being at home more, there was an increase in waste which had additional costs implications. 3. Council Budget – there would be challenge around the Council’s income, particularly business rates. A significant amount of relief was provided by Government during the pandemic, however the level of business support would not continue.
It was also advised that as an organisation a number of individual risks could accumulate, and this would be monitored over the coming months. The Authority had received unprecedented levels of initiatives, and some of those resources carried forward into 21/22 to help mitigate other impacts as a result of Covid-19. Implementing them effectively to manage the next phase of recovery was another risk identified to Members.
Council Tax and Business Rates – Members were assured that to help increase income, business rates were monitored monthly making sure appropriate business rate payments by the largest businesses in the Borough were made. This monitoring was to be extended to the next tier of 50 businesses with regular meetings with the Business Rates Team, and Business Doncaster. There were also number of initiatives described to Members that are running to support both existing and new businesses in Doncaster.
Staff Sickness - The Committee acknowledged the positive trend for staff sickness within the report and thanked management and staff for delivering services throughout difficult circumstances. Whilst specific reasons for the trend were unknown it was felt the new way of operating, with most employees working from home, allowed greater flexibility to manage personal wellbeing, childcare and people could work more effectively. Staff surveys showed a positive response to this way of working and therefore it was suggested the trend would continue.
DONCASTER CARING
Carers Additional Needs – Members were provided with a number of examples of initiatives put in place to support the additional needs of carers during and after the pandemic, these included; · Fighting Back Fund – focussing on investment in the local assistance scheme and the voluntary sector. · Better Care Fund – money pooled with NHS to develop the ‘Time For You’ scheme, using direct payments for carers. · Carers Surveys – Recent surveys showed significant stress in communities. Staff working strategically with carers and partners. · Carers Strategy – A new strategy for 2022, specifically built around what carers say they need to live fulfilling lives, and will have an all age focus.
A Member proposed that the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Panel have sight of the newly drafted Carer’s Strategy. A Member advised that Doncaster Carers Advice Line had received double the amount of calls during the pandemic, and The Committee recognised it had been a very difficult 18 month period for carers.
Rough Sleepers – With regards to how the Council would continue to support those that were given temporary accommodation during the pandemic it was felt that the national ‘Everybody In’ policy and zero tolerance for homelessness, was helpful.
Issues that otherwise may have remained hidden were highlighted, for example some people placed in temporary accommodation would not traditionally have been recognised under the normal scheme.
Members were informed that through proactive work St Leger had reported fewer numbers of new referrals going into temporary accommodation. It was hoped this would continue with a focus on the most vulnerable cohorts, and through proactively working with them to find suitable alternatives. Signposting to the correct level of support also showed improvement.
Strategically it was believed too many people present as homeless too late, as a direct result of not enough preventative work and a range of those who do present as homeless have more complex needs.
The Committee understood that work would continue around homelessness prevention, including within anti-poverty work, correct supply of hostel and other alternative housing accommodation, and wrap around support and engagement.
Members considered that with correct funding levels and support from Government homelessness in Doncaster maybe eradicated. A Member voiced that it may be beneficial to look in more depth at homelessness and prevention at a later date.
Domestic Abuse – It was recognised the Council’s domestic abuse services worked incredibly hard during the pandemic and concerns were raised around workforce capacity and the intensity of need into those services. In order to alleviate some pressure Members were reassured a range of measures including additional funding and capacity had increased.
Currently the Domestic Abuse Strategy was being refreshed, with some tailored interventions and focus on particular hotspots, Members stressed they wished to review the strategy once refreshed.
A Member sought more clarity on how well the Domestic Abuse partnership that includes group partners such as South Yorkshire Police had been working. It was indicated that the partnership worked well, but in terms of funding and support provided on the ground more was required.
Health & Social Care Vaccination Programme - Social care staff uptake of the vaccine was reported as good. The Committee were assured that work was ongoing with care home providers, specifically where uptake was low, to understand the reasons for hesitancy and support offered. In regards to the number of cases of Covid-19 in care homes, and those employed in care settings the numbers have decreased, and there was an understanding the vaccine helped during the most recent waves.
A Member queried the plans to help encourage hard to reach communities to accept the offer of a vaccine. Various sites including pop-up clinics and pharmacies were described and it was also explained there would be some groups e.g. those with some health conditions that could not be vaccinated.
Direct Payments – Members were advised that they should not expect to see an increase in the number of direct payments moving forward. As a Borough the use of direct payments was already higher than most. Going forward the focus would be on quality of payments and ensuring these were used effectively, as some of our numbers are as a result of traditional arrangements.
DONCASTER LEARNING
Skills and Learning Recovery – In response to a question about the learning and skills gap created during the pandemic, Members noted there was a focus on making sure schools had good systems and strategies in place to close any gaps, along with making the best use of existing resources. It was advised that there was a need for better engagement between the education system, schools, employers and learners.
A Member asked for clarification of what would be done in addition to the plans pre-COVID, and it was highlighted that;
· There would be a particular focus on read, writing, maths, across every age range. · Primary level – intensive support and focus on schools where attainment is low. · Secondary level – improve attainment levels especially around key stage 4 qualifications as there was a gap between level 4 & 5 skills. · Reduction of fixed term and permanent exclusions remains a priority. · Assist schools with their COVID recovery plans. · Wellbeing and Curriculum group emerged in pandemic – particular focus on children’s mental health. · Equality and diversity.
A Member stressed that the skills and learning gap and how that could be addressed should be looked at in greater detail at the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.
Elective Home Education - Members were advised the Authority saw elective home education rising, with significant increases since the beginning of lockdown. However, the overall proportion of children that continued to be educated at home reduced. This was achieved through implementing a personalised approach with families, or brokering better relationships between families and schools. As a result 19% of cases closed and children returned to school. Working with schools on having a graduated approach with behaviour, and changing approaches of delivering education helped to keep children in school.
Mental Health – In response to a question it was noted there was a significant increase in mental health cases presenting at hospitals this year and families were struggling with emotional wellbeing. A Social and Emotional Mental Health monitoring group established that was tasked with identifying children at risk. Once identified appropriate packages of support were offered to children and their families.
Members were advised a Children‘s mental health strategy was emerging with partners, and of a successful trail blazing funding bid for mental health support teams allowing a rollout to all schools.
It was noted higher numbers of children were presenting with eating disorders, therefore preventative campaigns were running in schools and on social media.
In regards to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service access the authority were in the top quartile nationally for response times with waiting times lower than the national average.
DONCASTER LIVING & WORKING
Recycling during Christmas – In regards to the drop in recycled waste over Christmas, Members were advised that was a normal trend. Currently recycling rates were down, and this was reflected nationally. In response opening times were being increased across the recycling sites, and the Authority was working with site providers to educate and encourage more recycling.
Fly Tipping – Following a question, Members were informed that there was a backlog of fly tipping cases but this was being addressed week on week for example it was stated during the previous week 200 cases were reported but the number resolved and closed was 265.
It was explained that with the 466k extra budget received the department employed additional staff, litter pickers, vehicles, back alley workers and set up a base at North Bridge, it was however too soon to report on the results.
Other areas being considered were the effectiveness of Street Scene shift patterns, structures and resources, online reporting issues and Councillors reporting online. The Authority must continue to reduce the backlog, and to measure and monitor volumes. A new Assistant Director was also appointed and would be looking at furthering Street Scene and the fly tipping programme.
A Member indicated that C&E Scrutiny Panel should also look at the work carried out on shift patterns.
Tree plotting – A Member enquired if there was going to be an increase in the target for tree plotting .It was explained that with partners further locations were being looked at. The challenges noted would be purchasing the trees, allocating the right resource and right expertise internally and managing the ongoing maintenance costs.
Household waste - In response to a question it was stated that the only trend was that there was more waste at all levels, in both black and blue bins and an increase in fly tipping.
Business – Members were informed that in order to effectively communicate with businesses during the pandemic Business Doncaster’s existing networks links were used with the Chamber and businesses in the Borough.
Demonstrating those links were effective the Committee noted that various grants totalling £106 million were administered during that time. In addition we administered additional grants from Sheffield City Region Fund. Sheffield City Region also financed advisors for businesses on a temporary basis who can offer advice to the authority with business advice and how businesses can access grants.
Local Spend – It was noted by the Committee that there was a need to retain the local spend target as a Local Authority. It was advised that to help the local economy it was important that our spend remains local as much as possible. This could be achieved by facilitating dialogue between businesses and retaining contracts and spend within Doncaster.
RESOLVED that the following be noted;
The quarter 4 performance and financial information provided within the report. |
|
Supporting documents: