Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Brown, P Findlow, A J Knowles and M Parsons

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

A number of Councillors who were existing County Councillors and Borough Councillors declared a personal interest in the business of the meeting en bloc.

Councillor Mrs D Flude declared a personal interest in item 7 – Living with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy due to being a Member of the Alzheimer’s Society. In accordance with the Code of Conduct she remained in the meeting during consideration of the item.

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.

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.

None

To approve the minutes as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To give consideration to a report on the legacy opportunities arising from the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics

The Panel received a report which outlined the preparation work being carried out to ensure that Cheshire and Warrington maximise the legacy opportunities arising from the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

RESOLVED

1. That Cabinet be recommended to endorse the progress made by the 2012 Steering Group and the opportunities that the London Olympic and Paralympic games brings.

2. That Cabinet be recommended to endorse the continued memberships of the new authorities on the revised steering group and support the principle of appointing a co-ordinator to support the theme champions and other stakeholders.

3. That Cabinet be recommended to contribute £10,000 to secure the 2012 co-ordinator post on the basis that legacy activity will assist the new authorities deliver key economic and social outcomes for the future.

4. That Cabinet be recommended to investigate the possibility of a separate champion for disabled facilities.

5. That a progress report be brought back to a future meeting of the Panel or its successor.

To give consideration to a report on Members duties under the DCSF Transformation of Services – ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children and their Families’

Consideration was given to a report and presentation on Cheshire East Council’s duties under the DCSF Transformation of Services – Aiming High for Disabled Children and Their Families. Following detailed consideration of the report Members felt that it would be more appropriate for the initiative to be titled ‘Aiming High for Children with Disabilities and Their Families’, however it was noted that this was a government initiative and therefore this may not be possible.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be recommended to:

1) Welcome the Aiming High initiative for the recognition which it gives to the distinctive needs of disabled children and for the new resources which are to be made available to help address them.

2) To ensure that Aiming High is effectively incorporated into the structure of Cheshire East Council and that appropriate Governance arrangements are put into place.

3) To ensure that services for children and families and services for adults are required to work together on the implementation of Aiming High and particularly to ensure that the issue of Transitions is addressed at the design stage and not as an after thought.

              To note the content of the National Dementia Strategy and to seek a further  

               paper on its implications for Cheshire East.

The Panel received a report informing Members  that     In 2008, the Government published “Transforming the Quality of Dementia Care” a consultation document on a National Strategy for Dementia.  The consultation period ran from 19 June 2008 to 11 September 2008 and Cheshire County Council submitted a response to the Department of Health in conjunction with CECPCT, West Cheshire PCT and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust. The Government published its final report “Living Well with Dementia” on 3 February 2009, which had been amended in the light of feedback from the consultation.

RESOLVED

1. That Cabinet be recommended to approve the steps being taken to implement the Strategy in Cheshire East.

2. That an update report be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee or its successor.

To endorse the actions and recommendations as contained in the report.

The Panel received a report which outlined to Members details of the PARIS system, further investment requirements and actions agreed by Management Team with regard to implementation of the system. Members noted that PARIS was an electronic system which held personal and financial information about those in receipt of social care services for both Adults and Children’s services.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be recommended to approve:

1. That the identified cultural issues be addressed as part of the transformation agenda.
2. That new governance arrangements be put in place to ensure operational and managerial ownership and engagement.
3. That further investment in PARIS be endorsed to support the transformational and performance agenda.