Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

The Chair referred to the recent sad death of Councillor Steve Carter. There was a minute’s silent reflection in tribute.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Gardiner, Councillor B Evans and Councillor D Murphy.

Councillors L Wardlaw and D Edwardes attended as substitutes.

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

In the interest of openness, Councillor L Wardlaw declared that she was the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee and had sought advice before attending the Committee meeting.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 November 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2022 be approved as a correct record.

In accordance with paragraph 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking, set out in the Constitution, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting.

Charlotte Peters-Rock attended the Committee and spoke in respect of the Stanley Centre, Knutsford. The potential impact that any closure of this Centre would have on the community was outlined. The Committee were asked to protect its disabled residents and friends by ensuring that the Stanley Centre remains open for use.

The Chair advised that, should the proposal be accepted by the Corporate Policy Committee and Full Council, there would be a full consultation process.

To receive and respond to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023-27.

The Committee received a report on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2023-2027 and the revenue and capital proposals contained within the MTFS relating to the Committee’s responsibilities. As part of the consultation process the Committee was asked to provide comments and feedback to the Corporate Policy Committee on proposals related to the responsibilities of the committee.

The following comments were raised by Committee:

·         Proposal 8 Home First Strategy: Increased Care Home capacity – Members raised concerns around the proposal to maximise the use of block booked beds and the potential impact this would have on relationships with care home providers, sustainability of the care market and carers. 

·         Proposal 10: Learning Disabilities Future Service Development and Review – Members raised concerns around the ability to achieve the savings associated with this proposal. Reassurance was sought that Cheshire East would not pick up any additional costs as a result of working in partnership with health colleagues on shared Continuing Health Care (CHC) funding.

Councillor Clowes referred to the capital addendum items put forward in 2020 which proposed to use Mountview and Bexton Court for the purpose of delivering extra care with the view of establishing improved facilities to incorporate Stanley House on the ground floor of that new facility. Councillor Clowes requested that those capital addendums, which were previously budgeted for (Addendum items could be released by the portfolio holder and Chief Financial Officer subject to an appropriate business case, demonstrating how the proposals would be funded), were explored as an alternative to the full closure of Stanley House.

It was agreed that a written response would be provided by the Director of Adult Social Care to members in respect of Mountview and Bexton House.

·         Proposal 16: Direct Payment – Audit Recoveries – Members felt that the £750k saving associated with this proposal was ambitious and may not be achievable.

It was agreed that a written response would be provided by the Executive Director of Adult, Health, and Integration in respect of the concerns raised by Councillor Clowes that people may not be receiving the right support and guidance on using their direct payments.

·         Proposal 20: Building Based Short Breaks – Members raised concerns around the potential closure of buildings and the impact this would have on those being discharged from hospital. Members asked what could be delivered better and what could make the facilities used to their full potential and service their communities better. Councillor Clowes asked if it would be better to reconsider block booked contracts in the context of Learning Disabilities rather than close the facility. It was requested that consideration was given to expanding the role of the Shared Lives initiative.  

·         Proposal 21: Adults and Health Non-Essential Commissioning/Contracts – Members requested reassurance that the services that would not be renewed would not impact negatively on the organisations that would be relied upon to deliver other elements of the budget proposals.

·         Proposal 22: Building Based Day Services – Councillor Clowes requested that this item be incorporated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

To consider the cost of care reports for publication on the Council’s website and submission to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The Committee considered a report which set out the work that Cheshire East Council had undertaken to meet the Government’s policy requirements on its position on market sustainability for providers of registered residential and nursing care for people 65+ and for registered domiciliary care for people over 18. Permission was sought to publish the outcome of that work in a report on the local cost of care, in line with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) requirements.

A question was raised in respect of the wording of recommendation 3.1 of the report. It was clarified by the Executive Director of Adults, Health, and Integration that recommendation 3.1 should read as

“Approve the publication of the cost of care reports attached at Appendices A and B of the report on the Council’s website and submitted to DHSC”.

The Committee thanked the team for their work in undertaking the exercise.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the Adults and Health Committee:-

1. Approved the publication of the cost of care reports attached at Appendices A and B of the report on the Council’s website and submission to DHSC.

2. Noted that a further report would be brought to Adults and Health Committee in March 2023 for approval of the final Market Sustainability Plan which would be informed by the cost of care findings and take account of the approved budget.

3. Noted the level of risk associated with the funding shortfall between the local Cost of Care and the confirmed and estimated level of Market Sustainability Fund allocations and the mitigating factors as set out in 8.6 of the report.

4. Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Adults, Health and Integration to make any changes to the report resulting from DHSC feedback prior to its publication on the Council’s website.

To consider the final version of the Cheshire East Place Dementia Plan (including the easy read version)

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the final version of the Cheshire East Place Dementia Plan. The engagement and co-production of the plan had continued since the draft version of the plan had been brought to Committee in January 2022.

Several gaps and issues had been identified in the plan and following the consultation process the draft plan had been amended. A positive proposal resulting from the consultation process was the training of Cheshire East Council staff and members. Those who had attended had found the training useful and informative.

Members raised concerns that the wording on page 14 of the Cheshire East Place Dementia Plan conferred blame, that if you got dementia it was due to the lifestyle factors listed. Officers confirmed that they would review the wording following members comments to ensure it was more user friendly.

Officers agreed that the revised plan would be circulated to committee members, and the fully costed implementation plan would come back to a future committee.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the plan be adopted as the final version subject to the amendments outlined above.

To consider the key performance indicators/measures for Quarter 2 2022/23.

Consideration was given to a report that outlined the performance data and measures related to services that fell within the responsibility of the Adults and Health Committee, from Quarter 2 of 2022/23.

It was reported that there continued to be some data issues in respect of Telecare number's and these were being addressed.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Committee adjourned for a short break

To consider the Notice of Motion on the Cost of Living crisis.

The Committee considered the report on the Notice of Motion relating to the Cost-of-Living Crisis which was proposed by Councillor Clowes and seconded by Councillor Tony Dean at the Full Council meeting on the 19th October 2022. The report outlined the Council’s approach to the Cost-of-Living Crisis and the interventions that were underway. A further report around impact of interventions would be presented back to Committee at a later date.

The Committee had a full discussion on the matter and noted the content of the report. It was moved and seconded to accept the Notice of Motion in part, specifically the resolutions outlined on page 167 of the report.

The Committee thanked Dan Coyne and his team for all their hard work.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously) That:-

The committee acknowledged the work done to date by officers on the cost-of-living crisis, including:

(1)  The approach taken by Cheshire East Council (the Council)

(2)  How the Council have increased their reach

(3)  How the Council are monitoring the immediate increase in need

(4)  The interventions introduced and;

(5)  How the Council are the monitoring the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having going forward

RESOLVED: (By Majority) That:-

Cheshire East Council:

1.   Work with the Government to ensure that it delivers the much-appreciated support to the residents of Cheshire East as quickly as possible.

2.   Proactively identify those most in need of support in Cheshire East and ensure that they access all the Government support for which they are eligible.

3.  Identify further local opportunities in Cheshire East for energy generation to help increase the supply of energy to further aid the long-term lowering of prices, support the Government’s aim of domestic energy security and create local jobs.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

The Executive Director of Adults, Health and integration assured the committee that all forward business had been reviewed to ensure that anything that required a decision before the May elections would come to the March Committee. There would be further revisions made to the work programme once the budget had been finalised.

Following questions raised by Members officers reported that:

-       The Market Sustainability Plan as part of the Local Cost of Care would be coming to the March committee.

-       A date to bring back the evaluation of the 2022/23 Winter Plan would be confirmed.

-       The learning Disability and Mental Health strategy was already underway so when it is reviewed by Committee there could be discussion in respect of the constituent elements of it to ensure transparency.

Following a suggestion by Councillor Kolker to establish a task and finish group in respect of the impact of the buildings closure it was reported that following the budget meeting in February there would be a full consultation process. This would include direct engagement with those individuals who use the services and ward councillors. This would be brought back as part of a report to committee if it was required.

RESOLVED:-

That the Work Programme be noted.

To receive the minutes of the following sub-committee of the Adults and Health

Committee

Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board

-       27 September 2022

RESOLVED:-

That the minutes of the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board be received and noted.