Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

Councillor Rachel Bailey – Children and Families and Rural affairs portfolio holder

Councillor Paul Findlow – Corporate Portfolio Holder

Councillor Brendan Murphy

Brenda Smith – Director Adult Social Care and Independent Living

Kate Rose – Head of Integrated Safeguarding Unit

Caroline Simpson – Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity

Peter Hall – Head of Property Services

Jez Goodman – Economic Development and Regeneration Manager

Mark Nedderman – Senior Scrutiny Officer

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of the existence of a party whip.

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak

To receive a presentation for Brenda Smith Director, Adult Social Care & Independent Living.

Brenda Smith Director of Adult Social Care & Independent Living gave a presentation on the range of responsibilities covered by adult social care in Cheshire East.

The four main components of the service covered:

·         Strategic Commissioning

·         Individual Commissioning

·         Care4CE

·         Safeguarding Unit

The overall budget for adult social care in 2012/13 Budget was £102m, of which Care Costs amounted to £75m. Arising from the health reforms of 2012, an additional £5.2m would be transferred to Cheshire East from Clinical Commissioning Groups in 2013/14.

In response to the presentation, the committee concluded that the work of this committee was inextricably linked with the work of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny committee. The committee was informed that the Constitution Committee had recently set up a working group to review the Council’s current Scrutiny/Policy Development Groups (PDG) arrangements, and the committee suggested that the review would provide an opportunity for representations to be made about the committee’s view that the links between this committee and Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee should be formally recognised in the Council’s constitution.

In addition Brenda highlighted some potential items which could be added to the Committees work programme in future including review the arrangements for access to employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

RESOLVED –

(a)   That the presentation be received and noted;

(b)  That the views of the committee concerning the need to maintain strong links between the scrutiny of adult social care and health and wellbeing be conveyed to the constitution committee working group;

(c)  That Brenda Smith be requested to report back to the Committee in February with suggestions for work programme topics including proposals regarding access to employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

To consider a report of the Head of  the Integrated Safeguarding Unit

The Committee considered a report of Kate Rose Head of Integrated Safeguarding Unit containing details on regulation 33 visits undertaken during quarters 1 and 2 in 2013. Kate informed the committee that a new home which would be subject to regulation 33 visits by the Council had recently opened at Victoria Park Lodge.

RESOLVED – That the report be received.

To consider a report of the Major Projects & Regeneration Manager.

Councillor Brendan Murphy attended the meeting and addressed the committee in respect of this matter

The committee considered a report of the Major Projects and Regeneration Manager updating the Committee on the progress made in implementing the recommendations of a task and finish group that  had completed a review into the Council’s Business Generation Centres in January 2011.

In summary:

·         The Council had continued to support the BGCs at Sandbach Enterprise Centre, Brierley Street Crewe and Scope House Crewe and that occupancy remained high.

·         Operating arrangements across all three BGCs was now more consistent;

·         The Thomas Street Congleton BGC was sold in march 2013, and assistance provided  to those businesses displaced form Thomas street arising from its sale;

·         The Council continued to promote the availability of all commercial floor space to existing and start up business through its investment enquiry service;

·         The practice of providing rent free facilities to tenants in lieu of providing reception services had ceased;

·         Efforts were continuing to commission arrangements with an external provider to promote business incubation facilities. In addition to the new Bio hub facility at Alderley Park, other models were being considered in other parts of the Borough.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress made in respect of the recommendations of the BGC task and finish group be noted;

(b)  That in view of the new economic conditions that have occurred since the recommendations of the Task and Finish group were made, the Environment and Prosperity Policy Development Committee be requested to add this matter to its work programme and investigate opportunities to promote within the borough incubation facilities for start up facilities, and explore further potential opportunities to enlist a partner organisation at a sub regional level.

To consider a report of the Head of Governance and Democratic Services.

The Committee reviewed the work programme.

 RESOLVED – That the following item be added to the work programme:

 Arms length companies – Scrutiny Framework – February 2014.