Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

Where a member of the public wishes to ask a question of a Cabinet Member three clear working days notice must be given to the Democratic Services Manager, and the question must be submitted in writing.

It was reported that a number of questions had been received from Sir Giles Watmough and that these would be answered in due course.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2009.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2009 be approved as a correct record.

To update Cabinet on the current and next stages in the Redesign of Adults Social Care Services, the achievability of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) targets and the decisions now required to ensure these are met.

The Cabinet received an update on the current and next stages in the Redesign of Adults Social Care Services, the achievability of the Medium Term Financial Strategy targets, and the decisions required to ensure they were met.  The aim of the proposals was to improve the services offered to customers, to allow them real choice in how they spent their individual budgets  and to benefit from enhanced preventative and reablement services. 

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That approval be given to

1. Focus the current in-house provision of routine domiciliary care services as this service can be provided at an acceptable quality and cost by the independent sector.
2. Redefine the primary function of the in-house domiciliary care service as a reablement service.
3. Review the provision of the Housing Network support for Adults with Disabilities and consider the business case for securing that service from an independent provider.
4. Undertake a fundamental review of use of buildings within Adult Services aiming to rationalise and localise functions across services and partners.
5. Agree to address the issues presented by the inherited provision of Community Support Centres looking at the rationalisation of the current stock of 5 centres being replaced by the enhanced facilities at Lincoln House (already agreed by Cabinet as part of the Dementia Strategy) and the creation in the future of a purpose built new facility, subject to a business case being made to Cabinet in future and taking into account the previous public consultation exercise.
6. Agree to consider how much directly provided service should continue (and how long for) in order to mitigate against market failure (or other emergency) and resolve in principle that the Council’s role in direct service provision should be to provide the most complex services of last resort.
7. Agree to explore the option for running existing in house provision as ‘arms length’ and/or jointly with health to exploit commercial benefits and freedoms from such models and maximise efficiencies.
8. Agree to review significantly the current service level and performance from the shared transport service jointly with the Head of Regeneration and Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust to identify what transport should be commissioned strategically.
9. Review the current provision of the hot meals service.
10. Approve and progress the list of specific joint commissioning and integrated service provision initiatives with Central and Eastern PCT.
11. Undertake a joint review with the Corporate Procurement service to identify savings to be achieved by more effective contracting arrangements.
12. Note the fact that this redesign constitutes a 3 to 5 year strategy to invest in front-end services and ultimately reduce the current level of care costs which will present budget pressures in the interim; and make provision corporately for contingency funding in respect of the required changes in Adults Social Care in order to mitigate the risk of too much change too quickly.

To provide an update on the Business Planning Process, consider the approach to closing the current funding gap, and seek approval for the material for sharing with Cheshire East Members and stakeholders as part of the November budget consultation.

Consideration was given to an update on the Business Planning Process, to the approach to closing the current funding gap, and to the material for sharing with Cheshire East Council Members and stakeholders as part of the budget consultation process to be carried out in November.

RESOLOVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That the update on the Business Planning Process be noted.

2. That the budget consultation approach be approved.

To receive an update on arrangements for the transfer of 16-19 funding from the Learning Skills Council to Local Authority control from April 2010.

Consideration was given to arrangements for the transfer of 16-19 funding from the Learning Skills Council to Local Authority Control from April 2010.  It was noted that the proposed Memorandum of Understanding was currently being scrutinised by legal services and this was therefore endorsed subject to any advice from the Borough Solicitor.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report and as now reported: -

1. That the emerging collaboration and identified duties of the Sub Regional Grouping and its continuing work to establish effective arrangements for the smooth transition of 16-19 funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to Local Authorities be noted.

2. That, subject to any advice from the Borough Solicitor who is authorised to make any minor drafting amendments, the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (Appendix 1) which sets out an agreement of collaboration between the three Local Authorities in terms of strategic management, decision making processes, commissioning arrangements as well as stakeholder engagement be endorsed.

3. That the integration of 5 additional LSC staff to the Cheshire East workforce as part of the LSC transfer process be endorsed. The identified staff have a variety of valuable skills and aptitudes which will add significant value to the work of Cheshire East in terms of integrating the activities and functions of the previous LSC work streams as well as helping to secure improved outcomes for learners.

To consider a Notice of Motion submitted at Council on 23 July 2009, calling for the suspension of car parking charges on Saturdays in Macclesfield Town Centre for a trial period.

Consideration was given to the Notice of Motion submitted at the meeting of the Council on 23 July 2009, calling for the suspension of car parking charges on Saturdays in Macclesfield Town Centre for a trial period.  The Notice of Motion was considered in the light of the latest financial implications and the advice from the Recession Task Group.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That Cabinet does not introduce a trial scheme for free parking but continues to invest in real recession busting activities through the work of its Task Group.

To consider a report on the Interim Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2009 – 2010.

Consideration was given to a report on the Interim Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2009 – 2010.  The scheme and action plan set out the Council’s approach to equality and diversity in Cheshire East and how mainstream equality and diversity would be managed in the day to day work of the Council.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That approval be given to the Interim Single Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2009 – 2010.

To consider proposals to help the Council to improve health and reduce health inequalities across the communities of East Cheshire.

Consideration was given to proposals to help the Council improve health and reduce health inequalities across the communities of Cheshire East.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That Members support the whole system approach to health improvement and reducing health inequalities and the development of a Health Improvement and Reducing Health Inequalities Strategy through the Local Strategic Partnership’s Health and Wellbeing Thematic Partnership.

2. That Members support the establishment of a Cheshire East Council Health Improvement and Reducing Health Inequalities Working Group to contribute to the Strategy Development and to develop and take ownership of the Council’s action plan in response to the Strategy. 

3. That the Director of Public Health be made an honorary joint appointment between Cheshire East Council and the Primary Care Trust.