Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor N Cook. Councillor E Gilman attended as a substitute.

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

In the interests of openness and transparency the following declarations were made:

Councillor A Kolker declared that he was a Chair of trustees at Everybody Health and Leisure and would withdraw from the meeting during consideration of item 7.

Councillor J Place declared that he was a member of the Together Trust in Cheadle.

Following the meeting, in relation to item 8, Councillor S Gardiner declared that in his paid job he had regular contact with the Home Office.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 February 2024.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2024 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 a report on the implementation of the revised Adult Social Care charging policies.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval to implement the revised Adult Social Care charging policies.

The policy had not been updated since 2015 and the revised policy would align the Council’s fees and charges with those paid for commissioned services and adopt the minimum income guarantee set by the Department of Health and Social Care. The changes outlined aimed to enable reinvestment of savings into front line services, contributing to maintaining service delivery and ability to meet growing demand.

Work would be undertaken with residents to mitigate concerns in respect of affordability. Every resident charged for Adult Social Care services would have a financial assessment review after the 1^st of April.

In response to questions and comments from Members, Officers reported that:

-       Although the policy had not been updated since 2015, there were many fees and charges linked to benefits and pensions that automatically changed every year, which did not require a change in policy.

-       At the point of assessment in adult social care the finances of the Council could be taken into consideration. However, once the eligible needs of an individual have been assessed, the Council has a duty to meet the needs after this point,

-       The Care Act provided a legal framework for charging for care and support and the Council could challenge an individual if it could be proven that they may have tried to deliberately avoid paying for care costs through depriving themselves of assets – either capital or income.

RESOLVED (by Majority):

That the Adults and Health Committee approve the implementation of the revised Adult Social Care charging policies.

To consider a report on the implementation of the All-age Direct Payment Policy.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval to endorse and implement the ‘all age’ Direct Payment Policy. The Policy aligns the approach for providing and managing direct payments for adults and children, to meet their care and support needs.

Members welcomed the diversity with which people can access services as it was agreed that one size does not fit all. Members sought assurance in respect of whether the policy would prevent people from making top-ups to their direct payment and what additional safeguards would be considered to avoid the vulnerable being financially abused.

In response officers stated that in respect of top-ups, families and individuals could top up their care if there were other services they would like to have. In respect of protecting the vulnerable, whilst it was not possible to eradicate all risk, it was believed that the use of pre-paid cards would help manage risk more easily than a bank account would as it was possible, if required, to see in real time what people were spending their money on.

Pre-paid cards are already being used in some areas including helping people to manage their finances directly. There was a contract already in place to support those people who were in receipt of direct payments with becoming an employer and the responsibilities that came with that, but officers would take in to account the concerns raised by members.

Members agreed that a detailed communications package was required for service users in respect of how the direct payment card would be employed and that it be drafted in such a way that all client groups understood.

In response to a question asked in relation to the low turnout at the face-to-face consultation events and whether further development was required in this area, officers reported that everyone who used direct payment had been written to, so all those it was relevant to had been targeted. The policy had been shaped by the outline of the consultation responses.

In response to a question raised in relation to the transitional arrangements from children to adults, specifically those children who want to take on responsibility for their own payment’s officers reported that as part of the transitional arrangements an advocate would be provided to help support with the transition.

RESOLVED: (by Majority)

That the Adults and Health Committee approve and instruct officers to implement the ‘all age’ Direct Payment Policy in Cheshire East.

Councillor A Kolker left the meeting.

To consider a report on the recommissioning of the Integrated Lifestyle Service, currently known as One You Cheshire East.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval to recommission an Integrated Lifestyle Service, currently known as One You Cheshire East.

The service provided information and support to encourage positive lifestyle behaviour change in Cheshire East residents, thereby providing early intervention support to reduce the need for statutory services.

Members asked questions in relation to the service and how it worked alongside the public heath team, specifically in relation to elements such as smoking and vaping. Officers agreed to circulate a presentation which had been provided to the Health and Wellbeing Board by the Trading Standards team and included information on their enforcement activity. Members wanted to see that whoever was awarded the contract recognised that there was an aging population, and this was just as important as the smoking element of the contract.

Some members expressed concerns that the One You service was part of a national programme, but the report lacked some detail in respect of KPI’s. Concerns were raised in respect of handing over responsibility to award a contract if members were not sure what it was that was being awarded and how well anyone bidding for the contract would meet those KPI’s. Officers assured members that information on performance was collated in all areas of the service and this could be shared with members. Further KPI’s would be developed going forward which would be shaped by national guidance and legislation.

Members asked questions in relation to the advertising of the service especially in rural areas. Officers reported that substantial efforts had been made in trying to communicate what the service provided and that they were at the beginning of the process and in designing what the new service would look like consideration would be given to lessons learnt and what has changed in needs assessment.

Members requested that they have sight of the proposed service design prior to it being awarded to offer oversight and scrutiny but stated that they did not want to delay the procurement process.

An amendment was moved and seconded which sought to include a third recommendation which requested that the Adults and Health Committee are provided with a full briefing on the redesigned contract specification before it is offered for bids.

This was voted on and carried unanimously and became part of the substantive motion.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously) That the Adults and Health Committee

1. approve the recommissioning of an Integrated Lifestyle Service.

2. are provided with a full briefing on the redesigned contract before it is offered for bids.

3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director – Adults, Health and Integration to award the contract.

Councillor A Kolker returned to the meeting following consideration of this item.

To receive an update on ANTON and PAM - Safeguarding Adults and Domestic Homicide Review.

The Committee received updates in relation to a Safeguarding Adults Review and a Domestic Homicide Review which the Committee had discussed at previous meetings.

The update included themes which had been identified, recommendations and actions taken following the reviews.

Members expressed their concern in the delay from the date of the incident in relation to PAM and the date of the inquest which was scheduled for 2025. Officers reported that there had been delay at the Home Office in signing off the final report and a change in coroner which may have impacted on the timescales.

Members welcomed the idea that the ICB and other organisations had taken on board the comments and recommendations in respect of the availability of information in multiple languages. It was agreed that this was an area which required further investigation and investment.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

To receive the minutes of the Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board – 23 January 2024.

RESOLVED:-

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

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

The Committee considered the Work Programme for the 2024/25 municipal year.

Officers reported that they would bring items to committee in respect of the following:-

-       The impact of implementing previous strategy and policies for committee to provide scrutiny.

-       The Council’s transformation plan and how it would relate to the committee’s work.

-       The items included in the MTFS that been approved at Council in February 2024.

-       Performance management.

It was requested that the Chair of the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board be invited to the September meeting.

Following agreement at Corporate Policy Committee for every service committee to trial a twilight meeting, members had a discussion on potential dates and times to schedule the twilight meeting.

Members agreed, by majority to hold the twilight meeting in June with a start time of 6.00pm. Officers would have further discussions on the venue