Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

There were no apologies for absence.

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 interests of openness and transparency the following declarations were made:

Councillor S Gardiner declared that in his paid job he had regular contact with HMP Altcourse and Cheshire and Wirral Mental Health Trust.

Councillor L Wardlaw declared that she occasionally worked for Cheshire Wirral Partnership.

Councillor N Cook declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of being a non-paid trustee of the charity Alternative Futures Group which had a commissioning relationship with Cheshire East Council.

Councillor A Burton declared that she worked for the charity Women’s Aid.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 March 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2023 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.

There were no members of the public present.

To consider the report which sets out the allocation of approved budgets for 2023/24 for services under the Committee’s remit, as determined by the Finance Sub-Committee.

The committee considered the report on the allocation of the approved budgets for 2023/24 to the Adults and Health Committee.

The Finance Sub-Committee at its meeting on 8 March 2023 had approved the allocation of the approved capital and revenue budgets, related policy proposals and earmarked reserves to each of the service committees.

Following comments and feedback from members officers reported that

-       More information in respect of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) would be circulated to members

-       Further information on how the outcome of the current ballot in respect of pay would affect the Adults Service budget would be circulated to members.

-       Officers would review the request for members to have more engagement and consultation with the MTFS planning going forward so that a list of priorities could be drawn up for consideration.

Councillor J Clowes requested that it be minuted that the Conservative group did not vote for the MTFS at Council in February 2023 in part as it was felt that members did not have ownership of the budget in any regard. However that was not to say that they would not support colleagues and committees going forward.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the committee

1.    Note the decision of the Finance Sub Committee to allocate the approved revenue and capital budgets, related budget policy changes and earmarked reserved to the Adults and Health Committee as set out in Appendix A.

2.    Note the financial reporting timetable for 2023-24 set out in Appendix B due to be approved at Finance Sub Committee on 7 June 2023.

To receive an update on a Domestic Homicide Review.

The committee considered a briefing report about the Domestic Homicide Review regarding “PAM”. The Domestic Homicide Summary Report had been written by an Independent Author and had recently been published by the Home Office following a delay due to the covid pandemic.

The Domestic Homicide review was a review of the circumstances and to identify lessons learned.

The committee extended their sympathies and condolences to the family and agreed that the report indicated that there were missed opportunities for agencies, specifically in respect of the perpetrators mental health as well as their physical health.

Members felt that it was important for the Adults and Health Committee to ensure that the recommendations from the review would be put in place. It was proposed and seconded that:

-       a report on a review of progress towards lessons learnt going forward be brought to committee at a future date, and

-       for the committee to have sight of any other Domestic Homicides and Safeguarding Adult Reviews.

-       The Domestic Homicide Review be published on the Safer Cheshire East website.

This was voted on and was carried unanimously.

The committee thanked all those involved in the review.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):-

1.    That the report be noted and a report on the review of progress towards lessons learnt be brought back to committee at a future date.

2.    That the committee have sight of any other Domestic Homicides and Safeguarding Adult Reviews taking place.

3.    That the review be published on the Safer Cheshire East website.

To nominate members of the Adults and Health Committee to the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board.

The committee considered its appointments to the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board and the Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board, with one member to be nominated by the committee to each.

In addition to the nominations to the board it was proposed and seconded that a report from the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board be brought to the Adults and Health Committee, this was voted on and was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED (Unanimously) That:-

1. Councillor J Rhodes be appointed to the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board as one its three voting councillors.

2. Councillor A Moran be appointed to the Joint Extra Care Housing   Management Board as one of the council’s three members represented on the Board.

3.  the terms of reference of the bodies referred to in the report be noted.

4.  a report on the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board be added to the Adults and Health Committee work programme.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme. It was noted that the September meeting was a heavy agenda and that officers would review this. It was requested that should the agenda remain as it was then the meeting either be extended or an additional meeting added in October and that members be notified as soon as possible if either of these options were agreed.

Following a request that any reports which were to note be discussed in a separate session rather than at committee it was agreed that this would reduce the valuable information members of the committee would receive in respect of the operational day to day activities of the service.

It was requested that items for decision be added at the start of the agenda and any items for noting be added at the end of the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be noted.