Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED

Councillor Ray Westwood be appointed as Chairman for the ensuing year.

To appoint a Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.

RESOLVED

Councillor Carolyn Andrew be appointed as Vice Chairman for the ensuing year.

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

Councillor Dorothy Flude declared a personal interest in several of the matters included on the agenda by virtue of the fact that she was a member of the Alzheimer’s Society, a member of Central Cheshire Advocacy Services for people with learning difficulties, a Trustee for Crossroads Care, a member of the Town History Society for Crewe and a member of the Family History Society of Cheshire.  In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Councillor Flude remained in the meeting during consideration of these matters.

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

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.

(Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.)

There were no public questions.

To note the suggested terms of reference for the Panel, and the guidance note on the organisation and running of the Panel meetings.

Consideration was given to the suggested Terms of Reference for the Panel and a guidance note on the organisation and running of the Panel meetings.

In considering the Terms of Reference, it was suggested that Members might wish to indicate in which areas they had a particular interest or expertise.

RESOLVED

the Terms of Reference for the Panel be noted.

The Panel is asked to consider its future Work Programme.  In order to assist Members in their determination the following presentations will be given on key issues: -

The Panel was requested to consider its future Work Programme.  In order to assist Members in their determination, presentations were given on the key issues as follows:

Personalisation and the Transformation of Adult Social Care

Phil Lloyd, County Manager (Community Care) Adults, attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the above matter.  There was a rising costs relating to the provision social cost in that people were living longer and needed to be supported. This issue was addressed in the Local Authority Circular 1 of 2008, which required a whole system change to the delivery of social care, to enable every person across the spectrum of need to have choice and control over the shape of his/her support in the most appropriate setting.  This would mean that everyone who received social care support, regardless of their level of need, in any setting, whether from statutory services, the third and community or private sector or by funding it themselves, would have choice and control over how the support was delivered.

Following the presentation Members of the Panel raised the following issues:

§         It was queried whether there were year by year targets in respect of adult social care.  It was reported that targets were set by the Commission for Social Care Inspectors.  The new system marked a change, in that, instead of the Local Authority organising the care provision, individuals would receive an amount of money and contract with the social care provider directly.

§         It was considered that a system which provided the opportunity for people to remain in their own homes should be welcomed and care provided to those who needed it.

§         With regard to payments to be made to individuals it was queried whether there would be a process for monitoring this.  It was reported that this was already the case and that the County Council was one of the best performing Authorities in terms of direct payments.  To date there had been no evidence of misuse of funding.  A new device was to be introduced (the Kent Card), which was similar to a credit card and would be credited with the appropriate amount and would mean that the Local Authority could see any statements, to allow monitoring.

§         It was considered that delivery of the service should be done in the most cost effective way and should be considered at the same time as the budget setting process.  It was queried what Members could do to assist with this process.  It was noted that a whole system response to social care should result in a reduction in costs and there needed to be strong support from Members in respect of this.

§         Information was sought in respect of the likely numbers of recipients and how the budget would be funded. It was agreed that this information would be provided to the Panel at a future meeting.

§         It was considered that the Carer Strategy needed to be taken into account when consideration was given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The notes of guidance considered earlier on the agenda, suggest that Democratic Services draws up a schedule of meetings based on a six weekly cycle from September 2008.  The Panel is asked to agree to this and the dates for future meetings will then be circulated as soon as possible following agreement with the Chairman.

RESOLVED

That a Schedule of Meetings, based on a six weekly cycle from September 2008, be produced.  The dates for future meetings would then be circulated as soon as possible, following agreement with the Chairman.